Easy-Build 3D-Printed Ferrari

Ferrari’s First Le Mans Winner

Laguna Seca Raceway on a Tabletop

The Sound of Racing

Three Full Race Car Track Tests:- 2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage- 1999 BMW V12 LMR LeMans- 1982 Ferrari 512 BB/LM Le Mans

Digital “Racing Line” Lane-Changing

July/August 2014 $6.9576

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USA $6.95

Listen to real race car sound from the Flyslot 1/32 scale Porsche on the Laguna Seca track.http://youtu.be/q82ycLE4eV8

76

Luigi Chinetti (and Lord Selsdon) drove this Ferrari 166MM to win LeMans in 1949. ---Ferrett Fotographics

1/32 Scale Model Car Racing:7 Home Racing:Onboard Race car sound from Flyslotby Robert Schleicher

8 Race Car ShopLeMansTDR Innovations 3D Printed 1949 Ferrari 166MMwith Slot Classics or PCS-1 Chassisby Robert Schleicher

15 Real (Vintage) Race Track Plans2-Lane Buddh International India Formula 1 Circuit Scalextric Sport, Classic, SCX, Ninco, Carrera (with optional lane-changing) on a 9 x 17-foot tabletop. by Robert Schleicher

18 Real Race Tracks on a Tabletop2-Lane Twisted Pines Raceway for Scalextric Sport, Classic, SCX, Ninco or Carrera (with optional lane-changing) on a 5 x 9-foot ping-pong tabletop.by Robert Schleicher

20 Digital RacingCarrera Digital 132 single curved lane changers by Robert Schleicher

22 LeMansSlot.it 1986 Porsche 962C KHby Albin Burroughs

24 Club RacingBuilder’s Class, Part 2, Proxy Racing by Robert Schleicher

27 LeMansSlot.it 1974 Matra MS670Bby Bill Wright

30 LeMansRacer “Sideways” 1982 Sauber BMW M1 Turbo by Albin Burroughs

ON THE COVER: The Slot.it 1/32 scale Matra MS670B is a replica of the number 8 car that failed to finish at LeMans in 1974. – LAT Photo

CONTENTS76

4 Model Car Racing

34 LeMansRacer “Sideways” 1980 Ferrari 512BB/LM by Albin Burroughs

36 Home Racing:Build Laguna Seca Raceway On a 5 x 9-foot Ping-Pong Tabletop Plus 3 x 3- and 3 x 6-foot Portable TablesWith Carrera, Scalextric, Ninco or SCX TrackAnd Digital Optionsby Robert Schleicher

45 Start HereMatching Pickup Braid To The Brand Of Trackby Robert Schleicher

46 LeMansTRACK TEST:Supertuned Racers, Part 108:Magnet-Free:NSR 2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3by Marc Purdham

47 LeMansTRACK TEST:Supertuned Racers, Part 109:Magnet-Free:Slotwings 1982 Ferrari 512BB/LMby Marc Purdham

48 LeMansTRACK TEST:Supertuned Racers, Part 110:Magnet-Free:Arrow Slot 1999 BMW V12 LMRby Marc Purdham

51 Your TrackPete Shepherd’s Cuckoo Pines 4 ½ x 13-foot two-lane Carrera

57 Vintage Racing:Rick Thigpen’s Strombecker 1960 Porsche RS60

HO Model Car Racing:19 Track Plans4-Lane Buddh International India Formula 1 Circuit in 4 x 8-Feetby Robert Schleicher

Departments:6 Editorial: Bring A Friend49 Pit Board50 Club Directory55 New Stuff

On Your Tablet:Model Car Racing is now available for iPad or Kindle. Just click on the Apple iTunes icon and search for Model Car Racing to order individual issues, subscriptions or a limited number of back issues. There’s more information on page 56 of this issue.

Where To Buy Model Car Racing Products:Dealers: A listing of the addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites of all the dealers that carry Model Car Racing magazine appears on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com

Manufacturers: A listing of the addresses and websites of firms that manufacture model car racing products appears on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com:

MORE INFORMATION:There is an Index of all of the past issues, a Digest of the results of the first 257 cars in our Race Track Test series, Pros and Cons of plastic track by brand, the Pros and Cons of the four digital systems, Pros and Cons of 1/43 scale and an index of the 157 previously published track plans, by size, on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com.

READY-TO-RUN CARS YOU CAN RACE AT HOME

Model Car Racing 5

Bring a Friend You have, no doubt, heard about secret so-cieties, usually sinister-sounding groups like the Knights Templar or Phi Beta Kappa. Mysteries touch something in all of us. You may not be aware of it, but you are a member of one of those secret societies. This secret society is a group, most of whose members would whisper a quiet yes if asked if they had ever heard of something called slot car racing.

Last Christmas Apple stores sold a slotless game called Ankidrive. We had a full review in the January/February 2014 number 73 issue. Briefly, Ankidrive is a war game with two to four cars where the last car standing is the winner. How-ever, because it was an Apple-related product the national news media paid attention. NPR, for example, referred to Ankidrive as “Super-ficially, this is a little bit like the slot cars that some of us may have had as children except that this doesn’t run on slots, …” I hear similar com-ments from race commentators and fans when I visit a model car racing track in the pits at one of the full-size car races.

Unfortunately, only about one adult in five re-alizes that model car racing exists. References to the hobby in the general press nearly always refer to slot car racing and those memories of giant eight-lane tracks. Even fewer folks know that the model car racing hobby you see on these pages existed in the sixties and into the seventies or that the hobby was resurrected about fifteen years ago. Since you know about this you are, by implication a member of this secret society.

Actually, slot car racing is a ‘fringe” segment of model car racing. By my definition, slot cars are the 1/24 scale machines that are raced on the massive eight-lane tracks at commercial raceway centers. That hobby was actually a late-sixties spin-off of the hobby you see on these pages. However, the reality of the seventies was that a major portion of population knew about 1/24 scale slot car racing but only a relatively few people realized that there were slightly smaller machines that actually looked like real cars that you could race at home.

Why So Secret?

I considered spending $200,000 on a survey of automotive racing enthusiasts to see how many knew that model car racing is currently a pop-ular hobby, but decided instead to buy a 2012 Alfa Romeo 8C if I ever did have that amount of expendable funds. What I do have is anecdotal evidence that less than 20-percent of the fans of full-size car racing know about model car rac-ing. That’s about a hundred million folks but, if only one-percent of them would actually take up our hobby, that would bring in ten-times the current number of enthusiasts. The benefits to you, personally, would be an even broader range of cars, lower costs, even more realism and a host of other benefits that derive from the manufacturers selling enough cars and sets. The

irony of this secret is that there are more 1/32 home racing tracks today than when the slot car racing hobby was at its peak in the late sixties.

Who Knows They Don’t Know?

The manufacturers’ organizations believe that 1/32, HO , 1/24 and 1/43 scale model car racing is about a $200 million hobby world wide with about $60 million in sales in Germany, $60 mil-lion in England, about $60 million in Italy and Spain and $10 million in other countries. That leaves about $10 million in sales in America. I simply cannot believe that there are six-times more people interested in model car racing in England or Germany or Italy and Spain as there are in America. Sure, NASCAR is the biggest thing in American racing but NASCAR does not attract a lot of folks into our hobby. The manu-facturers have done a lot of work “plowing” the field of NASCAR fans for new consumers and, generally, arrived at the conclusion that it is just not worth it. A good guess would be that only about five-percent of model car racing fans con-sider NASCAR their favorite form of racing.

The folks that are most likely to want to race model cars are those who are fans of full-size car road racing. Road racing certainly does not have to be their number one interest, but they should recognize that a Jaguar is not only a wild cat and that LeMans is not a French lemon.

So the majority of folks that currently partici-pate actively in model car racing in any scale are usually fans of some kind of road racing. That is very good news indeed because those fans include people that love IndyCar, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (formerly the IMSA and American LeMans Series), SCCA, MotoGP, that flock to the Circuit of the Ameri-cas in Austin, that crowd onto the Monterey Peninsula in California for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and other vintage races, that support magazines like Vintage Motorsports and Classic Motorsports (it should come as no surprise that the editors both of these publica-tions are fans of model car racing) and/or that participate in slaloms or rallies. Add up the at-tendance at all of the professional and amateur road races in America and Canada and you will probably have about three to five-million road racing fans---and only one in five knows they can road race on a tabletop. So 80-percent of the people who would become avid model car racers do not know the hobby exists. Appalling.

Some Special Friends

You can do something about getting more folks active in model car racing. If you race with a lo-cal club, contact local hobby shops or full-size race car parts stores and put up notices that you are holding a tabletop model car race. Do not, please, just ask a newcomer to watch your club race---we loose too many potential enthusiasts who are not impressed by your club members’

driving skills but overwhelmed by them. If you are going race with a newcomer, try to keep just behind them and drive at their pace---you want them to understand that they really can drive these cars at what they believe is a racing speed. Throwing a newcomer in at the deep end is self-defeating. Show them just how much fun racing can be---the winning can come later....

October 4 and 5, 2014. The National Hobby show, the iHobby Expo is now at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 about 20-minutes northwest of O’Hare Airport. The iHobby Expo (www.ihobbyexpo.com/Public.html) has become the largest gathering in the United States for the model car racing importers and manufacturers. Usually, Scalextric, NINCO, SCX, AFX and Auto World have demo tracks as well as displays of their latest products.

Volume 13, Number 4 (issue number 76) July/August 2014

Publisher: Robert Schleicher

Editor: Robert Schleicher

Technical Editor: Chris Walker

Track Test Editor: Marc Purdham

Layout & Design: Agency Graphics, Ltd.

Contributing Editors:Mark GussinDan WilsonBrad Bowman

Jeremy DunningAlan SchwartzBernard Sampson

Jason BoyeDan EspositoPat Dennis

Editors Emeritus:Rocky RussoJose RodriguezBob Braverman

Bill SippleJim RussellRon Klein

Albin Adams

Circulation & Dealer Contact:email address: modelcarracingmag@hotmail.comModel Car Racing Publications, Inc.6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-142Boulder, CO 80301-3346website: www.modelcarracingmag.com

Model Car Racing (USPS 020-443, ISSN 1538-9170) is published bimonthly by Model Car Racing Publications, Inc., 6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-142, Boulder, CO 80301-3346. © Copyright 20134, Model Car Racing Publications, Inc.

Individual issue price $6.95. No current issues or back issues are available from the publisher but a list of dealers who carry the magazine is on the website at www.modelcarracingmag.com. All sales and subscriptions are not returnable.

SUBSCRIPTION RATE: United States: 1 year (6 issues) $35.00. We can only accept Canadian or foreign subscriptions for the digital version of the magazine, which is $19.95 for six issues. We cannot accept subscription orders for the paper version of the magazine from countries other than the United States.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Model Car Racing Publications, Inc., 6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-142, Boulder, CO 80301-3346. Periodicals Postage is paid at Boulder, Colorado and at additional mailing offices.

Model Car Racing assumes that all letters, new product information, photographs of any kind, and other unsolicited materials are contributed gratis whether mailed or sent electronically. Model Car Racing assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. Solicited articles and photographs are paid for within 45 days after publication, at which time Model Car Racing obtains full publication rights. Unsolicited materials can be returned if adequate postage is included.

6 Model Car Racing

The Flyslot Porsche 997 GT3 RSR with racing sound was featured in the May/June 2014 issue but the model arrived too late to photograph the chassis or include a video. There is now a video link with sound on the www.modelcarracingmag.com home page or you can gather video with your smart phone from the QR icon on this page so you can see and hear the car. It sounds a lot better in person than through the low-tech sound of YouTube.

When you start the car, the headlights come on (there are no tail lights), the motor revs and then the car accelerates away, shifting gears as it goes. Let off on the throttle to apply the brake and you can hear the blipping sound of the full-size car’s engine downshifting.

As we reported in the last issue, the sound is programmed for acceleration (including longer time intervals between the gear changes as the acceleration increases), cruising and stopping (the sound of blipping throttle plus flashing lights). The sound is a realistic recreation of a modern turbocharged GT car (like the prototype for the Flyslot Porsche). Fortunately, the gears in the Flyslot model are relatively quiet so the “real car” whine is the predominant sound.

We expected the car to be more expensive, especially when compared to model railroad locomotives with sound, but the retail price is currently about $80. The Flyslot model is heavier than the car without sound but sound adds less than an ounce and the car is still lighter than the Carrera cars. There is also a blue number 77 Porsche with sound.

Le MansFlyslot “Alpha” With Real Racing Sound2010 “Flying Lizard” Porsche 997/911 GT3 RSR

By Bill Wright

Flyslot “Alpha” 2007 Porsche (997) 911 GT3 RSR With & Without Sound:

With sound Without Sound

Weight 90 grams (3 1/4 oz.) 66 grams (2 3/8 oz.)

Weight on Front Tires 35 grams (1 1/4 oz.) 25 grams (7/8 oz.)

Weight on Rear Tires 55 grams (2 oz.) 41 grams (1 1/2 oz.)

We expected the car be heavier but the Flyslot engineers have found a very light rechargeable lithium battery pack that is not much larger or heavier) than a matchbook.

The Flyslot Porsche with sound includes a USB cable to allow the battery to be recharged from most computers. We could not perform a definitive test on the length of the charge but it lasted for at least 15-minutes---long enough for most model car races.

The Flyslot replica of the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 that is fitted with sound has an identical body and chassis to the conventional model. The sound chip, battery and speaker just fit into the available space in front of the motor. The speaker is the largest that will fit. BEWARE, however, about removing the body from the chassis because it is all too easy to pull the wires from the battery pack (which is attached to the underside of the interior). The toothpick in the photo is supporting the body at about the maximum distance the body can be moved from the chassis without tearing-out the wires to the battery.

There’s a hole in the chassis to accept the plug on the USB cable so the battery can be recharged without removing the body.

Listen to real race car sound from the

Flyslot 1/32 scale Porsche on the

Laguna Seca track.http://youtu.be/q82ycLE4eV8

Model Car Racing 7

Tracks on a Tabletop:For 2-Lane Twisted Pines Track On A 5 X 9 Foot Ping-Pong TabletopFor Scalextric Classic, Sport, SCX, Ninco Or Carrera With (Optional) Digital Lane-Changing

List Of Scalextric Classic, Sport, SCX Or Ninco Track Required For 2-Lane Twisted Pines Track On A 5 X 9-Foot Ping-Pong Tabletop:

Key Quantity Description

H 0 1/2 Standard Curve

S 8 Standard Curve

O 20 Outer Curve

OO 4 Outer-Outer Curve

F 0 “Short” Straight

E 1 1/4-Straight

D 2 1/2-Straight

B 10 Full-Straight

A 2 Connector Track

L Track can be expanded in length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here.

T Turns on the model versions of the track

X If you are assembling the track with Scalextric Digital, 1 1/2 straights at this point can be replaced with the C7036 double-crossover straight lane-changer plus a half straight.

If you are using Ninco N-Digital, the 40207 double Lane-changers can be substituted for any standard straight.

To build the plan with Ninco track you will need about 10-percent more space and you may need some additional short straights to get everything to line up properly.

These plans are much-modified versions of Pete Shepherd’s Cuckoo Pines 4 ½ x 13-foot two-lane Carrera Raceway on pages 51-54 of this issue but with the center straights twisted to provide an overpass for more elevation change. These plans also fit nicely on one 5 x 9-foot ping-pong tabletop but they can be expanded in length by adding four sets of straight track sections at the points marked “L” on plans. There’s an index, by size, of all the previously published track plans from Model Car Racing magazine and the four books by Robert Schleicher on our website www.modelcarracingmag.com.

The start-finish line on these plans is located on the longest straight and the turns are numbered from there. Turn T1 is the largest-radius that would fit in the space but there is quick medium-size ess bend through turns T2 and T3. The Figure 8 configuration will help equalize the lengths of each lane because the outer lane at the left becomes the inner lane on the right of the plan.

If you are using Scalextric Sport, Classic or SCX track it should be mounted on 1/8-inch plywood as shown in the May/June 2006 number 27 issue for the portion of the track through the turns T5 and T6. The Carrera and Ninco track joints and the track itself is stiff enough to not need a plywood backing. If you are not using Carrera Digital you will not need lane-changers so the four straights that connect turn T6 could be replaced with a pair of the Carrera 20587 “Crossing” sections to elevate the track.

Digital Racing Systems

There is room on the plans for Scalextric, SCX and Ninco track for three of the double lane-change track sections at “X” on the plan. The Carrera plan indicates two locations for the Digital 132 single-lane changers but these would be better replaced with the number 30347 double lane-changers.

List Of Carrera Track Required 2-Lane Twisted Pines Track On A

5 X 9-Foot Ping-Pong Tabletop:Key Quantity Description

H 2 20577 1/2 Inner Curve R1

S 8 20571 Inner Curve R1

O 9 20572 Middle Curve R2

OO 3 20573 Outer Curve R3

OOO 0 pr. 20578 Outer-Outer Curve R4

E 2 20612 1/4-Straight

D 1 20611 1/3-Straight

B 6 20509 Full-Straight

A 2 20583 Connector Track (analog)

L Track can be expanded in length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here.

T Turns on the model versions of the track18 Model Car Racing

HO Race Tracks for Your Home:

By Robert Schleicher

This Buddh International India Formula 1 Circuit is based on the full-size raceway on pages 15-17 of this issue. This plan mimics the shape of the full-size race track, particularly the tight turns 1 and 3 that bookend the broad turn 2. The portion of the full-size track from turn 5 through turn 16 has, however, been much simplified, but the ess bends through Turns T5 and T7 and T 11 and T13 are there, with an increasing-radius turn through T10 and T11. All of the straights are 15-inch unless marked.

The majority of the HO plans in the magazine squeeze as much track as possible into that 4 x 8-foot area. Any of them would be more enjoyable to race on with the straights longer than the typical six-feet or so. It can be difficult to design a plan for, say, 4 x 16-feet that can be shrunk to fit a 4 x 8-foot area. So we present them all uptight and hope that you’ll expand them to 4 x 10 or 4 x 24-feet to get those wondrous 20-foot straight-aways. Most of the plans are marked with “L” letters indicating just where to insert the additional sets of straight track sections to expand the track to any length.

The Plan For The HO 4-Lane Buddh International India Formula 1 Circuit To Fit A 4 X 8-Foot Area.

Quantity: Description:

0 3-inch Straight

8 6-inch Straight

0 9-inch Straight

18 15-inch Straight

12 6-inch 45-degree Curve

4 9-inch 45-degree Curve

7 9-inch 90-degree Curve

11 12-inch 45-degree Curve

6 15-inch 45-degree Curve

2 18-inch 45-degree Curve

HO AFX 4-Lane Buddh, India F1 Track For A 4 X 8-Foot Tabletop

Model Car Racing 19

Digital Racing:Carrera Digital 132Curved Lane-Changers

By Robert Schleicher

Carrera has added four single lane-changers to their Digital 132 track selection. The track sections can be fitted to some smaller tracks to provide more passing action or they can be used recreate the “racing line” where the full-size cars duck into the inside of the curve.

These Carrera Digital 132 lane-changers can provide a place to install a lane-changer in a track that does not have room for the double-straight-long Carrera straight lane changers.

The Carrera Digital 132 single curved lane changers are available in four sets: right and left and inner-to-outer or outer-to-inner lane-change choices. On a very compact track you might find a place for a set of these because they include the most commonly used standard straight and standard curve. Most tracks have at least one part of the track where a standard-length straight is followed by a standard curve---any of those sets of track can be replaced with the Carrera single curved lane-changer sets. You will, of course, need buy a pair so the cars can change into either lane---if you are only using two you will need to select an outer-to-inner and inner-to-outer pair. If you work with part numbers, always buy a mismatched pair (i.e. 30362 and 30363 or 30362 and 30365). If there is a double lane changer anywhere on track, you can use just one of these curved lane-changers or any combination because that double lane changer will allow you at least one other place to move from either lane to the other lane.

20 Model Car Racing

Carrera offers four configurations of Digital 132 curved lane-changers. Each requires the space of a standard straight and a standard curve. This is the number 30362 left, inside-to-outside set.

The Carrera Digital 132 number 30363 left, outside-to-inside curved lane-changer set.

An example of how the Carrera Digital 132 single curved (30362 left, in-to-out) and 30363 (left, out-to-in) lane-changers and be assembled into 120-degree curve that provides a “racing line” so the car that enters on the inner lane can exit on outer lane and the car that enters on our lane can exit on the inner. The cars would be traveling counterclockwise on this track.

The Carrera Digital 132 number 30364 right, inside-to-outside single curved lane changer.

The Carrera Digital 132 number 30365 right, outside-to-inside single curved lane changer.

An example of how the Carrera Digital 132 single curved (30364 right, inside-to-outside and 30365 right, outside-to-inside) lane-changers and be assembled into 120-degree curve that provides a “racing line” so the car that enters on the inner lane can exit on the outer lane and the car that enters on the outer lane can exit on the inner lane. With this set of lane changers the cars would be racing in a clockwise direction.

The curved lane changers can be located anywhere on the track to replace any set of tracks where a standard straight is followed by a standard curve. Here, the 30362 left, inside-to-outside and 30365 right, outside-to-inside are placed end-to-end lane-changers are assembled to create an ess curve.

Model Car Racing 21

Le Mans:Slot.it 1974 Matra MS670B

By Bill Wright

Matra is virtually unknown in America but, in the seventies, the Matra racers were the French equivalent of Ford’s GT40. Matras won LeMans three years in a row; 1972, 1973 and 1974 as well as the World Manufacturers Championship in 1973 and 1974. Like the GT40s, the three winners MS670 racers were cars built to the same design but with modifications each year to provide marginal speed increases. And, Henri Pescarlo (who would later build his own LeMans cars and, most recently, manage the Peugeot LeMans efforts) drove all three winners, teaming with Graham Hill in 1972, then Gerard Larruse in 1973 and 1974.

The Matra sports-racing cars were the result of a joint effort between mass-producer Simca and race car builder Matra. The MATRA is an acronym for Mechanique Aviation et Traction which was founded by Marcel Chassagny in 1941 during the German occupation of France.

The LeMans winners were powered with 3-liter V-12 engines mounted inline behind the driver. The MS670 retained the basic shape for 1971-74 but there were extensive detail modifications on the cars. In 1972 Matra campaigned both short and long-tailed versions. Only the sides of the car above the rear wheels were extended on the long-tailed 1972 MS670, with the area between them left open back to the transaxle. On the later long-tailed MS670B most of that open area was covered with a deck (like that on the Slot.it model). The short-tailed version won LeMans in 1972, the long tails in 1973 and 1974.

Slot.it is producing replicas of the 1974 Matra MS670B. The first model is decorated to match the number 8 car driven by Bob Wollek, Jean-Paul Jaussaud and Jose Dolhem at LeMans in 1974. Slot.it has also released the winning number 7 car later as part of their historic LeMans Winners Collection.

The Slot.it model has the well-developed sidewinder chassis with a separate motor and rear axle pod. The pod has six mounting screws so the screws can be tightened or loosened to provide an infinite degree of flex or spring for optimum cornering and acceleration as described in the” Six Screw Hop-Up” article in the July/August 2013 number 69 issue (which is also at www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”). The sidewinder chassis and relatively narrow tires should make the model a match for the other “vintage” era Slot.it models like their Ford GT40, McLaren M8D and Chaparral 2E. The tires are quite small, but they were small on these Matras, so they are probably very close to correct 1/32 scale. The rear wheels on the full-size 1974 Matra MS670B were a simple conical design and Slot.it has simulated that look with a bare aluminum wheel with a painted black center---the front wheels have inserts that also match the style of those on the full-size car.

More Information:

Matra website: http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Sportsprototypes/M670.html

MATRA AU MANS, Francois Hurel, published by Editions du Palmere, 192-pages most in color. All in French, but there are full dimensions, all the race results and both drawings and cutaways of all the racing Matra sports cars that appeared at LeMans.

MATRA, LA SAGA 1965-1982, by Jose’ Rosinski, E.T.A.I. publisher. 1997. ISBN: 2-7268-8301-X. In French but all the data and photos of all the cars

Model Car Racing 27

How Fast Out-Of-The-Box?

The Slot.it 1974 Matra MS670B has essentially the same sidewinder chassis as the Slot.it Alfa Romeo 33/3 so the two cars should have nearly identical performance. We Race Track Tested the Slot.it Alfa 33/3 in the November/December 2008 number 42 issue. The lap times and other test results for all of the track tests in the first 72 issues are available on the website www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Model Resources”, then click on the link “Race Car Test Results”.

Lap Time, 36-foot Scalextric Indy F1 Course 4.59 sec.

Lap Time, 36-foot Carrera Indy F1 Course 3.90 sec.

How Fast Magnet-Free?

The Slot.it 1974 Matra MS670B has essentially the same sidewinder chassis as the Slot.it 1967 Ford GT40 so the two cars should have nearly identical performance. We performed a full Race Track Test on the Slot.it 1967 Ford GT40 magnet-free with the downforce magnet removed and silicone rear tires in the July/August 2011 number 58 issue.

Lap Time, 36-foot Scalextric Indy F1 Course 5.24 sec.

Lap Time, 36-foot Carrera Indy F1 Course 4.58 sec.

Gerard Larrousse and Henri Pescarolo driving the number 7 Matra MS670B to win LeMans in 1974---LAT Photo.

The De Tomaso Pantera (this is the Scaleauto model from the May/June 2014 number 75 issue) and Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona (an out-of-production Fly model in the May/June 2004 issue) also competed with the Matras at LeMans in 1974.

28 Model Car Racing

Slot.it has recreated the 1974 MS670B Matra. The first model is decorated to recreate the number 8 car driven by Bob Wollek, Jean-Paul Jaussaud and Jose Dolhem that lost its engine in the eighth hour.

Spec Sheet: Slot.it 1974 Matra MS670B

The Prototype 1/32 Scale Model Slot.it Model

inline mid engine NA sidewinder rear

Length 4,300 mm 134. 3 mm (5.25 in.) 133.4 mm ( 5.25 in.)

Width 2,050 mm 64.1 mm (2.57 in.) 60.4 mm (2.38 in.)

Height NA NA 35.4 mm (1.39 in.)

Wheelbase 2,558 mm 80.9 mm (3.18 in.) 77.9 mm (3.07 in.)

Track, Front 1,525 mm 47.7 mm (1,88 in.)v 44.9 mm (1.77 in.)

Track, Rear 1,500 mm 46.9 mm (1.85 in.) 48.1 mm (1.89 in.)

Tires, Front 13-inch wheels NA 7.8 x 17.1 mm

Tires, Rear 15-inch wheels NA 8.7 x 20.6 mm

Engine 3,000 cc V-12 NA SP Can

Horsepower 450 bhp at 10,500 rpm NA NA

Weight 630 kg. NA 63 grams ( 2 1/4 oz.)

Weight on Front Tires 25 grams (7/8 oz.)

Weight on Rear Tires 38 grams (1 3/8 oz.)

Magnetic Downforce (on Carrera) 90 grams ( 3 1/4 oz.)

Magnetic Downforce (on Scalextric) 115 grams (4 oz.)

Ground Clearance (on Carrera) 0.3 mm (.015 in.)

Ground Clearance (on Scalextric) 0.2 mm( .010 in.)

Pickup Lead (pivot to rear axle) 93.0 mm (3.66 in.)

Gear Ratio 3.27:1 (11/36)

Source: MATRA AU MANS, Francois Hurel

The Slot.it Matra is part of their “vintage” series of cars (including the Ford GT40, McLaren M8D and Chaparral 2E) and, like the other cars in the series, is fitted with a sidewinder motor pod.

There’s a full driver figure but the full-size Matra is so low that the model’s interior interfered with the motor pod so the driver has a very short waist and the floor of the cockpit is not as low as that on the full-size car.

Model Car Racing 29

30 Model Car Racing

Nick Mason, Steve O’Rourke and Richard Down drove this Sauber BMW M1 at LeMans in 1982. The car retired with mechanical difficulties. --- LAT Photo

Model Car Racing 31

Start Here:Matching Pickup Braid To The Brand Of Track (This is a full-contact sport)

By Bill Wright

To be certain that your cars are getting proper electrical contact with the track rails, the braid must be adjusted to match the brand of track. Carrera, Scalextric Classic, SCX original and SCX Universal track all have the metal pickup rails isolated from the slot by thin strips of plastic that form the vertical walls of the slot. Scalextric Sport and Ninco use the metal rails themselves to form the vertical walls on each side of the slot. The pickup braid on the car must be adjusted to match the position of the pickup rails so the braid is not lifted by the edges of the plastic track but remains in contact with the metal rails as shown in the photographs.

There will be more information in the next issue about adjusting the guide shoe and the chassis so the pickup blade rides as deep in the slot as possible.

Slot Depth Rail Height Slot Width SpacingScalextric Sport .270 Flush .098 .098

Ninco .259 .005 .111 .215SCX Original

(& Scalextric Classic) .258 .005 to .015 .113 .113

SCX Universal (grey) .322 Flush .157 .204

Carrera .267 Flush .140 .278

Parma Test Block .405 None .158 None

Each brand of track has a slightly different size of slot width and depth as well metal pickup strip size and the distance between the inner edges of the rails (spacing on the chart): (l. to r. ) Scalextric Sport, Scalextric Classic (or SCX Original), Ninco, SCX Universal, Carrera and the Parma Test Block.

Bad Braid Position! The pickup guide shoe in these photos is the Ninco 80112 Prorace guide with suspension (a coil spring around post). Most other brands have a similar design but without the longer post and coil spring. Here the pickup braid is adjusted flared out to the sides but, on this Scalextric Sport track, the outer edges may only rub on the plastic.

Good Braid Position! The ends of braid must rub the rails and, on Scalextric Sport or Ninco track , the sides of braid can actually be adjusted to rub on the sides of the guide shoe blade as shown.

Good Braid Position! For best electrical contact on Carrera or SCX track, the trailing wire tips of the braid should be spread apart just enough to not touch the tops of the vertical plastic sides of the slot. I have also found it best to shape the ends into a vee when viewed from the rear so the inner edges of the braid contact the rails first.

Bad Braid Position! The braid that is adjusted to be close to the pickup blade may not make proper contact on Carrera (or SCX Universal) track because the plastic edges of the slot can raise the braid enough so the wire tips do not touch the metal pickup rails.

The braid adjustment for Carrera track viewed from the side. The tailing individual wire tips should be bent down at about a 30-degree angle so the tips the wires, rather than sides of the wires, rub on the metal pickup rails.

Model Car Racing 45

Pit Board #76Does The Brand Of Track Affect The Cars’ Speeds?

I like to run magnet cars. I recently purchased a Ninco digital track set. I noticed some of my magnet cars do not run well on this track. Some will not move at all. Should I go to weaker magnets? They ran well on Scalextric track.

Regards, Sanford Friedman

You can expect cars with relatively strong downforce magnets to run slower on the straights but, sometimes, faster through the corners on Ninco track because the Ninco track’s rails are raised a few thousandths of an inch more than Scalextric, putting the rails closer to the downforce magnets, which can double the downforce. So, yes, if you want the same magnet-stuck speed on Ninco track that you have on Scalextric track you will have to use either weaker magnets, or raise them, or fit larger tires (to move the magnets further from the pickup rails).

1/43 Scale Racing As A Hobby Thanks for including coverage of 1/43 scale track and plans in the March/April 2014 number 74 issue. Although I have space to collect 1/32 scale slot cars, 1/43 has become the operating track scale choice for me. With Kyosho expanding to include adjustable chassis in 1/43 scale permitting use of existing 1/43 static model and aftermarket bodies, chassis builders like Tecno Slot, as well as the items by Carrera and SCX, 1/43 scale might gain a bigger role in the hobby.

Sincerely, Art Bailey

Today, 1/43 scale is in about the position that 1/32 scale was 15 years ago, with a limited number of suppliers but high quality products. There are 1/43 scale “hobby” chassis, tires, gears, wheels, motors and bodies available but you have to search for them. The model car racing industry does not keep or collect sales statistics, but our talks with dealers indicate that HO is probably the best-selling size, followed by 1/32 with 1/43 selling much less. If you include the “license” sets like Ninja Turtles, then 1/43 is the best-selling size but those items are not race car sets but toys. If the interest in 1/43 scale racing grows we will include more articles. If you want to build your cars or replace motors, gears and axles, here are three sources:

• American Slot Car World: www.cjent1racing.com/

• Techno-Slot: www.tecno-slot.com/en/1/index.htm

• Proto Slot Kit: www.proto-slot-kit.com/

Lower Digital PowerThe article on the Ninco WiCo in the September/October 2013 number 71 issue (which is also on www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”, Ed) closes with a cautionary note advising not to use anything other than the Ninco 3 amp power supply. I assume this simply repeats the advice of the manufacturer. It would not be correct though to say that only the Ninco 3 amp (digital as it turns out) transformer can be safely used with WiCo.

I have taken the advice that it is possible to quite safely use a regulated power supply source with WiCo without damaging it. The advantage of this is that it is possible to control the voltage supplied to the terminal unit. Significantly it is thereby possible to reduce the voltage to the point where cars are controllable under each of the “beginner” and even the “expert” settings on the terminal. This increases the unit’s functionality and addresses the major concern about the system raised in your page 51 article.

Still enjoying the mag almost 77 issues on. Hope you still enjoy putting it together as much as I do the reading.

Cheers, Bob Bennett, Canberra

When a manufacturer is specific about power supply we do have to honor their request. A regulated power supply with adjustable voltage (like the Professor Motor www.professormotor.com PMTR1400 15 Amp 6-20V Power Supply that is adjustable from 6 to 20 volts DC) is one of the best investments you can make for model car racing but, since the power is adjustable both up and down, there’s a chance you could apply too much rather than too little. Since virtually any model race car made in the last 50 years will run on most tracks there’s always a danger that some of the older cars with motors that require high amperage could (and often do) burn-out a modern controller. The newer controllers with printed circuit boards are usually sensitive to power flow and it would be all too easy to burn-out the controller circuit.

Many digital racing fans have discovered that it is much more enjoyable to drive the digital cars on less than 12 volts. Scalextric’s Digital C7042 Advanced 6-Car Power base offers reduced power (as will the forthcoming RCS system). A regulated power supply is, perhaps, one of the best investments you can make for digital racing because you can turn the power down for better individual car control.

The Unfair AdvantageI appreciated your editorial in the January/February 2014 number 73 issue, “The Unfair Advantage”. The “have and have not” philosophy is aggravating to me, especially when it comes to a hobby that is supposed to be FUN. Of course most of us want to build and/or race cars that are competitive, but to the exclusion of good sportsmanship and friendship? I think not.

For me the best thing about this hobby--besides the joy of building these little cars --is that I’ve been able to learn from some of the best in the world... folks who took a lot of pleasure in sharing their ‘secrets’. Some of my cars are fairly decent (although I am a mediocre racer at best). Sometimes I still build a real turkey! But I am thankful for the tips I’ve received, and I have also had the opportunity to pass on a few of these tips (none original) to others.

Best regards, Mark Huber

Model Car Racing, as a hobby and as a magazine, is about racing. Racing certainly implies competition but not, necessarily, the concept of a winner and a loser. I do not like some of the implications of the term “personal best” but it does describe the one constant in racing---you can only do the best you can do (as both a race car mechanic and a driver). And, you certainly have the choice of gathering a bit more fun at the expense of a lot more tension if you decide to enjoy the race rather than attacking it.

New To The Hobby? There’s more information on page 45 of this issue. There are some basic tune-up tips that are needed for every model race car on our website www.modelcarracingmag.com under the “New to the hobby?” link. There are 13 tips including: How To Get Started in Model Car Racing, Two Driving Techniques, Perfect Pickup Braid, Tire Mounting, Cleaning Track Rails, Cleaning Track, Avoiding Disaster: Oil & Grease, Controllers, Race Program Set Up: Color Coding & Racing classes, Reliable Wires, Chassis Set Up, Carrera Guide Shoe Mods. There’s lots more you can do, including changing to silicone rear tires with better grip, loosening the body-to-chassis screws and more.

Model Car Racing 49

California, Los Angeles (Glendale): OTHG – Farrout Slot Car Club. Contact Stephen Farr-Jones (818) 260 9192, sfarrjones@earthlink.net website: http://www.farroutslotcars.com/

California, Fresno area: Insane SCRC, Joe Cabral Joe_Cabral@comcast.net

California, North San Diego County: Nomad Slot Racing Club, Jim Cunningham (760)492-4619 Nomad2Race@cox.net www.NomadSlotRacing.com

California, North San Diego County, Escondido - “The Slot Outlaws” 760-747-4511 or email: rick_houston@hotmail.com

California, San Jose area: Devin Mauldin web@flyinghump.com

California, South Bay (Los Angeles): Stan Smith (310)812-1866 stan.dsmith@tw.com

California, South Bay (Los Angeles): ITG - In The Groove Slot Car racing, 324 W. Florence Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301. Contact: Marc Natividad (310) 200-6300. ftnzguru@aol.com

Colorado, Denver area: Rocky Mountain Slot Car Club (RMSSC) http://rmscclub.proboards.com/index.cgi

Colorado, Denver Area, Colorado Slot car Club, contact: http://coslotcarclub.proboards.com/

Colorado, Denver area: Front Range Vintage Slotcar and Historical Racing Club, http://monovell.proboards.com/index.cgi

D.C., Washington area: The Capital Racing League, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tcrl, contact: Warsteiner42@aol.com

D.C., Washington area (Alexandria): Classic Slot Car Association (CSSA), John Roberts, (703) 582-5504, jonrob-1@msn.com

D.C., Washington Metro area: Old Dominion Slot Car Club, 5322 Graystone Rd., Warrenton, VA 20187, contact: Chris Bowles (540)341-1405 or, info@nascarslots.com , www.nascarslots.com or www.metalracer.com

Illinois, Central area: Hotslots 1/32 Slot Car Shop, 1809 A. Philo Road, Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 355-2277, info@hotslots132.com

Illinois, Chicago area: Bolingbrook Speedway, Karl Staehlin, karlstaehlin@gmail.com

Illinois, Chicago area: Great Lakes Slot Car Club, contact: www.greatlakesscc.com

Illinois, Chicago Area: JYD Racing, contact www.toys4slots.com

Illinois, Peoria/ Metamora area: Peoria Model Car Raceway, (309)573-1027, historybuff.stange@gmail.com, (309)712-3299 butterbean722004@yahoo.com

Indiana, Indianapolis area: (Jeremy Dunning) jeremydunning@hotmail.com

Indiana, Terre Haute area: Otter Creek Slot Racing Association, Bob Redman rredman427@aol.com

Iowa, Cedar Rapids area: Iowa Model Area Racers, http://imar.us/

Indiana, Fort Wayne area: Wallace Dale Monroe, wallmonroe@aol.com

Iowa, Cedar Rapids area: ERASR (Ecurie Road America Scale Racers) Art (319)626-6374

Iowa, Swisher area: IMAR (Iowa Model Auto Racing), Jerry Hightshoe lowboot2@hotmail.com

Kentucky, Louisville area: Derby City Slot Car Club, www.derbycityslotcarclub.proboards.com/  Mark@derbycityspeedway.com

Louisiana, Lake Charles area: Lake Area Slot Car Auto Racing, Julian Guillory, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LASCAR

Maryland, Baltimore area: (Allan Schwartz) compass@bellatlantic.net

Michigan, Grand Rapids area: Rivershore International Raceway, Alto, Michigan, Stephen Thomas, (616) 891-1632. email: sbbthomas@aol.com

Michigan, Kalamazoo area: West Michigan Slot Car Group, John Lacko (269) 344-5588, jalacko@aol.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/205657316120426/

Missouri, St. Louis area: (Carl Shorle) gsra@swbell.net

Missouri, St. Louis area: Monaco Grand Prix Miniature Racing Club, www.mgpmrc.org, email: mgpmrc@mgpmrc.org

New York, Watkins Glen area: The Slot Car Club Of The Twin Tiers, Contact: Frank Spena, Jr., sccottt1@yahoo.com

North Carolina, Winston-Salem area: Road America Racers, King City, North Carolina, Tom Brooks, (336) 985-3867 or mrnova@alltel.net

Ohio, Columbus area: 1/32 Slot Car Racers of Central Ohio, Randy Horton, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1-32SlotCarRacersOfCentralOhio

Oregon, Portland area: Beaverton Area Slot Car Club (B.A.S.C.C.),15430 SW Gull Ct., Beaverton, Oregon 97007, 503-330-6907

Pennsylvania, Allentown-Reading area: Allen & Allen Motor Speedway Racing, (610) 520-7247, Jallenenterprises@verizon.net

Pennsylvania, Chambersburg area. Sherman Collings modelersc@comcast.net (717) 377-1435

Pennsylvania, Harrisburg area: Homestead Speedway, Landisville, Pennsylvania. Ken Falco at KFalco@Studio5architects.com

Pennsylvania, Manheim area: D & B Raceways, Don Noll don_nll@yahoo.com

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area: Mt. Airy Racing Association, Herbert Bigelow (215) 868-4464, herb310@juno.com

Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre Area: NEPA Slot Car Club,

570-903-9182, nepaslotcars.com

Pennsylvania, Wyoming Valley Area: Wyoming Valley Slot Car Association, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, wvsca.blogspot.com

Texas, Eastern area: East Texas Slot Car Association, Tyler , TX 75771, (903)882 0965 ETXSCA@hotmail.com

Texas, Houston (Northwest Harris County): Houston Scale Auto Racing Club (HSARC), www.hsarc.net, (281)807-4026.

Northern Virginia-Metro DC area: Northern Virginia Digital Slot Racers, contact: Hayes Lewis, hayeslewis@yahoo.com

Vermont, Burlington area: Burlington Slot Dorks, Daniel, aircooled@pbfoot.com

Williamsburg Virginia area: The Barn Burners” Contact: Joseph Brimer vagators@yahoo.com

Washington, Auburn area: Rainier Raceways, Greg Gaub ggaub@ggaub.com

Washington, Seattle/Tacoma area: PSSRA (Puget Sound Slot Car Racing Association) http://pssra.webhop.net/ or Tony Kuljis, kuljis2@msn.com

Washington, Seattle/Tacoma area: NMRL (Northwest Model Racing League). John MacKenzie (206)295-9980, jicemanmac@msn.com

Toronto, Canada area: Scale Sloters 1/32, chris.w@rogers.com

Vancouver, Canada area: (Luf Linkert) luf@telus.net

1/24 scale racing clubs:

Oregon, Eugene area: Pelican Park Speedway (541)349-0917 htm210@comcast.

Digital Racing Clubs:

Ohio, Mansfield area: Mid-Ohio 1/32 Scale Racing Club, chorp@ohio.net, John Chorpening (419) 289-6563

Northern Virginia-Metro DC area: Northern Virginia Digital Slot Racers, contact: Hayes Lewis, hayeslewis@yahoo.com

Arizona, Phoenix area: http://ahora.homestead.com/ahora.html

California, Bay area: San Francisco HO Racing Association, www.sfhora.org/home.html

California, Bay area: M.S.C.R.C. - Model Slot Car Racing Club www.mscrc.orgemail: info@mscrc.org

California, Bay area: Shaunadega Racing www.shaunadega.com

California, South Bay (Los Angeles): ITG - In The Groove Slot Car racing, 324 W. Florence Ave.

Inglewood, CA 90301. Contact: Marc Natividad (310) 200-6300. ftnzguru@aol.com

Colorado, Denver area: Front Range HO (FRHO) club. http://www.scaleracers.com/FrontRangeHO/default.asp

Illinois, Chicago area: http: nitro-racing.4t.com/

Indiana, Fort Wayne area: Wallace Monroe, wallmonroe@aol.com

Kentucky / Virginia area: http://www.thunderjetracing.com/

Michigan, Lansing area: NASAR, Richard Leeper (517) 290-9952 or lansingNASAR@myway.com

Missouri, Kansas City area: http://home.kc.rr.com/jhabernal/mahor/

Missouri, St. Louis area: gsra@swbell.net

Ohio, Columbus area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colohhoscc/messages

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area: http://vintagehoracing.mr-bigstuff.com/

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area: Mt. Airy Racing Association, Herbert Bigelow (215) 868-4464, herb310@juno.com

Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre Area: NEPA Slot Car Club, 570-903-9182, nepaslotcars.com

Winston-Salem/Greenville, South Carolina area: Upstate HO Slot Car Club, 403 Hill Lane, Mauldin, SC 29662 (864)967-7865 Richard Tabb at mrnova@alltel.net or Steve Lorch at youneedjesus@juno.com

United Kingdom, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Burning Rubber, www.burningrubber.net

HO Clubs: The majority of HO racing on a club level in the US is home sectional tracks, using hard bodies and largely stock equipment. The majority are Thunderjet focused, although many do run the Life-Like, Auto World, Playing Mantis, G-Plus and Mattel/Tyco cars, these mass produced magnet cars tend to be utilized by small round robin groups by invitation or as groups of friends.

There are some excellent clubs across the US racing basically stock hardshell T-Jet cars for the most part on sectional home tracks. This is only a partial listing. If you have an active group racing hard-bodied T-Jet-style cars, let us know.

Most model car racers prefer to race at home on their own tracks with a few friends. There are hundreds of model car racing clubs in the world but some of them are groups who race very highly modified cars on tracks routed from wood or PVC. The model racing cars you see on the pages of this magazine are all designed to be raced on plastic tracks (although they can be raced on most wood or PVC tracks) from Scalextric, Sport, Carrera, NINCO, SCX, Riggen or Artin or the older Strombecker, Revell or Monogram tracks 1/32 scale tracks or Tomy AFX or Mattel/Tyco HO tracks.

The clubs that are listed here are groups whose main interest is to race out-of-the box cars and mostly on plastic tracks (although the club may also race on one or two hand-routed wood or PVC tracks). The group may have a modified class where extra magnets are allowed

or different bodies. We try to NOT list the clubs that primarily race cars with hand-made metal chassis and clear plastic bodies---those clubs are listed on various internet sites or you can find most of them through the Old Weird Harold site at http://www.oldweirdherald.com.

There are hundreds of dealers in the country that have operating tracks in the store. We cannot list them all, but you can contact the ones in your area from the list of dealers that carry Model Car Racing magazine www.modelcarracingmag.com.

If your group races out-of-the-box 1/32 scale or HO scale cars, with only occasionally events for modified cars) send us the information at www.modelcarracingmag.com and we’ll try to include your club in the next issue.

Club Directory

50 Model Car Racing

Your Tracks:Pete Shepherd’s 4 ½ X 13-Foot CarreraCuckoo Pines RacewayPete Shepherd’s Cuckoo Pines 4 ½ x 13-foot two-lane Carrera track is painted to match the traction provided by the surfaces of 1/32 scale wood tracks. The track is detailed and landscaped to recreate what a West Coast SCCA track might have looked like in the sixties. The track, like Dave Wisdom’s 12 x 18-foot wood Forest Hall Circuit in the March/April 2014 number 74 issue (also on www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”) has been the host to a number of Proxy races including the first round of the 2013 Grand Prix de Montana Proxy Slot Car series for Formula One cars that competed between the years 1966 and 1968.

By Pete Shepherd

The Cuckoo Pines track is detailed to represent a typical 1960’s California SCCA type track. I mainly run production sports and GT cars based on 50’s and 60’s SCCA cars. Most of the cars are built by me and I try to use appropriate powered motors for each car, for example the Sprites and Spitfire use BWA 14k motors but the TR4 and MGB use 18k motors, so the smaller cars will be somewhat slower. I run a few races on the track with friends, mainly cars like the ones in the pictures but also Trans-Am, 50’s GP cars and a few more. I’ve also run a few proxy races on the track and would like to do more.

The track is Carrera and is painted with aerosol acrylic primer undercoat and then latex paint applied with a roller.

The painted surface has improved the grip considerably.

The painted surface also matches that on several of wood tracks that are part of our racing group so the same tires work equally well on both wood and plastic tracks.

I use a Scalextric 12-volt transformer for each lane and each lane has home made power taps to four places on the track rails to keep the power equal all around the track.

The scenery was completed by myself with some help from my wife. The rocks are formed with plaster bandages and then painted. I’ve used laminate flooring underlay to form the base for the flat scenery because it is easy to pierce (for figures with pins in their feet) and it is virtually the same thickness as the track so it also acts as a track border.

76

List Of Carrera Track Required For Pete Shepherd’s 2-Lane Carrera Cuckoo Pines Raceway On A 4 ½ X 13-Foot Tabletop

Key Quantity Description

H 2 20577 1/2 Inner Curve R1

S 12 20571 Inner Curve R1

O 3 20572 Middle Curve R2

OO 3 20573 Outer Curve R3

OOO I pr. (2) 20578 Outer-Outer Curve R4

E 3 20612 1/4-Straight

D 3 20611 1/3-Straight

B 19 20509 Full-Straight

A 1 20583 Connector Track (analog)

Model Car Racing 51

Pete uses two of Carrera 20517 crossovers (Carrera calls them “Lane Changers”) to help equalize the lane lengths. However, for club racing, conventional straight track sections are inserted because each driver spends an equal amount of racing time on each lane.

The photos include a counterclockwise quick lap around the track starting at the pit and control tower area.

The control tower and pits are scratchbuilt from sheet styrene, assembled by one of the club members.

Most of the figures are Monogram with a few Eldon and Strombecker and all have their bases cut off and dress making pins inserted to plug them into the scenery.

The pits buildings were copied from Monogram’s kits. The pit area is superdetailed with tire marks made by dry-brushing dark grey latex paint.

The press tower is scratchbuilt from 1/8-inch square styrene strips with .020-inch styrene sheet for the walls and signs.

Rejected 1/32 scale tires are cut in half and painted white to recreate the buried tires that lined many of the corners on many race tracks in America. The tar-patched concrete is simulated with black paint.

52 Model Car Racing

The Morgan 4/4 is a Slot Classics cast-resin body and the Triumph TR3 a Lindberg static model body (both with scratchbuilt chassis) and the yellow Lotus 7 is a modified Scalextric Caterham model.

The scrutineering building is an old Scalextric model with additional strip styrene railings and roof.

Model Car Racing 53

Pete’s favorite racing class is for production sports and GT cars based on 50’s and 60’s SCCA cars. Most of the cars utilize static model bodies with scratchbuilt brass chassis or Pendle chassis (like the PCS1 used for the Ferrari 166MM on pages 8-14). The cars are powered by motors that best simulate their performance; for example the Sprites and Spitfire use BWA (www.darthobbies.com) 14k motors but the TR4 and MGB use 18k motors.

54 Model Car Racing

New Stuff

Penelope Pitlane (www.penelopepitlane.co.uk/) is now shipping a cast-resin body kit to recreate the 1970 Matra MS120J that P. Beltoise drove to two podium finishes and Pescarlo drove to another podium finish in 1970. Matra finished sixth overall in the 1970 Formula 1 World Championship. The wedge-shaped body provided most of the downforce with more being effected by the tabs on the nose and the rear wing.

The kit includes a lightweight precision-molded resin body, rear wing, driver’s arms/shoulders and head, vac-formed screen, white metal mirrors, front upper wishbones, roll over hoop and air filter, sponsors decals and 40 black numbers. This kit is designed to accept Penelope Pitlane’s SM1s chassis, SRWS front wheels and SRWL rear wheels. You will also need Scalextric 70’s F1 tires or Ortman 37 slick/37c ribbed for the front and rear 36c slick/36a ribbed tires. The Ortmanns are available from R S Slotracing (www.rsslotracing.com/).

The Racer “Silverline” Datsun 240Z

is now available painted and detailed to match the car that John Morton drove to win the 1971 SCCA D Production class and team mate Dan Parkinson’s car. The 1/30 scale models are hand-made with cast-resin bodies and etched detail parts with Slot.it motors and wheels.

SL18A - BRE Datsun 240Z #46 SCCA C Production 1971 winner - J. Morton

SL18B - BRE Datsun 240Z #3 SCCA C Production 1971 - D. Parkinson

Slot.it’s LeMans-Winning 1974 Matra MD670B

Slot.it will ship their replica of the number 7 Matra MS670B that won LeMans in 1974, driven by Henri Pescarolo and Gerard Larruse, in November---there’s a photograph of the full-size car on page 28 with photos of the Slot.itmodel of the number 8 Matra. The LeMans winning car had a green front splitter, green side panels and wing supports (the number 8 car’s were red).

Cast-Resin Body Kit: 1970 Matra MS120J

Model Car Racing 55

Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Round 2, LLC. Willys is a trademark of Chrysler Group LLC and is used under license. © Chrysler Group LLC 2014. Chrysler, Dodge and related logos, vehicle model names and trade dresses are trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC and used under license by Round2 LLC. ©2014 Chrysler. GENERAL MOTORS Trademarks used under license to Round 2, LLC. Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Round 2, LLC. Richard Petty items officially licensed by Petty Marketing Company, LLC. The Richard Petty name, signature and silhouette are exclusive trademarks of Petty Marketing Company, LLC. Buddy BakerTM is a trademark of Buddy Baker, licensed by CMG Worldwide. www.BuddyBaker.com. The Buddy Baker name, signature and silhouette are exclusive trademarks of Buddy Baker. X-TRACTION is registered trademark of Round 2, LLC. AW AUTO WORLD and design is a registered trademark of Round 2, LLC. ©2014 Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628 USA. Product and packaging designed in the USA. Made in China. All rights reserved.

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