Pandemic Positives: Worldwide Slot Car Chat

 I know there hasn't been much good about the COVID-19 pandemic, aside from some hobbyists having more time to devote to some of their track and car building projects, but one thing I came across that has been a great source of information and enjoyment is the weekly Worldwide Slot Car Chat, hosted by Greg Gaub on his YouTube channel. Each week, since last April, Greg has been setting up a Zoom meeting for slot car enthusiasts from around the world to share their projects, tips, advice and experiences in an open forum that's fun and extremely informative.

The weekly Zoom slot car chat has visitors from all over the world.

And when he calls it "worldwide" - it's exactly that. Among the "regulars" and weekly visitors are hobbyists from Britain, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, All over the EU (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands and more) as well as throughout the U.S. (even Hawaii)! Likewise, the level of experience and the range of specific interests adds to the enjoyment here. There are old-school modellers and racers who started as kids back in the 1960's, people who came into the hobby later in life who have created awesome tracks and built large collections, and relative newcomers who have lots of enthusiasm and lots of questions.

Like all the best online resources and gathering places, the discussions are helpful, positive and often fascinating, as everyone shares their unique perspectives and thoughts on how they enjoy the slot car hobby. While a dozen or more participants will appear on-camera, there are many other who just join in to talk sans video or just listen in. You'll find that some folks are more into car building, some into track building and scenery, many are into racing of various types and some just enjoy collecting. Whatever you're into, you'll find something of interest here, like:

3D Modelling and Printing
Track Building
Car / Chassis Design & Construction
Slot Car Manufacturers
Hobby History & Development
Racing Tips & Club Activities
Molding, Casting & Scenery Construction
Sources for Hobby Products & Accessories
Electrical Systems, Controls and Track Timing
...and much more!

I have been binge-watching all the episodes that have been posted over the past year, and I've learned a lot; it's almost like attending Slot Car School! Greg posts meeting times on all the primary slot car forums, so checkout a few episodes and join the fun. Anyone is encouraged to drop in--there's no registration or experience level required to participate, so you can log in, share something about yourself, and feel free to ask questions. You'll be glad you did.