Twitter to get "X"d out - Moving to Instagram

Even from the beginning, Twitter (now "X") has not been the best place to post content - at least not for slot car enthusiasts. There were enough accounts to make it worthwhile, but as time has gone on, fewer and fewer of them have bothered to post content there. The most prolific posters seemed to be several Japanese commercial tracks and stores, which always offered the challenge of translating whatever text content accompanied their (often beautiful) photography.

As a result, I've finally decided to post whatever additional content I have over on Instagram. I had opened an account not too long ago, but had only posted a handful of photos - as much a placeholder as anything else. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a number of folks in the slot car community are already on there - so I'm thinking this will be worth the effort.

Another factor in this decision was the fact that the owner of so-called "X" has generally ruined what was once a fun and engaging platform. I had accounts for several of my areas of interest in addition to slot cars. But the final nail in the coffin was when they removed the ability to post "latest tweets" onto your web page, which was an important component of my site's home page. In any case, while I am not deleting the "X" account, I will no longer post anything new there...I haven't been doing that for a while, anyway.  My next task is to delete references to Twitter on my web page and YouTube videos, and replace them with links to Instagram. The instagram page is at: https://www.instagram.com/slotjournal/

SJ EPISODE 4: Tower Times Part 3 and the Bare Truth...

In Episode #4, we continue with our Tower Project by cutting windows, adding some paint, adding some trim and planning for the interior details. Then we look at a couple of Group 5 Cars that joined the Garage. As I mentioned before, they are not my favorites in terms of beauty, but as a group they do have their charms. I suspect they will be good performers, too.

    Finally, we'll finish by highlighting a YouTuber who's clearly won the [brass] pole position by shooting his videos in a strip club! Not really...but the concept of using a fun viortual background shows some real creativity. Best of all, the slot car content is really useful. Be sure to check it out!  The Video is HERE:

SJ on Live Chat Night on Conquest Racing Channel

I really enjoyed the opportunity to join Rahul, Marty and Jorge on their recent Monday Night Livestream on the Conquest Racing Channel. Rahul and Jorge had graciously reached out to me the previous week, but the timing was not great as that particular Monday night I would have had to leave early. As it was, we were able to get together this week and talk about slot car stuff - not only my personal history in the hobby, but bigger issues like where the hobby was going, what kind of content is needed and how the slot car community's YouTubers can help each other.

Overall, it was a really fun night - the stream chat was pretty lively and, as always, filled with good ideas, helpful info and plenty of humor. It's really nice how these three guys invite both long-time hobbyists and relative newcomers to this weekly YouTube forum to talk about interesting and fun topics, from scratch building, track design and scenery to producing creative videos and growing the hobby. It's a very positive environment and a great ting for our hobby. Be sure to check in on a Monday night and join the discussion on Conquest Racing Club Channel.

 

 

Cleveland Slot Car Show: Big Crowds...Old Crowds...and a Nice Haul.

 As long as I've collected slot cars, I've never been to a slot car show...so I was keen to drive up toward Cleveland this past weekend to check out the Cleveland Slot Car Show. Organized by the Model Motoring Club, the show primarily features HO stuff - but there was plenty of eye candy for 1:32 fans like me, and I managed to pick up some nice cars at some nice prices.

I was surprised how many were in attendance, as the main parking lot at the Quality Inn was completely full. There was a large overflow lot on the south side of the hotel, and it was almost full as well. I paid my $5 admission fee (also gets you a raffle ticket) and entered the main hall, which was full of people carefully moving up and down the aisles, trying to keep out of each other's way and scrutinizing all the cool stuff that was for sale. Local retailer Bad L's Hobby had some nice 1:32 cars available, and I snatched up a 5th Scalextric Mini for my collection. I don't normally buy that type of car, but they are so much fun to drive that I have wanted to get one for every member of the family.

There was a dealer at the back of the hall that really caught my eye - with a big selection of classic Fly, Slot.It, Ninco, SCX and Scalextric cars - as well as some collector special editions and other odd-and-ends, like those over-scale Vanquish cars. Discounts on purchases of 2 were eagerly applied and a LOT of people were sorting through what was available. My last purchase was an orange Carrera Hemi Cuda, that though gently used, was about half the price you'd find for a similar car on eBay. Finally, that GTO I was given as a gift many years ago has something to race against!

As I left, I scanned the crowd and one thing was clearly evident: this hobby is aging, for sure. I'm certainly no young buck, but the vast majority of the people here were males between 55-70+ years old. In such close quarters, I reflected for a brief moment that it was probably a good place to catch a case of COVID...but not hearing an excess of coughing, hacking or other old man sounds, I happily carried on. When I got out to the parking lot, some guys had a grill set up behind their pickup and were looking over their purchases and cooking up some lunch, like they were in the Muny lot before a Browns game (without the drunkeness or fighting). All in all, it was a fun time and definitely worth the drive.

Slot Journal Now has a Store with Cool Gear!

It's just a start, but Slot Journal has just set up a new shop where you can get some cool gear to express your love for the hobby. For now, the designs feature our SLOT Journal logo on T-shirts and other apparel, drinkware and various cool items. You'll find a link to the store at the top of our web pages.

As time goes on, we'll be adding some additional gear, with slick slot car-themed designs on the back of Tees and some other ideas that we're coming up with. We've chosen Zazzle as out supplier since we've had good experiences with them in terms of quality and delivery.

Of course, we developed the store mostly for fun--not to make money. We plan on getting some of these items for our own use and also to have some things available as give-aways and prizes. So be sure to check the stuff out and if so moved, get yourself something. It's a great way to let others know that you're serious about slot cars!

Now Hear This! And Watch, too...

Most of us in the Slot Car community tune in to hear the latest news each Friday from Dave Kennedy. Though he's recently undergone some medical procedures and is still recovering (successfully, it seems!) Dave is still taking some extra time to drop in on various chats and keeping us up on what;s happening. Inspired by the President's annual State of The Union address, Dave decided to take a few minutes to talk about what's happening in the hobby--the good and the not-so-good (it's mostly good) as well as where things seem to be heading.

Along the way, he offers some insights about digital, how track scenery adds to the hobby and its enjoyment, the rise of 3D printing and cottage-industry manufacturers, and some other topics of interest that will be sure to capture your attention. As always, his observations are grounded in real industry experience, practicality and common sense. Check it out!

Flashback: When the BBC Highlighted a $300k Slot Car Track

Apparently this video was from some years ago - but I believe it's the first time I happened to come across it. This was an offering from the US luxury department store chain Neiman-Marcus. The slot-car track was created by Slot Mods USA (no surprise there) that has designed tracks for people like Jay Leno and racer Bobby Rahal.

 

The build also included pit crews, buildings, trees, grandstands and even aluminium Armco barriers. For the price, the custom track also featured the kind of electronics typically reserved for the real thing. While most of us will never be able to afford to buy something like this, it's a great source of inspiration for those scenic maters who like to create this type of thing on a more modest level.  Check out the video HERE.

TV News: Childhood Classics Making a Comeback

It's always good to see the slot car hobby get some recognition, and this has certainly been the case during the Pandemic, where so many people have been forced to stay home and indulge in activities by themselves or with other family members. As a result, many have discovered the fun of slot cars for their kids, or rediscovered the fun they have to offer as adults looking for a great way to pass the time.

Like many manufacturers, Carrera has seen a recent boom in sales.

WPRI-TV in Providence, RI recently featured a segment that included an interview with Carrera of America president Frank Tiessen, where he discusses the importance of family time, screen-free play, and the resurgence of nostalgic games and toys. Carerra has been celebrating their 55th year of manufacturing, and has seen a solid resurgence in sales over the past year. Check out this interview from WPRI's The Rhode Show.

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.

All in The Family: Visit Shamrock Stadium

Came a cross this nice article from the online newspaper in Kokomo, IN, featuring a local music and comedy performer who shares his love of the slot car hobby with his son. Alan Kaye got into the 1/32 hobby back in 2009, and has built not only a nice collection of about 70 cars, but a very sharp track that he has dubbed "Shamrock Stadium" as a tribute to his Irish roots.

For Alan Kaye, slot car racing is a father & son endeavor.

Remembering how popular the hobby was back in the 1960's, Alan explains in the article how he got back into the hobby when an old friend returned from living in the Southwest. He brought some of his cars back with him, and Alan found that he was hooked once again. As his own car collection grew, he started buying more track and eventually created his own scenic wonder, filled with figures, buildings and broadcast booths.

Another view of Shamrock Stadium

Alan's adult son has been bitten by the bug as well. He's started collecting on his own and intends to build a track at his home, too. While COVID has temporarily ended having guests over to race, Alan continues to hone his skills by racing against a timer. The break in action has also given him an opportunity to painting his racing room and modifying his track.

For the complete article, click HERE. 

Slot Cars Carry On During COVID

While the COVID-19 crisis has been a challenge for many businesses, some shops are thriving like never before. With so many folks now spending more time at home, traditional hobbies such as slot car modelling and racing are making a comeback, according to Carrera of America. Familiar to slot car enthusiasts everywhere, Carrera of America has been around for over 55 years and is based in East Brunswick, NJ.

Carrera makes a wide range of cars in several scales.

The distributor started seeing an increase in activity last March, as people began to be home-bound. After blowing through their inventory in a month, they were finally able to get re-stocked by the factory in May. August was their biggest sales month of all.

More on the story can be found HERE. It's good to know that our hobby manages to survive and even thrive a little. The article also includes a nice introduction to slot cars in general. 

Slot Cars Make Jalopnik's Best Car Toys List

Number Seven? Really? Well, we all know better - but it was nice to see our favorite car blog - Jalopnik - point out that slot cars make great holiday gifts. The bit features a nice photo of Jim Harlan's incredible White Lake Formula 1 Ring, which they have covered before and has to be one of the nicest tracks anywhere.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jalopnik.com.

"Why Santa Should Bring You One: There are more realistic driving experiences to be had than a slot car track, and some people would dare say there's no point now that you can race the 'Ring when you're 8 in your footie pajamas. Those people hate (in this order): cars, Christmas, America, Jesus, freedom. There's something visceral and fantastic about cooking a slot car in sharp corner and watching it careen off the track and into the cat. You don't get that with a video game."

True enough, although today's cars are a lot less likely to go flying off the track than the Eldons and Strombeckers of yesteryear. Whatever you think, it's nice to see slot car racing get some good publicity!

A Story of Boys and Their Car Toys

I came across this rather touching observation in the Toronto Globe and Mail by columnist Peter Cheney, who looks back at his boyhood love affair with cars and why the "pretend world" of models and toys was often superior to his adult automotive experiences.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Globe and Mail.com.

In the article, Cheney explains that the models and toys he enjoyed as a child represented an idealized version of real sports cars. Later--as an adult--he had several opportunities to drive or own the real thing, and discovered that they never quite lived up to what he had imagined as a child. From slot cars and Hot Wheels to model XKEs and pedal cars, he paints a nostalgic picture to which men of almost any age can relate.

"I couldn't fit in the cars, but these were some of the greatest driving experiences of my life. I was lost in my own childhood world of speed – my days were spent working on lap times, repairing shattered cars and building ever-more elaborate tracks, including a miniature Monza with a banked curve that wrapped around the furnace."

The article really does a great job of explaining the incredible "pull" of this hobby and why more and more grown men can be found playing with toy cars. I recommend reading the whole thing HERE.

Ford Brings Slot Cars to LA Auto Show

When the hobby can get exposure like this at a major event like the International L.A. Auto Show, it can only be a good thing. Ford brought this custom track to the show so the attendees (including journalists and other industry professionals) could have some fun, and it seems they did.

PHOTO CREDITS: jalponik.com.

The photos of the impressive display were provided by Jalopnik's Justin Hyde, who indicated that a lot of people seemed to be enjoying themselves - and acting like big kids. Great idea.

If You Look Close Enough, You Can See Slotcars in this Photo

I came across this, uh...interesting...bit -- courtesy of The Sun online. They delivered a nice video and slideshow featuring Page 3 beauties Sam and Mel, showing off Scalextric's Quantum of Solace race set. Though the set nor the photo feature are new, I hadn't seen them before, so I thought I'd post a photo here.

PHOTO CREDIT: thesun.co.uk.

To see the rest of the photo slide show, and an accompanying video - check it out here. Who says slot cars aren't sexy?