Fun in The Heartland: Community Gets Slot Car Fever

In Stacyville, Iowa, you'll find that cars and racing go together, but for one group of guys, it's taken on new meaning. At Gerb's Bar & Grill, owner Jerry Gerbig thought slot car racing might make for a fun and interesting diversion for his patrons (and their kids, judging from the photo) instituting a 12-week racing season that has attracted about 10-15 participants on racing nights.

Races last about 50 laps, with time trials begining at 8 and racing starting at 8:30. The track utilizes a digital system that can handle up to 6 cars - with each racer paying a $4 entry fee on race night.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell County Press News.

"We see guys as young as fourth grade and as old as 50 racing," says race Chris Adams. "Also, we don't have the young guys race separate from the older guys. Everyone is mixed together."

I would guess here that the atmosphere at Gerb's is more like a neighborhood restaurant or English Pub than your typical bar and grill, so those who might raise eyebrows at kids racing in such an environment can probably rest easy. In any case, bringing young and old together to race slot cars can never be a bad thing!

Read more on the story HERE.

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Video: How to be...The Model Dad.

Yeah - this video is kind of silly - but in a good way. Truth be told, a lot of us probably ARE this dad....but involving your kids in your hobby is a great way to build a strong family relationship and ensure that your children are doing something other than playing video games.

Thanks to Modelzone.uk for posting this on YouTube.

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Newest Track: The Schweizering - Part Four

Over the last few weeks, I have been back at work on the track, switching mostly to the elevated, curvy sections opposite the "old city." Been laying a lot of plaster cloth and shaping some banks, hills and mountainous areas in the small space available; looks like a snow storm hit right now, but the painting and scenic work will come soon enough.


This being the Alps, I did want to add a "tunnel." I was going to originally have the track drive through a different tunnel, up along the wall, but the only suitable spot for that was where the shaped "riser" track sections are set end-to-end, to make an "up-and-up" straight going towards the top of the hill climb. Visually, this is a point of interest, and I didn't want to hide it under cardboard and plaster.


I instead have opted for a "scenic" tunnel, similar in concept to what he did at the upper corners of one of his older layouts (I forget which one). This is on a lower section of track, appearing to run off the main road and under the upper back straight. I'll probably drop a safety car there at the tunnel entrance, along with some sort of barrier and a policeman or two; I'm pretty happy with it so far.



Overall, I must say I like the way the plaster forms "firm up" the track as a whole and make the structure more solid and substantial. Yet it seems there is so much more to do...once I finish the plaster work and get the some basic painting done, I can finish filling/painting the track surface and get some copper tape down over the rails. I test ran cars for a while before I finally settled on this layout, but I want to get some cars back on the track and running again!

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Beautiful New Peugeot from Avant Slot

Just came across this for sale on the Spanish site Todoslot - via a post on Twitter - the 2010 Oreca Matmut Peugeot. Definitely a sharp, colorful livery that I know a lot of sloters would like to put on the track.

PHOTO CREDIT: Todoslot.es.

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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.

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