Discussion
Here's a few photos from some racing we did yesterday. This was done at a friend's house, so I had to take all the bits with me to set up a 'rug-racing' track.
Overall view of the circuit:
Start line and pit exit:
Start line and fuel information tower:
Race management/information screen (taken during qualifying mode):
Overall view of the circuit:
Start line and pit exit:
Start line and fuel information tower:
Race management/information screen (taken during qualifying mode):
Laptop serves a number of functions. In race mode, it keeps track of number of laps completed, fastest lap and fuel load, as well as time differences between the cars. In qualifying mode, as shown above, from left to right you have a picture of the car to identify the information, last lap time (top number) and the fastest lap time underneath, fuel gauge, difference to the next fastest car and number of laps completed during qualifying so far.
The fuel management plays a part in both qualifying and racing. In both sessions, more fuel will mean a slower car. As the fuel gets used up, the car gets quicker. In race mode, strategy comes in to play, as if you have a lightly loaded car, yes it will be quicker, but when you come in for refuelling you will need to top up with more fuel to reach the end of the race, and will therefore be stationary in the pits for longer. Also, refuelling can only take place in the pits, and when a car enters the pits, it's top speed is reduced to 40%.
Adds quite a few fun dimensions to racing, developing a race strategy based on the length of the race. Also, if you run out of fuel, your race is over. The car either stops, or can be set to run at half speed to prevent a stationary car getting rammed from behind. In this latter mode, laps are no longer counted for a car that has run out of fuel.
The fuel management plays a part in both qualifying and racing. In both sessions, more fuel will mean a slower car. As the fuel gets used up, the car gets quicker. In race mode, strategy comes in to play, as if you have a lightly loaded car, yes it will be quicker, but when you come in for refuelling you will need to top up with more fuel to reach the end of the race, and will therefore be stationary in the pits for longer. Also, refuelling can only take place in the pits, and when a car enters the pits, it's top speed is reduced to 40%.
Adds quite a few fun dimensions to racing, developing a race strategy based on the length of the race. Also, if you run out of fuel, your race is over. The car either stops, or can be set to run at half speed to prevent a stationary car getting rammed from behind. In this latter mode, laps are no longer counted for a car that has run out of fuel.
Edited by DIW35 on Tuesday 21st July 13:38
I had the beige MK1 Escort, and the green with gold trim 911 Turbo, that matched the black Escort above it... I also have a 962, along with the auber that came with it in the Le Mans set, which is indistinguishable from new.
You still havent enjoyed Scalextric until youve played with banger racing Minis though.....
You still havent enjoyed Scalextric until youve played with banger racing Minis though.....
GC8 said:
For real skill you need pre-Magnatraction; with Minis being the ultimate test of skill...
I had a BMW M3 E30 a long long time ago. Raced it on my Ford RS Cosworth track, complete with banking at one end. Car was magnetless, back end slid off the banking, then the whole car did and it crashed into my bedroom wall, breaking the underside where the guide blades were mounted. 
I do from the old days have an SCX Toyota Celica ST165 in Carlos Sainz Repsol livery though, a 4WD one, which powerslides round every corner. Infact the tyres on it are now almost fully slick on the rear.
Unfortunately my new track and cars are 360 miles away in a friend's house at the moment, so I can't use it very often. 
DIW35 said:
Here's a few photos from some racing we did yesterday. This was done at a friend's house, so I had to take all the bits with me to set up a 'rug-racing' track.
Overall view of the circuit:
Start line and pit exit:
Start line and fuel information tower:
Race management/information screen (taken during qualifying mode):
Where do you get the race management software from ?Overall view of the circuit:
Start line and pit exit:
Start line and fuel information tower:
Race management/information screen (taken during qualifying mode):
How do you connect the race management software to the track ?
Presumably you need a large transformer for the power supply ?
GC8 said:
For real skill you need pre-Magnatraction; with Minis being the ultimate test of skill...
Modern Scalextric cars seem to be more or less glued down at the rear end, but I've found some of the Revell-branded slot cars run much smaller magnets which makes them a lot more interesting to handle - I have a Lotus Cortina which with practice and luck can be power-oversteered out of most corners, and with only one or neither of the above can be crashed on short order.I want to know where the old cars I had when I was young have gone, though. :-( Especially the RS500 Sierra.
This brings back memories... I've got tonnes of the stuff at my parents place.
Got some interesting trackside stuff, including lap counters and the late 70s / early 80's Race management system, which does a similar job to DIW's laptop setup... as well as the original pitstop track and even a Goodwood chicane!
Car wise, my favs were the XJR8s and the 962s - always pretty good fun. Also got some NINCO and FLY models and some Spanish SCX XJR15 thing which was bloody quick. I also have a Scalextrix SRS car, which came with 3 different rear axles so you could "tune" the car to the track. Still boxed, IIRC.
I seem to recall spending a fortune at "J. Dutfield's" shop when I was a kid... we used to have a race series where the person who lived there would design the track
Do people still loosen the body screws to make them more compliant..?
Got some interesting trackside stuff, including lap counters and the late 70s / early 80's Race management system, which does a similar job to DIW's laptop setup... as well as the original pitstop track and even a Goodwood chicane!
Car wise, my favs were the XJR8s and the 962s - always pretty good fun. Also got some NINCO and FLY models and some Spanish SCX XJR15 thing which was bloody quick. I also have a Scalextrix SRS car, which came with 3 different rear axles so you could "tune" the car to the track. Still boxed, IIRC.
I seem to recall spending a fortune at "J. Dutfield's" shop when I was a kid... we used to have a race series where the person who lived there would design the track
Do people still loosen the body screws to make them more compliant..?
Powerkiter said:
Where do you get the race management software from ?
How do you connect the race management software to the track ?
Presumably you need a large transformer for the power supply ?
Race management software is downloadable as a free trial, and costs £10 if you want to validate it for use beyond the 30 day trial period.How do you connect the race management software to the track ?
Presumably you need a large transformer for the power supply ?
The PC is connected directly to the Scalextric powerbase. The powerbase has an auxilliary port for just this purpose.
It's possible to run on the standard transformer, but for running 6 cars or more, it's advisable to upgrade to one that can provides a few more amps so that you don't get power surges when someone de-slots.
Timberwolf said:
GC8 said:
For real skill you need pre-Magnatraction; with Minis being the ultimate test of skill...
Modern Scalextric cars seem to be more or less glued down at the rear end, but I've found some of the Revell-branded slot cars run much smaller magnets which makes them a lot more interesting to handle - I have a Lotus Cortina which with practice and luck can be power-oversteered out of most corners, and with only one or neither of the above can be crashed on short order.I want to know where the old cars I had when I was young have gone, though. :-( Especially the RS500 Sierra.
Timberwolf said:
I want to know where the old cars I had when I was young have gone, though. :-( Especially the RS500 Sierra.
I apologise in advance for posting this link. www.philsmith.co.ukI go on there every now and again and see his latest additions. Have bought a few cars from him and they're always in good nick.
There are just too many on there that I like. I end up having to turn off the PC before I get my card out.
Got the texaco cossie from him too
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