76 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

Greg,

 

As a result of the UK festival, how many dozen commercial raceways have opened in the UK?

[MattD]

We've been down this road about 100 times the last couple years!!! 

 

If there is a positive future for slot racing in the US, It is 1/32 basement racers and clubs. I'm sure they outnumber us 1/24 commercial types by 10 to 1 right now. The big thing is these guys can get their kids into it right at home. They don't need to make a 60-minute drive to get to a track. They don't have to schedule something for Tuesday night when the local track has open racing, and then the kids have schoolwork, practice for something, or want to hang out with friends, so dad goes by himself and the kids do something else. If they can go down in the basement any time the family has 20 minutes of spare time and play with dad and learn about slot cars, that is more likely than going to a commercial track where the veteran  racers don't really even want kids on the track  (not true with my group, but we just have fun and don't take slot cars too serious).

 

When dad's group comes over, the kids might actually hang out with them for awhile and see the enjoyment it brings.  Kid's friends come over and are exposed to something they didn't know existed and they have a chance to play with no presssure, just a fun experience.   

 

Top that all off with the availability of cars like they might see on the streets and TV for $30-40 RTR. Granted I think the cars are junk, but a lot of guys like them and they are half the price of a new 1/24 car you build yourself.

 

That's all for now, I'll post this again next time we have this discussion!!

[Cheater]

As a result of the UK festival, how many dozen commercial raceways have opened in the UK?

Strikes me as a question like, "And when did you stop beating your wife?"

Apples and oranges, Mike. It's an easy question to ask, but it ignores a lot of factors.

Even during the '60s, there never were a lot of commercial raceways in the UK, most likely because most commercial space in the UK is much smaller than what we enjoy in the US, just like houses are much smaller on average. So slot car tracks were from the beginning more often club-based, and the most popular scale is 1/32, not 1/24.

Two points in rebuttal...

Looking at the BSCRA's map of UK slot car clubs, I count 97. That's in a country with an area of 93,628 square miles. The area of the US is 3,977,000 square miles. If the US had as many slot car tracks/raceways percentage-wise, as the UK we'd have 3,933 of them. Does anyone think we have anywhere near that number of slot car club tracks and commercial raceways?

If you asked the average man or woman on the street in the US if he/she knows what slot car racing is, an incredibly tiny percentage would know about it, especially if all ages were queried. If you do the same in the UK, I believe you would the vast majority would know (especially if you asked about Scalextric racing, which is what slot car racing is most often termed in the UK). In the US, we have a hobby that the overwhelming majority of the population doesn't even know exists and that's not the case in the UK IMO.

So to suggest an event like the UK Slot Car festival has had no effect is a bit specious.

[MSwiss]

I'm sure it helps slot racing, but I thought the subject was commercial raceways.

There are more clubs than you can shake a stick at in this area.

Clubs are fine, but someone who is willing to open up his home, once or twice a month, and get his wife to whip up some 7-layer dip, and someone who has a landlord to pay, every month, are two different things.

[Ecurie Martini]

We've been down this road about 100 times the last couple years!!! 
 
If there is a positive future for slot racing in the US, It is 1/32 basement racers and clubs. I'm sure they outnumber us 1/24 commercial types by 10 to 1 right now. The big thing is these guys can get their kids into it right at home. They don't need to make a 60-minute drive to get to a track. They don't have to schedule something for Tuesday night when the local track has open racing, and then the kids have schoolwork, practice for something, or want to hang out with friends, so dad goes by himself and the kids do something else. If they can go down in the basement any time the family has 20 minutes of spare time and play with dad and learn about slot cars, that is more likely than going to a commercial track where the veteran  racers don't really even want kids on the track  (not true with my group, but we just have fun and don't take slot car too serious).
 
When dad's group comes over, the kids might actually hang out with them for awhile and see the enjoyment it brings.  Kid's friends come over and are exposed to something they didn't know existed and they have a chance to play with no presssure, just a fun experience.   
 
Top that all of with the availability of cars like they might see on the streets and TV for $30-40 RTR. Granted I think the cars are junk, but a lot of guys like them and they are half price of a new 1/24 car you build yourself.
 
That's all for now, I'll post this again next time we have this discussion!!

 
This is exactly how our local group works. We have seven tracks in an area of about 100 mile radius and have an active program - one-two race meets/month from September through June. Races are typically held on Saturday with practice starting at 8:00 AM, followed by races for four classes and wrapping up at 3:00-4:00. We have rules for the four classes but they are simple - two stock RTR classes, one based on Slot.it cars, the other on Carrera with very limited modifications permitted - add weight, change tires and, for the Slot.it class, change gear ratios. The other two are scratch/stock classes for cars of a defined period. In one case there is a motor and tire width restriction, the other controlled only by overall width and a requirement for scale hard bodies.
 
EM

[Cheater]

I'm sure it helps slot racing, but I thought the subject was commercial raceways.

 
Before you build a house, you have to have a foundation.

[MSwiss]

Greg,

Like Matt B pointed out, this discussion is getting repetitive.

I need to save some of my posts in my email draft folder.

In the meantime, I need to get work done.

[Excapt]

I agree 100%. I was a model railroader but even that isn't as popular as it was 20 years ago. Unless young kids start getting into the hobby there will be nobody to continue for future generations. Maybe it is region specific; I do read about places down south doing very well.

We had an awesome drag program. But that's one night a week and it cannot be expected that one group of guys can pay the bills for the entire store.

[Half Fast]

Wayne-
 
Thanks for keeping the doors open as long as you did.
 
Cheers,

[Excapt]

Thanks.

[Joe Mig]

Well, well look at this.
It would be great if they sell the place to someone who is welcome to fixing the tracks up and getting a program up and running.
 

People have been very interested in keeping Slots-A-Lot open. We have potential buyers that want to see how the business is run. Therefore, we are remaining open for now while interested parties do their due diligence.

Slots-A-Lot will be open this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:30 PM until 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday from noon till 6 PM. Going Fast Having Fun. The happiest place in Nassau County. Speed racing that won't break your budget. www.slotsalotraceway.com

Slots-A-Lot Facebook link

[gjc2]

I stopped by on Saturday, they were busy with kids and rental cars. All three tracks were in use. 

[Joe Mig]

Anthony D and myself were taking our kids who raced together on Saturday for the last hurrah. We planned on meeting there at 6 and figured we'd stay until about 8 or when they close. Good thing I call to ask a question because they informed me that they close at 6 on Saturdays.

Needless to say we never went.

Well, maybe now will take them one last time.

[gjc2]

As long as any new owner can make a good deal with the landlord and is willing to put some money into the place I would think Slots-A-Lot could be a viable business. 

 

Let's hope. 

[Excapt]

Yes, it is true we will hopefully have a new owner as of Tuesday.

 

I have been rebraiding the donut on the Kingleman and will be moving on to the next track when complete.

 

The new owner is a breath of fresh air and we are looking forward to a grand reopening.

[NY Nick]

That is really great news, this made my day.

[MSwiss]

I went ahead and changed the title of this thread.

[Samiam]

This is great news. Thank you, Wayne, for putting in the extra effort to keep the place afloat. 

[slotcarone]

That's great news! Thanks.

[gjc2]

I'm very happy to hear the news.

[Excapt]

Thanks, Sam.

[gjc2]

Is the new owner someone who has been involved with slot car racing on Long Island? 

[Excapt]

No.

[Joe Mig]

Let's hope for the best. Lots of luck.

[NY Nick]

Slots a lots hours are ?