"Spanish Mirage" by Jeff Davies

This is a story of men consumed by obsessive passion, two of which would build some of the worlds fastest cars, the third would build with no less passion some of the world finest slot cars. First, the tale of one of Spain's most  charismatic car companies:

The story of Pegaso is the story of a man whose actions, it could be argued, led to the founding of two legendary sports cars companies. One lasted a mere six years, and the other still does battle on the racetracks of the world. Wilfredo Ricart left Spain during the Civil War and sought work in Italy, taking a position at Alfa Romeo to replace the departed Vittorio Jano.

In 1938 the Milanese company was set to re-enter motor racing under it's own name. The Alfa Corse organization would absorb the Scuderia Ferrari operation, transferring the Tipo 158 development - which was essentially a Ferrari design and concept - back to Milan. It was the belief of some of the directors that the racing effort would gain the technical capacities of the entire company only through its direct control. Ricart by that time was head of the special projects division and backed this approach.

Ferrari felt that the key to success could only come through a small and agile structure, with himself at the head of course. Ferrari and Ricart had already had some run-ins: on one side the trained engineer, and on the other a self-taught ex-driver. For Ferrari this was the final straw. In 1939 Ferrari would leave Alfa Romeo and eventually start his own firm.

Their animosity continued with Ricart feeling that the first cars from Ferrari appeared to have "borrowed" some of his design ideas and Ferrari would later comment that:

"Ricart had smooth greasy hair. He dressed elegantly but looked rather oriental, with long-sleeved jackets, which hid his hands. When he held out his hand, you could feel inert flesh, rather like that of a corpse. He used to wear shoes with enormous rubber soles. When questioned, he answered that an engineer had to take certain precautions; a well-sprung step prevented disturbances and vibrations from going to the brain!"

With the end of the Spanish Civil War Ricart returned to his native country and established the Empresa Nacional de Autocamines (ENASA) for the production of buses and trucks. The new company was located in the old Hispano-Suiza factory in the Sagrera district of Barcelona. Ricart wanted to expand into sports cars and for this he established the Pegaso marque - the name was based on the winged horse of Greek mythology.

The car was tested at Jabbeke motorway in Belgium and clocked 250kms (160mph). It was at that time the 'fastest production car in the world', beating the fastest Ferrari by 20 mph - a small revenge. However, to be truly compared to the cars of his bitter rival meant meeting them on the racetrack, and to this end a Pegaso was entered in several international racing events. One of the car's initial successes was the La Rabassada
hillclimb in the hands of Joaquín Palacio, driving a Pegaso Z102 Spyder 25l.

From that race onwards, that Pegaso model was to be known as the "Rabassada". Later in the year, during practice for Le Mans, their lead driver Juan Jover Sañés suffered a serious crash causing the team to
withdraw from the race. At the 1954 Carrera Panamerica another accident, at over 120 mph, nearly killed both of its drivers. A hit in the showroom, the world's fastest production car was a flop in racing competition. For all its great engineering feats the brutally fast Pegaso was plagued with technical problems, its failing brake drums being one of the worst problems. This caused a wag to remark: "When a car goes like a bat outta hell then it should be able to stop quickly!"

Lack of company funds coupled with technical and mechanical problems, and $15,000 dollar price tag doomed the cars. Finally, the Pegaso marque ceased automobile production in 1957 after producing only 86 cars. The remaining unfinished cars, tool castings, dies and spare parts were destroyed or sold as common scrap. Yet, as a sign of its enduring appeal, 85% of the cars originally produced still survive lovingly maintained and/or restored.

As a Slot Classic fan I was very pleased when the company agreed to send me a sample CJ20 Pegaso Spyder to write about. The car itself is from one of my favourite periods in motor racing history, when the cars could still be used on the road and were often driven to the races like Le Mans on trade plates. Sports cars like the Jaguar C type, Cunningham CR4 and other beautiful sports cars of this period were usually painted in their country racing colours, or comparatively simple colour schemes which perfectly suited the elegant flowing lines of the cars.

Many years ago I was driven down to Lydden hill racing circuit in Kent in a "D" type to take part in a program that Top Gear were filming at the circuit. This was a wonderful journey with the very loud exhaust only inches from my head (I was in the passenger seat) - the performance of these cars has to be felt to be believed, with around 265-300 BHP and weight not that much more than a Mini. 

The in-gear performance between roundabouts was incredible, and it really was a magic experience. In a way, it was like travelling back in time on the quieter minor roads we used for most of the journey. Later that day I raced the car around the Lydden circuit as well as the Lynx Performer - a much modified XJS which Lynx were selling. I really tried hard in this car when I had the circuit to myself later that day, with everyone waiting on the pit gate watching and waiting for me to destroy the car.

Ever since then I have had a real passion for 50/60 racing sportcars. Slot Classic, being a Spanish company, (Run by César Jiménez who I really admire for his passionate commitment  to slot and rail racing)  have made a reasonable number of Pegaso slot car models (this was a Spanish supercar after all) starting with the first model they produced. I really like the shape of the Pegaso, being in profile like a larger model of an MGB convertible. The front of the Spyder back to the rear edge of the doors is very similar to the "B".

The Le Mans Spyder has a lot of vents and grills to disperse the heat from the supercharged, quad cam, dry sumped V8 engine and each of these is captured in the model. I would have loved to have driven one of the Pegaso Spyders as the ballistic straight line speed and appalling brakes combination really appeals to me as a driver.

When the Pegaso slot car arrived though the post, I was ecstatic. I always find it very exciting to unpack a model from this company (yes, I must have a sad life but not really). It really was everything I had expected it to be, beautifully painted with an incredible level of detail, even extending to the most wonderful bonnet mascot in stainless steel and all the hinges for the boot and bonnet.

The Pegaso slot car has great headlights, spotlights and has the best looking exhausts I have yet seen on a slot car. The wheels on these cars are a really good example  of how they should be made. This car has a new adjustable Slot Classic chassis made out of resin so that the wheelbase can be altered with a standard Ninco NC1 type motor. The guide is recessed into the body so that the car sits very low on the track, giving it a most purposeful stance.

This model isn't any heavier than a Fly or similar slot car, weighing 83g. The gearing is 8/27 and the performance reasonable for this kind of slot car. The model is 130mm long, 51mm wide and 40mm high and looks just wonderful.

This is a really classy model from a great company which is run from the heart and not the head as are all the great car companies which ever scale their cars are manufactured in. I could go on but I won't - just buy one and see yourself how good they are. I think every slot car collector should buy at least one really good resin slot car from a company like Slot Classic.

These models are available from dealers like Pendle Slot Racing and are sold in kit form as well as RTR.

Jeff Davies (AKA: Rail Racer)

Thanks to Dennis David for his input.