SlotForum Nürnberg Report, Scalextric Options

[Doug]

I've been busy sorting out servers so please excuse my tardiness in getting these last few reports out.

Scalextric had a good-sized stand with a few tracks set up and some new cars on display. We had seen everything that was there before except for the Japanese GT cars.

Swissracer with Adrian Norman of Scalextric. Adrian was very helpful to us, explaining the intricacies and features of the new models on show.


Is this the 5th Beatle...? No, it's Sean from Pendles takling to Gary from MRE.


Carol, Sean's partner was there to keep him away from the Carrera girls.



Scalextric had an adventurous Digital track on show with a pit lane and another single lane (going off the long way around). The pitlane as it was set up was very trick to drive. The cars are going very fast and to select your pit box and not go off into another (and perhaps a stationary car in the pits) was quite a challenge.



The New plastic stands were on show. If you have the space, these are great, but as they are getting closer to 1:32, they are getting quite tall.



A view of the long-way-around single lane.




The Japanese GT cars were on show without their pit lane 'babes'. Hornby don't want to be selling little dolls with miniskirts to their customers as they think it may be offensive to some or perhaps be not too PC. It must be a British thing as I don't understand it. As far as I know, Barbi has quite short skirts...

Toyota Supra JGTC / Esso Ultrflo


Nissan 350Z JGTC / Xanavi Nismo


Nissan 350Z JGTC / Calsonic


Honda NSX JGTC / Raybrig


Nissan Skyline / Xanavi Nismo


Other JGTC cars not shown: #38 Toyota Supra JGTC / Au Cerumo, Honda NSX JGTC / Takata Dome, Nissan Skyline / Calsonic.

The underside of one of these cars showing a hatch to allow the insertion of a digital chip. The chip plugs in without having to any soldering or fideling around.



A very neat feature, was the brake disks that didn't rotate (unlike my 1985 Toyota Corrola). They are fixed from the inside (grey plasic arm).





The Scalextric Sport+ tuning parts were on show. This box of goodies will make a fine display in your local slot shop. Colour coded to help you find the best parts for your car.



The other cars on display, were onese we had seen before in 2005. The new ones promised for 2006 were just photos or cardboard cut-outs. This Jaguar Performance XKR Rocketsports will be very popular along side the Aston Martin DBR9.



Other cars that will be new for 2006 are:

F1 - Honda F1 (2006)
Indy - Dallara/Klein Tools
A1 GP - Great Brittain, France, Netherlands, Brazil, New Zealand, Portugal, Australia, USA, Italy, Germany. Other team cars could become available by special request. I request South Africa please.
Endurance - Aston Martin DBR9, Maserati MC12 (Vitaphone), Jaguar Performance XKR Rocketsports, Dodge Viper competition Coupé (green with silver stripes), Porsche 911 GTR3 Team Sabah Automotive.
Drift - A white with black stripes Nissan 350Z
Touring - Seat Leon WTCC
Rally - Subaru Impreza WRC / Works 2006, Subaru Impreza WRC / The Sun/ Scalextric sponsored, For Escort Mk1 / Esso Uniflo, BMW #33 Mini Cooper John Cooper Challenge, BMW #18 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Challenge
Road - Ford GT (yellow), Audi Coupé TT (Bordeaux), Porsche Boxter (blue)
USA Classics - Chevrolet Camaro #43 / Behrens Racing, Ford Mustang #4 / Troy Promotions, Chevrolet Corvette #3 / 1969
Classics - Ferrari 156 / Wolfgang Von Tripps, Cooper Climax T53 / Bruce McLaren, Ferrari 312T 1976 / Niki Lauda and McLaren M23 1676 / James Hunt (Goodwood set)
Bikes - Team Yamaha 2006, Team Repsol Honda 2006

[mad727]

This is a big step in the right direction. making chip installation easier is only a plus. I mostly enjoy installing but I could be racing and tuning instead. With Ninco needing only 2 sets of wires that's an advantage. Being able to clip in a chip is even bigger
Curious to see how well it work. I am assuming the chip is a redesign and more like the one I saw for the Slot-it cars. Did you get to see this chip?

The underside of one of these cars showing a hatch to allow the insertion of a digital chip. The chip plugs in without having to any soldering or fideling around.

AND, I still have not read one reply anywhere saying how well the new Ninco system works, drives, is powered etc... Didn'y anyone out there try it at the shows??? Sorry in adavance if I missed this somewhere...

[Doug]

Hang ten, Ninco and Carrera are coming...

[Rokkoko666]

No pit girls? Hmmfrr! Then I will try to find the japanese version!

Kind regards, Rickard

[RichG]

Hi Guys


Fantastic set of reports, just like being there.

Is there a separate Scalextric digital report?

If not anything to say about the new Powerbase and Display? Or any other SSD titbits? I know there are no girls with the cars.


Thanks

Rich

[Savage]

Those Jap GT cars look even better than I thought they would... I am certainly getting some of those, and that chip install hatch ... bloody wonderfull idea

[BEEJAY7]

I was interested in the Goodwood set this year.

Do you know if they are revised models or just the old cars in a presentation case?.

Regards

Alan

[Slot City]

The JGTC cars that Scalextric have been showing are the Takara pre-production models - hence why the base has the space for the figure which won't be included with the Scalextric release.

The Scalextric versions will come with a different chassis which will have the standard mounting points for the existing digital chips - they won't have space for the plug n play chip.

At least this is what I was told a few weeks ago, I've no reason to believe things have changed and no plug n play chip has been announced by Scalextric.

One of the reasons for Scalextric not having a plug n play chip is that the space for it (between the guide and motor) would need to be available in all cars. This would reduce the different motor position options, reduce interior details and never be possible in an F1 car.

Jon,
Slot City.

[SKIDMARK]

Does anyone know the date of release for the A1-Grand Prix and some details about the Dgital A1 Set?? Thank you in advance for the response

Skidmark

[Doug]

Does anyone know the date of release for the A1-Grand Prix and some details about the Dgital A1 Set?? Thank you in advance for the response

Skidmark

The 2006/2007 A1GP season starts in September and Scalextric aere hoping to release at least some of the A1GP items by then.

[Slotrace.dk]

I like the pit lane - but..... always a but(t).... if you pit your car - let's say outside the first garage, you've already passed the sensor for the first/nearest straight LC and can't get out if there is another car outside the next garage. Sure makes you think twice when to pit!!!!

[RichG]

So long as you hold down the LC button until you stop. You will have put the next straight LC into the correct position too allow an exit. Just need a lollipop man with a board that says "Hold down LC"

[SKIDMARK]

Thanks Nuro,
It is so painful to wait, but maybe they will have discovered that they need to get their rear in gear to catch-up with SCX. I have a gift certificate to my local hobby store and I am holding off to purchase. I really just want to get a F-1 circuit and have been watching to see who is going to have the best. SCX has a fantastic system, but their design won't work for F-1 type cars and Ninco is taking forever to get the product to market. Any recommendations from the sidelines is welcomed.

Skidmark

[Slotrace.dk]

So long as you hold down the LC button until you stop. You will have put the next straight LC into the correct position too allow an exit. Just need a lollipop man with a board that says "Hold down LC" 

Or you can pin down the flipper to let the car out?

[MARS Racer]

Does anyone know if Scalextric will only be producing the Digital System w/ power base for 4 cars only in the future? Will what we have be improved or phased out? Those of us that have 6 racers at a time hope the currant power base is improved and still around.