[tibius181]

Look in a Dictionary? Well the bare faced cheek. There is no wonder i need to look in a dictionary after having to move out of several schools because of anxiousness and bullying, but hey i am shure your life worked out fine for you !

On a lighter remark, after reading your replies i indeed think the poll needs larger varyability (is that a word?) of answers.

The digital product i tried out was the Scalextric Sport version at a display they had at a fair. My point was intended to convay my opinion not as how good the product was but to see your views before most people got to try it out for instance, what you think it will do for slot racing?

I would also like to apologise for any offence caused by posts of mine in this topic.

All the best,

Doug

 

[Doug]

Hey Doug,

You must realise that this place is full of old farts like me who get more cynical as we get older. Don't take it too personally - it's all part of online community conversation. You soon learn to post very carefully, else you get slammed. Just look at our good mate Moped and see how his comments sometimes inflame the members. We welcome your youthful enthusiasm.

Regards,

Doug (the other one)

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (Nico @ 14 Aug 2004, 14:12)Stop whining around, TRY IT and than make clear statements what you like and what you don´t like.

STOP looking into your crystal balls and tell the rest of the slot community what digital "might do or not do".

So please do me a favor and stop telling people what digital might do or might be in the future!!
Nico, with all due respect you seem to be telling people to keep their opinions to themselves. Hopefully that is not what this board is about!

There have been pro-digital people posting things like "this will see the end of conventional slot racing" and "clubs will have to take digital on board or face extinction" which people can take however they like.

I was hoping this thread could let people air their thoughts, concerns and hopes on this subject but perhaps I was wrong.

No, I haven't tried Davic, but I have tried the three main market brands at the toy fair in London earlier this year, admittedly both the Hornby and Carrera versions were very pre-production but the SCX system was running and I had a fun 10 minutes charging around with the friends I was with. And to answer one of your other criticisms- I wouldn't cross the road to WATCH a slot car race of any sort, let alone come to Europe, IMO slotracing is a participants sport, not a spectator sport!

Until now, I haven't really thrown my hat into the ring with an opinion on digital, I don't think it's really going to affect me that much, but your post has made me change that by saying IN MY OPINION I think digital will fit nicely between two camps- It won't have the freedom of Radio Control or the simplistic charm of conventional slot racing!

There! Said it!

Mr.M

 

[Tropi]

Just a jocular riposte to those who think an opinion is without merit unless one has had hands on experience.

How's about, say, alligator rassling?
I am pretty sure of my opinion on participating in that particular activity without having to get my head bitten off in order to validate it!

 

[Mr.M]

"Just a jocular riposte to those who think an opinion is without merit unless one has had hands on experience."

And don't even think about relating this discussion to religion or sexuality!

 

[Nico]

Mr. M,
no, you got me wrong on that one, I am NOT trying to tell people to keep their opinions to themselves all I am trying to say is, that the topics and threads concerning digital slotracing keep repeating themselves and that soooo many people know really a lot about digital slotracing without having any experience in this topic!!

And hey, Tropi, what a comparison.......
I haven´t seen anybody loosing his head while a digital slotrace, have you......??????

I think that especially on big tracks and on very small hometracks digital slotracing will make its way.
On the big tracks because it is a lot of fun (sorry, my experience on that one Mr.M) and on some small tracks as well because people can have a 2 or 3 lane track and still race with their friends at the same time!
It will definitely NOT delete "conventional" slot tracks or races!!

Still a lot of emotions in that topic.......

Nico

24h GT Salzburg, 70 Meters track, DAVIC system

 

[Tropi]

QUOTE I haven´t seen anybody loosing his head while a digital slotrace, have you......??????

Only kidding Nico!
But I used colloquial terms deliberately - a bit unfair on you and yes, I HAVE seen people 'lose their heads' in non-digi racing and also others have their 'heads bitten off' by sore losers in similar circumstances!!
Still only joking.

My serious opinion on digital is quite well-known - I find it utterly fascinating but I can't see it ever becoming main-stream successful outside a very small niche market of dedicated enthusiasts, which I might well join, IF there were enough others with the same interest. Much as it fascinates me subjectively, objectively, I just don't see it succeeding in high enough volume to reach the 'critical mass' necessary to sustain it long term.

 

[jonny s]

Some good points posted I think. So far I`m mainly in agreement with Nico and find the amount of posts on this subject prior to it`s introduction premature.

I`ve read the term `Mainstream` posted several times and really wonder what that is? This is perhaps a pretty small hobby and though many of us think we know the lie of the land I wonder if we really do? The introduction of any new gadget over previous years has been accepted or rejected upon being used. Experience soon reveals the pros and cons of anything released into the world of slot. Will digital change the hobby as much as the move from rails to a slot? I don`t know, but I for one am happy to see anything that gives more potential to this hobby. Maybe I`ve just seen too much of the same old,same old six lane racing? I must be biased because I almost feel desperate to see something else added into the racing to add more fun and increase the challenge. Nothing over recent years has done this but Digital has the portential, along with software developments to give more choice. You can take it or leave it but at least it is something new, not yet another Subaru!!

Doug, I didn`t take offence at anything you posted though Nuro`s advice is central to co existing on the forum and is perhaps relevant to Tropi`s crocodile biting theory. Good rapport a la over a pint in the cruiser, we are after all only spinning the brown stuff

 

[elicend]

Nico

i'm nearly agree with you, but you know : there are a lot of people who had already try it : my experience is the Davic one, for small race, never more than 3 h but i try it several time as pilot, and i was to the 24h at le chenay in france as a spectator...

as you, i thinks that it will take its place, and my home track shout be able to work in digital and classic : digital for some friendly race, and classic when i'm alone or when we are 2...

there is something to be sure : it is important to try before

 

[Eno Dog]

I haven't had the pleasure of having a bash at digital yet but the concept amuses the hell out of me. I personally had a problem in that I wasn't allowed to press both buttons.

My father in law is seventy lots & loves trad slottys (as do we all I assume) My son is 7 something & loves trad slottys (as one would). I also have a mate or two who like the trad stuff. I have too much stuff invested to lose sight of the thing I loved to start with.

That said - I WANT DIGITAL!! 'cause I like the idea of something a bit different when the guys who like motor racing but don't necesarily like slots come over. It'll give the game a different aspect in my opinion. Not better, no worse, just a slightly different flavour.

What strikes me as important though is that if it gets more people "through the gates" as I suspect it will in a "digital" world (particularly kids playing dollar) it'll be good for the lot of us (I hope).

 

[Dennis David]

Nico and all,

Being from the states it's be a while till I have a chance to try it, hell I'll have to buy it for sure. But I thinks it's great for the people who don't have the room for a decent 4 lane circuit. Also if I was in Euro, you can bet I would make my way to one of those big races.

Now if I had a routed three lane scenicked track with Davic and working pits that would be fantastic.

 

[JAK]

QUOTE In computer parlance, there is a saying....

"Never buy before version 3"

I ain't buying betamax....

If I remember my history correctly Betemax was a much better system than VHS but those with the money ganged up against Sony? and flooded the market with an inferior product.

Will the same happen with Slots. There are 4 manufacturers all ready to launch their own individual systems yet they (or retailers) state that their current product will work on the competitors track.

As this will not be able to happen on digital in a year or so will we see 2 or 3 of the manufacturers get together with a common system and drive the other(s) out of the market.

And then in 4 years time will we all be saying "its a pity about the old ........ digital system it was so much better than this combined one"

 

[jonny s]

That sounds reasonable except that Nico and pals are already using a system that is tried and trusted. It seems to me that a majority of us are a way behind and prior to the release of the usual suspects versions ,we have no experience of any product beyond a quick spin at an exhibition.

Racing on a club digital circuit compared to a small set is as big as the difference between traditional circuits at home or at a club. If I want to see the full potential of this new system it seems reasonable to listen avidly to those who have used this at club level. You see, the theory about the crocodile rassling just doesn`t work for me because there is a massive difference between theory and real practise. I`d rather take the informed view any day before I shell out my hard earned and try it for myself.

Dennis touched on an interesting point, something that greatly interests me any way. How about a routed track with working pit lane that is digital?

 

[Intergrali]

we all know my thoughts on the matter but

the same problems keep running through my head.

who's going to marshal?
it's expensive - (scx digital £250 from GS)
it's not universal like non digital
it's not going to help racing at it means that it's easy to knock someone off.
for a club with 4 or more lanes how are you going to get from lane 4/6/8 to 1?
it will be tricky to add booster cables

now someone tell me wtf clubs would want it?

 

[Wankel Ickx]

I've never tried it, he proudly boasts; but I've never tried bungee jumping and I know I have an opinion on how much fun that would be, so there.

Personally, I just don't get how the argument that a sawn-off little dick-about circuit is going to be transformed into something wildly more entertaining by virtue of bunging up the lanes with more cars. Ask whoever is currently the UK's Transport Secretary if having more cars on a road makes it better? More cars on the M25 doesn't not equate to faster journey times.

If you have a sawn-off dick-about set up then my advice would be buy more track, get yourself a decent long straight and stretch your car's legs; then it all becomes much more fun. And if you can't fit in an extra straight then join a club that has a mini Mulsanne because for me, that is where the fun is.

And as for punctures and fuel stops and shenanigans my thoughts on those are here

 

[Nico]

QUOTE ...... it's not going to help racing at it means that it's easy to knock someone off.....

I think I also mentioned this before:

It is as easy as getting kicked out by a beginner that you want to overtake on an outerlane on a "conventional" slottrack!!!!!

It is a question of experience!! I am sure you overtake a newby on the outside the first time, maybe the second time and than..... hopefully you learned that you will wait for the next corner when you are on the inside and overtake him!!

During our 24h race NO ONE was kicked out by a lanechanging car and 6 out of 8 teams raced digital for the first time!!!!!!

Nico

24h GT Salzburg

 

[jonny s]

Picking up from where Inte left off. The cost is high based on SCX but that is the worse example to date and I personaly didn`t enjoy racing the SCX system when I used it. Power boosting? Is that a problem Nico? I`m scared witless by lecy so over to someone who knows better.

The changing between all lanes is the single biggest issue to me. The system I choose to instal at the club will be the one that provides for using the most cars and allows changing between all lanes. Does that mean Davic?

Marshaling has been covered in other threads and it seems sound to me and no more a problem than normal.

The answer to the question why would clubs want it? Well , less waiting time for a race and more opponents racing you at one time and more of a challenge trying to over take are some reasons that spring to mind. Don`t think we`ll introduce Tiger rassling or bungee jumping at same time tho as it`s hard enough to get people to marshal as it is!

 

[nightglider1]

QUOTE (JAK @ 16 Aug 2004, 08:22)If I remember my history correctly Betemax was a much better system than VHS but those with the money ganged up against Sony? and flooded the market with an inferior product.
Off topic, but I had to throw my 2 cents in on the betamax bit --

Betamax is a format which is much closer to professional-quality broadcast equipment. The upside was better audio/video fidelity. The downside is that the tapes were really freakin short.

JVC (Victor Company of Japan) developed the VHS format which more or less reversed the traits of Betamax. Users got longer record times, but sacrificed audio/video quality.

I suppose it's a quality v. quantity issue.

[rant] Sort of like me and my laserdisc player. The original Star Wars trilogy cost me $250.00 US, and the films are spread across 9 discs. The same three films (ok, the special <gag> editions) will take up one DVD each, for a lot less money. Of course, LD's were already on the way out, but the introduction of DVD killed them for good.

Again -- quality v. quantity [/rant]

-- Pete

 

[Intergrali]

Well Jonny good to see you will be isolating yourself.
I would go as far to say that you are the only club in the UK to go digital which means we cant race on your track oh dear.

Inte

 

[Xlot]

reminds me of the old headline : Fog over the Channel, the Continent isolated from England