[Aberstone]

I was asked by a school teacher if slot car racing was educational, what could kids learn from it, so I thought that from the wealth of knowledge and experience available here you could come up with some answers that I can pass on to her.

Cheers - Phil B.

 

[Doug]

I'd say that learning about fair competitiveness helps a child with other education and social interaction.

You can't race alone, you need others and slot racing brings people together: at home, at the club and on forums like this one. So it helps develop social skills.

I'd also say that slot racing helps young kids develop visual-motor coordination. A skill that can benefit all other aspects of life.

 

[vfr750]

Aboutr the only physics i learnt at school related to how things worked, armatures, magnetic fields, pistons, centre of gravity etc.

John

 

[astro]

I've learnt a lot from slot racing:

History - when I get a nice new shiny car, I am tempted to research it and end up finding out about the history of motorsports, and the drivers, and sometimes about breakthough engineering;

Engineering (electrical and mechanical) - learnt loads about the mechanics and electrics of slot cars, importance of close tolerances and of correct lubrication, as well as practical engineering projects involving use of correct adhesives, problem solving to find why that car is running c**p etc...

Commercial - learning how to conduct succesful e-bay transactions to get that elusive fly car at an affordable price. Also more generally learning how to source those rare slot parts that you need to replace the broken ones

Competitive & Social skills - as noted above

 

[dgersh]

Yep, teaches kids how to deal with losing and adversity - altho a lot of adults have yet to learn that either! Also, what it takes to win, attention to detail, basic technical skills and taking care of your tools; how to marshall for the other guy (guess everybody skipped class that particular day!).

There have been a number of school-based clubs. I think the US magazine SARN had a feature on this so you might check on their website...
Don

 

[sacesta]

In addition to all the very good comments above I think slot car racing also teaches:

1) the applied use of tools (dremel, soldering iron, paint gun etc....)

2) planning and time management - detailing a circuit or scratchbuilding a car is quite an undertaking and a good deal of planning and time management must go into it.

3) patience - in order to get things just right (ie. waiting for adhesives, primers and paints to dry

4) humility and sportsmanship - whether winning or losing lessons are learned in one area or the other.

Steve

 

[jonny s]

I`ve run two sessions for St Augustines High School close to Phoenix.

The group was made up of teachers and A level students and the relevance concerned Control. In the case of our circuit we have a number of gadgets that make up the circuit plus various F 1 car components including Jenson Buttons` cars` wish bones,brake system and fuel manifold and gear shift hydraulic manifold etc etc.

As a package using Scaley F1 cars and demonstrating the use of resistors etc to control the cars and of course the additional fun factor (day out for the teachers!) all seemed happy and are returning Tuesday for another session ,

 

[chofar]

That guy :

http://tirunebourg.free.fr/

is a teacher and runs a proxy-race every year in France. Every aspect of the hobby is used as pedagogic means: from the size of the lanes to marshalling during the races. I let you appreciate. It's on the left under 'circuit routier à l'école primaire' . This is the kind of school where I would like to go !!

 

[Fergy]

Hmmm... I've misplaced the link, but there was a site done by a US teacher that detailed how he had students build a large, wooden track from the ground up. Not only did they learn numerous skills from this - design and project planning, woodworking and tool handling skills, teamwork, etc. - but when the track was complete it formed the basis for a school slot car club which I believe is still in operation, exposing students to many other skills and experiences, most of which have been mentoned above. As Chofar said, I wish I'd gone to this guy's school! Or maybe not.... I'd still be in school...

 

[minimental]

still being at school i feel this is a quite appropriate topic for me to stick my head in,
slotcars have taught me engineering skills, which i use in resistant meterials,(design technology) this offers perks as i am trusted with the vac former, the normal lathes and even the modelmaking lathe (which is usually staff only)

slotcars has also given me a headstart in learning about electronics, friction, acceleration, air resistance etc

maths: i still have not found a usefull purpose for this in slots (exept for maybe speeds, basic addition subtraction etc)

socially: slots has helped with competitivly based topics, but my friends do constantly ridicule me for what they consider to be a "sad" hobby, but on a freezing cold rainy day i would rather be indoors with slotcars than stuck in front of a tv.

QUOTE You can't race alone,
what about challenger?

 

[endbelldrive]

Hey Fergy...that teacher is Canadian! It's none other than OWH moderator and triathlete, Wayne Halabourda.

http://www.oldweirdherald.com/features/skooltrack/

Bob S

 

[Tropi]

That's right!
Good old Wayne - one of the very first sites I found when I 're-discovered' slot cars on the net several years ago. Do have a look, Aberstone, it will be very useful for your purpose.

 

[tibius181]

The first reply by Nuro is what i would have to say, slot racing brings people together from all over the world, just take a look at this forum! If i hadn't got into this hobby then i wouldn't have loked on google for a slot racing club in my area and therefore would not have met quite a few great people, great for social education!

Doug

 

[Aberstone]

Gentlemen - Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions, all are being passed on. The school track project was well worth the look.

Cheers - Phil B.

 

[Intergrali]

yes it does. There are a multitude of learning oppotunities as with tiddly winks and fishing

(Rob Skupski welsh tiddly winker extrodinaire)

 

[Harry Porsche]

Lately for me, I have observed that it counters the deadening effect video games have on children. My kids need to use their brain a bit more to operate in three dimensions, and they must move around some (marshalling) while playing, rather than sitting rooted in front of a T.V. I agree with the foregoing comments completely. Good social skills go a long way in this world. Can't have enough good sports out there!

Fly on!!

 

[Fergy]

QUOTE Hey Fergy...that teacher is Canadian!

Ooops! And I was giving credit to the Yanks!

It was the earlier story, of the first track, that I had seen. In an attempt to mask my shame I'll just say that Wayne's dedication was more important to me than his location. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[McLaren]

I think I've learnt more from slot racing buddies than I have from even the Simpsons.

And that is saying a lot...

McLaren

 

[Fergy]

QUOTE I think I've learnt more from slot racing buddies than I have from even the Simpsons.

Well... DOH!!