Missing from Slot Racing?

7831 Views 100 Replies 37 Participants Last post by uksqueezea, Jun 8, 2004

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Discussion Starter · Jun 1, 2004

So what cars do you think are missing from the slot racing world? Even more helpful, what cars do you think the manufacturers could make that would help THEM sell more & promote the hobby better?

In the US, I hear complaints from people in the "WOMP" world, and some of the less educated about the 1:32 "plastic" world retailers, talk about the lack of updated NASCAR liveries. NASCAR is a 'league' in which there are stronger driver/brand bonds than any other league or even sport. These rabid fans (not ALL are ********, just most!) are lethal when it comes to debating their favorites. Having Scalextric (or others) keep a continued update on cars, and expand their lineup would be amazing. The diecast industry for NASCAR is HUGE over here, and when it comes to "one off's" for special one race only liveries, the demand gets even stronger. There has been some great custom work done to replicate some current cars using some of the Scalextric plain white cars, but they could make a killing doing it themselves.

The other group that would be a huge hit in the US, especially with the younger crowd.. 8-18+, is the "Fast and the Furious" type cars. Either give them some great cars out of the box, or give them some basic cars, then sell add-on rims, exhaust, engine hop-ups, etc, just like in the real "street racing" scene. The money to be made on this market seems too much too pass up.

So what do you guys think?

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 1, 2004

I definitely agree that NASCAR prices itself out of anything useful. Which is sad when you think of the money that could be made, even for them. The ASCAR stuff is a little.. well.. bleh. I definitely don't see most of this forum going for "real" NASCAR, in racing or in slots, but it's all part of bringing new people, and new money for the makers, in.

Jamie, I agree about the "upgrades".. sure there are performance upgrades with engines and wheels.. but it's not the same as the "Ricer scene" in street racing. Get some basic hondas in fancy colors, then sell some sticker type upgrades, get some chrome looking accessories, etc. A basic car for a decent but affordable price, then make more money on accessories, seems win-win to me.

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 2, 2004

Got a picture of the M1 you're thinking of?

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Discussion Starter · #21 · Jun 2, 2004

Hey now.. I'm no huge fan of NASCAR.. frankly it's more worth watching than most of the other racing on American tv, but that isn't saying a lot. Most of the appeal in NASCAR is with drivers/sponsors/personalities, which is why I mentioned them early on as a strong seller in the US, the devotion to teams by fans is best compared to English Football. I'm really surprised more hooligan events aren't active in NASCAR

Just look at a race a few weeks ago.. they end the race under yellow, and the fans pelted the track with bottles/garbage/clothing/etc. Sure, not a very sportsmanlike or respectable thing to do, but the passion is evident. Surely there's a great market. Bring some test tracks to NASCAR (and other) events. Cmon Scalextric USA.. hire me, i'll travel. I'm English too, just a transplant, so I have actual credibility.

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Discussion Starter · #30 · Jun 2, 2004

At least in NASCAR you -CAN- pass, not like that crappy Monaco F1 circuit!

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Discussion Starter · #40 · Jun 2, 2004

Do the crash and bash sets have cars with "damage"? Hotwheels or Matchbox used to make little toy cars that when you pressed the side in, the chunk would flip over and go from "new" to "dent".. that's be a neat trick for the crash and bash. (Again, assuming it isn't already there, I've been steering clear of even looking at those sets)

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Discussion Starter · #45 · Jun 2, 2004

See, now Maltese understands the idea behind my starting this thread, cheers to you. It's about what can help the slot companies, not just us pathetic "elite racers".

Bring more people into the hobby, catch their attention, make them yearn for more, then they too will discover all the other junk we lust for. Then even more people want it, and we've a better chance. Hence NASCAR: huge market for new people. I never said I'm a fan, I'm just keying up potential audiences.

To set the record straight, I'm a big fan of F1/DTM/Rally.. so back off! =P
(Still, 5 passes makes not a race!)

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Discussion Starter · #48 · Jun 2, 2004

The research has been done, on smaller scales. No, not by myself. I definitely don't find it ridiculous to campaign for something that will help our hobby. Will I personally buy the cars? yea, I'll buy a couple. Will most of this forum? No.. but like I said, more people, more input, more demand. You've got to get the masses rolling.

However, to trust 'corporate' marketing groups is to ask for trouble.

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Discussion Starter · #51 · Jun 2, 2004

Astro,

What your missing, is that the point of the thread was to see what the "armchair" people thought. Most of the thread has been comical in it's missing of that point, and the point of what's best for the hobby to bring new people in. I'm going to guess, without looking at your profile, that you are in Europe. Go to an average house in Europe and you'll see football (World, not ugg-American) memorabelia of some sort. In America, particularly in the South and/or East, the average house will contain NASCAR memorabilia. Now, I'd also wage that the quantity of said merchandise, is higher in the US case, than in the European; again, on average.

Slot cars are big in America, not nearly as big in the UK, but also on a different level. People here are into the 1/24 Parma/Womp world, or the "1/64" HO Tyco/AFX world. 1/32, the choice of most of this forum, is still pretty few and far between in comparison.

I made it very clear from the start of this thread that I was asking -our groups- opinions on what would be good for people coming into the hobby, as well as what we wanted. What would be best for the manufacturers to increase sales and market. I also made it clear that I was giving my opinions based upon my point of view from America. If I still lived in England (woo Bristol area!), I'd give opinions and thoughts based upon what I knew of there.

You don't like NASCAR. I can understand, appreciate, and respect that. I don't like MotoGP, but I still applaud Scalextric for bringing the bikes out. They are reaching out to a new market (as discussed in that thread), as well as trying to appeal to some of the existing fan base. Will I buy one? Probably not, but that doesn't make it bad for the hobby at all.

I appreciate the thoughts, I really do, but let's try and keep an open mind.

Thanks,
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