Missing from Slot Racing?

7836 Views 100 Replies 37 Participants Last post by uksqueezea, Jun 8, 2004

pupkick

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?

pupkick

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41 - 60 of 101 Posts

lowrider

· #41 · Jun 2, 2004

Mmmm. It looked different with Clarkson behind the wheel!
Perhaps we should all be requesting 1:32 celebrity driver figures rather than new cars?
It's "Steve" when you want me to marshal you, Andy. When we're out together in public it's ...
Lowrider.

58fury

· #42 · Jun 2, 2004

Any new car is welcome, but please no new Nascars! Just crank out the white tubs and let the roundy boys paint their own. There are so many beautiful REAL cars that can be produced. Tupperware with stickers =

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Ultimate-32

· #43 · Jun 2, 2004

QUOTE (Intergrali @ 2 Jun 2004, 17:43)was actually asking for fly or someone like that to do em, I already have TS ones!
Watch this space as Team Slot provide some moulds to Fly

Maltese

· #44 · Jun 2, 2004

3

I can understand what folks are saying about NASCAR. However I actually watched two complete races so far in my life (in May) and it was not painful at all. While I find Le Mans/GT/Classic and courses more exciting, I still must appreciate the concept of combining a skilled human, a finely tuned machine and a adept crew/decision-making to win a race a great concept.

As far as the big box makers are concerned they have got to make something that appeals to the kiddies on December 25. That will be something new/current, not something classic or unique. It is the dollars of the masses that fund the REALLY interesting stuff that we like. We may be a minority at the moment...most interesting things/people are

So, NASCAR and Fast and Futile/Furious for the kiddies so that they make enough cash to finance my habits.

...and/or wait for the smaller guys to produce the real gems.

-Maltese

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pupkick

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!)

pupkick

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syd slot

· #46 · Jun 2, 2004

I'm not so sure we are the minority Maltese. The likes of 'us' probably spend more on good quality slots in a couple of months than the average parents will on their favourite son in a handful of Christmases. Evidence of this is the move by major manufactuers such as Scalextric away from the dreadful re-livery Brabham BT45s of 10 years ago to excellent products such as their new range of current F1 cars. If we see a 2003 Toyota F1 released in a couple of years in McCain Oven Chip livery I'll obviously have been wrong in this but my guess is that the penny has already dropped with Scaley, Ninco, Carrera et al. The irony (for me) is that the outfit that probably pushed them in this direction (i.e. Fly) are now persona non grata for many because of the endless and tedious 'limited editions' that they can't help themselves release.

Anyway, back to the original question as to what's missing. My view is that there is still plenty that's not been covered. What I WOULD like to see though is a manufacturer following through and releasing further models in a given vein. By this I mean that personally I don't like the look of, say, a Spirit Ferrari 512M against a 917LH from Slot Real - different manufacturers, slightly different scales, different production values/qualities, etc etc. What I HOPE is that Scaley release a Ferrari P3, Gulf Mirage GT and Lola Aston Martin: Fly bring out an Alfa 33/3 (and Ferrari 512M) and Slot-it produce a BASF Sauber SHS C6 or a Jaguar XJR9 (oh pleeaase) so we can see cars from the same era or even same race, produced to the same standard and presented in the same packaging - i.e. follow it through.

End of rant!

Syd

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astro

· #47 · Jun 2, 2004

pupkick,

I think it is ridiculous for us to campaign for slot cars that we don't want, but cars that we imagine there is a massive market for. If you love nascar and want every livery, please clamour for them. But unless you have actually conducted the propper market research for popularity, adult buying trends and childrens buying trends, analysed sales lines at christmas and other times, what position are you to speak for these other people?

The slot companies already have marketing teams and possibly forums or sources of these types of people. All we can do is inform the slot cars as to what WE like, and give accurate information to that end.

cheers

pupkick

Discussion Starter · #48 · Jun 2, 2004

2

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.

pupkick

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astro

· #49 · Jun 2, 2004

pup, with respect I trust the poorest market research and a few forms to what some (enthusiastic and best will in the world) people think from their armchairs and based on their mates and kids in their local neighbourhood!

and syd - I totally agree that the assumption that the slot dollar is 99% kids and christmas is very unsubstantiated! There is definately an adult market (racer, le mans minatures and othe £100+/car makes); No company aiming products at young kids would put 'This Is NOT a toy, 14 years +' on their products as Fly do, and finally the choice of cars (classic racers being a popular choice) is not aimed at kids, who would as said elsewhere mainly like fast and furious cars, and the cars that we find in playstation 2 games which are marketed and aimed primarily at kids.

delfi_r

· #50 · Jun 2, 2004

QUOTE (pupkick @ 2 Jun 2004, 02:05)Got a picture of the M1 you're thinking of?
Perhaps you would like to see this one:

It's actually made from a Altaya, with decals from Patto's Place.

But perhaps should exist as a real livery.

The BMW Art Cars are great too.

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pupkick

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,
pupkick

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astro

· #52 · Jun 2, 2004

ahh okies

Still not sure about the logistics that causing one area of the hobby to boom will have a knock on effect to the area I particularly like, but here goes:

in that case - i reckon Barbie slot cars are conspicuous by their absance. These and possibly slot my little pony's will bring more people into the hobby targetting the less tomboyish girls

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Gaugemaster Controls

· #53 · Jun 2, 2004

I realise I may get slated for this and never live it down, but I would like to see Ford Anglias.

hey, I never said I had good taste!

Aaron

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Revvvs

· #54 · Jun 2, 2004

You can get yourself one here Aaron!

Paul

astro

· #55 · Jun 2, 2004

wow what a site revvvs! Am tempted by the 1971 morris marina, me dad had one and it was a truely dreadful car in harvest gold (i.e. sick coloured), so a slot model would be of sentimental addittion. I will need advice on what is underpowered low torque low revs motor so i can make its performance realistic?

McLaren

· #56 · Jun 3, 2004

It's all about the Austin 1300GT...

There's so many posts that I can't remember what I was going to reply to... here goes:

Sorry about that Steve... dammit, 'Lowrider'...

I think everyone here is giving their opinion, and that is what the original post was looking for.

As for Nascars, I have watched a race or two, and the team tactics are the bit I enjoy. When it rains, or someone crashes and everyone drives into the pits... great! Unfortunatly, everyone seems to be going at roughly the same speed, so overtaking manouvres can be timed with a calender. I can never remember any of the names either; Billy-Bob this, and Jimbo that... hehe

That M1 kicks ass and should be mass produced by Slot.it. Which reminds me, Slot.It are bringing out the Merc Sauber C9 (or C6, can't remember) but that can race with the Porsche. It'll kick ass too... probably the fastest Slot.It car so far...

Lotus

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Gaugemaster Controls

· #57 · Jun 3, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

Thanks Revvs, I can at last race something I remember! Great link and some fabulous models.

QUOTE Watch this space as Team Slot provide some moulds to Fly

@Doug - This is total fantasy I'm afraid. Fly make their own moulds and are not supplied by Team Slot.

Aaron

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Unleash hell

· #58 · Jun 3, 2004

I miss this one....

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Ultimate-32

· #59 · Jun 3, 2004

QUOTE (Gaugemaster Controls @ 3 Jun 2004, 10:00)@Doug - This is total fantasy I'm afraid. Fly make their own moulds and are not supplied by Team Slot.

Aaron
Thanks Aaron for putting me right I was told this by someone else in the industry when the rumours went round re Fly/Scalextric USA tie up.

Many thanks for clearing it up.

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Wankel Ickx

· #60 · Jun 3, 2004

Tee hee, nice site that Onethirtysecond, I wonder who originally put it together for him?

QUOTE Watch this space as Team Slot provide some moulds to Fly

Wondered if that would get picked up on. Nearly choked on me Smokey Bacon crisps when I read it.

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