[Scott B]

I arrived at Goodwood today and made straight for Scale Models. I was hoping to get a Cartrix Merc, but they had all gone. However, holding centre stage were several brown cardboard boxes with one each of the new Vanwall and Maserati on top.

Back home and it was straight out to catch the last of the light for pics and a few laps on the track, after all this might be the very first review of these new cars. It seems that the main shipment is delayed, but that Hornby had flown in a small number to supply to Scale Models who, after all, are the only slot car retailer with the commercial clout and sense to be at the country's biggest motor sport event.

Hiding inside the freight packaging are the special Goodwood boxes. Technically the same as the normal Sport box, but with unique decoration and very nice it looks too.

Inside the car is held in with the usual brass screw, but also twisted black freezer bag-type ties. The special edition bit (cue controversy) is the credit card -sized piece of cardboard with model details and the limited edition number.

The first thing to strike the viewer is the very, very smooth, glossy paintwork. These things look as if the paint is still wet so high is the shine. The shape is good too, or at least it appears so to me although I can't claim close personal familiarity with either of these cars. The chrome cross-spoke wheels are delightful if a little too shiny to be real, but the driver and interior detail is spot on.

Literally out the box and on to the track they both run fast and true. The magnet, a Fly type button, is strong but tail slides are possible on the cross-over curves.

I have not taken out the magnets yet, but these little moments suggest the cars will be nice and smooth without them. Not that it matters, but I did 7.1sec within the first ten laps with the Vanwall and 6.8sec with the Maserati.

So, the first impressions are very good. They look great, drive very smoothly and have a great "feel" to them. That they are models of two very evocative classic racers driven by legends in a legendary race makes them practically irresistible. Well done to Hornby for getting some to Scale Models to honour their launched at Goodwood commitment.

 

[Fergy]

Thanks, Scott!

I love the Vanwall! The Maser (and it may just be my eyes

) looks a bit stretched. But it's great to see two old classics like these make a debut in 2004!

 

[Doug]

Hey, cool scoop

Great cars - did you pick up my set?

Great photos too. How was Goodwood? Going back over the week-end?

 

[Guest]

They look really good on the track. Thank you EE for the pictures.

RR

 

[Scott B]

Giving tomorrow a miss, but back on Sunday. Very warm today - and I was in "period wool shirt and tweed jacket!

 

[slik]

Hey there!

Great review and shots, the pit lane looks great.

However, I think we can all agree the true stars of these photos are the cars. These are not my period of interest at all but look like an esential purchase anyway. Maybe racing these around will enthuse me to learn some of the history surrounding these racing legends too, see, our hobby is educational too.

They look great in the Sport type box, I think it would be a shame to get them in a crystal case even if once it's on the track it makes no difference. Presentation sometimes can be very important and these cars look like they deserve it.

Scott, is there any chance of a macro shot of the driver and cockpit, the steering wheel looks very nice.

Cheers,

Julian.

 

[David Lawson]

I also bought my Maserati and Vanwall today at Goodwood, very nice and let's hope for another Grand Prix Classic release fairly soon.

The Revival was fun and extremely hot - I was wearing a tweed jacket, waistcoat and a trilby hat - when I go tomorrow it will be with something a bit cooler.

David

 

[Mr.M]

Saloons, a favourite of mine, were good with a lot of unusual entries! One incredibly chuckable peanut (A35) which disappeared quite early on in the 2nd session, a very fast Alvis Grey Lady, not being very lady like, but best of all for me was a Standard (obviously not very) 10 getting 4th place on the grid amongst all the big bangers!

Don't know what others think, but the lumbering Eastern European Tatra V8 looked a bit too modern (i.e. 60s- this year the saloons at Goodwood are pre-60). Mr Bean doing his best to get round Lavant bend in his Mk7 Jag was as funny as some of his TV shows, depending on your opinion!

Roll on tomorrow and the battles start in earnest!

For the first time in the history of the Revival, I might have to forego the jacket and tie tomorrow. Hot or what?

Mr.M

 

[Swissracer]

That has to be one to THE BEST News item opening pics ever seen here!!

Handle with care boxes sitting on a dustbin and we are talking fragile scaley missles??

If we were holding a photo comp that would win hands down!

Top job on the speed too Scott - THANKS

Very nice looking though and the 'pods' do not look as obtrusive as I thought they would. In fact I have the new chassis L88 that came with the Starsky and Hutch set and didn't notice for weeks that it had a mini pod

Nuro took some comp pics of the old and new chassis L88s.

 

[McLaren]

QUOTE Handle with care boxes sitting on a dustbin

They are Scalextric? I expected them to be IN the dustbin...

Sorry, cheap shot...

Don't look that great to me actually. I'd prefer some 70's cars. But I expect I will change my mind when I see them.

McLaren

 

[JohnP]

Thanks for the review Scott - can't wait to see these cars in the "flesh".

 

[monquispot]

http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/mas250.htm
Maserati did run with the bodywork scalextric chose.
looking forward to both these cars. please make more.

 

[Scatman]

I've been waiting for this day. Thanks for the photos. Now the count down begins for me.

 

[philsmith]

One interesting fact about Moss and the Vanwall was that he often ran the car with solid rear wheels, not spokes. He said that it affected the handling!
Not sure which wheels the '57 German GP car ran with and can't find any pictures, but would be interesting to find out?
The old Airfix car always had this configuration, I've a had plenty of people tell me that the car I've just sold them has the wrong rear wheels fitted!

 

[BEEJAY7]

Brilliant Review Scott and excellent pictures.

That was the good bit..........I'm afraid the Vanwall looks very overweight and the Maser rather elongated, it will be interesting to see how it measures up to some scale plans. I would be delighted to be proved wrong about this.

Although the pod doesn't look obtrusive in Scott's pictures ,(against a dark background), the pictures I've seen against a white background make it look very noticable, I really will have to wait until I get my own set, before commenting further.

Regarding the pod, I have heard rumours that it is only on these cars (and all future Scalextric releases) to accommodate the forthcoming digital chip, so it looks like we are going to have to put up with these thingsfrom now on , or look elsewhere for our slot car requirements.

I really don't mean to sound so negative, and I really should reserve judgement until I've seen them in the "flesh", but if Hornby are going to these lengths to produce models of this era, they surely must get them right...!

I can understand why Hornby have fitted the magnet, and it makes a lot of commercial sense to try and broaden the appeal of these cars. Most enthusiastic owners would, I imagine, remove them.

Please Hornby take on Mac P as a consultant!.

Regards

Alan

 

[philsmith]

Here's a nice pic of a Vanwall at Goodwood, clearly showing the disc wheels.
Vanwall

 

[Tropi]

A superb report From Ecurie Ecosse.

It's a shame that the motor could not have been mounted further back in a more orthodox slot car location. While I like the authenticity of to some extent reflecting the original engine configuration, the front motor suggests that magless driving will be less than satisfactory. The necessity for a prop shaft must also add a little to the design and manufacture costs while automatically providing the potential for more noise and mechanical malfunction.
I guess Scalextric must have had their reasons for this decision.

 

[PeteN]

Wow, thanks for the great and quick review! I wish I could be at Goodwood, but I'll catch the races later on SpeedTV. There is also the big British car field meet this weekend in Portland, OR with the historic Can Am races! I hope to see that Sunday.

The cars look great and I'm sure even better while drifting around the track! If any model deserves to have the magnet removed, these would be the ones. Then we can enjoy trying to drift them as smoothly as Moss and Fangio did back in the day. I guess the reason for front engine design is increased cockpit detail. I think they will be fine handlers with just a little weight in the rear. Do a lot of your tracks have rules against adding weight and is this why many don't like front engine cars?

I really like the handling of front engine cars when weighted for balance with out magnets. They seem to be more controlable, probably due to the longer moment of inertia. I can't wait to pick up a couple of these. I love the early films of these cars drifting so smoothly all around the track. This is only seen in rallys today. Thanks again, EE!

 

[Alaskaracer]

Great pictures and a wonderful review!! I can't wait for these two to hit the shores of the USA. I need both of them, way to go Scalextric!!!

 

[Scott B]

More pics.

I took out the magnets and as expected they handle very nicely. Lap times worked down to 8.6 for the Vanwall and 8.4 for the Maserati. Why is it faster? Probably the red makes it easier for my old eyes to follow!