[sprint]

Hi all, last sunday the first Scaley Moto GP were shown here in Italy at Pistoia during a Scalextric DTM and Slot.IT national race; I have read the report and who tried them was happy with their performance : they don't lean, but from what I have understand, they slide when braking hard, Valentino' style! Next sunday we too will (hopefully!) try them

.

 

[Russell Sheldon]

Hi Dr Sprint

I was very fortunate to receive one yesterday from Frits Passet, Hornby's International Director, who was exhibiting at the Dubai 2004 Toy Fair.

I haven't had an opportunity to try it yet, but the detail is exquisite. I personally believe that MotoGP will be huge, opening a whole new market and hopefully attracting a spill over to slot racing.

My only reservation is that the handlebars are rather delicate and I think that they will break rather easily in the event of a crash. The rider is attached to the seat by way of a magnet, so can come off rather realistically in the event of a tank-slapper or high-side!

With kind regards

Russell

 

[Guest]

I think these are going to be very successful.

RR

 

[vfr750]

Unfortunately I diagree. I'm passionate about bikes, much more so than cars but I won't be buying them. A lot of my biking friends were also interested until they found out that they don't lean.

John

 

[Wankel Ickx]

To me, a committed non-biker, these will stand or fall on their performance. I can't see
the static model market being strong enough to support the range alone.

If they have got them to run faster than was reported that's good. If that means that
they lean out more on the bends, that is bad.

Uptake may well be strong to begin with...but once folks have sampled iffy running, the writing, as they say, will be on the wall.

However, I am told that MotoGP is big in Japan. Now if these wobbly mopeds excite the orientals sufficiently we could see that market expand and what would expand it more than territory specific models...like some of the wagons in the JGTC!

 

[Otello]

QUOTE (vfr750 @ 19 May 2004, 08:52)Unfortunately I diagree. I'm passionate about bikes, much more so than cars but I won't be buying them. A lot of my biking friends were also interested until they found out that they don't lean.
Me to.
I will not buy them.

Ciao
Otello

P.S. I have a good excuse: more likely they are too high for our track bridge.

 

[sprint]

Friends, I am an open mind, so I like slot cars and also slot trucks ( and perhaps too many other things! ); I have tried them and I know what I am saying. Slot Moto GP? Why not? I am also an old biker : I love old classic bikes like Guzzi, BSA, Triumph and the like, and not today Japan rockets, but the slot world is different; if they could capture the magic of a racing bike all is OK, so I would like to try.
Another point : since there are only the Scaley models and not "hop-up" parts, it's the perfect way to race without any tuning ( it's a sort of "virgin world"); the best at the controller wins. But I think that soon we will see racing tyres, racing motors, smaller stands with "anti friction" coat or micro bearings at the extremities, pilots with lead shoes to lower the CG, nails in the driver's back, so they will not come off...........

Moreover, as Russel said, the models are very well made and I have to own one (or more...)

Ciao

 

[Wankel Ickx]

QUOTE ...nails in the driver's back, so they will not come off.......

Ha, ha! You read that tip here first!

On the question of how good the models are, aren't purists going to bitch about the dangly protuberance housing the bike's mugnut?

 

[LMP]

it'll be amusing to see magneted riders flying off then sticking magically to the track, haha.

I think it'll be a great newclass for clubs around the world, as said before, it'll be pertty much 'box standard'.

I read somewhere they dont lean because when upright the rider would look awkward.

 

[Biberle]

QUOTE (Russell Sheldon @ 19 May 2004, 07:47)I haven't had an opportunity to try it yet, but the detail is exquisite. I personally believe that MotoGP will be huge, opening a whole new market and hopefully attracting a spill over to slot racing.
Honestly I don't think so. There are similar areas, for example computer- and videogames, where MotoGP games or generally bike simulations don't attract a significant number of real world bikers.

 

[astro]

there is a big spill from die cast enthusiasts moving into slot racing - I am one such person. From the number of die cast bikes in model shops, I assume that is a thriving area, so I guess the hope is that there will be a similar spill from the die-cast bike market into slot racing

 

[astro]

PS - if the rider falls off but the bike comes first, does that count as a win?

 

[Tropi]

I've already said my bit about how lovely looking they are, but I think may be a short lived phenomenon.

What I'd like to see is our inventive engineering types adapting them to make them lean. This could be an extremely interesting challenge. I am sure someone will do it eventually . . . and when they do, it will become even more interesting!
Go for it chaps!

 

[Guest]

Hi Russell,
I think it really great you got the first one.

Best wishes,

Jeff.

PS I am sure these bike will sell to a new group of slot racers.

 

[Robert Davies]

In stock now at http://www.getslotted.co.uk and http://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk

Mine are on order

-Rob

 

[Aberstone]

Well I tried mine and while the build is quality, it just doesn`t handle! Now I wasn`t expecting miracles but it doesn`t like standard corners and even on Carrera track it de- slots under average acceleration out of the turns, I`m not an expert racer but I expected a little better performance and I`ve tried lead on the skid which helps but increases the noise level and looks ugly!

I`m sure you Gentlemen will have some comments about it, we were going to buy some for our kids championship, but now I`m not going to bother.
Cheers Phil B.

 

[sprint]

Hi all; yesterday I've bought one, and sunday my 12 yr son used for three or four hours a demo one at our Club, on a wooden track with copper tape, non magnetic!

, and without adding any weight.
Well, he liked very much the model, and keep running lap after lap with or without the pilot, trying to slide in corners, with careful use of the controller ( but my son is a good driver now ). Yes, the model deslotted but was part of the game, and also the pilot flying away reminded full scale races. I think MotoGT models are very different from slot cars and need a careful approach; a boy without any experience will find them difficult to handle, but I believe with some tuning and practice, experts ( like us?) could open a new battlefield; it's the same story with trucks : out of the box they are difficult to handle, but with a little work they are a joy to have and drive.
Btw, who will be the first to offer tuning parts for bikes

? The market answer will show the way, I think.
Ciao

 

[Guest]

.......very nice looking bike, but I tried it out on my ninco track last night and it would not stay in the slot for half a lap. Even if I went round VERY SLOWLY it just popped out of the slot.
Thought it was the front wheel pushing the guide out but no I found out it was the child's stabilisers pushing the guide out on the corners. Tonight I will be mostly heating plastic stabilisers and bending them up so the bike leans a little in the corners......... or should I just send it back to Getslotted and ask for my money/credit back?

any thoughts?? or I could burn it in the garden:-(

oh and Mr Scalextric why are the Lister Storm LMP car tyres to big for the hubs? and why don't you make a car that handles without a magnet first, (not sidewinder) say inline motor then stick a magnet in it.

 

[McLaren]

That would be too easy...

Dome: Just send it to me, I'll burn it...

Lotus

PS. Will still buy one. Think how much they will be worth in 10 years after production stopped 9 and a half years ago...

 

[Mecoprop]

Gee, and I though I was a cynic!

. . . er . . . I mean realist.