[lordjw]

Just came back from Electronica 2004 fair. Electronica is huge fair with 14 big halls full of electronic components, manufacturing, software etc. In other words nothing to do with slotracing. Boy! Was I surpriced to find Scalextric Digital racing track there. Track was at Microchips stand. The reason for this is the fact that the new Scalextric digital system uses microcontrollers manufactured by Microchip. Control station uses high performance chip and cars have low-cost controllers.

Short 10-lap races were held but only with 2 cars and no lane-change activated. Fastest lap wan the race. I raced couple of times but did not like the feel of out of the box digital cars. It´s like racing magnet cars with weak power supply. Every race winner got special Microchip livery Dallara Indy.

The Microchip Indy is limited edition, 1008 cars manufactured. Every car (base) numbered. All the cars were free giveaways for the race winners at Electronica so these cars will be scattered around the world, but mainly to Germany/Munich.

Also the packaging is special, "Microchip in control" text printed on cardboard sleeve.

Microchip car has designated number C2627 Dallara Indy "Microchip" No1.

I was able to get two of these cars. This car has great potential to become very rare Scalextric item becouse all the cars were given to people who regard it as another free Electronica giveaway - and see no special value in it.

Bad news for the serious Scalextric collectors, another hard to find car.

Cheers!

Julius

 

[Mr.M]

That made your trip even better then, Julius! It's great when something happens like that, unexpectedly! And to come away with two special cars makes it even better.

And you're right about the collecting angle, if you put this in the collector's section there'll be some envious people. And some offers, no doubt!

Mr.M

 

[Slot.it]

AAAARGHH!!
My partner and our engineer went to electronica and they did not win ANY cars. AAAARGH!

If I only was there!!!!

Maurizio

QUOTE (Mr Material UK @ 13 Nov 2004, 10:15)That made your trip even better then, Julius! It's great when something happens like that, unexpectedly! And to come away with two special cars makes it even better.

And you're right about the collecting angle, if you put this in the collector's section there'll be some envious people. And some offers, no doubt!

Mr.M
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[Jamie]

The lady pictured looks delighted* with the prize; maybe you could ask if she would sell it?

Jamie

* Its probably plonked behind the sofa.

 

[lordjw]

Maurizio, If it´s any consolation I can tell you that luck had great deal to do with those Electronica races. You had to be lucky enough to get one single good fast lap. There was no rehearsal before race.

The best laptime raced during electronica wins complete Sport Digital set. I haven´t been contacted yet

Julius

 

[Slot.it]

Having spoken with the two that went to Electronica, in fact they raced, one against the other, but were not given any car with the excuse that 'we are left with only two cars ...' Grrr.

Maurizio

QUOTE (lordjw @ 14 Nov 2004, 18:52)Maurizio, If it´s any consolation I can tell you that luck had great deal to do with those Electronica races. You had to be lucky enough to get one single good fast lap. There was no rehearsal before race.

The best laptime raced during electronica wins complete Sport Digital set. I haven´t been contacted yet

Julius

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[lordjw]

Sorry to hear that!

In fact I won one, and bought one for 20euros. I am sure that if I had been more active I could have bought many more cars for 10-20euros apiece. Thanks for conforming though that all the cars apparently were given away during electronica. I visited Microchip stand Friday morning and they still were giving away cars. Electronica ended Friday 12.11. 18.00.

Cheers!

Julius

 

[Slot.it]

No, I cannot confirm that - unfortunately the two told the people at the stand that our company also makes slot cars so possibly this caused a reaction from the Microchip rep - like "I won't give these two blokes the car because else they will copy the IC" or something like that - I don't know. Bother.

Maurizio

QUOTE (lordjw @ 16 Nov 2004, 11:03)Sorry to hear that!

In fact I won one, and bought one for 20euros. I am sure that if I had been more active I could have bought many more cars for 10-20euros apiece. Thanks for conforming though that all the cars apparently were given away during electronica. I visited Microchip stand Friday morning and they still were giving away cars. Electronica ended Friday 12.11. 18.00.

Cheers!

Julius

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