[rastas]

Well Is it not the younger generation comming through the future in slot racing! Whether it be digital or analogue or something else, this is the point I'm trying to make!
John.

 

[MrFlippant]

Alright, I'll toss another ball into the field...

One BIG difference between what kids have access to with video games, and what they have easy access to with a "real" game such as slot cars, is quite different. Mainly, I'm referring to people to play the game with. If they don't have a friend or family member to play with at any given time, a video game offers pretty much instant multi-player gaming. Either they are playing against the computer, or a real live person elsewhere in the world playing the same game. Not only does such a thing not exist in slot cars, presently, but the attempts to date have fallen short, either of expectations, or of uptake. Without a "standard" game interface to play with other people who are not in the same room, there's little point in having one. Anki kind of had a decent attempt, but it was pretty much just a video game with an appendage in the real world.

The other option is to make it easier for new slot racers to find other slot racers to race with in their area. Unfortunately, that is rife with risks and problems, which no sane legal department of a business of any size would even consider, let alone move forward with. Even if the only thing slot car toy companies did was put a little splash in the corner of the box that said "Is there a slot car racing club in your area?" and nothing more, at least the bug would be planted in a few more people's heads to look for some kind of competition or fun with like-minded people. At least the scalextric web site has a forum where people can post their club information, but that will only be found by those who think to look.

Most people get the toy, and think of it as nothing more than the toy the kid plays with, and that they may remember playing with as a kid. Precious few people think "hey, I wonder if there's a slot racing club or parlor in my area?" and even fewer actually spend a minute to look for one. Without a reason to look for better "equipment" to improve the experience, they usually don't, so they never really know what they're missing with the cheap toy.

 

[Dopamine]

Even if the only thing slot car toy companies did was put a little splash in the corner of the box that said "Is there a slot car racing club in your area?" and nothing more, at least the bug would be planted in a few more people's heads to look for some kind of competition or fun with like-minded people.

That's a really good idea. I know Slot.it and Scalextric read this forum, so let's hope your idea sparks something similar from the manufacturers.

 

[beardy56]

Maybe a stick on the box going to a list of clubs. I'm sure most clubs would have no objections to being listed on the set suppliers site as every little bit helps. Although depending on what a local club runs it could have the opposite effect and put people off.

 

[MrFlippant]

Legally speaking, I doubt they'd do that. Even encouraging people to go looking for clubs might be iffy to some corporate lawyer types, but I think that's the most we can hope for. Given the idea, a customer may then choose to go to the Scalextric site, and check the forum to find the clubs people have listed on their own, if not just Google, or whatever their search engine of choice, even just going to social media and asking people to do the work for them would be better.

 

[Kevan]

Legally speaking, I doubt they'd do that. Even encouraging people to go looking for....

Isn't that why we're bombarded every waking second by advertisers?

 

[munter]

The future of slotcar racing is based around the mentality of one person trying/wanting to go faster than another person.
I have moved on from that mindset and almost never race as the premise seems a bit silly to me these days.

There is one guy in our group who takes racing so seriously that he has been the centre of arguments and bad feelings. I find that rather odd, sad and sometimes amusing.


The future of slotcars per se looks solid to me though.

 

[MrFlippant]

Isn't that why we're bombarded every waking second by advertisers?

Maybe it's different over here, but telling customers to basically go out and play with strangers is NOT something you see in advertising.

 

[29458]

The future of slotcar racing is based around the mentality of one person trying/wanting to go faster than another person.

Sounds about right to me

I expect that's why it's called slot 'racing'

 

[Kevan]

Sounds about right to me

I expect that's why it's called slot 'racing'

He mentioned both sides of the story, the 'racing' and the non racing.

 

[Kevan]

Maybe it's different over here, but telling customers to basically go out and play with strangers is NOT something you see in advertising.

My original quote was talking about advertisers persuading us to do something, not something specific.

 

[nonfractal]

What do you think the future may hold for slot racing, mainly in terms of technology and track systems? The basic track system has been present for decades with only digital enhancement.

The future of racing will be slot based. None of the slotless designs have ever taken hold.
However, there are many factors threatening that future.

1. Poor car manufacturing quality (do I really need to name names again?)
2. Architecture that always seems to Fall short of the goals. To grow it has to work consistently.
3. Availability. Many clubs run on track &changers that are no longer commercially available. No future there.
4. Poorly designed handsets that seem designed to inflict damage on the hands. An ergonomic disaster. It doesn't seem like a viable business plan to maim your customers
5. Proprietary architecture, locking out all other manufacturers from the electronics and software.

I've been racing various formats of model cars (periodically) since the early eighties and it's always been the case that it is :

• Sneered at as a sport and hobby.
• Thought that the halcyon days are behind us.

AlanW

 

[Kevan]

I've been racing various formats of model cars (periodically) since the early eighties and it's always been the case that it is :

• Sneered at as a sport and hobby.
• Thought that the halcyon days are behind us.

AlanW

Exactly my experience also, rc racers always looked at slot cars as toys not real race cars.

You're 100% right about the hardware/software, for such a small niche hobby there's too many manufacturers making alternative and non compatible products. It's time they all got together and sorted this out...they won't but it's a thought.

 

[Kevan]

The future, a bit like history except it's not happened yet and we can't predict or change it.
Old fashioned games and hobbies are dead long live the future...well not really.
Take board games for instance, who plays with them any more? Well, there's 140,000 board games with 3000 new ones every year.

 

[LMP]

There are actually quite a few board game cafes out there. Wonder how their numbers compare to slot clubs?

Not really a fair comparison due to the square footage requirements of either, but it’ll certainly go as far to demonstrate that the idea of traditional fun isn’t dead.

 

[Trisha]

I don't know how youngsters occupy their leisure time nowadays. Years ago, we used to say that it's possible to take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. I'm not sure we can do either these days.

 

[vfr750]

You can take a horse to water but you can't make it have a bath!

Cheers,

John

 

[Kevan]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it think.

 

[Kevan]

When on the brink of a precipice, take a decisive step forward.

 

[munter]

The phone zombies have a lot to answer for.....in more ways than one!!!

There are a lot of stupid people out there or as my dentist says, “everyone is different.”