| Now you've got me started Nigel! I remember getting one of the first Scalextric sets to arrive up here (Edinburgh) in Easter 1956 or 7 (I think). Tinplate Ferrari and Maserati on a figure of 8 track. Championships were held by the manufacturers in various cities throughout Britain with the finals in Hamleys in London in the summer. Somehow I ended up getting through and was sent on an expenses paid trip to compete at Hamley's. I can remember staying at the Cumberland Hotel along with the other finalists. Didn't quite win the final but came away with a deal to test their development models at our boarding school club. We had the early plastic prototypes of the front engined Lotus and Vanwall a year before they appeared. Our job was to test them to destruction and try out new pick up designs to replace the earlier gimbals. One device I recall had a ball beraing pick up but these were quickly abandoned in favour of the the brushed pick ups. One of our keener enthusiasts was one Frank Williams who has since gone on to develop his interest in full size Scalextric. Some of the older members of this forum may also recall the Revell kits that you built up with pressed steel chassis and highly detailed body shells. I can also recall a 4wd Mercedes that I built from a kit - but can't remember the manufacturer now. Later came the tiny Wrenn 152 Ferraris. I wonder what happened to them? I used to spend as much time modifying my cars in those days as I spend nowadays on my submarines!
Andrew |