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Post by stuck on Aug 24, 2015 7:35:41 GMT -5
I imagine you've all had similar thoughts in the past, and dismissed the idea as similar to trying to herd cats, but an annual opportunity to display and view scratchbuilt slot cars strikes me as rather exciting.
The UK Slot Festival at Gaydon is fine and dandy - up to a point - but it's not really our scene...
What do you think, chaps? An annual scratchbuild slot car show a good idea?
Laurence
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Aug 24, 2015 12:22:49 GMT -5
Hi Laurence
Would be fantastic but why not piggy back onto something that some of us probably already attend rather than try to start from, well scratch!
This year I had all my scratchbuilds on the table in the Policar/Slot.it tent and quite a few people spent more time looking at them than they did the rtr cars.... Maurizio and Maurizio seemed quite happy to have lots of extra attention too.
So the interest is there and its a centralish location.
There are lots of spare rooms at the back that weren't used so we could take one of those presumably.
I would certainly love to meet you all and could help organise it if people were interested.
If not i'd be happy to join whatever anyone else wanted.
Cheers Andi
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Post by stuck on Aug 24, 2015 12:46:28 GMT -5
Hi Andi
A backroom at Gaydon is a brilliant idea. We should do it next May. I understand that there's another opportunity before then at the Coventry Museum of Transport this coming December 6. Naturally, I've no idea how popular this proposed event will be, but understand that Pendle will be there in force.
For my part, I'm just keen to see all your wonderful cars, and meet similarly-minded souls. I've spent my entire life at motor racing circuits, and most disturbingly, still find myself shouting at the fools' lantern every fortnight during the season.
Every week, idiotic chums arrive here for our slotting club night. Typically, it's an evening of wonderful racing, most politically incorrect verbal abuse and the best way I know of turning the clock back to both happy, and sodding miserable, memories.
I'm currently building a W196 streamliner but, being old, stupid, knackered and downright reactionary towards technology, I haven't yet worked out how to post photographs on the forum. Please bear with me.
Laurence
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Post by Chris Wright on Aug 24, 2015 14:18:48 GMT -5
Hi Laurence, Posting photo's: First open a Photobucket account, go to: secure.photobucket.com/registerPlace the photographs you want to use on your computer's desktop. Find and select the edit button (top right-hand corner). Then upload the picture you want to post from your computer. (one picture only at a time). You'll have a new screat now. Hit the "resize" button and Edit the photo to width of 650. Save the photo, (replace original). Right click on that image and copy that photo's URL (do a right click on the mouse). NOW ON THE FORUMGo to the appropriate "Create Thread" page. Find the small icon of a picture on the Create Thread page. 7th icon from the right. Paste your photo's URL in there after the http:// script. Then hit the "INSERT IMAGE" button Hey presto, image is inserted in your thread. Good luck, Chris
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Post by David Mitcham on Aug 24, 2015 14:33:53 GMT -5
Hi Laurence and Andi
Great idea! I would be interested in participating in, and assisting with, a scratch builder exhibition at Gaydon . I wonder if we could put on a demonstration race or two? Anybody got a portable scenic track?! I guess whether it happens will depend on how many people are interested.
Best Regards
David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Aug 24, 2015 14:58:08 GMT -5
A track would be great. We could of course run some rounds of the various proxy races that this forum supports....
Might be a bit ambitious.... What might be possible is to use a track already there for an hour or two as a demonstration race or two.
Andi
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Post by stuck on Aug 26, 2015 4:39:29 GMT -5
Chaps
Many thanks. Some good ideas and my most grateful thanks for advice about posting photographs. Apologies for the delay in replying but my laptop, bought brand new 10 days ago, has been playing up, rather proving that TOSHIBA is more correct in its more anagrammatical format.
Gaydon is a long way off, of course, but like Le Mans, it always seems to be just around the corner. I'm sure we can come up with some sort of track before May. Why not, eh?
I also rather like the idea of 're-creating' famous old events of the past in slot car form. Choose a GP from yesteryear, don period dress, build correct cars, select a track and enjoy a day out slotting. As far as I know such activity isn't illegal (yet) or bad for you, so perhaps we should do it before the 'elfs (people from 'elf & Safety) put a stop to it all on the grounds that a) drinking tea with chums isn't conducive to being miserable or b) bacteria from throttles might crawl into your nose and create a pandemic of folk wanting to take up slot car racing. Gawd forbid...
Laurence
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Post by David Lawson on Aug 26, 2015 5:58:48 GMT -5
I have held scratchbuild displays at NSCC swapmeets in the past and found it interesting although racers and collectors weren't too interested in the "art" of building a slot car from a pile of parts and model-making materials. Gaydon attracts a range of slot car enthusiasts so may have a reasonable size audience for the display you are talking about.
It takes a lot of preparation and time and travel just to display so to include a scenic track and arranging races will make this a major exercise so you might want to walk before you run with this idea.
Informal track demonstrations on a little track would be fun and as it would be ad hoc you could be flexible with running the display stand as well but to include a proxy race with quite a few cars is very time consuming and would take at least 2 to 3 hours, need drivers and marshals and require organisation so you weren't distracted from doing your best for all the proxy entrants who have entrusted you with their cars.
Just my views on the practicalities of this idea.
David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Aug 27, 2015 11:57:47 GMT -5
Another aspect could be to try to bond with a few of the 'kit makers' who may be attending and may prefer to form a group with similar interests to attract worthwhile buyers.
It occurs to me that for the likes of George Turner and Richard Mack being wedged between 'Toy' sellers probably doesn't generate a lot of new customers.
Maybe it does maybe it doesn't but they (and similar) might like to form a group with us to show more builds and if there were a track attract people to see the performance and fun of driving these type of cars.....
Others such as Mel Ault and perhaps even PP (owned by Pendles of course) might like to take part of this 'speciality' group.
Just chucking ideas out there. If a few more would like to participate I could contact all of the above.
Cheers Andi
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Post by David Mitcham on Aug 28, 2015 15:25:55 GMT -5
Hi Andi
That sounds an excellent approach to me as it would provide a specific focus for scratch building. I think David L is right that attempting to run a proxy round would be a step too far as part of a first attempt at doing this but running a few demonstration races would really help to generate interest and maybe 'create' a few more scratch builders. However we need a few more people to commit to getting involved.
Best Regards
David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Aug 28, 2015 16:52:35 GMT -5
Yes i'd like to see say 10 names of people interested. Otherwise we may as well just turn up anyway and have a chat between ourselves.
If there was that level of interest i'd be prepared to try to organise something.
A track I don't have.
I would suggest that despite our narrow fields of interest we should be as inclusive as possible at this stage to get as much help as possible. The more we are divided the less likely we are to ever get something like this off the ground.
Gaydon currently works like this: Main hall for selling rtr cars, new and old. Some shops spilling into some of the side rooms. Large side hall for manufacturers and wholesalers at front and club type tracks behind. (This year was rally and drag). L shaped hall between them with specialist builders.
I would suggest one of the side rooms although that would keep us 'seperate' and any kit makers might feel it was too out of the way to be commercial.
So what about trying to get into the L shaped hall with the likes of Martin D'eath and Choc Ice? Very different from what we do but both into the 'modification' / construction angle. Add in a few kit sellers more close to what we do and we could have quite a critical mass of 'scratchbuilding' type activity. I could ask Sean at Pendles to put PP in there too.
I'm just knocking it around to see what people think and want to do. If you don't like this idea we can do another. I'll be there anyway!! Cheers Andi
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Post by Aurora on Sept 1, 2015 12:20:40 GMT -5
Best of luck putting a display together Andi. I would think a nice presentation of built cars in a classy display could help sell some kits. A friend of mine just decided to purchase a PP kit, his first, after looking at some completed scratch built cars.
Matt
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Sept 1, 2015 14:32:19 GMT -5
Hi Matt Thanks for the support. I'm not sure I need luck! I need people to make the effort..... If no one steps up i'll be there selling my Policars and having fun! Cheers Andi
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Apr 12, 2016 1:32:01 GMT -5
So Gaydon is a month away and I thought it might be 'fun' to ask who is going? I know David M. will be there and I will be there both days.... There will apparently be a Ninco track in the centre of the area where the manufacturer's hall. Right hand hall as you go up the escalators. The slot.it / Policar stand will be close by. I will have all my scratchbuilds, Policars and conversions with me and would love to meet you all! One thing though. Don't introduce yourself unless you bring something to show!!!! People will never know about us if WE don't at least bring a few cars to show, even for a few minutes.... Now how about a little demonstrator 'race'? What if a few of us had a designated hour to meet there and have a little fun? Any interest at all? ? Cheers Andi
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Post by David Mitcham on Apr 12, 2016 10:50:51 GMT -5
Hi Andi
Yes I will be attending on the Saturday. Very happy to bring a car or two to show and demonstrate.
Best Regards
David
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