Slotcars? 2017
Having found Rima’s group (that I wrote about last time) almost by chance, I’ve now found another regular club that’s just as much fun but a completely different style! I spotted a poster on Facebook and clicked through to find out more. They are a bunch of enthusiasts of all ages who meet once a week to race slot cars. These are like Scalextric to the uninitiated, but you’re allowed (practically encouraged…) to crash them, much to the delight of my children! The cool thing is, you of course then fix them. These engineering and electronics skills are not taught like they used to be which is a pity as they’re useful skills to have.
We went along last Monday, to the Church Hall in Emneth, and the people there were so friendly and helpful it was a lovely evening. They let us have a good few practice runs with some of their cars, and then let us race with them too! They do it properly with numbers drawn and heats to determine the overall winner of the evening. There is a lot of skill in not only getting round the circuit but being able to knock out your opponents, with plenty of friendly rivalry and encouragement for the new racers.
I asked for some more details about the club, and spoke to a couple of people in particular, Julian Moat and his son Tom. They told me that the club first started in the early 80’s at the South Brink Stockcar Stadium on Cromwell Road – you can see the photos in Tesco of the full size cars – Tom told me: “the cars we race are 1:32 scale versions of BriSCA F2 Stockcars/Spedeworth Superstocks which used to race at the Stockcar Stadium before it closed and continue to race all around the country today including down the road at the Kings Lynn ‘Adrian Flux Arena’”
Make sure you get along on December 3rd as it will be the 35th Slotstox World Final which as Tom says: “Wisbech has the honour of hosting for the 5th time. Open at 10.30am with racing starting at 12 noon, it is expected to be a great day’s racing with drivers from all around the country coming to compete for the right to call themselves World Champion for the next 12 months”.
The meet is every Monday from 7.30pm, with the first race at 8.10pm. Race fees are £4 for adults and £2.50 for under 16s but your first night’s racing is free. (all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). Find the group by searching on Facebook for “Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club”.