The Swindon Vintage Grand Prix

 

Four Lane Blacktop Retro Slot Meeting

 

A not-too-serious chance to race 1/32 and 1/24 slot cars

built to evoke the golden age of slot car racing, the 1960’s.

[events] [entry] [1/32 rules] [1/24rules] [hints] [suppliers] [where are we?]

 

 

Events (click on class name for rules - general 1/32 rules)

  1. 1/32 Pre-1961 Grand Prix                                             
  2. 1/32 Pre-1971 Sports/GT                                           
  3. 1/32 Pre-1971 Saloon                                    
  4. 1/24 Pre-1972 Sports Class A - Scratchbuilt               
  5. 1/24 Pre-1972 Sports Class B - Kits                           
  6. 1/24 Pre-1972 Saloon                                     

Dependent on numbers classes 4 and 5 may be run together.

 

 

Class rules follow for all events. Don’t panic! They may appear complex, but won’t get in the

way of our main objective: to have fun racing old cars! Some hints and suppliers are included at the end.

Please feel free to pass this invitation to friends and clubmates – all welcome!

Back to menu

 

Retro slot racing is the only remaining activity not: a) controlled by Shy, ITV, RM or BE or b) the subject of a Nick Hornby novel. Come and support this unique sport!

 

For further details please call Rob Lees 01793-741168 or email rleesrlees@aol.com

 

NLSME Retro-series 1/32 Rules (updated and clarified for this meeting)

 

 General (apply to all 1/32 classes):

  1. No vacuum-formed bodies.
  2. No sponge tyres.
  3. No goop.
  4. Wheelbase dimension +/- 1/16" of prototype.
  5. Any motors used must have been available before 1966.

Clarification: Modern 16D motors will be acceptable but must be in the Homeset to Standard power range. Modern Super 16D motors, and any modern commercial 16D or Super 16D products sold as handbuilt or blueprinted such as Hershman motors are not allowed. 13UO’s are acceptable.

  1. Any reworked motors must only use standard magnets.
  2. Maximum guide lead 1.125 inches.
  3. Any standard commercially available model of a prototype will be eligible for the class, but will still be subject to rules 1 and 2.

Specific class rules: [Pre-1961 GP] [Pre-1971 Sports] [Pre-1971 Saloon] [Back to Events]

 

Class Rules

Event 1: Pre-1961 GP

Open wheel pre-1961 Grand Prix cars

Inline motor orientation only

 

Front Wheels and Tyres:    Minimum diameter 18mm, minimum width 4 mm.

Rear Wheels and Tyres:     Minimum diameter 20mm, maximum width 7 mm.

 

Overall car width 56 mm maximum.

Back to Events

Event 2: Pre-1971 Sports

Open and Closed Sports and GT cars, and small saloon cars, pre 1971.

a. No hinged body pans

Clarification: if you choose to use a chassis design with hinged body pans, you must immobilise the hinge by soldering or gluing the offending item solid or remove the hinge pin. Chassis with the body pan or mounting free to rattle and not hinged are legal.

Motors may be oriented in any way.

Saloon cars with a wheelbase of 8’ 6" or less are legal for both Sports and Saloon.

Front Wheels and Tyres:    Minimum diameter 16mm, minimum width 4 mm.

Rear Wheels and Tyres:     Minimum diameter 19mm, maximum width 9 mm.

Overall car width 64mm maximum.

Back to Events

 

Event 3: Pre-1971 Saloon Back to Events

Four seat closed Saloon and closed 2+2 GT cars, pre 1971.

  1. Hinged body mounts are allowed, but not plumbers
  2. Motors should be inline
  3. Closed 2+2 GT cars with inline motors are legal for both Sports and Saloon

 

Front Wheels and Tyres:    Minimum diameter 16mm, minimum width 4 mm.

Rear Wheels and Tyres:     Minimum diameter 19mm, maximum width 9 mm.

 

Overall car width 64mm maximum.

  

1/24 Rules (NLSME and others)

(Throughout this document 1/24 can be taken to refer to both 1/24 and 1/25 nominal scales)

Back to menu

Event 4: 1/24 Pre-1972 Sports Class A - Scratchbuilt               

  1. Cars must be inline.
  2. No vacuum-formed bodies.
  3. Rear tyres can be black or orange sponge. Modern fish rubber is not allowed.
  4. No goop.
  5. Wheelbase dimension +/- 1/16" of prototype.
  6. Any motors used must have been available before 1966.

Clarification: Modern 16D motors will be acceptable but must be in the Homeset to Standard power range. Modern Super 16D motors, and any modern commercial 16D or Super 16D products such as Hershman motors sold as handbuilt or blueprinted are not allowed. 13UO’s are acceptable.

  1. The can, endbell and magnets must remain standard, but the armature can be modified by rewinding or dewinding.
  2. Wheels must not protrude beyond the bodywork
  3. Maximum guide lead is 1.25 inches.
  4. Chassis must have three or fewer hinges

 

  1. Materials free, but no spring steel
  2. Minimum 1/16" ground clearance under the rear of the chassis
  3. Front wheels must touch and roll. No skids.

 

Front Wheels and Tyres: Minimum diameter 20mm, minimum width 6 mm.

Rear Wheels and Tyres: Minimum diameter 24 mm, maximum width 14 mm.

 

Overall car width 80 mm maximum.

Back to Events

Event 5: 1/24 Pre-1972 Sports Class B - Kits              

 

This class is aimed at period commercially-available kits and ready to run cars.

Any configuration of car is acceptable, with any motor orientation, provided the kit is built up in standard form with the appropriate motor and represents an appropriate car for the class. Replacement or substitute bodies may be used of appropriate prototypes. Lead may be added.

Back to Events

 

Event 6 1/24 Pre-1972 Saloon

 

As event 4, except with closed four, five, six or seven seater bodies. Saloons, estates, woodies and hearses welcome. No vacuum-formed bodies.

Back to Events

 

Hints for guidance 

Just to avoid confusion:

The rules evoke sixties racing – they don’t accurately reflect any one period but grew from an initial commitment to (in no particular order): nostalgia, fun, close racing, cheapness, hard bodies, slow motors and non-sponge tyres. There are retro rules for other 1/32 classes, and we are just starting to play with 1/24 cars (where we allow sponge tyres).

 

The actual model cars don’t have to be old or contain old components. They can be built new from newly-made bits. Some successful Retro cars were built in the period, and many use period bits. The first all-new retro car I built is now seventeen years old (sob).

 If you want to build cars . .

Chas Keeling at SCD (01274-682120) holds motors, U brackets and wheels and tyres for retro racing.

Charlie Fitzpatrick at Betta (01704-229342) makes many suitable fibreglass bodies in his Classic range.

Your local model shop will carry 1/32 and 1/24 kits for bodies, as well as brass and piano wire

Some Scalex and Airfix/MRRC cars make suitable donor bodies.

If you have old slot cars from when you were young(er) . .

Even if it doesn’t fit one of our classes, come and give it a run. It’ll do it and you good, and you may even find a buyer for it, or the spares you need. We won’t turn your car away unless it’s actively peeling the paint from the track (or too quick)!

 Back to menu