Slot cars - are kids still interested?

[mik]

I keep getting vids from these guys on my instagram feed.



As a kid I’d have bitten your arm off for a replica track (and room big enough to house it) but with the advent of racing sims, it seems like something from the Jurassic period.

[Sundayjumper]

Slot cars - are kids still interested?

No.

Recently been through this. Having a general clear out of stuff here, I had three complete Scalextric sets, three track expansion kits, plus two large carrier bags full of additional track pieces. One set sold on ebay for £20, the buyer (aged 40-something) when collecting admitted that he only bid on it because he was in the pub with some friends at the time and it seemed like a good idea. The remainder zero interest. Eventually got rid by giving the whole lot away on a Facebook "don't dump it" group to a 60-something couple who thought their grandchild would like it. Don't know how it panned out for them but it saved me taking it all to the tip.

[Jimmy Choo]

I bought a scalextric micro set back in 2008 that all the kids have played with. The 12 year old wants me to break it out this weekend.

The sim racing is too technical for the kids but Toby seems to enjoy it.

[Rich B]

i think the problem with scalextric is it’s just bit boring. It always was. The setting up of the track was probably more interesting than the actual driving.

[duncs500]

My nephew got the James Bond Scalextric for Christmas and everyone had fun playing with it. Whether or not that was just a Christmas thing, I don't know. He's certainly too young for sim racing.

[Explosive Newt]

My friend's son loves their miniature knock-off Scalextrix set and spent a happy hour around Christmas constructing more elaborate banked sections and jumps. I think he liked more the build than the racing.

Then again he has a very big head and laser like focus.

[Jobbo]

I have quite a lot of Scalextric stuff in the garage; some of it purchased in the 1990s when I was at university and some of it purchased in the early 2000s. I probably even enjoyed it quite a lot. My particular favourite item is the Caterham 7 with Evo sponsorship. But the stuff I used as a kid was probably less than 10 years old then, handed down from a family friend, and it was flaky. I don't think the 20+ years old stuff I have in the garage is going to run nicely if I ever set it up. Should probably just bin it, but it doesn't take up very much space so I doubt I will.

[Simon]

Then again he has a very big head and laser like focus.

I see what you did there.

[dinny_g]

spent a happy hour around Christmas constructing more elaborate banked sections and jumps.

The SloMo video feature on your phone makes great crash footage

[DeskJockey]

My dad bought the kids a track, and it very rarely sees any use. In hindsight they should have asked for something else.

[Ascender]

i think the problem with scalextric is it’s just bit boring. It always was. The setting up of the track was probably more interesting than the actual driving.

Agreed. And I used to love getting the annual catalogue from the local model shop to see what new cars were going to be coming out.