For our feature this month, we are delving
into the archives and wallowing in a bit of
nostalgia. Never mind your Playstations and
Xboxes, remember the time of Space Invaders
and Pac Man and of the golden age of toys for
the boys and worship at the temple of Scalextric!
Did you know that in 1952 a small company
called Minimodels Limited launched a collection
of metal
model racing cars which contained a clockwork
motor? The cars were invented by Mr B Francis
and the trademark was known as SCALEX.
By 1956 – the novelty of clockwork cars
was wearing off and Mr Francis started looking
for new ways to develop his invention. He saw
a demonstration of electrically operated cars
running on a track and straight away recognised
the potential for his clockwork cars modifying
them to incorporate an electric motor. He also
developed a track system made with rubber with
parallel grooves in which metal rails were able
to carry the electric current to guide the cars
around the circuit by means of a “gimbal” wheel
suspended underneath. The new product was called
Scalextric (a combination of Scalex and electric)
and unveiled at the Harrogate Toy Fair in 1957.
It became an incredible success.
In November 1958 Minimodels Limited was sold
to the Tri-ang Group who began a huge plan
of improvements to the range including new
cars
complete with motors and made with moulded
plastic bodies. A new controller with a hand
speed throttle
and track sections and buildings enabling authentic
reproductions of real race tracks were part
of the developments. Perhaps the most significant
change was in 1963 from a rubber to a polyethelene
track – allowing for moulding to take place
in the factory which considerably reduced the
production costs involved.
From then on there was no stopping the popularity
of this fabulous toy – often considered
too good for the kids to play with!! Adults of
a certain age will always remember the childhood
aromas of hot electric motors and the brightly
coloured hand controls with Scalextric – or
begging parents and relatives to repeatedly put
cars that have flown off one of the bends back
on to the track. Oh the joy of filling the living
room with endless track formations and competitions
between family and friends trying to do the fastest
lap times, going round without flying off the
track or the first to do 50 laps … So what
are you waiting for? Dig out your childhood racing
track and treat yourself to some of the latest
model cars (yes of course they still make them!)
and invite all your friends round for a Scalextric
evening pretending to be at Silverstone!
Our suggested cocktail recipes this month have
a racing theme and would be the perfect accompaniment
to an evening of Scalextric racing games at
home.
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