1957 Rod & Custom: "Road Racing at Home"

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Editor Note:

This is one of a few very early articles that appeared toward the dawn of the slot car boom of the 1960s. As NASCAR is today, the late 1950s/early 1960s saw the Gran Prix as the most popular races of the times. This article also mentions the transition from Rail Racing to Slot Racing, noting that the first American slot racing track had just opened. 'nuff said...

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1957 Rod & Custom: "Road Racing at Home"

LIKE THE WEATHER that nobody ever does anything about, competitive racing of scale model cars has been talked about for years but nothing was really done about it - until recently. Of course, we are all familiar with the triangular-bridled, gas-powered racing cars which run, one at a time, around a central point. But racing in this manner can only be done one car at a time so the sport has lost ground. What was needed was a manner whereby several cars could run at a time, each being individually controlled while they were in motion. The method has been at hand for a long time, but apparently no one thought of a practical application until now. Center of rail-racing interest in this country is the Model Auto Racing Association of Kalamazoo, Michigan, patterned after a similar, but older, organization in England. Other clubs are presently being formed in Illinois and California.

The race cars, usually built along Grand Prix lines (as the GP Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfas, etc.), to a 1:32 scale, are electrically powered by model railroad motors and receive current from brass strips which also act as guides to keep the cars from wandering off course. Current is rheostat controlled, again a model railroad item, so the individual operator can change the speed of his car to suit the demands of the course; the cars are not held permanently to the guide rails so spin-outs can - and often do - occur.

As in any form of hobby or sport where competitors may gather for a national or inter-national get-together, certain amounts of standardization are required. In this interest, the English Model Maker Magazine has supplied us with the answers to the most-often asked 16 questions regarding rail-racing in this country. They are as follows:

a. First American track is in operation in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Secretary is Tom Cook, 1127 Staples Avenue, Kalamazoo. Others have been started in Park Ridge, Ill., and Corona Del Mar, California. Kalamazoo track entered first International G.P. at Southport, England, in 1956 and placed 2nd and 4th.
b. British leading track is at Southport, Lanes., run by Southport M.E.S. Many other private and club tracks are also in being and a list should soon be available.
Basic cars can be most easily made from any of the scale plastic cars on sale at most hobby shops, for example the Highway Pioneers, Hudson Miniatures, etc., these are available as "oldtimers," modern sports and racing cars - take your choice.
Track size is up to you. I have a track to take three cars abreast which is 4-1/2 x 21 ft. overall size. "Table Tennis table" size of 9 ft. by 4-1/2 ft. is a good average; or three plywood sheets 8 x 4 making total of 12 x 8 - probably largest "home" size. Be content with small size at first.
Motor to use. I am not expert on availability of motors on U.S. market, but motors comparable to British sizes include your Pittman DC-60, Lindsay and Mantua - all of which are usable. Smaller the better in HO or even TT motor sizes. Get them from Model Railroad Hobby dealers. A special British motor designed for the job is shortly going into production.
Transformers. If you use house current (usually at about 110v.) you must step down to 12v., and will need a transformer from Model Railroad Hobby supplier again. If running direct from heavyweight (auto) batteries at 12v. then you can use a trickle charger connected to house current (same as you use to keep automobile battery charged) to re-charge your battery.
Speed controller is yet again from the railroad pike! It is in fact a simple rheostat, and may be got cheaply from a surplus electrical store. A fixed resistance with a spring button on-off is a simple and practical alternative.
Scale type wheels. Rudge style. These can be obtained from Scale Model Equipment Co., Steyning, England - send there for lists. This firm also do scale (1:32) kits of several good racing cars that fit the layout fine.
Worm and Pinion. This has produced a lot of difficulty in supplies. Should be obtainable from jewellers jobber - but do not know U.S. contacts. If in real difficulty, forget it, and obtain worm and bevel specially made up for this job by Precision Model Engineering Co., 49/53 Whitechapel, Liverpool 1, England. Price is approx. $1.00 incl. postage.
Apart from plastic bodies cars must be made up - no kits of items such as Ackermann steering available. But a much simpler pure pivot form of steering will work at a pinch.
Watch your toy shops - there may be some scale cars that will serve as basis for models. For example we have in England SCALEX cars - they are really 1:27th scale and not 1:32nd scale but they do very well if one is not too fussy.
Trackside details, e.g., flag marshalls, TV cameramen, spectators etc., can again all be the lead or plastic figures sold by model railroad dealers for model pikes, suitably altered to fit their new surroundings with a little paint, etc. Or model soldiers can be adapted in the same way.
Ready to run cars can now be obtained from Model Road Racing Cars Ltd., 29 Ashley Road, Boscombe, Hants, England. This firm also markets tracks which interlock in railroad style to make oval, figure eight (with overbridge) and other circuits.
Drawn brass track is coming onto the market in 50 ft. rolls again available as in (12). Raised guide rail type and flat pick-up strip is being made. This is fixed to track with 3/8 in. roundhead screws, size 3 - the head's holding flange-base of rail. Flat pick up can be drilled through and attached in conventional way.
Since "Southport Standards" laid down governing track dimensions, it has been decided that it is better to feed positive through the flat rail, leaving the guide rail as negative. This reduces chances of short circuiting.
Standard rails are: Guide rail 3/16th in height - rail being of 1/16th in diameter, either in one piece as (13) or simple "birdcage" or brazing wire supported on distance pieces. Flat rail is located on left of guide rail, looking in direction of travel, 3/8 in. centers away from guide rail.
Swivelling steering is recommended for best performance, but on tracks without sharp curves no form of steering whatever is really essential. In the same way front or rear drive can be installed.

D. J. Laidlaw-Dickinson
Model Maker Magazine

Photographs accompanying this article show action on the Kalamazoo track which has a lap distance of 40 feet. Lap record for this course is 6 seconds!! Four of the fastest club cars were sent to England to compete in the International Southport Grand Prix, two of them grabbing 2nd and 4th slots.

Because of the sport's infancy, a wide array of cars appear at larger meets since the best methods of building various components are still being argued. English cars are nearly all rear wheel drive with steerable front wheels to help them around tight turns. The wheels are steered by an arm which rides on the guide rail. American cars are usually front wheel drive, thus eliminating the need for a steering assembly since the rest of the car will follow its front end. However, through the various standards fortunately set down early, all operate on 12 volts d.c., have a maximum wheelbase of 3-1/2 inches and a maximum total car width of 2-3/8 inches.

The spreading of this unique sport in America is predicted in view of the wide interest in all types of auto racing and model building. Economically combine the two and you've got a winner. Permit us to voice an opinion that may make our English friends shudder, but, if allowed to come about, might increase U.S. interest; why not build and run hot rods or stock-type cars (such as Revell plastic-bodied cars, etc.) ? Thus miniature drag racing could come into being as well as, say, a true facsimile of the Darlington 500. Why not?

More on electric rail cars next month.

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