Slot cars are like Books

[Dangermouse]

So I was thinking about how many cars I have and really I have too many. If I was to try and do 10 laps of my track with all of them I would be there for quite a while and yet I am still compelled to buy more of them. Those shiny baubles really catch the eye.

I thought about it as I was working on my latest project the Pioneer Charger and replacing a Revell Ford chassis with a Pioneer one - cars are a bit like books.

I have a heap of books on my book shelf - some have been read and put back, some I go to a lot for reference, others I come back to and read again and again. With books I can learn new things, imagine myself in new worlds or simply escape from the day.

These little toy cars are the same, they provide a chance to escape from the real world, lose my self in tuning and running
these little cars, making things and driving and racing them around the track. With these little cars I get to learn new things as I look up the history of the car and the driver (something that inevitably leads to buying more cars :)) and imagine what it would have been like driving these machines around the track. or I can simply go to my track and drive 100 laps without thinking about anything else other than how far can I hang it out on that corner with out losing it.

My cars are like books - I get a new one and a I 'read it' - sometimes from cover to cover getting it running real smooth, other times I flick through the pages - run it a few times, note a couple of things but put it aside for a raining day. Other times the book stays on the coffee table to look at when there is nothing else to do.

Like books - once read, a lot of cars will go on the shelf - they are pleasing to look at, and fun to occasionally take down and flick through the pages again. Sometimes this leads to more tuning and then I run them for a week or so, they come offthe shelf and get promoted to the 'coffee table'.

So instead of admonishing myself for buying too many shiny baubles, I should reflect on them in terms of the entertainment value I get out of them, overall they are pretty good value really.

People ask me if I am a big kid - well yep! I am. I don't know who wrote the rule that you had to stop being a kid in all aspects of your life but I reckon whoever it was must have been a darn cranky chap. Toys rock and I plan on playing with them until the day they cart me away!


David

philosopher's hat off :)

[ddyke]

My cars are intertwined with my books.

[dreinecke]

David - this is a great analogy! I too am a big kid!

[waaytoomuchintothis]

If I ever have as many slot cars as I have books... I'll be divorced, broke, homeless and sad.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Good post.

[MrAdept]

yes indeed - an excellent post - I enjoy both my books and my slot cars.

Mark

[sixtiesracer]

Excellent analogy.While doing reference we don't just have to read the printed text,but,we can also just look at the pictures

[goosenapper]

[BIG E]

Yeah... what the 'mouse said! -- Ernie

[Ember]

DaveMouse, go to the top of the philosophy class for the day. :)

There is a lot to be said for the analogy. Though, I think I'd be in trouble if I owned as many cars as books. Hmmmm... Made the mistake of starting a catalogue on my (our) cars yesterday. They do add up, don't they.

I'd throw music into the mix too. Can't beat putting one of the prettiest cars on the track, some favourite music on the sound machine, and just cruising. I'm not a speed demon. I just cruise. The hypnotic effect is soothing. It's a feast for the eyes, and calm for the mind.

[dreinecke]

This post reminds me of something stated here; books and slot cars are tangible objects. While I spend 8 hours a day in front of a computer, I really cannot stand to read without a physical book. I actually retain stuff better that way. Likewise, I SUCK at reading a digital watch...too many years racing with gauges I assume. My dad's C5 had a digital HUD on the windshield...worthless for me LOL. I had to look at the needles.

Slot cars are like that for me...simple, tangible objects. Probably why I've stepped away from video games so much. I play with the son occasionally, but find I'd rather pick up a controller.

[baford1]

David this is a really good post & yes I believe you are right when you read a book or magazine especially if its on a subject that your passionate about it can take you away from reality for a while & take you to places that most of us can just dream of actually going to , I like a lot of people here at HRW grew up reading books about motor racing for me it was the late 1960's onwards about places like Le Mans , Daytona , Bathurst etc reading about great races & the drivers of that era & I think thats why when I drive cars around my track its an escape from reality once more & yes they are so much better than video games , just maybe the other thing is to that most of us grew up in an era were kids were kids not like today when 10 & 12 year olds want to act & dress like adults , maybe they should get of there electronic gadgetry & read a book instead , once again David good post & yes its a shame that bookstores & hobby shops seem to be dissappearing


Richard

[Cjent]

Every entry in this thread is well thought out and makes for an excellent post.
Excellent!

[vonsirius]

Nice text!
And slotcars like books are becoming digital! :)
but some like me prefers the old ones!!!

[HRWJim]

What a great thread!!!! Read every post and could not agree more with the analogy. I really don't no why it never occurred to me before reading this, being I am manager of a bookstore. LOL Jim