Perception of a Pastime

[Fast Co.]

Very early this past Saturday morning Rob and Scott and I drove down to Georgia for two days of slot racing with the Atlanta Gang. We weren't able to depart on Friday afternoon and it's a bit over five hours to Mark's place from my home in North Carolina and so we left at 4 am.

As always, we had a great time with fellow slotters - lots of laughs, good food, a little good-natured ribbing, sharing of tuning and driving tips, and competitive racing.

So before I continue, I want to thank both Mark and George for housing and feeding us and for their warm, southern hospitality. And thanks also to the many guys for sharing their tuning tips with us.

But this thread is not about that.

During one heat of a race, Rob - a fellow SCANC, and I engaged in a discussion about the perception of slot car racing by the general public. Rob asked, "What do you think someone off the street would think about this?", motioning his hand past George's workbench and the surrounding pit areas.

Now, like any other serious racer, George has on his workbench a menagerie of slot-related gear including at least one power supply, a tire truer, a soldering iron, lamps and magnifiers, assorted jigs and set-up blocks, drivers, pliers, strippers and shears, knives, and various tubes and jars and cans of adhesives, lubricants, putties, primers, paints, and other potions. And of course, George also has a plethora of spare parts. He's got car bodies, chassis, pods, motors, gears, axles, bushings, hubs, tires, guides, braid, wire, spacers, stops, and screws of various sizes.

In addition to the paraphernalia that George owns were the slot boxes of over a dozen other racers, each stuffed with similar tools and equipment.

I laughed, because I knew exactly what Rob meant. When I tell friends I'm into slot racing I get looks of bewilderment and disbelief. You'd think maybe I had three heads. Sure, some guys remember the commercial raceways of the 60s or home sets of one brand or another. But most folks, especially women, are surely thinking something like "You're 56 years old and you play with toy cars?"

What Rob meant is that most folks have no idea of the DEPTH of our involvement. And if they did, they would certainly think that we be committed to some forgotten mental institution far from the most distant fringes of society. Often, I consider the amount of time and sums of money I pour into this pastime and think to myself, "Am I nuts?"

Listen to the many conversations during a slot weekend and you're likely to hear about the best way to true a set of tires or debates about shore ratings and the advantages of one tire compound over another. Talk about controllers will involve ohm ratings, band numbers, and brake, sensitivity and choke settings. You're likely to hear opinions and unproven theories about the best way to break in a slot car motor. And you'll surely garner advice on how to correct handling woes.

Like any other hobby or sport, the degree to which you can get involved in slot cars knows no bounds. Whether you're building a circuit, acquiring a collection, scratch-building a chassis, painting a body, casting parts, tuning a ready-to-run racer, improving your racing skills, or just socializing with good friends, slot racing provides a fun and challenging way to pass time.

Rob and I had many hearty laughs last weekend because we imagined how ridiculous our activities might look to someone not in the know. But the conversation took a serious turn when Rob mentioned a magazine article he read recently. The article stated that one key to happiness is to involve yourself in something that you enjoy but that you also find regularly challenging and that gives you an opportunity to excel.

For me, this pastime provides that key.

We left Atlanta at 7 pm Sunday evening after some quick good-byes, words of thanks, and firm handshakes.

I woke up this morning with a smile still on my face knowing that this was the most fun I've had in many recent weekends.

Thanks again guys, for hosting.

Cheers and happy slotting to all,

Steve

[Ember]

And long may it continue to offer both joy and challenge to those of us who have happily plunged beneath the surface.

[munter]

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Speaking as the "other Rob" around here, I completely agree. I should mention for the future that I am roughly 2 hours north of you when there's another road trip about to happen.

[TsgtRet]

When I get the "3 headed look" while telling people about my hobby/passion/addiction, I tell them that I am neither the oldest nor the youngest in the group I race with and when I tell them it's a worldwide hobby they seem to doubt my word.
It so happens that the track I race at on Wednesday nights is co-located with an RC Racing facility (both indoor and outdoor) and when I tell folks thats where I race they seem to accept the RC folks as "normal" and us as "weird".....go figure.
The bottom line is I'm happy to be "weird" and share that quirk with the fine folks that "play with toy cars" let the outside world wonder about us. :mrgreen:

[HomeRacingWorld]

Great story. All true, and reminds me and I am sure others, of conversations we hace had.

When we have events, Cheater O'Connor always mentions how funny our "excuses" sound: You drove all the way to (fillin the blank) just to slot car race? Well, at least you had a good reason. :)

[Ember]

Wise words.

[slothead]

A couple of years ago I took a continuing education class through a high school, but the class was actually offered by a model railroad club. They had their own club house and offered classes every spring and fall on making a basic layout and scenery. They are as addicted to trains as we are to slot cars, and though still considered odd they have more of a history to lean on. So, when asked about my hobby that has me making long treks to distant hobby shops I often say it's kind of like model railroading, then may or may not say, "but with cars". People get that and it's often enough to resolve their curiosity.

The model railroad guys were amazed to learn us slot car guys (and gals) still had our own thing going, but were very helpful with wiring and scenery tips.

One day a college student asked me what was the class I went to on Tuesday nights, and I hesitated while trying to think how to state it. I think I said it was 'a guy thing' and she raised her eyebrows suspiciously. Then I said, "and on the way home I stopped at a news stand and bought a men's magazine" and reached into my book bag to show her. The horror on her face subsided a bit when I displayed a copy of Model Railroader, but she still thought of me as weird, though less dangerous. Only the students that have been over to the house for a cookout really know what I'm into, and once they see all the cars, and spend time racing, they kind of get it. One student said it was my way of showing them if you do your work and get a good education you can do whatever you want to. Not a bad message even if I hadn't thought of it. I'm just having fun.

Remember, the only difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys.

Slothead

[Retro Racer 44]

I just got home from an evening of racing with Luf and the gang in the GVSCC. We were racing at Perry's tonight and he has two three lane tracks in his garage. (They got to the ceiling to let the cars in, pulled up by an electric winch). There were nine of us and we ran four sessions of twelve ten lap crash and burn heats, with TransAm, Targa, Open Wheel and Front Motor. We had a great time racing and for over two hours we were either racing, starting or marshalling. Of course there was also a bit of time for snacks and beverages. We had some great rivalries, a few shunts, and not too many offs. We all had smiles on our faces and I came home and immediately put some new wheels and tires on my MR Slotcar Mazda to prepare for the SCCC Canada Proxy.

Four years ago, my wife thought that I needed a hobby to fill my retirement time. I rediscovered slot racing 44 years after stopping in the 60s. Not only do I have fun, but I have met three or four dozen local racers that would be strangers otherwise and I now call them my friends. I have also come to know dozens more through this and other slot car forums. I also believe the challenges of both racing and building slot cars are going to help keep me young.

So yes, I play with toy cars, but I also design and build toy cars from scratch. How many other people can say that, eh?

Keith

[Ember]

I get some interesting reactions when slot cars are mentioned. The funny thing is that His Lordship talks about what I get up to with slot cars than I do. And he's always very quick to whip out the phone to show photos of various things. It's always interesting to watch the reactions from those who start off thinking of kids toys and finish up thinking I'm bonkers. If they can be talked into coming around and experiencing it for themselves most of the guys have walked away saying they're going to dig out the kids' set. The kids that have come here with their mothers have walked away begging Mum to be able to come back and bring Dad. I just wish I had more room so that we could have a few more people around for some fun.

[vonsirius]

:text-goodpost:
Keep it fun and don't take yourself very seriously.
For me it's the receipt.

[Dangermouse]

"What do you think someone off the street would think about this?"

We were having a race meet - so there were tables and chairs and slot boxes and lots of people gathered in and just outside the garage racing cars. Some people stopped out the front hopped out of their car and asked if we were having a Garage Sale.

:)

[FootScoot]

I for one am very glad to have this hobby. It has taken my mind off of some very depressing things the past few years. It's the only thing I do almost everyday, so if others think I'm strange or weird they just have other things they do.
Yes, David I am tool impaired, especially when it comes to home improvement, heck I'm all thumbs you might say, but in my defense I can rebuild a 1:1 car engine, and install said engine in a vehicle. I just don't get the "wood" mechanics of a house. I can see how I want something, but putting it into practice just doesn't happen. But I can sure build a slot car with no problem what so ever. I guess I'm just not a handy person.
I have some very good friends in this hobby, but most live away from here. I know there are people around here who are in the hobby as the LHS sells lots of cars and sets. The biggest thing here is the train guys and when they find out I'm a slot car guy they don't have much else to say. To each their own. I'm glad to say I enjoy building and running slot cars. :)

[Czar]

Slot racing is pure pleasure for me because it is so meaningless. Slot racing will not promote work peace. Slot racing will not cure cancer. Slot racing will not end hunger. Slot racing will allow you to escape the pressures and priorities of the "real world." Slot racing will transport to you to creative, challenging world where your imagination can roam freely amongst replicas of some of the world's finest machinery. Slot racing will make you smile. And the best thing about slot buddies is; they are as weird as you!

[Fast Co.]