about

In the intercession of two hobbies

Two passions mixed with childhood taste that some Peter Pan refuse to forget.

The SLOT is a game, so it tries to emulate a reality. It expects to reproduce the speed sensation, the limit reach, the risk, the competition and the aesthetic contemplation: the track and the cars. For someone is so a illusion of unforgettable memories where the cars are lovely objects.

The collection

One day I grown adult: removed my rusted track and gave the cars to someone younger like loan. ¿Where is now my darling Honda? Other day I grown young, I recovered something and I declared that I accept presents like SCALEXTRIC cars.

The criterion to establish the limits of this collection is personal. I accept any opinion. My objective is to cover the highest representation of F1 cars with SLOT model 1:32 scale.

There are some points to discuss:

The choice of one reproduction between different ones who represent (approximately) the same F1.

To discard some versions that a stubborn manufacturer launch using the same mould but with different decoration but similar to previous releases.

Like a consequence of this re-launch, reject the anachronistic reproductions between form and paint. An example is the Jordan 196 Peugeot.

To accept models with low quality but who represent interesting F1. The SLOTs are not the best reproductions and in sometimes they were very regrettable.

The identification criterion: A F1 manufacturer assigns a denomination to one car (for example McLaren M23) but it can be very changing and have different aspect in form and decoration and to stay with his name for more that one season. The reproduction builder must specific in what race take part the vehicle who try copy. In the other hand, the poor details of some SLOT lets to represent F1s (with look stable) for more that a season.

To begin into the do-it-yourself: improve old cars, build news with the specific material for SLOT or transform the rare reproductions 1:32 into SCALEXTRIC cars. Of curse for this it is necessary time and ability.

To extend the manufacturers.

It is not my objective to accumulate a lot of cars, the little differences make me to consider that they are repeated. I like to get them without hurry, hopping for a good opportunity and I don't try to do business with then.

A SCALEXTRIC car may be a toy built 40 years ago. Besides someone can evaluate a rare detail or color like of made in Mexico. These characteristics may be doing the price become high. Although I don't discuss the value of these objects, I don't buy them.

Time ago there found any accessory for reconstruct old EXIN car, but the prices are expensive. I always thought that there have existed elements to build completed them in any color. Now you can find them with a different mark of SCALEXTRIC. It only was a matter of market's balance.

There are appearing old models in vintage versions launched for official marks, also selling like installments. In the Catalan SCALEXTRIC case, they are reproductions with renew and better decoration, they could confuse to any collector.

For a time we are living a boom in the SLOT world. The quality is good or very good, as well in the English SCALEXTRIC. In spite of this, there is not much F1 news.

I recommend a place in my Barcelona: the toys collector's market in Masadas square every first Sunday of month, except August.

The WEB like a catalogue

This WEB was born long time ago like a personal use catalogue to arrange and identify the cars, compare, know his history and finally like a F1's photo collection. It's done with a simple technique.

I have visited INTERNET places and I have picked a lot of things. You can find these places in my links, with my gratitude. Now I think it is time to share my information. A space limit of the housing force me to reduce the option of see the photos in their original form. Through e-mail I will be glad to send you photos if you like. As well I hope to receive suggestions, help to find the lot of mistakes that you can find and correction of this English text.

The WEB structure has three parts:

Formula 1: I try to have one photo for every one F1. There are 780 photos (summer 2003) selected of one fund of 6000.There are grouped for years (53) and for great manufacturers (45). Although there appear in the statistics, I want to remove some participation because it is repeated in successive years and not significant. Also I would be grateful if you would send me some of I don't have, This is another collection.

Slot: They are for SLOT builders (8) and the most important F1 manufacturers (11.) Besides you can find my collection.

Intersection: from F1 or SLOT you can find blue links to pages (over 100) with two images, the F1 and its reproduction with some information. This is the original part of the WEB.

Formula 1, love and hate

To see them (not much), to hear them and to smell them (a resin smells that now I don't perceive) in Montjuïc was a shock.

People say that hardly ever they cannot advance on track, I believe it's better when the track is wide and with good grip out of the best line. Also the spectators don't understand the real position with the pit stops and they lost interest. The F1 is a complex competition, more that a sport. When someone overpower one race or one season (this is not new in the history) we must think that him and his team are the best. Always there is other that hardly fights in other positions although we don't see on TV.

The F1 continues deeply moved to me, they continue been exceptional machines drive for people who goes to the limit.

In the past the risk was intolerable and with dramatic consequences. You will find these tragic histories in another INTERNET sites, they belong to the F1's greatness and misery. The security has been improved and it must be the priority.

Now the cars have a form too similar. In the 70s they were more fun: daring designs, radical projects, authentic madness.

The resources that this circus burns are enormous. Vain in the Monaco balconies. I shouldn't so much like all this.

June 2003

I want to thank for the corrections contributed by the F1 expert Steve Wilkinson, May 2008