Scalextric

[PeachesMcLean]

DH's birthday soon and he wants a scalextric set.

Whilst I'm a bit about this, he's been talking about it for a while and to be fair, will play for hours with DS on it.

I know nothing about Scalextric and have just looked at the Toys R Us range. I guess I'd be spending £70+ ish. Any tips of what to look for???

Don't the cars just go round and round???

have you got somewhere to put it once it's up? It does take up quite abit of room.

They are great, I've got one (it's mine, I've had it for years - way pre DS! ) They do take up a lot of room, that's the only downside.

Get one with lights on the cars, definitely - it's brilliant playing in the dark (and bloody hard!)

this one looks good. I have the Formula One set.

Check what space you have to set it up in, and then buy the biggest set you can afford, as it works out very expensive to add to it. When we bought a set for the boys (Dh, ds1 and ds2) we got some of the relatives to club together and buy it as one big joint present for all of them.

I think they're really boring, but the boys like it. Having said that they don't get it out very often at all.

if you look at the sets on www.scalextric.com it tells you how much space you need.

If you can afford it, get one where the track crosses over, does figure 8s etc. It's much better. The digital ones look amazing (but bloody pricey!)

Lapin, you sound like DH's ideal woman. Rugby AND Scalextric. I'd never compete

Thankfully DS has a fair sized bedroom so it will go in there.

Is there any skill involved? I remember a set from my childhood where you just knew that one track was better than the other and that one car was better.

I think the Formula 1 cars are better, but it depends what your DH likes. They do retro cars, rally cars, Minis, Jags - all sorts. But you definitely need some bends and curves - and I have a pit area and a starting grid

street pursuit cars do drifts or powerslide drift cars can do 360 turns

Thanks TTT. Can't quite get my head around the lamborghini / police car combo Is that moral?

Friend of ours told DS today that if we get DH a scalextric for his birthday, then she had a funny feeling Father Christmas may bring some more scalextric bits and pieces for DS for Christmas. You know, I think she might be right.

Probably not moral - but looks like it could be fun - could be good learning opportunity - this is not how to behave on the roads LOL. If you do decide to get some from Argos for Xmas might be worth waiting a while as they seem to reduce certain things each week or so up to Xmas IFSWIM - last year we got Hot Wheels stuff (oh joy!!!) for 25% off.

They do take up lots of room. But are wicked!!

oh love scalextric!
ds/dh & me getting one this year, thanks unca tony

Anyone been researching the digital sets??
Want to buy a set for christmas for DH and 2 DS. Any thoughts??
Take it cross over and curves best?!!

We've got DS1 (5) a Grand Prix set for Christmas. It was £59.99 in The Entertainer (reduced from £89.99).

Couple of points:

See if you can get one with an automatic lap counter. It also does lap times and best lap times, not much extra cost. Comes as standard with about 9m of track

When one of my Le Mons cars went the way of the fairies I went to buy a replacement and opted for a TVR that had a much higher cross-sectional profile. The guy in the shop said that I would never be able to beat a Le Mons racer with it.

Anyway - to cut a long story short, the lower the car the faster the laps you can do with it. Of course, being a physicist, I subjected this theory to extensive testing.

Anyone know where to get spare connectors for the cars, or wire to make them? We've only got one functioning car at the moment...

We have 2 sets

Regarding the connectors - I have been to about two or three model shops that supplied it. If you live in London there is one near Foyles book shop that definitely does them. Sorry to say that I can remember neither its name or exact location!

I hope I have left an adequate trail of clues though.

Thanks! Will try local model shop and then if no luck will look next time I am in That Big London.

Guess who got a Scalextric set for Xmas!

ME!

MY FIRST ONE EVER!

The DW is fed up of me moaning about only having girls toys around the house and decided to get me a boys toy for Xmas.

MEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

BRUM BRUM!