It's a small world

Or, as I was going to write, it's a slot world.

It was briefly mentioned in the kick-off entry that one important and special part of this blog would be the wonderful world of slot car racing. I am sure you know it: I am refering to those small but detailed scale cars that run on plastic tracks with metallic rails in the middle to guide them (thus, the slot). You plug a controller to the track, and the electricity magic makes the car to move. So simple, so beautiful. I use to say that it is the only toy that people of all ages and also both genders like (however, a friend of mine corrected my view by poining out that puzzles also are, and I agree).

When I was a child, a Scalextric set was something that almost every kid had to receive as a Cristmas present at any time during his or her childhood (however, nowadays Scalextric is no longer the only available manufacturer, yet it keeps being recognised as the most popular brand). The most typical slot track was 8-shaped, but there were a wide variety of sets from the basic 0-shape to massive 4-lane circuits.

My first Scalextric set (made in Spain by Exin) was called 'Silverstone' and it was released in 1991. It had shape of glasses and included two Ferrari F1-87 cars (one of them being green!) that I still keep alive and kicking; unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing about the tracks, which got lost during a move along with a few more cars and pieces.

I was away from this slot small world for a few years until it came back with strength some 10 years ago. It just felt like a reunion with an old friend that you did not see for a long period. But this time, it will not leave again: it is here to stay.