You can find a wealth of humorous social media posts that give examples of ‘things men do to avoid therapy’. It could be reviving a hunk of rusted iron into a fully functional steam locomotive or collecting every different coloured vinyl release by a particular record label. Slot car racing – better known in the English-speaking world as Scalextric – is another candidate for such recognition.
The pastime enjoyed an internet-age revival 20-odd years ago, coinciding with the rise of online retailers and auction sites. This sudden boom led to a complete overhaul of expectations, with diecast-quality models replacing the Tupperware-on-wheels of yore.
A cottage industry swiftly followed, consisting of specialist performance parts suppliers, whittlers of obscure 1950s sports car bodies, architects of scenic trackside buildings and programmers who develop the means to incorporate digital race strategies and fuel loads into the hobby.
Farnborough Park Scalextric Club in Farnborough, Hampshire is a
