Author: DAVE KENNEDY, slot machine evangelist and publisher, slot machine news
Autumn is the season when slot machine racers can look forward to the hottest products of the year from a variety of international manufacturers. This year is no exception, and retailers should be on the lookout for some key kit and bikes to excite seasoned racers while attracting new kids and families to the hobby.
Slot IT
Italian slot machine brand Slot. will release what is undoubtedly the most anticipated car of the year – the 510 Datsun. The real car hit the track in 1971 during the American Trans Am Series. The track car version is one of the most popular vehicles in recent years. This version is in 1:32 scale (the only scale made by Slot.It) and has a fully race-ready chassis.
This iconic car features a beautiful set of metal wheels, sticky rubber tires and traction magnets, complete with SIMONIZ livery.
Carrera
America’s Carrera Revell will launch its highly anticipated NASCAR series this fall with four cars, each sporting the same trim regardless of size. The 1:32 scale is available in digital and analog formats, while the 1:43 scale Carrera GO! There will be Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR stock cars in sets and single packages.
The launch of the Carrera NASCAR series is notable because it is the first time in years that a major slot company has released officially licensed versions of NASCAR vehicles in the most common scales (1:32 and 1:43). Carrera Revell expects its products to be on shelves between September and October, just in time for the holidays.
Photo credit: Dan74 — stock.adobe.com
Auto scaling
Spanish brand Scaleauto plans to launch a new series of slot cars, including those that competed in the IROC series from 1973 to 1974. This marked the first time that the Porsche 911 that competed in the competition was presented as a 1:32 scale track car. At least a dozen cars are expected to be released, including ones driven by legendary drivers such as Bobby Unser, AJ Foyt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Richard Petty.
Each vehicle features an adjustable chassis, high-quality metal wheels and a high-performance motor.
scale
UK-based Hornby Hobbies’ Scalextric brand has added to its collection of movie cars with a special edition 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 inspired by the 2014 film John Wick. The new vehicle builds on Scalextric’s recent pop culture success, which includes cars and sets inspired by Back to the Future, Knight Rider, Batman,as well as James Bond 007 series.
For this release, the company has repurposed Mustang molds it has used over the years, specifically for replicas used in the Trans Am Series race cars. So far, few Mustangs have been produced in street colors, so John Wick’s BOSS 429 should be well received by the enthusiast community, slot machine collectors, and fans of the Keanu Reeves-starring franchise.
Slot racing has returned to the mainstream in recent years, and using these picks as inspiration, you can build or expand your slot variety to spark excitement and sales!
