2017 - Review of the Year
What a year that was! 2017 was our busiest year here in Test Track, which saw 18 editions of the blog go out, with new and exclusive news packed into every edition. Beginning with a focus on the year’s new tooling releases, we covered loads of behind-the-scenes info, paying extra attention to the teams and drivers we had modelled, both past and present. There was also room for a product launch with the mighty McLaren 720S joining us in March.
From there we celebrated each addition to the 60th Anniversary Collection, and had time to join our friends at the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) a few times. 2017 was also great for the number of shows and events we attended. Covering Slot Fest, Le Mans and London Comic Con, Scalextric was at several key locations bringing slot racing to people who may not have been too familiar with it.
We also managed a sneak peak at 2018, before finishing the year a little early with all the latest news.
Despite not having a Test Track in both November and December, we managed to beat our previous year’s total by three editions, setting ourselves a new record. However, having so many editions of the blog really gave us a valuable lesson about what we can and can’t do with Test Track! However, we hope you’ll be pleased with what we have planned for 2018, which kicks off with the Range Launch on the 9th January. We’ll be with you a few days afterwards picking out all our favourites from the range and setting out what Test Track has in store for the rest of the year.
A Year in Review
Now then, we couldn’t let another year pass without doing one of our favourite editions, the review of the year! Much like the ever popular ‘clip show’ from our favourite television series, the review edition of Test Track looks back across the preceding year, picking out some of the best bits.
Of course, if we were looking to pick out all our favourite subjects you’d be looking at the longest edition of Test Track ever, so we’ve had to be tough on ourselves and be selective (saying it was difficult is an understatement!). However, we’ve just about managed it and here are our favourite bits from Test Track and Scalextric in 2017.
Scalextric started 2017 strongly coming to you at the end of January with three new tooling releases as seen in the 2017 Range. Focusing on the Ford Daytona Prototype, GTE and Lancia Stratos, this edition of Test Track bookended the announcements that were revealed as 2016 came to a close.
Whilst these cars didn’t need much of an introduction, we looked at each in turn, before picking out one or two more bits from the popular 2017 line-up. It was quite a start for Test Track and really set the tone for what was an amazing year.
February saw the first of our interviews of 2017, featuring all the news from a visit we paid two legends of the BTCC, Andy Rouse and Tim Harvey. Not only did we get to chat to them about their time in the BTCC, and what was going on now, but both were kind enough to sign some Scalextric models which gave us possibly one of the best historic BTCC competitions ever. You seemed to agree as over 2,000 of you entered to win these cars, with Jonathan Hewitt claiming them the month after.
The first of our 2017 Stop Press editions followed soon after with some HUGE news. A secret that had been eating away at us for months could finally be revealed as we joined McLaren in unveiling the McLaren 720S to the world (although ours was 32 times smaller…).
Taking part in a reveal like this was a real treat and McLaren were unbelievably helpful and really assisted us in shouting about the model of what is a fantastic car. Both the Azores Orange (C3895) and Glacier White (C3982) McLaren 720S models have been popular additions to the range and it was a fabulous way to work with our friends at McLaren once again.
You didn’t have to wait long for the second 2017 Stop Press edition as we were allowed to reveal the exclusive news that anybody who had seen the 2017 Range was desperate to know. What was in the 60th Anniversary Collection? Joining the Bentley Continental GT3, the Aston Martin DBR9 was announced as the car representing the 2000s for Scalextric in March.
The other members of the Collection were then announced in another five Stop Press editions throughout the year, unveiling every member of this unique range of cars. As we made clear with each new addition, picking the cars for each decade had been hugely difficult but overall, we were very happy with our choices (and hope you were too!).
The 60th Anniversary Collection does look great together, as Chris Hunt has shown off in this photo. If you were lucky enough to collect some of these cars, please don’t hesitate to share them with us! Please email them to us using social@scalextric.com or by adding them directly to our Facebook page.
By the end of March, we had graciously accepted an invite to the BTCC Media Day and written up the full story for you here in Test Track. Joining the media scrum for the day had been a great experience, and seeing how open and friendly all the BTCC teams and drivers were made us all fall in love with the series (well for those of us that weren’t already…). We were able to grab some great interviews and images throughout the day and it was something the team won’t forget in a hurry!
With that edition of Test Track, we concluded what was probably the biggest month for us ever in the history of the blog. Two Stop Press editions with new announcements and a trip to Donington was a real peak for the team and something we hope you all enjoyed too!
Following our time on the road we brought Test Track back home in April, concentrating on some of the fantastic work Tom and the rest of the Development team do every day to bring you quality slot cars. We hope seeing just how much goes into each car really helps you spot those complex and complicated liveries out there. It certainly did for us, and we found that we never quite looked at a car the same afterwards!
It was back out and at ‘em for May as we had all the news from our time at the biggest slot car event in the country, the UK Slot Car Festival 2017 (lovingly shortened to SlotFest). The event really let us connect with slot racers, both those new to the hobby or those that had been racing for a bit longer.
The news of the show for us was probably that it was one of the first outings for the (then) upcoming ARC PRO powerbase, giving us a great test for the system. The show went swimmingly, and it was back to prepare for another event, one that resonates with motor sport fans around the world, whether slot racers or not!
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a motor sport phenomenon, an event that people from all over the world try to attend, or watch wherever they can. It was with this in mind that the Scalextric team left the UK and headed to France with a tonne of gear. Setting up in the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Quest) area, our stand attracted loads of visitors, many of whom weren’t familiar with Scalextric.
Facing temperatures that wouldn’t have looked out of a place on a thermometer in the desert, and shouting over the roar of the cars on the track outside, the team did a fantastic job in reaching new blood and involving Scalextric with a truly special occasion.
We can never stay away from BTCC for long and we were back in July, checking in with the series at around the midway point. Our resident BTCC expert Simon updated us on a fascinating season, one that had brought with it some horrible incidents on the track. We, of course, had some more BTCC goodies to give away and we may have discussed a certain second edition of a car that had a few fans…
September brought with it two editions of Test Track, both that looked at 2018 and a little of what you could expect. With the Ford GTE the first on the agenda, we covered what had been a troubled time for the project but looked forward to seeing the car take its place in the range very soon. We also got to feast our eyes on more of Tom’s work, with the fantastic image for the 50 Years of Le Mans Ford Twinpack (C3893A).
For a second look at 2018, we came to you in the last Stop Press edition of the year. A definite favourite in Test Track, the Jaguar E-Type would be released in a Twinpack (C3898A), celebrating the International Sussex Trophy. The Stop Press edition coincided with the Goodwood Revival, offering us a great way to announce this (likely sell-out) Twinpack.
It was the last visit of the year to the BTCC in early October, as we delayed Test Track a week to coincide with the end of the season. An eventful few months ended with Ashley Sutton claiming the Championship in a thrilling final day. As ever, it wasn’t like us to let such a huge opportunity slip by, so we used the end of the season to announce our 2018 BTCC line-up (well, most of it…). If that wasn’t enough we also spoke to Steve Soper and offered a final competition to win some signed historic BTCC swag.
We're huge fans of the BTCC here in Test Track and the end of the season was just another event where we were welcomed with open arms by drivers and teams alike. There’s not many sports where you could roll up with some pictures and then chat to the driver whose car you’re doing. That accessibility makes the BTCC what it is, and certainly cements it in our hearts, and we’re sure it’s the same with fans up and down the UK.
The end of October, rather unexpectedly perhaps, brought with it the last edition of 2017. Showing off the latest from a number of releases we had discussed in previous editions, we also announced our attendance at the MCM London Comic Con for 2017. Another chance to reach people who perhaps haven’t played with Scalextric for a long time (or ever), the event was a resounding success. The team even got into the spirit of cosplay with some Scalextric spins on popular characters (Clark Kent and Harley Quinn for those interested!). It was a fantastic event and a new experience for both Scalextric and the team here.
That just about concludes 2017 for Test Track – it was a year jam packed with news, events and behind-the-scenes info, all of which we hope you enjoyed. It was a real shame we were unable to have editions in both November and December, but there are only so many hours in a day! As we mentioned at the start though, we’ve learnt a lot and will be doing our best to avoid any similar gaps this year.
If you’ve enjoyed Test Track in 2017, please do let us know (or even if you haven’t!). As always, there’s a thread over on the Scalextric Forum for discussion, plus you can post on Facebook or Twitter (#TestTrack) to let us know.
We hope 2017 was good to you too, and we can’t wait for the 2018 Range Launch on the 9th January – we’ll see you there!
Happy Racing!
The Test Track Team
© Hornby Hobbies Ltd. All rights reserved.
