Chairman’s Introduction
Welcome to the British Slot Car Racing Association (BSCRA) website
The site covers most aspects of popular slot racing in the UK. The Association is in existence to promote and organise National championship events and lay down a structure of rules and regulations for 1/32 and 1/24 scale slot car racing. Slot racing’s appeal is universal and attracts a wide cross section of society. One of its ‘unique’ attractions is that there is no division or segregation and whatever background, race, sex or age you are, we all race together on a level playing field. The Electric Car Racing Association (ECRA) was proposed by Lawrie Cranshaw in 1960, the response to his article in Model Maker magazine showed a majority were interested in 1/32 scale and there was more interest in slot than rail guidance. The Association was formed in 1961 by Lawrie Cranshaw with support from D.J.Laidlaw Dickson. ECRA had rules for both slot and rail guided cars, for the first 3 years the National Championships were for rail guided cars.
The very first Electric Car Racing Association (ECRA) 1/32 National slot car championships took place at the offices of the magazine located at Clarendon, Watford in North London in 1964. One of ECRA’s founders, D.J.Laidlaw Dickson was the editor of MODEL CARS, a popular magazine that did much to promote the world wide 60's boom in slot racing.
Those basic slot car rules were to be adopted around the world from New Zealand to Canada and South Africa, as our association became a major influence on 1/32 Scale Racing. Many of these principles and rules are still there today. ECRA changed its name to the British Slot Car Racing Association (BSCRA) in 1984.
In 1993 the UK staged the U.E.S World Cup with competitors from as far away as the USA and New Zealand joining Europe and the Baltic States. Some 23 nations were represented in the competition, the success of this event bringing the various associations together and the formation of the International Slot Racing Association (ISRA). The ISRA world championships are now recognised as the pinnacle of scale model car racing. Some 30 countries are affiliated to ISRA to provide universal car standards and racing rules. The 2019 World Championships will be held in the UK, previous World Championships in the UK was the highly successful event at Milton Keynes in 2008.
Over the years the racing side of the hobby has overshadowed some of the modelling aspects. With these changes came the need to promote the hobby on a different level and the BSCRA was formed and in conjunction with the U.E.S racers, a gradual harmonisation of 1/32 scale slot racing occurred across Europe. The main element of this change was the for the UK to adopt mainland Europe's spray goop track conditions and use of high grip black tyres rather than the UK practice of allowing goop or tyre traction to be administered freely to the track. This major change was in response to the 1997 UK hosting of the ISRA championships in Southampton, where the cleanness, and consistency of the racing was clearly visible.
The UK racing scene offers a great variety of racing classes to suit all racers.
There are racing series that are spread on a national, regional, or area basis, as well as the National championships, which are competed for annually on the BSCRA owned track. BSCRA is actively encouraging all slot car racing and much of this racing is covered on this website and more detail in the Slot Car Racing News magazine, to which all full BSCRA members and clubs receive copies.
For the majority of racers, racing is a one night a week social and fun experience. Club racing is the backbone of Slot Car racing, and is fundamental to the future of the sport. It is an area that BSCRA will become more involved in. This involvement includes national press coverage, club literature production, the restricting of motor evolution at the lower levels, and keeping the sport simple and affordable to the newcomer and club racer. All racers, whether they are a national champion, or a club racer benefit from BSCRA’s efforts over the years. The consistency of track standards, the universal rules and progression of classes are all thanks to BSCRA input. During my time as BSCRA chairman, I want to see our links with clubs and club racers strengthened making everyone feel a part of what I hope will be exciting times ahead. Watch this site for future developments!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank James Cleave for his hard work over the past few years as Chairman. He stood up for the challenge of leading the Association and introduced many of the social feeds you see today.
Welcome to the BSCRA website. Our mission statement is Bringing together, organising
and racing model slot cars. Promoting growth and development within the sport. As
such we are an association of slot car clubs around the country (UK), with the purpose
of formulating a common set of regulations, so you as a competitor can race with
like minded people in the knowledge that the car you have will be compatible where-
As such our regulations are very similar to other world bodies and have been used by other organisations as the core to their rules.
With this set of regulations we have been able to hold over 50 consecutive UK national slot car finals on a neutral track owned by the association.
Our technology and innovation allow the engineer within us to flourish, however only
simple mechanical and soldering skills are required. The eye to hand co-
As Lewis Hamilton developed his skills through the many different classes of motor sport to become World Champion, the same can be true for you. ISRA the international slot car body organises world championships in a different country each year, so you could be world champion one day by progressing through club racing to regional series, national championships, UK national championships, and ultimately the world championships.
We cannot offer anything similar to the Nissan Academy, but many motorsport greats have their heritage in slot car racing. So from within these pages you will be able to find a local contact, and start on the ladder to either being a world champion or a champion constructor.
Enjoy you slot car racing, keep it real, and lets all have a memorable time.
Keith Gibson, BSCRA Chairman.
July 2013
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