The event is expected to draw about 200 entries for three days including a swap meet, fun races, a judged Concours Show and racing

SANTEE, CALIF. - (Send2Press Newswire) - October 3, 2003 -- Nomad Slot Racing Club (www.nomadslotracing.com) is producing a unique premier three day event where vintage (over 21 years old) and new detailed model race cars will be exhibited in a judged Concours show, raced on a large indoor track and traded at a swap meet. Eligible cars are 4 to 10 inches in length, and travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, and are driven with a hand-held controller. Racers age from 8 to 80. Slot cars are usually first experienced as toys, but have become a passion for serious model builders, collectors and racers who participate in local national or international series.

This event is a "reunion" in that it is designed to permit a wide range of car types, and to appeal to racers who may have been inactive for many years. The slot racing hobby began in the 1950 s and exploded to huge popularity and over 4,000 commercial raceways in the 1960's. Most racers quit as raceways closed and the hobby contracted in the 1970s. About 40 commercial raceways still operate in the US and the number is increasing. Much racing now occurs on home or club based raceways and slot car manufacturers are producing a variety and quality of product rivaling the peak days of the 1960's. Vintage cars have become hot collectibles and some races are taking them out of storage and off the shelves, renewing their passion for the hobby.

Several of the hobby's top builders and racers will attend. Thomas Sasse from Germany, who s spectacularly detailed classic race car models are featured on the cover of the current issue of Scale Model Racing News, will be attending. Also, expected are Rocky "Professor Fate" Russo, a technical editor for several hobby publications and prominent racer since 1958. Philippe de Lespanay, innovative pro racer from the 1970's, now author of Vintage Slot Cars , slot car manufacturer, and founder of the True Scale Racing Federation will also attend. Several past national champions are also expected.

"A wide variety of cars have been entered, including accurate scale models of actual race cars, fanciful 'thingies' popular in the late 1960's, and wild record setting 'wing' cars of the 1980s. New cars are also eligible, provided they have significant handmade parts," Says Jim Cunningham, Dino Derby producer and a racer since 1963. "In the early days of slot racing, most cars were handmade. The challenge and tradition of building one's own race car or tuning and maintaining an old one are far from extinct! We expect a great turn out and have had strong support from industry sponsors."

The event is expected to draw about 200 entries for three days including a swap meet, fun races, a judged Concours Show and racing. Dates are October 17, 18 and 19th, 2003. The event will be held at Santee Model Raceway 9625 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee, CA 92071.

Santee is 20 minutes northeast of downtown San Diego Races are 24 minutes long and cars are grouped by qualifying time, a handicap system evens out differences n car speed, permitting close racing between a wide variety of car types. The event will also feature catered meals, racing movies played on wide screen and three tracks. Rental cars and controllers are available at all times except during races.

More information and images can be viewed at http://www.nomadslotracing.com

Organization Website: www.nomadslotracing.com
Source of News: Nomad Slot Racing Club

California Event & Entertainment Newswire / Automobile and Autosports Newswire
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