BSCRA – Bringing together, racing and organising slot racing model cars.     Promoting growth and development within the sport.

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 racings 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 Association has been in existence for over 40 years and was conceived in 1963 by D.J.Laidlaw Dickson, who was the editor of MODEL CARS, a popular magazine that did much to promote the world wide 60's boom in slot racing.
The very first Electric Car Racing Association (ECRA) 1/32 National championships took place at the offices of the magazine located at Clarendon, Watford in North London in 1964. Those basic 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.

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 World Championships are back in the UK in 2008.

Over the years the racing side of the hobby has overshadowed some of the modeling 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!

Key to photos  "Where to race" - The new North London club track taken at their 2003 Open Meeting: "Race Report" Pat Skene's photo of the start of the 2003 National Grand Prix Final, "When to race" James Cleave receiving  2007  National F1 champion with a Vodafone Mclaren F1 "Join BSCRA" - membership includes "Slot Car Racing" subscription and the BSCRA Handbook, "Rules" A BSCRA gauge being used to check the width of a Grand Prix car; "Historic" The 2007 North London retro slot meeting, "Track Building" Rog Potter's photo of the Bournemouth track under construction, "Cars" Chris Frost's photo of James Cleave's 2007 National Championship wining 1/32 Sports/GT chassis, "Controllers"  a Pro 2 controller 

Copyright © 2003 - 2008 British Slot Car Racing Association,   includes photographs copyright  Pat Skene, Roger Potter and Chris Frost

All rights reserved

No liability is accepted for the information on this site or any use to which it may be put.

This Slot Car Racing Web Ring site is owned by The BSCRA. Want to join the Slot Car Racing Web Ring?
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