Scalextric: The Legendary Racing Game Turns 50

Scalextric is one of the most popular games for children and adults alike. It has been a firm favourite for half a decade and today celebrates it’s 50th anniversary. When I was younger, and I’m sure it’s the same for you, everyone had a Scalextric set for their birthday or Christmas. No wonder it’s still around today.

Scalextric was inspired by a British toy-maker, setting off a craze which has lasted into present day. In the 1930’s, electric slot car racing was created with many German companies producing tinplate cars and the track to run them on. However, it was not until 12 years later, in 1952 that Britain’s Fred Francis launched a ranger of clockwork tinplate cars which he called Scalex.

His cars became more and more popular, mainly due to the cars being detailed replicas of real racing cars. Five years later, at the Harrogate Toy Fair, Francis unveiled the first Scalex set to be powered by an electric motor with a moulded rubber track. The new look came with a new name and Francis moulded both Scalex and electric together to create the well-known Scalextric

Just like nowadays, Scalextric wasn’t seen exclusively as a children’s toy back then. Richard Winter, former chairman of the National Scalextric Collectors Club said,

“Scalextric was a relatively expensive toy at first, and in the late 50s you’d often find them in places like fire stations, RAF bases and telephone exchanges - places
were people had to be ‘on duty’ but without much to do for long periods. “

After a year of fantastic trading, Fred Francis’ small company couldn’t keep up with demand and the production rights were sold to Triang. Scalextric was now entered into a new era.

Author of Scalextric: The Definitive Guide, Roger Gillham said, “The austerity years of the war were ending, and Scalextric was something new that mums and dads could buy for their kids. In fact, it probably appealed more to the dads than the children - who were often too
young to have had much control over the cars at first.”

Back in the 50’s Scalextric didn’t have competition from video games or consoles but still to this day Scalextric has thousands of fans across Europe and as far away as South Africa and Australia.

What do you think of Scalextric?

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