1998 Le Mans 24 hour Endurance Race
Report.
Results,

Report 6-7/6/1998

Endurance Race proves Scalextric reliability. To compete in a 24 hour race at Le Mans is an opportunity not to be missed/ A joint team of Hornby Hobbies and Viking Scalextric Club were engaged to supply the track and the race management system by Teng Tools, an international distributor of mechanics hand tools., who were holding a sales conference ‘just outside’ the Le Mans race circuit in France.

As this was an international event, the team consisted of Simon Kohler, of German descent; Clive Pritchard, of Welsh descent; Dave Lelievre, of French descent; and Gary Parker from Coventry! The cars were Porsche GT1’s with the special Teng Tools rear wing and the track a 4 lane Le Mans circuit on four 8’x4’ boards.

On arrival at the venue the team were welcomed by Henri Tengvall, the president of Teng Tools International, who introduced them to a truly international array of Sales Directors from as far a field as South Africa, Taiwan, U.S.A. and most of Europe.

The dinner was preceded by the Teng Tools sponsored and former Formula 1 McLaren, Ferrari and 1997 Le Mans winning driver, Stephan Johansson who was competing in the ‘other’ 24 hour race in a Porsche LMP1-98.

The track was assembled in record time on Saturday morning by the team, ready for the practice to commence at 10 a.m.

Thirty two drivers (4 teams of 8) with a team leader and an assistant team leader in control of each team, it was their job to motivate the teams and make sure the drivers were available to race at their allotted times.

The race format was of eight 3 hour sessions, so each team raced twice on each lane, with driver changes within each session being ‘on-the-fly’.

The idea of running a 24 hour race with experienced and enthusiastic slot car racers is one thing, but with teams made up of people who may not have seen a Scalextric set let alone raced on one, questioned whether they would last the race. Wrong assumption! As a team building exercise this had everything:- planning, tension, stamina, loyalty, sweat, aggression and buckets of adrenaline.

Team tactics would play a part by assessing fast and slow drivers, sleep patterns, being able to adapt to situations. One team even banned alcohol at the pre race luncheon. This was a serious event!

As the race started at 2 p.m., the same time as the ‘other’ race (this was the ‘real’ race!), it was clear the outside lane was the most driveable, being possible to run flat out with just two ‘lift-offs’. So, at the 3 hour stage a lead of 500 laps was achieved by the team using that lane, but, had they used their best four drivers? Time would tell.

Interest in the lag times featured on the computer screen, a recent addition to the SlotMaster race control system, was high as it showed the leaders from the first session were being rapidly caught by the three other teams.

This interest was not to wane over the next 21 hours, and it caused much concern when one driver decided to push the mouse button to find out what it did, only to abort the race after 15 hours. Swift action by Dave Lelievre, the author of the race management program, sorted this problem out and racing was not inconvenienced.

Twelve hours gone and time for a quick check on the cars. Only a braid and rear tyre change, and with only 132 laps covering 1^st to 4^th place it was all to race for.

Race Control were, by now, a little bleary eyed so Clive went for a few hours beauty sleep. The next thing he knew was banging on the door four hours later. Guess who had over slept! After a cup of delicious lukewarm French coffee (!) Clive was back at Race Control and David was fast asleep.

During those four hours tactics had really played a part in the race. Whilst some teams had allowed, on Saturday evening, drivers to ‘wet their whistle’ in local hostelries the Mecha Rosso team led by Claes Nilson, and last after the first session, had enforced a coffee and sleep program so their drivers were alert and eager to race hard.

In contrast another team only had two drivers available for the whole 2 a.m. – 5 a.m. session, and they had no sleep since Friday night!

By 11 a.m. Sunday, at the start of the last session, it was clear the Mecha Rosso team were in far better shape than the other teams. Driving steady consistent lap times and hardly any ‘offs’ meant, barring a Murray Walker ‘kiss of death’, the win was theirs, but second place was all to play for with 2^nd to 4^th place covered by only 140 laps.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday a cheer went up, as much from relief as success, and much hand shaking and back slapping was in evidence.

The total amount of laps covered by the winning car was over 15,000, in excess of 80 actual miles (130 km)!

Results were, 1^st Mecha Rosso 15397 laps

2^nd Spanners 15239 laps

3^rd Mega Drive 14960 laps

4^th Mega Byte 14832 laps

The top driver was Nir Ben Shalom from Israel.

The standard four Scalextric Porsche GT1 cars were excellent in their reliability and performance with lap times falling from 5.5 seconds at the start of the race to 4.4 seconds at the finish. After 24 hours of running the cars were at their best!

One car required a pinion and contrate change but this was probably caused by many visits to the hard wooden floor!

Using one transformer per lane overcame any problems with power delivery and ensured equal electrical supply, but the new hand controllers showed a few teething problems and these were taken back to the factory for investigation.

Scalextric Porsche GT1’s lead the way. The reliability of the Scalextric cars was better than the full size ones, with only 23 from 47 finishing. Although the Porsche factory entered GT1-98’s came 1^st and 2^nd all four Scalextric Porsche GT1’s made it to the finish in style. The SlotMaster results were used to estimate that the Mecha Rosso team would have finished 15^th in the real race!

Simon Kohler and Gary Parker were awarded cups by ‘Madonna’, a surprise visitor, for their drinking ability, whilst the Viking team were each awarded a limited edition Teng Tools Le Mans set, signed by Stefan Johanson plus one of the race cars – worn tyres and all.

Reporters: Clive Pritchard and Dave Lelievre.