New venture in pole position

It’s a fair bet that, as you read this, countless youngsters are racing cars around the new Scalextric tracks they woke up to as Christmas presents six days ago.

It seems the electrically-powered toy is as popular today as it proved 50 years ago, when its inventor Bertram “Fred” Francis unveiled it at the 1957 Harrogate Toy Fair.

Since then millions of children - and their parents and grandparents - have enjoyed its thrills and spills.

Now a Shropshire couple are turning this timeless classic toy into a new business.

David McHugh and his partner Georgina Arthur are hoping Lapitup-Oswestry will propel them into the entrepreneurial fast lane.

The indoor Scalextric events venture has been launched above David’s car valeting service, Wax’n'Go in Oswestry.

David has installed two tables bearing 16ft by 8ft Scalextric tracks, packed with features, at a cost of £2,000 a table. He spent three months putting the kit together.

Now the couple hope Scalextric lovers aged from eight to 80-plus will flock to use the tracks for organised races against their friends and families, as well as for practice sessions.

Georgina explains: “Everyone knows the small two-lane Scalextric tracks we all had as kids. Well, imagine one with six lanes big enough to take up your living room. This is what we have here. We also have a similar four-lane track.

“We think it will be great to relieve the boredom in the holidays or to host a special party. It could be something different for children’s birthday parties or it could make for a memorable stag do or something like that.”

David adds: “I wanted to do something with the room above the valeting business and this just seemed something a bit different.

“Scalextric is such popular toy and most people have probably played with them at one time or another, so we hope it will catch on.

“Kids are always looking for something new to do and many dads and grandads will also have had Scalextrics when they were young, so hopefully they will enjoy it,” says the father-of-three.

“I always remember as a youngster putting the track together then having to take it apart after using it so it wasn’t taking up room on the carpet. Eventually, it just ended up in the loft. The beauty here is that there’s no track to clear away afterwards and it’s probably a bit bigger than most people have in their homes.”

Enthusiasts can either use the variety of vehicles on offer or bring their own in to race, he adds. Refreshments will also be available.

Georgina has taken on the marketing and day-to-day running of the business while David continues to build up Wax’n'Go.

“I opened the valeting business six months ago and it’s going very well at the moment, so I’d like to keep that success going,” he says.

However, if Lapitup-Oswestry takes off, then he has plans to build in further features like an off-road course complete with mud and water and a smaller track for under-eights to play on.

For more information visit www.lapitup-oswestry.co.uk