ISSUE 52 Sascha Distilled Ric Woods studies the beautiful models from Vêlasor WIN SRC McLaren M23 Wacky v Mario Chrono Competition II Andy Player relives his misspent (Colors Edition) youth comparing the cars from Wacky Races and Mario Karts November 2019 • www.slotcarmagazine.co.uk Stuck On You Hub Habets and an interesting scenery use for tile adhesive NSR English Championship Nascot Wood hosted the English round; great turnout, close racing and superb prizes... Official report by Gary Cannell H Viper vs Supra • SRC Lancia Delta • All Flash... And No Bang • The Retro Hipster • Carrera Releases H Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor Sascha Distilled Beautiful retro models from Vêlasor by Ric Woods n the time I have spent slot car. If your knowledge also tracks. This DNA can be traced all the working on this magazine, I has a “Sascha”-sized gap, we’d way back to a small sports car Ihave learned far more about better start with a little designed by Ferdinand Porsche in racing cars than I could have background… 1921: the Austro-Daimler ADS-R thought possible. That Until the 1969 917 introduced a "Sascha". Until the First World War, particularly applies to pre-World certain amount of brute force to its Ferdinand Porsche had been working War Two cars. Yes, I knew about racing philosophy, Porsche racing car on projects for the Lohner and Austro- Auto Unions and the big design had always been known for Daimler manufacturers. These Mercedes racers, I could identify smaller capacity engines twinned with companies were responding to the a Bugatti and a Bentley, but as very light weight. The nimbleness that demands of their wealthy customers for the myriad other makes, I resulted from this approach would see by building ever larger, more powerful was in a blissful state of those early cars in contention for and expensive vehicles. Ferdinand ignorance. Thus, I have to overall victories on tighter circuits, Porsche had always believed that it confess, until Barcelona’s whereas they frequently had to be was possible to make a good car that Vêlasor brought it to our content with class victories where was small, light and not too attention, I hadn’t heard of the tracks demanded more power. This expensive, as long as the development Austro-Daimler “Sascha”. This way of thinking lasted well into the has therefore been a voyage of 1960s, actually into the early 1970s, discovery, firstly regarding the when the extremely light and nimble full-size vehicles and secondly as 908/3s were used by the factory to how much incredible detail instead of the more brutal 917s on the can be packed into a working twisty Nürburgring and Targa Florio 18 FOR THE RACER IN YOU – SLOT CAR MAGAZINE Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor was handled properly. The War becoming the ADS-R. From the changed everything, both socially and beginning, Ferdinand was sure that economically. Cars were no longer the the features of his ADS-R were ideal exclusive toys for the wealthy and the for one of the great races at the time: car industry entered a boom period – the Targa Florio. The car was for those on the winning side. extraordinarily light and balanced – Unfortunately for Ferdinand Porsche, 50/50 with its occupants –, with a Austro-Daimler was on the losing side. newly-designed 1100 cc engine. Any Austria was an impoverished country, unnecessary weight that would with industries in administration, compromise braking and including Austro-Daimler. The manoeuvrability was removed. The administrators rejected the idea of a philosophy of those racing Porsches of amazingly he managed to average small car, thinking that there was not the 1950s and ’60s was born. only 8 km/h less than the winning 4.5 enough wealth in the country to buy Four cars were entered in the 1922 litre Mercedes. The international press sufficient numbers to make it Targa Florio and three finished – highlighted the sensational showing profitable. Porsche was still ironically, only Kolowrat dropped out. of the nimble Saschas, and in Austria determined to make it happen and The ADS-Rs of Kuhn – winner with the huge crowds turned out to meet the eventually found a backer in the form number 3 – and Pocher, second with team. However, despite this and other of one his best friends, an aristocratic the number 2, easily dominated the results, the Austro-Daimler film industry tycoon from that country, small category of production cars. administrators would not put the car Count Alexander "Sascha" Kolowrat, Neubauer's car (number 46) was into production and so Ferdinand who, very handily, was also entered in the "Corsa” category, so as ended up leaving for Mercedes in passionate about racing. Kolowrat to measure it against the larger 1923. It would take him seventeen would put up the necessary funds for capacity Mercedes, Fiats and Alfas. more years to put a vehicle with both the racing and road versions of Neubauer finished fifth in his class, but similar characteristics on the track – the design and would himself be one 1939's 64K10, considered by many of the drivers responsible for winning to be the first “proper” Porsche and with his friend's cars. The car was it would be his son Ferry who built named the ADS (AustroDaimler the 356/1 roadster in 1948. Sascha), with its racing variant As you read through the description of this fantastic car, you’ll understand why I found it difficult not to finish every sentence with an exclamation mark. Clearly, the Vêlasor model hasn’t SLOT CAR MAGAZINE – FOR THE RACER IN YOU 19 Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor 20 FOR THE RACER IN YOU – SLOT CAR MAGAZINE Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor SLOT CAR MAGAZINE – FOR THE RACER IN YOU 21 Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor been made to withstand the rough- stones and splashes. The engine cover driver’s footrest and the (moving) and-tumble of normal slot racing and, is fastened to the base of the chassis parking brake are metal parts as well. at only 111mm long, 53mm wide and by a long belt with four metal Once both figures are out, the 58 grams at the weigh-in, it’s a very buckles. To quote Vêlasor, ‘With texturing of the wooden interior small model. Apparently, an amazing patience, fine precision tweezers, and floor can be seen and don’t forget the 232 parts go to make up the finished good eyesight, we undo the left clasp two fuel tank covers and the tiny model, so what we have here is - which passes through two of the battery handily placed between the something more akin to a Swiss clips - to release the cover, and two occupants. The crude spare watch than your average model car. discover a beautiful replica of the real wheel brackets are located on both An obtrusive slot guide can often ADS-R engine.’ Sadly I don’t possess sides of the cockpit and by now you spoil the appearance of cars from this any of those three crucial items, but won’t be surprised to learn that both era, so with careful use rather than hopefully those of us with little or no wheels can be easily removed, as can competition in mind, the guide has patience, wonky tweezers and the road wheels, using a supplied key. been positioned as far back as diminishing eyesight will still be able Next there’s the toolbox, which practical, so that maximum front end to make our way in eventually. As actually opens and naturally contains detail can be incorporated. This is well as the engine you can look out a full set of tools. where that parts count starts to rise. for the ignition coils, wiring, fuel Underneath, the detail continues, Each front wheel is made up of ten filter, oil filler cap and I wouldn’t be despite the constraints of it being a parts. Each working front suspension surprised if there’s a working dipstick functioning slot car. The metal rods spring accounts for another seven. as well… Inside the cockpit, the that operate the front brake drums Vêlasor says that if you press down dashboard is a combination of nine are there, the twin fuel tanks that on the front – carefully, mind – you more pieces, with the dials having Porsche placed as low as possible in can see the suspension working with proper glasses. To fully appreciate the order to get a better performance out the correct action. cockpit detail, you will need to of the race car are there, as well a Actually, if you opt for Neubauer's carefully remove the two figures fully detailed and working rear or Kolowrat's car, you get an (step forward those with the suspension, made up of twenty-five additional two parts, bringing the patience, tweezers and good eyesight parts. total to 234: there’s the mudguard again?) The metal pedals are all The feature that really blew us attached the right side of the car and, present and correct, of course, with away when we first came across though only in the "dirty" version of the accelerator in the middle – not so these cars was the fact that all the the Kolowrat's two-seater, there’s the uncommon back then, so with fewer figures are different. In fact, they are leather cover that he had installed on of the “hilarious consequences” than modelled as accurately as possible on the day of the race to protect against we might imagine today. The co- the real drivers. After you see the 22 FOR THE RACER IN YOU – SLOT CAR MAGAZINE Sascha Distilled – Vêlasor pictures, you will probably be as will serve as an example to many of while nobody expects dazzling impressed as we were.