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Airfix Motor Racing, MRRC and MotorAce - slot-car racing sets
In 1963 Airfix bought Model
Road Racing Cars Limited (a manufacturer
of slot cars). MRRC were located in Boscombe,
Hampshire, England. (Although
I do admit to not being clear on this - it
is written that Airfix were
already producing their own range of slot-cars
sets under the banner "Airfix
Motor Racing" BEFORE they bought MRRC. Today,
MRRC exists as a small independent
company, still producing slot cars in the
Channel Islands).
Airfix Motor Racing disappeared from view
after the 7th Edition Catalogue (early 1970s)
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This section of the web site will be devoted
to Airfix Motor Racing - if anybody can help
with this section through
the loan of catalogues, pictures or any material
from this range - I would
be extremely grateful.
Known sets:
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In addition to the slot-cars, Airfix also
used it's standard 1/32 scale plastic kit
range to offer Motorised Construction
Kits. These were the following standard kits,
with motor-packs:
E-Type Jaguar, Mini Minor, Sunbeam Rapier, Ford Zodiac, MG1100, Lotus Cortina, Vauxhall Viva. As "kits" these are scarce and hence valuable. As motorised sets, they are like gold dust!(see large picture at the end of this page) It's made by Airfix - so you know it's good ! |
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Left - An enthusiast's horde. Note spare
car
still in box, and original bottle of BP oil
still present in the packaging.
This is an early MR7 set with lots of extras.
Below - contemporary advertisement - the range changed name to MotorAce -  |
Changing Styles !
The following is a review taken from a hobby
magazine of 1966 (magazine unknown): "Racing sets, cars and accessories
produced by Airfix are manufactured to the
popular 1/32 scale, and one
of the main attractions of this firm's range
is the excellent variety of
reasonably priced static car kits which are
comparatively easy to motorize.
These are in great demand among members of
the model car clubs and some
highly competitive racing models have developed
in consequence. A feature
of the Airfix miniatures is the swinging
front axle and Ackermann-type
steering which can be purchased as a separate
unit - a most useful component
that is now used extensively by scratch builders.
Among the notably prototypes included in
the Airfix range are the
pre-war C-Type Auto Union and W125 Mercedes-Benz
Grand Prix cars. Excellent
replicas of the Vanwall and 250P Maserati,
as well as several 1.5 litre
F1 machines, plus an interesting selection
of production saloon models
are also available, thus catering for all
tastes.
An exciting introduction this year is the
Clubman range of models
in kit form. These incorporate a new, powerful
3-pole motor which is particularly
fast. All chromium parts in these kits are
reproduced in chrome-plated
nylon. First in the series is the F1 BRM,
followed by a Ferrari and Aston
Martin DB5.
Ideally suited for home use are the complete
Airfix slot car racing
sets which can always be extended by fitting
extra track sections available
separately. Other attractive accessories
include Grandstands, Racing Pits,
a Timekeeper's Hut and Press Box to add to
the realism of a layout. Last,
but not least, is the set of Spectators and
Track Officials which provide
a life-like aspect to any circuit.
A member of the Airfix Group of Companies
is the well-known firm
of Model Road Racing Cars Ltd, of Bournemouth.
This, the longest established
concern in the business, has catered for
model car builders for many years
and is one of the pioneers of commercial
electric model car racing. They
provide a wide range of parts for constructing
1/32 scale cars, including
two of the most potent motors at present
on the market. These are the well
proven MRRC 3-pole and 6-pole Ball Race Motors.
Both are used, together
with a 5-pole unit, with great success by
scratch builders in many parts
of the world.
An excellent range of brass bevel gears,
tyres, wheels, robust steering
units and other useful components are also
produced by this firm.
To MRRC ltd., goes the credit for introducing
the first proprietary
four-wheel-drive model; this, their Mercedes-Benz
W154, fitted with the
6-pole Ball Race motor has proved extremely
popular. The MRRC Mercedes
is also fitted with the 3-pole unit - a version
that has developed into
a very successful contender in club events
all over Britain. Further proof
of the potential of the MRRC 3-pole motor
is provided by the fact that
the British National Championships were won
in 1964 and 1965 by cars fitted
with this unit.
The year 1966 has also seen the introduction
of a MRRC four-wheel-drive
Indi-Novi Ferguson, similar in layout to
the Mercedes. A 3-pole version
of this model has also been produced, and
for the first time the firm is
branching into the field of 1/24 scale with
a powerful model of the renowned
Maserati 250P Grand Prix 2.5 litre F1 car.
The new controller produced by MRRC Ltd.
is another welcome addition
to their range this year. It will take a
load of up to 30 amps and is fused
and wired for Dynamic Braking. Operated by
thumb pressure on a plunger
this "Hi-speed" controller is already proving
its worth under gruelling
tests in club events".
Airfix Motor Racing Picture gallery
with thanks to Nicholas Cotton for the Catalogue
scans
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Airfix also produced "motorised"
versions of their standard 1/32 car kits:
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