Category:Airfix Motor Racing: Difference between revisions

1968 lineart advertising image, set M.R.11 [image info]

1966 lineart advertising image, set M.R.125 [image info]

Airfix Motor Racing / Airfix Motor Ace / Airfix MRRC was a 1:32 scale slot-car racing system introduced by Airfix in 1962, and sold by the company until the Airfix company's failure in 1981 (at which point MRRC Ltd. became independent once more).

The origins of the product line go back to MRRC's creation in 1951, when the company was involved in "rail" car racing.

1951-1962: MRRC Ltd. (pre-Airfix)

Model Road Racing Cars Ltd. was incorporated on 10 August 1951. The company apparently started out selling equipment for "rail-based" car racing, then migrated to slotcar racing (and conversion kits for "rail" cars), and used the metal bodies of clockwork cars made by Scalex to create some of the earliest slot-cars (Scalex apparently then realised that this was a good idea and produced the famous Scalextric system).

MRRC Ltd became part of the Airfix group in 1962.

1962 launch text

Airfix goes racing

THIS month marks a milestone in Airfix history. With the introduction of their new electric Motor Racing sets (described elsewhere in this issue) they have become actively engaged in a fascinating and rapidly growing indoor sport for mechanically minded modellers. The name Airfix has always been synonymous with high quality and excellent value for money, so it is really no surprise to find that this new Airfix line is being marketed at an extremely competitive price.

But there is added significance to this Airfix newcomer. Keen observers will note that its 1/32 scale corresponds with that of the Airfix modern cars series of kits. Also that the robust and compact electric motor (made by Airfix themselves) has an obvious application in motorising the plastic car kits. Other subjects for motorisation which come immediately to mind are the diesel railbus and the Drewry shunter. In view of this potential demand, Airfix are already planning to make the new motor available as a separate item.

The new racing set marks only the beginning of the activities of Airfix in this field. Already in preparation are a comprehensive series of accessories which, ultimately, will allow model racing enthusiasts to reproduce accurately all the major features of the full-size racing circuits, enabling the exciting atmosphere of this sport to be recreated in the home.

Ten months of intensive development work by the Airfix design team to perfect their new "baby" were concluded just in time for it to make its debut at the Brighton Toy Fair in February. There, it received an enthusiastic welcome from both home and overseas trade buyers, and there seems little doubt that it will attract equal acclaim from the buying public.

— , Airfix, , editorial, , Airfix Magazine, , March 1962

1962-1968: Airfix Motor Racing

Airfix Motor Racing was launched in February 1962, without an obvious logo for the name, but with a modified version of the Airfix "banner" logo that had the two rear "wings" of the banner in black and white chequers, to represent motor-racing's "chequered flag".

The launch didn't happen in time for the product to appear in the first (1962) proper Airfix catalogue, but is proudly shown in colour on the back cover of the 1963 catalogue.

Thrills, spills, excitement ... all the tense drama of Grand Prix racing. Airfix brings you such realism. Press the throttle and you're racing away in a Mini-Cooper or a Ferrari. Lap after Lap it's high speed fun. Real driving skills (and daring) needed to win! Runs off mains or battery. Every Airfix set has a rigid, double-lane track, two speed-controllers and banking supports. One includes a PERFECT FIGURE 8 with a swooping, road-hopping flyover. All Airfix authentic 1/32nd scale models have Ackermann steering for natural cornering. Join the Airfix racing drivers!

— , -, , Airfix Motor Racing advert, , 1967

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  Beatties, 1964

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  1964

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  1966

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  1966

1968-~1973: Motor Ace / MRRC

For the 1968-1973 catalogues, the system was rebranded MotorAce, still with the chequered-flag version of the Airfix logo, but now with a proper logo for the new name with MotorAce run together into a single word leaning rightward, and the peaks of the "M", "t" and "A" leaving streaks to the left to indicate speed.

However, in the published advertising we've seen for the period, the range seems to be referred to as Airfix MRRC (suggesting that perhaps MRRC Ltd had more control over the advertising, and Airfix more control over the catalogues).

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  1968

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  1968

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  1969

1973-1981: Airfix MRRC

The MotorAce branding no longer appeared on the cover of the 1973 catalogue, with the product line now being referred to as Airfix MRRC, with credits being given to MRRC Ltd., or Model Road Racing Cars Ltd.. The MotorAce name was still being used on some (legacy?) materials, but the brand emphasis was now on MRRC, and the advertising we've seen in Airfix Magazine for this period just uses AIRFIX MRRC.

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  1976

1981-: MRRC Ltd.

MRRC Ltd. survived the collapse of the Airfix group, and are still producing slotcar systems ... their homepage can be found at mrrc.com.

MRRC addresses:

• MRRC Ltd. – 29 Ashley Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth – back in 1954

External links

• Airfix Motor Ace (airfixcollectorsclub.co.uk)
• Seven Decades of Model Car Racing - One brand: MRRC (mrrc.com)
• Model Road Racing Cars Limited, company listing 00498376 (companieshouse.gov.uk)