MYTHS YOU CAN OWN IN SLOT FORM: VW GOLF MK1 BY AVANT-SLOT

Dear reader,

This post arises from an unforeseen challenge, launched by my son Lucas, a VW Golf GTI MK1 enthusiast like no one else. This challenge could not go unanswered. His goal was to beat me in my own ground: slot racing, and with one of his all time favourites.

Avant-Slot currently offers us an impeccable reproduction of the VW Golf GTI with an exquisite level of visual quality -in my opinion-. This is good news for those fans who missed the Spirit version, and for which so many fans sighed back in the day. The oldest of this hobby will fondly remember this VW in the Spirit reference catalog, not so long ago.

Well, after the disappearance of Spirit, Avant puts us back on a platter the possibility of having this iconic car. This model is more alive than ever.

What is the formula I have followed for this Avant Slot Golf GTI challenge?

The idea is to keep the original car. We are not talking about technically exotic modifications or anything like that. We replace only two elements on the original car:

• The wheels: If our intention is to do kilometers tirelessly on the speed track, clearly the original plastic wheels are a «No». We decided that the ideal candidates for this first «upgrade» were 15.7mm Mitoos rims that fit the car like a glove. The image speaks for itself.
• Crown: Slightly modify the ratio in a reasonable way, without overdoing it, taking into account the dimensions of the car. Keep in mind that this is not an LMP/Hypercar, but a street car with some grit. We opted for a 26d slot.it line crown (the blue crown, to put it simply). The engine as is tradition in the Avant firm, has more than enough power to cope with the gearing. It is not the first model I have from this brand that comes with plenty of power, a feature that I love. If there’s one thing you want when you buy a slot car, it’s that it has character. It’s up to you to learn how to tame it.

How about the performance on the track?

A blast. It develops in a straight line a speed that already makes you pay attention to the car, and in curves, it allows a better pace than its dimensions would make us think. Make no mistake, it’s not a hypercar. But it is noble and with the right tilt, this helps to approach the turns with a certain confidence, which you gradually increase as the laps go by. On the Policar speed track of the Costablanca club, where a Group 5 of Sideways would set times around 14″-15″, the Golf is located in the orbit of the high 18″ -19″ low. Not bad at all.

And it is a joy to see the daring of this car ploughing on a speed track, normally reserved for GT’s, Hypercars, Group 5s and other usual categories of the slot speed scene.

Believe me when I tell you that with this formula, slotcars like this have a character of their own, and it requires a trained finger to carry the car around. It’s a rewarding experience, and fun to break up the monotony of hyper-perfect time-breaker flat cars.

This Golf takes us to the terrain of stringing together laps with a mixture of satisfaction, fun, and cold sweat in every corner.

«Is there a video to prove what you are telling us?»

Of course, here you have this little titan on the track at home. I’m not very good at piloting and recording, but the videos give you a good idea.

I hope you have found the article entertaining. See you in the next post!