Yesterday, May 21st, the Student Technology Leadership Program held its Kentucky State Championship in Rupp Arena, Lexington. We had over 4000 students, 1500 parents, teachers and staff at the event. I had set up an HO track and the kids earned track time by reading and relating facts about science technology and history of real racing and slot car racing. We had over 3000 students race and we had the track going non stop for 8 hours. We turned over 8000 laps per car and used 8 cars in rotation. We ran Lifelke, AFX and AW cars with only pick up shoe replacement, tire cleaning and oil for the duration. Cars were box stock except for the bodies. Speed Inc stock car bodies were custom painted representing the various education agencies in the state. The ages ranged from 3rd grade to high school seniors. The number of kids and parents asking where to get a set was phenomenal. Now, this one event, tied together with an educational experience, attracted kids of various ages and kept them busy and interested for 8 hours! Now just imagine how much we could grow this hobby/sport if a few more of these events could be used as a doorway to introduce what we love to do to the next generation of slot racing drivers!

-Paul

good work on enlightening others to this great hobby!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: rr

WAY TO GO !!!!!!! Nicely done...educating the masses on the joys of slot cars. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Incredible job Paul. Did you snap any pictures of the event?

This is great news!!! I hope the TV cameras were there to get some good media attention!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Excellent job!!!

Exposure is the problem for our hobby. The presence of slot cars (and trains) has disappeared from chain retail stores. The only way to find slots is via searching the internet or actually going to a local hobby/toy store that carries this stock.

This means you have to know that you want it before you see it. If the large chain store starting having car and train sections like back in the 60s, 70s and even the 80s, the hobby would have a chance to grow.

Joe

We made the papers this morning and we had news coverage last evening. We have already been asked by the event organizers to come back for next year and they are giving us more space! The kids had a ball and learned something to boot. I do have pictures and will have something up this weekend.

-Paul

Good move paul. Nothing gets fresh blood into a hobby better than good old fasioned exposure!

Atta Boy My Man!

Paul,

That is awesome! Congrats on a successful event!

If we wanted to try to tackle something like this with our local schools and do a similar setup, do you have any information or documentation on how we begin and go through the whole process? Any help on this would be great! I bet there are others here that could possibly duplicate this same setup across the US. Please share, if you can!

Thank you sir! Awesome work as always!
PD2:thumbsup:

Paul,

That is awesome! Congrats on a successful event!

If we wanted to try to tackle something like this with our local schools and do a similar setup, do you have any information or documentation on how we begin and go through the whole process? Any help on this would be great! I bet there are others here that could possibly duplicate this same setup across the US. Please share, if you can!

Thank you sir! Awesome work as always!
PD2:thumbsup:

This all started a couple of years ago. I work for the Ky Dept of Education as an engineer/architect of computer systems and applications. We have a charity drive at Christmas and I set up a race track for the kids to play on. They could donate something and get to take turns on the track the rest of the day. Earlier this year I was asked if I could tie some educational aspect to this and participate in the Student Technology Leadership Program. That is a national program where kids can learn to apply technology to about anything. They set up projects similar to a science fair and their projects are judged. First in regions, and then on to state and national finals. My wife and I came up with a science in racing theme, where the kids learned something about how science advanced racing, both in real cars and in slot cars. They earned track time by reading a fact from 12 different plaques that listed pictures and facts about the subject. It went over so well, we have been asked to be a permanent fixture at the events. So, I kind of stumbled into this from exposure with the charity drive. That was a winner too. We raised $500+ dollars for a local charity that purchased items for abused kids and mothers during the holidays. We also had a new race set to raffle off. The gentleman that won the race set donated that to Toys for Tots as well. I have found it's very easy to get type of thing going in the schools or in Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA, etc., if you can show the administrators some value or learning potential. It takes a little effort, but wow! does it pay off in seeing the smiles of the kids getting to race! And be ready for a zillion questions from parents and teachers on where they can get a race set too!

-Paul

You're onehellava guy Paul. I salute you. Our hobby needs more guys like you! Keep it up!