Fabulous scratch built model race car, circa 1952. A track car, such as this one, raced on the surface of a board track usually consisting of 4-6 lanes.
Constructed with an aluminium floor pan and skilfully crafted one piece sheet metal body that has a hand painted finish that has developed a glorious patina. There is also an original decal for the Model Rail Car Association. Front steering, rear drive all metal design. The engine is a FROG 150, 1.48 cc British made compression ignition model engine from 1951. Also has miniature brass funnel for fuelling.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm/12 inches (length) x 13 cm/5⅛ inches (width) x 9.5 cm/3¾ inches (height).
Competitions between model race cars powered by miniature combustion engines started in California in the 1930s. Whilst ’tether’ cars were raced individually against the clock on circular tracks, tethered to a central pivot, other types of car raced against each other on specially constructed wooden tracks. Guides on the base of the cars fitted onto the metal rails mounted to the track surface.
Rail racing enabled more than one car to be on the track at the same time, which added more fun for the spectators, and the winner was the first car to cross the line once they had completed a set number of laps. Once the race is over, the cars are typically stopped by a 'kill switch' that extends from the car so it can be triggered as the car passes by; the owner using a pole, broom or rag to activate the switch. Alternatively the car is simply allowed to run until it is out of fuel.
Early engines (prior to the 1950s) had spark ignition systems. Later engines use compression ignition engines or glow plug ignition. A 'glow plug' engine, or glow engine, is a type of small internal combustion engine typically used in model aircraft, model cars and similar applications. Glow engine fuel generally consists of methanol with varying degrees of nitromethane content. Compression ignition engines run on diesel.
