From 80p to £800 there is a slot car for every pocket

There could be a fortune stashed in your loft in the shape of old slot cars. Slot cars, like those made by Scalextric, have been a popular toy and hobby for 50 years and just as with full size cars old ones have become rare and valuable, many now worth hundreds if not thousands of pounds to collectors.

That means it might be a good idea to dig your old cars out of the loft or garage and bring them along to the Slot Rally GB at Toyota HQ in Epsom next weekend (23-24 September).

There will be specialist traders buying and selling old and new slot cars. Prices to buy will range from 80p to £800. If several hundred pounds for an old toy car seems outrageous then be prepared to be dumbfounded by prices seen on internet auction site, eBay. Only last week there was an auction for one car with bids starting at £2,250.

As well as traders and the slot car rally itself – the biggest ever held in the UK – there will be several tracks for the public to play on, real race and rally cars to get up close to and Toyota’s F1 simulator to try your hand at. There is even a café serving Starbucks coffee for mums to take a break while the dads and lads become boys together.

The event opens between 11am and 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is £4 for adults and £1 for 12-16yrs. Under 12yrs get in free and all profits go to The Children’s Trust charity. See the web site (www.slotrally.co.uk) for more details.