Review by CoMod Mike... on Carrera the Evo/D132 Ford Capri
(27295 and 30474)
: Klaus Ludwig’s DRM Ford Capri RS 3100 from the 1975 DRM race at Hockenheim. I was almost exactly 10 years old when Klaus Ludwig raced this car around the Hockenheimring! Unfortunately, I had no idea back then what I might be missing, because nobody in my circle of friends or family was really interested in motorsports at the time.Carrera
I already had my
Universal set back then, but it was limited to just four cars—which, unfortunately, I never got to compare with the originals! What a shame!
That’s why I was all the more excited about the 2009 reissue from DRM’s history...
Whether or not you have fond memories of this car—even today, the white-and-blue paint scheme remains, for me, one of the most beautiful and simple color combinations you’ll find on the racetrack.
But let’s quickly turn to the technical aspects: does the car actually deliver on the track what its imposing presence promises? The front end sits firmly over the extremely wide tires. The even more massive “tires” in the rear could dip just a tiny bit deeper into the widened rear end, but that doesn’t detract from the overall impression! The downright monstrously wide tires are very impressive, but they also raise doubts as to whether this is even authentic! But no sooner had the first pictures been discussed than chief designer Leifer pulled the corresponding photographic evidence from his hard drive image archive! From a slot car perspective, the wide rear tires can only be a good thing...But on the front axle??? The independent suspension on the new chassis really helps here. The increased friction caused by the front axle being separated more than makes up for this! At the same time, the resulting installation space under the hood allows for a better position of the guide fin, slightly in front of the axle. The height—and thus the contact with the power rails—also fits neatly on the track. The increased rotation angle of the guide fin leaves enough clearance for extreme drifts. But does the car even need this?
So let’s hit the track!
Anyone familiar with my tests knows that ICarrera test new
models on the wooden track at SG-Stern Sindelfingen
. D.h
. I push the racers on extremely challenging terrain…for which the track isn’t really designed…But whatever’s here is Carrera
bound to win on the
track!
The Capri purrs smoothly off the line and runs smoothly enough right from the start on the long start-finish straight. In the curve, however, there’s a slight bounce. Our track has no magnetic strands, so the magnets have no effect! The wide tires are very soft and therefore provide excellent grip on our wooden track surface. Tire sticking and grinding are therefore essential for proper driving on wood and, of course, also help on plastic tracks.
After the tires have been ground in, the Capri really shows its strength thanks to its wide rear end. So if you’re struggling with a lack of grip on your track without magnets, I highly recommend this car! The only question is whether the car will actually get onto the track...Or maybe it’ll end up in the display case after all?? ;-)
Because the Capri has nothing to fear from a comparison with pure show cars. So… now take another leisurely look at the pictures I took on our wooden track! The only thing missing now is that rumbling sound…
CoMod Mike…
: Klaus Ludwig’s DRM Ford Capri RS 3100 from the 1975 DRM race at Hockenheim. I was almost exactly 10 years old when Klaus Ludwig raced this car around the Hockenheimring! Unfortunately, I had no idea back then what I might be missing, because nobody in my circle of friends or family was really interested in motorsports at the time.
That’s why I was all the more excited about the 2009 reissue from DRM’s history...
Whether or not you have fond memories of this car—even today, the white-and-blue paint scheme remains, for me, one of the most beautiful and simple color combinations you’ll find on the racetrack.
But let’s quickly turn to the technical aspects: does the car actually deliver on the track what its imposing presence promises? The front end sits firmly over the extremely wide tires. The even more massive “tires” in the rear could dip just a tiny bit deeper into the widened rear end, but that doesn’t detract from the overall impression! The downright monstrously wide tires are very impressive, but they also raise doubts as to whether this is even authentic! But no sooner had the first pictures been discussed than chief designer Leifer pulled the corresponding photographic evidence from his hard drive image archive! From a slot car perspective, the wide rear tires can only be a good thing...But on the front axle??? The independent suspension on the new chassis really helps here. The increased friction caused by the front axle being separated more than makes up for this! At the same time, the resulting installation space under the hood allows for a better position of the guide fin, slightly in front of the axle. The height—and thus the contact with the power rails—also fits neatly on the track. The increased rotation angle of the guide fin leaves enough clearance for extreme drifts. But does the car even need this?
So let’s hit the track!
Anyone familiar with my tests knows that I
The Capri purrs smoothly off the line and runs smoothly enough right from the start on the long start-finish straight. In the curve, however, there’s a slight bounce. Our track has no magnetic strands, so the magnets have no effect! The wide tires are very soft and therefore provide excellent grip on our wooden track surface. Tire sticking and grinding are therefore essential for proper driving on wood and, of course, also help on plastic tracks.
After the tires have been ground in, the Capri really shows its strength thanks to its wide rear end. So if you’re struggling with a lack of grip on your track without magnets, I highly recommend this car! The only question is whether the car will actually get onto the track...Or maybe it’ll end up in the display case after all?? ;-)
Because the Capri has nothing to fear from a comparison with pure show cars. So… now take another leisurely look at the pictures I took on our wooden track! The only thing missing now is that rumbling sound…
CoMod Mike…
