A warehouse operator has told how he splashed out £10,000 building a huge 165 foot Scalextric track over six years in his front room.
Tony Sivyer, 53, built a 12 feet by 8 feet layout from scratch at his bungalow in Bournemouth that he shares with his partner Elaine Broomfield.
Inspired by his love of motorcycle-racing and the Isle of Man TT course there is 165 feet of track and racers navigate 37 bends on the tricky track which also has a "Monaco grand prix" tunnel and a replica of the famous Dunlop Bridge at Donington Park.
He estimates he has forked out £10,000 on materials, figures and almost 200 cars and bikes to race on it and put the track together with the help of YouTube tutorials.
Plenty of time has been spent on painting and landscaping the course and he has has given incredible attention to detail with floodlights, safety barriers and advertising hoardings, while he has added trees and rock faces.
There are safety marshals scattered around the track, the race director waving the chequered flag and spectators sat in various stands.
He has even had a 1:32 scale plastic model of himself made which is on the side of the course.
It was his partner Elaine, 59, who got his interest in Scalextric going when she bought him a set about 20 years ago. He had a Scalextric as a child but had never been that interested.
Tony said: "My parents bought me a Scalextric track when I was a child but I got bored with it quickly as when you are that age you can't control the cars.
"However, about 20 years ago, my girlfriend bought me a motorcycle Scalextric game as she knows I love motor racing, and it stemmed from there.
"The project has taken me six years and I reckon it has cost £10,000 on cars, bikes and the course.
"I was inspired by the Isle of Man TT course and I wanted an up and down track with lots of tight corners, to make it a challenge - a driver's track.
"I'm not very good at engineering so it has been a challenge and I've watched YouTube videos to help me."
Tony dedicated plenty of time to the project during lockdown.
"During lockdown, I was furloughed so I spent every day from 9am to 5pm working on it," he said.
"I'm thrilled with how it has turned out and when my family and friends see it they are amazed by it. I've posted some pictures on Scalextric groups and had some fantastic comments.
"I'm very thankful that my girlfriend is so understanding of my passion, although she does raise an eyebrow every time another delivery (of cars) arrives!"
Elaine, who has been with Tony for 29 years, said: "Tony's in there (his games room) all the time - I give him days when I go out and leave him to it.
"It suits me not seeing him too much! The people that come around love it, especially our great nieces and nephews. To be fair he's done really well."
