Policar Lotus 72 presentation at the Libreria dell'Automobile - Milano
The Libreria dell'Automobile in Corso Venezia 45 in historic Milan center, near the Duomo, was the perfect location for the presentation of the highly anticipated Lotus 72: first brand new tooling for historical Policar <http://www.policar.it> brand rebirth.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4643.jpg]
The event was organized by Stefano Lazzari of Zot4Slot <http://zot4slot.altervista.org/> and it was a meeting of all kinds of slot cars and motor enthusiasts. A grand day out!
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4640.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4644.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4645.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4633.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4634.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4635.jpg]
For this special occasion, Maurizio Ferrari of Slot.it <http://www.slot.it> provided an original Policar layout of the 60's, whose designed flowed around a bookshelf, in the Libreria bookstore, home to more than 10.000 books on car, motorbikes, motors, off road, military vehicles, racing and pilots, as well as tractors, fire trucks, ambulances, designers and modelling!
The Libreria dell'Automobile, belonging to the Nada family (of Giorgio Nada editions <http://www.giorgionadaeditore.it/lda.aspx> ) since more than 40 years, is passionately run by Sergio Nada, and is a must-go place if you happen to be in Milano and have any interest in Motorsport.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4615.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4614.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4621.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4620.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4619.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4618.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4617.jpg]
The Lotus 72 model on display is a preproduction model with still some errors (e.g. Team Ford and not Team Lotus) but it showed an amazing level of detail and quality.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4603.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4604.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4613.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4622.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4623.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4624.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4625.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4626.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4627.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4628.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4629.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4630.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4631.jpg]
Slot.it owners and engineers, Maurizio Ferrari and Maurizio Gibertoni, explained in detail all the hurdles that had to be overcome to bring this beautiful model, designed by Andrew Rowland, in production.
Two years of design, testing redesign and selection of materials to get the product ready.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4590.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4588.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4612.jpg]
The same model will be also turned into a static model under the brand name Politoys <http://www.politoys.it>.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4605.jpg]
Two more famous versions of the Lotus 72 are being readied, with different air intakes and wings.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4610.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4611.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4636.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4609.jpg]
Upcoming next - March 701 (prototype was displayed)
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4607.jpg]
If you haven't tried it yet you can't imagine how well these cars run on track.
Small motor notwithstanding, thank to the gearing and tyres, the are as good as a latest generation 'Classic' car.
They look fragile but are actually surprisingly strong.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4632.jpg]
This is a 3D Policar R3 curve (which never existed in reality), designed by Maurizio Ferrari and 3D printed for his own personal track. When asked whether this pet project will ever be publicly available, Maurizio replied that it's simply too expensive to even thing about making 3D printed tracks - his own piece costing 70 EU.
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4606.jpg]
As well as the R3 curve Maurizio designed some guardrails that are hard to find or have become very brittle in the old plastic.
Now, coming back to the grand day, I'd never have though that in my own life I'd have met Angelo Bonizzoni, designer of countless Polistil parts!
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4589.jpg]
I could have listened for hours to his stories on all that was behind those parts that, for us, were only toys.
Really, seeing his original drawings of models and accessories was like turning back time and becoming child again - a child in toy's land!
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4585.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4587.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4599.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4600.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4601.jpg]
Drawings for the mythical air filled tyre which inflated with a pinch!
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4586.jpg]
The Track!
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4593.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4594.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4595.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4596.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4597.jpg]
Drawings for Ligier F1 (never went in production)
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4591.jpg]
[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.italiaslot.com/img/1si/2015/policar/IMG_4602.jpg]
This day was a dream come true
More info on the Zot4Slot pages http://www.Zot4slot.com
or on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/zot4slot,
http://www.facebook.com/policar.slotcar,
http://www.facebook.com/libreria.dellautomobile
Giacomo
http://www.amazingslot.com