RACER Throws In The Towel (SlotCar Today)

[MrAdept]

http://www.slotcar-today.com/en/notices ... l-4849.php

For months the status of Racer Emmegi, the company that markets Racer, Sideways and Silver Line slotcar brands, was hanging by a thread. It has finally been confirmed. Racer Emmegi has changed hands. Marco Montrasio and Fabrizio Mella have decided to throw in the towel and abandon a business that was born in 2001 and stunned the slot world with its first model, the Ferrari 333 Momo.
Racer resins models soon began to mark a before and after in the world of collectors and gradually became real object of desire.
Over the years and the global crisis Racer slowed production of resin models and created two new brands, Silver Line, a range of more affordable resin models and Sideways, plastic 1:32 scale models focused on mythical Gr.5 .
It was the creation of Sideways and commercial ties with the French company SP Collectable which gave Racer Emmegi oxygen, but eventually this September, Marco Montrasio and Fabrizio Mella threw in the towel and they spent the entire business to SP Collectable.
Racer Emmegi, Marco and Fabrizio, have sold the business, but have not sold their capacity to create, his hands, his vision as passionate of motor racing.
According to what communicated Fabrizio Mella to SCT, SP Collectable also assumes Racer models production. We look forward to have the first statements and information of SP Collectable.

[Audi1]

Wow! Racer Sideways is my second favorite line of 1/32 scale slot cars. I hope SP Collectables focuses on more than just the collectable part.

Isn't there supposed to be a Sideways Group 5 Camaro and Mustang in the works somewhere?

Allan

[MrAdept]

That was my thoughts - I hope the Sideways part will be allowed to continue.

Mark

[HomeRacingWorld]

According to Racer on FB: "Dear customers, don't panic , the story continues. we will publish more information in coming days.."

[miveson]

A poorly written story and the translation adds to the impact.

New owners of the company that's all that I'm reading from this story.

The rest of the Racer/Sideways team will continue to work with the new owners in their current capacities.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Correct.

This site is ok, but I am reading a lot of "news" that in translation leads a lot of interpretation. To say the least.

[HomeRacingWorld]

This just in: "Don't panic, sideways situation is perfect."

[miveson]

I'm not surprised by the Racer Resin side of the business which has been struggling massively of late.

The Sideways brand of the business looks profitable but margins are clearly lower on a Sideways car compared to a Racer Resin. The change from full model distribution to made to order merely highlights the struggles.

It's interesting that the Sideways brand (Group 5) was in direct competition with some of the Racer resin models (Group 5). I agree that Racer and Sideways had different value propositions for each of the brands - it is very clear now which brand came out on top.

I can't see any changes to Sideways in the short to medium term, if anything perhaps some additional investment to fund a foray in to a new class that can expand the current revenue stream.

As for the Racer brand I think it'll be interesting to see where SP take it.

[Josh's Dad]

From what I have been told from a very knowledgeable person, is that Sideways was a partnership between SP Collectables in France and Racer in Italy whereas Racer Resin was exclusively a Racer entity.

[Cincyslots]

hmm, and this is to be released soon. Glad Sideways is ok.

[MrAdept]

http://www.slotcar-today.com/en/notices ... l-4859.php

The Racer selling announcement in SlotCar Today has generated great excitement among fans. Not surprisingly it is a brand that has marked a style that immediately connected with fans. Both, the original brand Racer, as the later Silver Line and Sideways.
SlotCar Today got in touch with Christopher Saioni, owner of the French company SP Collectable, to learn firsthand the Racer course change.

Christopher Saioni is a young French entrepreneur that in 2008, at age 16, opened its online store, SP Collectable in Tourves. A store that initially marketed usual brands like Fly, Ninco and Scalextric. Some cars very grateful to the eye but not necessarily easy to handle and prepare for fans and newcomers to the world of slot, says Christopher.
The main objective was to make known car and brands that have excellent performances directly from box as were NSR, Slot.it or Racer, little used in France. Today are cars and trademarks used mainly in French clubs.
Since 2010, SP provides Racer financial support to help them overcome the economic crisis and in 2011 Christopher buy Sideways brand to Marco Montrasio and Fabrizio Mella. Is at the end of 2012 that Chris Saioni founded the company SIDEWAYS INTERNATIONAL by Racer SARL and takes over completely the management, manufacture and distribution of Sideways brand.
Saioni itself is responsible for creating the Group 5 model range, and today Sideways is a completely healthy brand that manufactures from France and has many projects underway.
Despite the financial support of SP Collectable, Racer could not overcome the crisis and what Christopher Saioni has done is to recover entire investment in form of stock, molds... So Sideways International has no connection with the possible Racer Emmegi deficit in Italy.
Sideways International will sell Racer and Silver Line products but future plans about these two ranges are unknown.
However Christopher Saioni himself wanted to inform SlotCar Today readers about the current situation of Sideways range projects.
First of all confirms that Marco Montrasio will continue to provide advice and collaborate with Sideways International Company and on the other hand that they are in full manufacturing process of expected Mustang Gr.5. They have already received the T2 sample corresponding to 80% of the final model. It has been completely finished Lancia Stratos 3D and are now working on the chassis design.
The new Porsche K4 3D is being defined while Chris informs us that already have very advanced the plans for a new category from which does not will disclose more information. Furthermore has already started the production of figures at 1:32, 1:24 and 1:18 scale.

[chappy]

Mr Adepts post is quite correct. SP Collectibles has had control and ownership of Sideways since 2011. So nothing there has change hooray.
The changes now will only involve Racer and Silverline. This according to the UK importer and distributor.
So Sideways is continuing on as they are now which is great by me.
Bob

[red73mustang]

I have almost zero interest in the Sideways cars, but hope the Racer Resin line continues (Even though I can't afford them!)

[goosenapper]

It's not hard to believe that the market for $200+ slot cars is not that large, but I certainly hope the SIlverline continues as well. When you find them around $120, they're worth the expense as you end up with a gorgeous slot car that runs pretty doggone good out of the box. A Silverline is like a Le Mans Miniatures that you don't have to attack with the dremmel to get it to move under its own power.