IT’S the ultimate boys’ toy and has been entertaining children – and their dads – since the 1950s.

Now two Bournemouth men are aiming to start a Scalextric revival by taking their specially-built track on tour around Bournemouth and Poole.

Craig Gilbert, 46, and Jon Pearce, 44, have used around 50 feet of track – all donated by LD Discounts in Poole – to build a challenging circuit for new and experienced Scalextric fans.

The idea stemmed from an innocent conversation about their childhood memories of the popular toy.

“As it happened, my older brother had said the previous day that he was throwing out all his old equipment and did I know anyone who wanted it,” said Jon.

“I mentioned it to Craig and boys being boys we got a bit carried away.”

Unfortunately his brother’s track had deteriorated and, despite their best efforts, they couldn’t get it to work.

So Craig sent an email out to stockists to see if they could help them create a Scalextric course that could be used to raise money for charity.

LD Discounts came up trumps and the pair, who both live in Normanhurst Avenue, Queens Park, put together a course and rigged it up to a computerised race management system that times laps to within 100th of a second.

The pair are planning to testthe track at a free event at Moor-down Community Centre. Racers will receive five minutes of practice and will be guaranteed a minimum of four races over 20 laps.

All being well they will then take the course to various different community and youth centres and invite people to compete for the Bournemouth and Poole Community Scalextric Challenge Cup.

The event will raise money for the Community Arts and Music Project based at Townsend, which Craig runs.

Craig, a music teacher and web developer, said: “I hope it’s going to be a great way of fundraising, especially with a cash prize for the fastest lap which will bring out the competitive spirit in people.”

And Jon said: “Scalextric never loses its appeal – if anything it’s more fun now.”

l The free race night will run from 6pm to 8.30pm on Monday, February 27 at Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue.

All entrants must pre-register by emailing scalextric@tcamp .info. All cars will be supplied.