Scalextric news - Man builds 145ft Scalextric track - 2010

Clearly spurred on by our very own Captain Slow, an American man has constructed a 145ft, 1/32 scale Formula 1 circuit in his basement.

Thirty-nine-year-old James-Michael Harlan spent three years building the 2.5ft-high model Scalextric race track, complete with mini safety cars, podiums, stadium lights, 20ft bridge, skyscrapers and even some countryside. Sadly, there is no outlet to buy branded Formula 1 tat, which will come as a shock.

The course does feature 19 turns, four lanes, a pit stop and even a grandstand. There are lights should the race last longer than daylight - or rational thought - would allow. Harlan confesses: "I hold race nights with about 30 people and I run it all properly with qualifying laps and everything."

He hasn't mentioned issuing team orders to keep a mono-browed Spaniard from winning, so presumably he's playing by the rules. "I've even been known to run 24-hour races where the track is lit by day and illuminated with on-track lighting by night for an authentic feel."

According to the Daily Mail, he spent £3,700, invested 7,000 hours and used just MDF, copper tape, electrical wire and some paint. Speculative, unsubstantiated conjecture would suggest Harlan has foregone the act of procreation to construct his masterpiece. But you have to admit, it's possibly the world's coolest boy toy.

Don't forget though, James May - along with the help of 350 volunteers - set a new world record when he built a 2.95-mile Scalextric version of the Brooklands race track.

Beats killing Nazi zombies in a darkened bedroom on your own, no?

For more pics head to WLF1 Ring