Almost since the beginnings of the automobile, racing them has been an ever more popular sport in nearly every country of the World. The years following World War II, in particular, have seen a rapid growth of interest in auto racing, with many fans following the races, reading magazines and newspapers about 'their' sport, and collecting photos of their favorite cars and drivers.
Late in the 1950s at the Briton Toy Show in England, one Derek Brand showed a director of the Aurora Plastics Company a small, 'HO-size' model racing car set. Hidden behind a curtain, Brand and the director talked — and from that conversation, Aurora Model Motoring was born.
Cars and sets were produced by the thousands. Hobbiests rebuilt, modified, experimented, and developed newer and faster versions of the tiny cars. Requests came in for S-bends, banked tracks, and lap counters. Designers worked long and hard developing improved cars and parts.
The original belief that this was a 'toy' for youngsters alone soon began to haunt Aurora when requests for Can Am cars, Ferraris, and other up-to-date racing machinery with more detail flooded their offices. Having raced Can Am cars myself, I knew that
hundreds of race fans wanted more than 'toys'.
Today, the ultimate development of Aurora Model Motoring, AFX Road Racing, stands alone in a class by itself. Thousands and thousands of racers and race fans own and operate their own tracks, clubs, and racing teams. It has all the glamour, excitement, and comradship of real racing, yet can be done more often and at home.
It's been my pleasure to work with the number of people who have helped to produce this book. They want to share their knowledge and interest with you, so that your own involvement will be more interesting and rewarding.
Oscar Koveleski Editorial Director
