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by Amy Corr
, Staff Writer,
March 4, 2013
This isn’t your parents’ version of slot-car racing. Audi Canada set out to reinvent the test drive by creating a miniature outdoor installation where passersby could test drive a
custom-made 1:32 scale Audi A4 quattro using an iPad as a controller. What can’t the iPad do?
Zulu Alpha Kilo created the project, which takes place on a 140 sq. ft. (20’
by 7’) custom slot car track, crafted by David Beattie of Slot Mods USA.
The track itself has a small-town feel to it and doesn’t resemble
your typical slot car track. Here, cars race past tall buildings, trees, a mini Audi dealership, a group of men in a red truck and a clever billboard knocking its competition: “BMWho” it
reads.
In addition to the customized racetrack, a 15-minute documentary called “Painting Coconuts” follows Beattie and his
team as they create the track, surrounding environment and scaled-down Audis.
Visitors to the installation were able to race one
another through icy mountains, tight turns and rural surroundings.
Each driver left with a video of his or her performance that could be uploaded to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.