Tether cars (also commonly known as spindizzies) are model racing cars powered by miniature internal combustion engines and tethered to a central post. Unlike radio control cars, the driver has no remote control over the model's speed or steering.
Basics
Tether cars are often small (less than 1 meter in length), powered by a non-radio controlled model aeroplane engine (two stroke, glow plug, piston liner, etc.), and run on fuel supplied by a fuel tank within the car. Since 2015, electric motor driven cars, powered by batteries, have also emerged.
History Tether cars were developed beginning in the 1920s–1930s and still are built, raced and collected today. First made by hobby craftsmen, tether cars were later produced in small numbers by commercial manufacturers such as Dooling Brothers (California), Dick McCoy (Duro-Matic Products), Garold Frymire (Fryco Engineering), BB Korn, and many others. Original examples of the early cars, made from 1930s to the 1960s, are avidly collected today and command prices in the thousands of dollars.
Locations There are tracks in Australia (Brisbane and Sydney), New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and other countries. World Championship races are held every three years. The 2013 World Championships were held in Basel, Switzerland.
World records ClassDateDriverSpeedkm/hmphWMCR I (1.5 cm³)August 2, 2026 Andrii Yakymiv269.802167.647WMCR II (2.5 cm³)August 20, 2016 Torbjorn Johannessen285.711177.533WMCR III (3.5 cm³)March 4, 2017 Andrii Yakymiv300.953187.004WMCR IV (5 cm³)April 5, 2014 Tonu Sepp 317.124197.057WMCR V (10 cm³)March 1, 2025 Tonu Sepp 348.432216.506
See also Cox Models, a former manufacturer of ready to run tether cars Control line flying model
References
External links Speed model car website Vintage Miniature Gas Powered Race Cars AMRCA - American Miniature Racing Car Association WMCR - World Organisation for Model Car Racing GMBK - Gävle ModellBil Klubb Kids Ride On Cars