TCR Total Control Racing was a slotless track system that gave you more control over your racing cars than ever before. Because there were no slots for the cars to fit into like Scalextric, the TCR cars could change lanes. This was done by flipping a switch on the Hand Controller. However when the cars came to a bend they would always default to the outside of the bend due to gravity and centrifugal force. This meant that you could not overtake on the inside of a bend, something that was perfected by Matchbox's Lanechanger racing system.
Most TCR sets that were sold came with the added bonus of a third vehicle, a Jam Car which travelled at a slightly slower speed than the two "racing" cars. This meant that in order to win a race you would have to negotiate this vehicle as well as your opponent. One set (the Zig Zag jam raceway) came with a nice Corvette Stingray that could be set to veer between both lanes at random moments, thus fouling up your perfect opportunity to slip past it.

The set I had as a kid was Crossfire. This was brand new at the time and came complete with the all new racing jeeps and the Pick Up Jam truck which actually came at you in the opposite direction. The set also had all the optional extras which were available separately on all but the most expensive sets. Unfortunatly this set was never used in anger as Joep destrpyed it (and his eye) on Christmas morning.

This disaster I blame on Kane who has a catalogue of Christmas present woes...I vowed never to share a present with him again.

Other gift woes fom kane's Xmas collection include the blue Raleigh Bomber and the toy garage I stamped on coz I was jealous.

Anyway, your blog spawned this trip down memory lane. Anyone else got some favourite toys the remember...sure Aldo has many...