When I was growing up, the Waddington’s Formula One board game was - to me - just another game that our family had.
True, it was one that I liked – but much in the same way that I liked playing chess, Chutes & ladders or Battleship.
That being said, no matter how many times my parents told me to take care of my games I would end up ignoring them, in this case losing the plastic dials on the red car’s dashboard and writing – in ink – the locations of each of the cars on the board for when I had to pack it up for the night.
However, at the end of the day, this aged board game has withstood the test of time for my family and for a few other families across the globe.
It even has the original set of dice:
Keep to the safety speeds, and you won't have to roll the dice.
However, the idea of the game is to not use the dice – or at least, if you do, you hope they land on the right numbers.
See, the way you move in Waddington’s Formula One board games … is by accelerating. You can accelerate up to 60 mph per turn, with each square equating to 20 mph. That means if you’re going 160 mph (top speed), you get to move eight squares.
But then you also have to slow down for the turns. Yet, even then, you’ve got to be careful not to wear out your tires or brakes too much:
Slow down 60 mph in one turn? You're going to hurt your car...
Of course, you can also choose to not slow down for the turns. The board game allows you to corner at up to 40 mph above the safety speeds … but then you risk spinning out:
Speed through a turn and you get to roll the dice. You could escape with no penalty, or you could spin off.
Roll a three? You’re off into the kitty litter. Roll a 12? You’re Stirling Moss! Roll a 10? Well, as you can see, that depends on how badly your tires are worn, and how fast you are going.
Even in 1962, Waddington’s were able to do something quite incredible – design a racing board game that involved true racing strategy - from how many stops you make, to how aggressive you race, to blocking other cars in the corners. Race aggressively? You risk wearing your car out, spinning off, and getting blocked by the other competitors.
Looks like the No. 6 blue car is boxed in at Lodge Corner.
For those of you interested, the game is often available for sale on eBay – as well as other renditions of the game. Although they all come at a pretty penny, I can tell you now that they’re probably in better condition than this one, and – most of all – it’s totally worth it!
The No. 2 orange car goes for a spin.
Trouble hits the No. 6 blue car.
The yellow and orange cars battle for the lead through a double-apex right hander.
