Scalextric gets on its bike with London 2012 cycling edition

The 2012 London Olympics has its own Scalextric set. The classic slot-car racing game is getting on its bike with a replica of the Olympic Velodrome.

The Velodrome Scalextric set goes on sale on 1 September this year, when we'll be seeing a blitz of Team GB kit ready to begin banging the drums for the Games in 2012. The electric pedallers will cost around £70.

The real-life Velodrome, situated in the Olympic Park in the East End of London, will seat 6,000 people during the games. After the games are done, organisers will chuck out the media seats to make way for another 1,000 punters, and add mountain bike and road courses alongside the existing banked racecourse and BMX track.

You can recreate the atmosphere in your own home, with the added bonus of that funny electrical burning smell if you play for too long.

Scalextric makers Hornby will also sell a range of Olymptastic toy cars, including London's famous black cab and big red bus. There'll be a selection of merchandise featuring wobbly headed cyclopic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville. Fingers crossed for a shotput-themed Subbuteo set.

Preparation for the games is already well underway, and not just in locker rooms or East End building sites -- the Olympic computer system has begun testing.

Tickets for the games go on sale on Tuesday 15 March, for six weeks. You can apply for tickets any time, as they're not allocated on a first come, first served basis. The games burst from the starting line on 27 July 2012, with the Paralympics following on 29 August.