About IMCA — International Model Car Association

The International Model Car Association (IMCA) was a non-profit corporation founded on December 12, 1985, by three men united by their passion for competitive slot car racing: Hans van Es (Netherlands), Gérard Caupène (France), and Jean Pierre van Rossem (Belgium), formalized before notary Ernst van Tricht.

Founding Principles

From its earliest days, IMCA was organized around three divisions corresponding to the major competitive classes in slot car racing:

• Wing Car Division — under supervision of Hans van Es, covering G7 and related open-wheel slot car classes
• Scale Car Division — under supervision of Gérard Caupène, covering ES24 and ES32 touring car replicas
• Model Car Division — under supervision of Jean Pierre van Rossem, covering true-scale PlaFit and derivative model cars

IMCA's primary mission was the worldwide promotion of slot racing as a recognized competitive sport. Critically, the organization worked to protect the integrity of championship titles — patenting the terms "World Championship" and "European Championship" in slot racing affairs worldwide, ensuring that only sanctioned events at the highest competitive level could use these designations.

The Championship Era (1985–1992)

From 1985 through 1989, IMCA organized all three World Championships at a single combined event, creating a true festival of slot car racing:

• 1985 — Antwerp, Belgium (inaugural championships)
• 1986 — Valkenburg, Netherlands
• 1987 — Toulouse, France
• 1988 — Chicago, USA
• 1989 — Chicago, USA

By 1992, as the sport matured and specialized organizations gained strength, IMCA transferred the wing car championship to USRA and ESROC, and the scale car championship to the UES (later ISRA). IMCA focused its organizational energy on the model car division — the class that most distinctly embodied its vision of true-scale competitive slot racing.

Growth and International Reach

Through the 1990s and 2000s, IMCA's model car championships attracted competitors from over 20 nations. National directors coordinated participation from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The organization operated on a democratic model, with national directors empowered to propose rule changes (requiring a two-thirds majority for passage), nominate racers for world championship events, and advocate for their national racing communities.

Classification System

IMCA created a clear classification framework for competitors based on career achievement. An Expert was a racer with 25 or more career IOC points — the most experienced international competitors. Amateurs had accumulated fewer than 25 IOC points. Youngsters and Kids were categories for competitors under 18.

This classification system ensured that World Championship events featured appropriately balanced competition — with dedicated categories for juniors and true beginners sitting alongside the most experienced international experts.

Legacy

IMCA played an instrumental role in elevating slot car racing from a hobbyist pursuit to a genuine international competitive sport. By standardizing rules, protecting championship titles, and creating a global community of competitors, the organization helped establish the benchmark for what high-level slot car competition could be.

The hobby itself continues to thrive worldwide. Organizations like the British Slot Car Racing Association (BSCRA) and national federations across Europe carry forward the competitive tradition that IMCA helped build and codify during its decades of operation.