Hornby issued a profits warning in January after sales of its train and slot-car racing sets were hit.

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Unknown to most, the buzzy SoMA neighbourhood where most of these winemakers work was once called South of the Slot (referring to the cable car line that ran down the centre of Market Street) and was home to more than 100 wineries in the late 1800s, including J Gundlach and Co, California's oldest continuously family-owned winery (now based in Sonoma).

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Soon after, her cargo of slot machines, spark plugs, clothing, tobacco, watches and car parts was silently removed and hidden in the haystacks, oatfields, lochs and caves of Stroma until the customs men and coastguards had cleared off.

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But the luxury car-maker's done just that, collaborating with Slot Mods USA to create the "quattro experience, " an installation replete with remote controllable A4 replicas and a custom track.

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