But designing the track isn’t just for making it look cool. Enthusiasts build highly detailed tracks to make them more competitive for the racers. For instance, builders would often design, build or buy track pieces that can bring the cars closer together. Doing so will inevitably cause the racers to fight for the advantageous lane, motivating them to speed up and speed past other cars.
Otherwise, they could be pushed off of the track. There are also other track pieces that can be built from scratch or can be bought from stores that will create steep inclines and sharp curves which could test the skills of the driver.
For builders who want to simulate real racing experience, creating a realistic track is an option. Those who don’t mind their slot cars getting dirty would build real rally course-like environments, complete with elements typically associated with tracks used for this type of race. The off-road conditions of rally courses can be simulated by adding elements such as cocoa powered for dirt and flour for snow. There are cars available in the market that are especially built for off-road course-like tracks. These have optimized performance to deliver better performance in these courses.
Those drivers who prefer to race on traditional courses will find that conventional courses are not lacking. Most of these, for the sake of keeping the cars from crashes, have altered layouts. Others, however, who enjoy watching their cars crash into the trees or into each other could change the layout of the courses a bit to enhance racing experience.
Big fans of NASCAR, Formula 1, rally courses and many other enthusiasts take cues from actual racetracks and bring the details of real-world tracks to their own layout. This allows them to bring their favorite racetracks to their garage or basement. This also gives them a pre-made layout which they could follow without having to design the layout themselves.
In creating layouts, most builders often rely on paper and pencil. Recent developments in slot car technology, however, have brought forth computer programs that allow builders to create their layouts on computer. Among the top choices are the Ultimate Race 3.0 and the Tracker 2000. Both offers excellent track layout editing tools that can do layout designing as well as race management.
Ultimate Race 3.0 can be downloaded for free from its website. It is an all-in-one management system that has layout editing tools besides inventory management and other functions. Tracker 2000, on the other hand, has top-notch layout editing tools that can be adjusted to different brands of slot car.
Inspection
The first step is to inspect the entire car, the moving and non-moving components. Look the under garage and replace or enhance anything that can be changed. For example, if you know of a better-performing motor, replacing the existing motor of your slot car is a good idea.
Check all car parts. Inspect how they fit with one another. If they're loose, tighten them. If they're very tight, loosen them up a bit. Take a mental note of all the parts and test drive the car. If it performs according to your expectations, you're done with inspection. If not, make some more adjustments.
Motor Burn-In Like in any car, real or miniature, burning-in the motor is critical to the car's performance. Some drivers like to do it the conventional way – that is racing a few laps; some prefer to do it underwater. If you are leaning towards the latter, follow the steps below:
First, remove the car's shell then attach the power source to the car's braids and submerge it underwater. You can use a bowl of distilled water for this. Run the car in the water for approximately 20 minutes while changing the voltage from lowest to the maximum speed the transformer could give. Hold the speed at slow, mid and high for about 5 minutes each. Now, for the final part, simulate the actual speed you run during an actual race.
Drying and Lubrication
The next step is to remove the water from every nook and cranny of the car then lubricating it. Use a spray lube on the motor, a door opener lube on the gears and light lube on the axles and bushings.
Wheel and Tire Tuning
Truing the tire, a process that involves polishing the surface of the tire on sandpaper, is a process that shouldn’t be missed when fine tuning a slot car.
Do this by first removing the tires from the rims and run these on 220 grit sandpaper. This should remove any burr that is created by the mold. Sand the cars down until the general profile becomes similar. For further polishing, use 220 to 800 grit sandpaper. You can see that they are ready for racing once they shine.
Braid and Guide Tuning
Inspect the guide and braids and remove them when you see that they need some polishing. The key here is to make these components as optimized for racing as possible by allowing them better contact with the groove on the track.
Axle Polishing and Gear Meshing
Before fixing the axles and the gears, it is advisable to glue the motor in place to prevent it from moving while on the track. Once you're done with that, you can look to the car's axles and gears and see where improvements can be made.
Now you're ready for the race. Put all the disassembled components of the car back in place and test-drive it. Learn how you can best control it by making further changes on its setting.
Slot Car Tacks
Home Racetracks
Racetracks for home use are built using injection-molded plastic snapped together to form tracks. Such courses are dubbed as plastic tracks. Home tracks usually have features that increase the racing challenge. Among such features are slots that wiggle or join lanes together, airborne jumps, bumps, and uneven surfaces. These features are typically found on toy tracks.
Tracks for Competition
Race tracks used for serious competition are built by hands and are called routed tracks. In such tracks, guide slots used for the whole racecourse are sliced into a few large sheets to offer smooth surface which allows slot cars to perform at their best. Tracks for competitions are made very much like road courses with twists and turns although ovals and trapezoidal ovals are commonly used.
Tracks for formal slot car racing competitions can be built with banked corners and may connect one portion to another without using trick configurations. Among the common tracks used for slot car racing are:
• 1:24 Scale tracks These tracks, which are used for competitions, are normally six to eight lane routed tracks with retaining walls that are made from wood or flexible plastic. The said tracks are usually seen in commercial racing centers.
• HO Scale tracks These competition tracks are usually 60 to 100 feet long and four to six lanes wide.
Slot car tracks are powered by a power supply that's being plug into a wall outlet. The power supply converts the alternating current coming from the wall outlet into direct current. The voltage delivered to the track usually ranges from twelve to eighteen volts and one or two amps. Slot car racers may increase the power supplied to the track by employing separate power supplies for every racing lane. If additional power supplies are used, the powerbase sometimes require modification to deal with the extra power used.
Track Layout
While many slot car racers concentrate on upgrading and modifying their cars to improve their speed and racing performance, some spend their time making elaborate tracks with landscaping and other details. There are in fact, a variety of special track segments that can be added to a race track to realize a more competitive racing.
There are track pieces made to bring cars closer to each other, forcing the racer to increase speed so his car can run ahead of the other car or to avoid the dangers of being pushed off the track. There are also pieces that make sharp turns and inclines, making the racer think as to when the right time to slow down or to speed up is.
The current advancements on slot car racing are the digital tracks which enable racers to transfer from one lane to another. Digital tracks and slot cars usually employ microchips which make it possible for several racers to run on the same lane.
What constitute the slot car track? The slot car track, just like the cars themselves, is made from plastic segments that are lined with two parallel steel rails. These rails are what guide the slot cars while on the track. As such, these rails run the entire length of the racetrack.
While both rails look very similar, the individual rails actually serve different purposes. One rail is for providing power to the car while the other is for keeping the car on the ground. The guide that is attached to the rail that keeps it grounded prevent the car from falling off of the track while the other connects it the power source to keep the car running.
Not all slot car tracks are created equal. The usual tracks are often composed of relatively small number of longer sections while the less common ones comprise of many small individual sections clipped together to form race tracks of different lengths and size. For starters, most race tracks in the United States use the longer sections as their design allow for better power supply and lesser interruption with the power source. The lesser interruption, the better as the speed of the car depends entirely on the continuous stream of power to its motor.
How power supply in slot car tracks work? The importance of continuous power supply to any racing slot car can't be stressed enough. Interruption in power often causes the car to slow down, or worse, to stop working altogether.
The supply of power to the track comes from a device that is plugged to a nearby wall outlet. The power supply then receives power from the source on the outlet, convents it into direct current or DC and supplies it to the car. The voltage that is typically received by the cars on the track usually ranges from 12 volts to 18 volts and 1 to 2 amps.
For more advanced slot lot cars though, drivers could add additional power to the race track to jazz up the performance of the car. This is done by pumping additional power to the track via individual power supplies for each racing lane. Doing so can increase the power of each lane by as much as 10 amps. Although this additional power generally increases the performance of each car, most cars require only up to 5 amps for enhanced performance.
This also poses the additional problem of modifying the powerbase – or the track segment where the power supply is attached – to regulate the additional power.
Toy makers found it a necessity to duplicate the quality that car manufacturers have applied on their automobiles, thus paving the way for the creation of slot cars. But did you know that the first slot cars were not really clamped on slots?
The first commercial slot cars were made by Lionel in 1912, and were being operated on rails similar to that of modern trains. These were often referred to as Rail Cars, and they were built with spare model train motors and parts.
The appearance of these slot cars was surprisingly almost similar to what we have today, except for the fact that during these early years, the cars can only run on a single pace. You can't make them run faster or slower.
During the late 1930s, slot cars were powered by small combustion engines, allowing them to dash through the rails at a faster speed. Human intervention is still not possible, and the slot cars were just being clamped to a single central rail so that they will not lose their track.
As years went by, and with the continuous improvement in technology and in electronics, hobbyists began to conduct experiments on how toy cars can become controllable. They installed hand-built motors inside the cars, thus permitting speed adjustments and manipulation in the presence of a human who acts as the controller.
1954 was a milestone for slot cars and slot car racing. This was the year when the first electronic racecourse was created. Hobbyists became driven as ever on slot car racing as the electricity-powered racecourse further increased the popularity of slot cars. Racing clubs eventually switched from center rails to slots in the track surface.
Slot car racing was at its peak during the 1960s, where slot car facilities began to grow in multitude in every town. Major manufacturers like Eldon, Revell and Scalextric began to make home sets and became commercial successes.
By the late 1970s, there was a gradual decline in the slot car frenzy; perhaps this can be attributed to other technological advancements that sparked interest to other hobbyists.
In the 1990s, slot cars had more detailed and intricate designs, thanks mainly to the computer which made it possible to design a model, even on 3D. The hobby is currently in a sort of revival with makers like Scalextric and Carrera making a comeback. The renewed interest also spurred hobbyists to collect vintage slot cars that became popular during the early years.
The most modern of the slot cars are the digitized ones, which were invented in 2004. Digital slot cars have the ability to race on multiple, providing a more realistic simulation of car racing.
Each racing event follows a different process of organizing races. The components below are among the most common ones that can be observed in many major racing circuits.
Individual Preparation The winners of different races seem to be those drivers who have made their preparations. Well-conditioned cars stand a much higher chances of winning the race as these, quite obviously, are primed for performing during the entire length of the course.
Priming the car for racing often involves checking the interior and exterior of the car and the different components of the car, especially those that directly contribute to the results of the race. It pays to check the wheels as these often affect the results of the race. Be sure that these rotate perfectly and that there are nothing stuck in the rims that would prevent the car from moving. Also, the pinions, gears and brushes are checked and lightly oiled. The braids are also checked.
If you are priming yourself to race in competitions, it is a good idea to make preparing the car the night before the race a habit. This allows you plenty of time to check up and the car and address any of its problem. Checking the car a few hours during the race is good too but make it a point not to do the checking right before the race. Also, warm up the motor of the car a few hours before the race. This could ensure that the car will receive just the right amount of energy it needs to perform its best on the track.
Car Selection You can't just race any slot car and expect to come away as the winner. No. It takes some really good cars that are primed for racing to win a competition. If you are racing a car that just came out of its box, you’re out of luck. You could never expect for it to win against other cars whose performance have been optimized. It takes some really good performance-enhancing fixes for a mass-produced car to compete with excellent racing cars. Learn a thing or two about enhancing slot car performance before you set your eyes on the prize.
Before the race, choose the cars that will best suit the type of race you will be participating. Be sure to remember the strengths of each of your car along with the strengths and weaknesses of each brand so you can pick the car that will give you the best advantage. Some models are known for running in sharp curves, some are known for running at high speeds in straight sections. Know beforehand which car in your 'garage' is best suited for the type of race which you are about to participate into.
Arrange Yourself A Marshal You can't race and take care of de-slotted cars at the same time so get yourself an assistant who would do just that for you.
Whether you are racing to win a prize in a competition or just racing against your buddies for fun, it is important to psyche up yourself into the game. Equally important is preparing your car for the race.
Slot car racing was popularized in the 1960s although the hobby has been around a few decades earlier. The first commercial slot cars were made during 1912 by an American company called Lionel. From then on, it was only a matter of time until mass production of slot cars were fully realized.
Several decades after the first slot cars were produced, people are rediscovering the hobby.
Slot Car Scales Slot cars are basically miniature versions of actual models of car. The only difference these have with other commercially available miniature models is the fact that it is a specialized toy that requires specialized tracks.
While slot cars come in different scales, the most popular fall into the 1:24, 1:32, and HO scales. These designations indicate the number of units in length that is represented by a unit in the actual model. Say, the largest scale is the 1:24 scale. This indicates that for every 24 inches or millimeters on the actual model, there is 1 unit represented on the scaled down version. The same is true with other scales.
One should take note that the HO scale is a generic scale that covers from 1:64 to 1:87 scales. In this scale, slot cars would often measure anywhere from 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches, making them the most commonly raced slot cars in home racetracks. Larger scales are often impractical to race in home racetracks due to their size. Thus, they can be commonly seen in hobby clubs and shops as well as commercial tracks.
Slot Car Components Slot cars, just like real race cars, are composed of many different components.
The shell of the slot car represents the exterior of the car it was copied from. Most commercially available slot cars have decent detailing which somehow represent the details of the actual model. High-end slot cars, on the other hand, often have intricate details.
The motor of the car, although not exactly the component that gives it its power, is what it uses to process the power it receives from the rails on the track. This is often attached to the chassis to gain better control of the car's body.
The guide is that small plastic component that hinges to the rail or 'slot' on the track. This is partially what gives the slot car its name.
The gears, meanwhile, are the components of the car that dictate how the car would perform.
An optional component of the car is the magnet. This is attached anywhere on the car, giving it the downforce to keep it stable.
Slot Car Track As was mentioned previously, slot cars run on special racetracks called slot car tracks. These are usually made of plastic, cardboard or wood and have layouts that can resemble actual racetracks used in popular racing tournaments. Such layouts are specially designed by the builder.
Although looking somewhat like other miniature racetracks, slot car tracks are different from common racetracks as these have parallel rails that run throughout the entire track. The parallel rails have two different purposes – one keeps the car attached to the ground while the other gives it the power to run.
Individual components of the track can be bought in various slot car shops. However, these can also be made from scratch using common materials used for creating slot car racetracks.
Slot cars come in different scales – from the smaller HO scale to the larger 1:24 scale. The best scale size for you actually depends on how much room you can use to work with it and what you are planning to do with the car.
Most slot car drivers these days settle with the generic HO scale. This scale varies from the smallest scale 1:82 to the larger scale of 1:64 and is relatively less expensive than the larger models. Originally, these scale sizes were used to create model railroad accessory cars in the 1960s and later evolved into the now popular HO scale.
This scale size run on smaller tracks and is best suited for home racetracks. The larger scales are equally popular too because of the intricate detailing that is often given to them. They are also more or less the exact miniature copy of the original model and are often raced in hobby shops and clubs. Because of their large size, they are often not seen among enthusiasts who race at home.
The 1:24 scale is the biggest there is. Although generally more expensive than their smaller cousins, this scale is preferred by slot car enthusiasts, hobbyists and collectors as these often feature the exact appearance and even performance of their much bigger counterparts. This is the scale that is often raced in competition circles.
Despite their size, large scales are less maintenance-hungry. Routine maintenance is also very easily done because there are no tiny parts that need extra attention.
The main disadvantage of using cars falling under this scale is that you need plenty of space to race them. The tracks, even while they are digital, need to accommodate the size of the car, about 7 to 8 inches long. If you have enough space, this is the best car for you. If not, it is advisable that you settle with racing in hobby shops or settle with much smaller cars.
1:32-sized cars, which are in general 5 to 6 inches long, are more popular in home racetracks than their larger cousins. These usually have decent detailing and can be modified to perform in the same manner that the original models perform. Only, the performance is scaled down as well.
1:32 is perhaps the most popular competition scale both in competition circles and home racetracks. This often requires an 8 by 16 feet track that could fit any decent sized basement or garage.
HO scales belong to the smallest of commercially available slot cars. Cars under this scale are 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long and may or may not resemble the exact appearance of the car they are modeled after. The motors of the smaller cars are often bigger than what could actually fit the chassis so manufacturers usually modifying the appearance of the exterior.
As was previously mentioned, HO scales are currently the most popular scales there are. These could be found in home racetracks and are also quite common in competition circles.
There is more to slot cars than just being miniature mock-ups of real race cars. Most of them are lovingly made from scratch by slot aficionados and most of these cars can be modified to achieve better performance. Driving skills matter a lot in slot car racing because nothing's really keeping the car on track aside from the blade or pin in its bottom. So you really need to be proficient enough to make sure the cars don't fly off in the track's twists and turns.
Slot Car Sizes
Slot cars are available in different sizes including:
1:24 scale size– slot cars with this size need large course, making them inappropriate for home use. Most of the time, 1:24 racing is held at commercial or club tracks. Cars included in this type come seven to eight inches long.
1:32 scale size – this is the most popular slot car size. These cars come smaller than 1:24 scale cars so they are more suitable for home enthusiasts. These are also a common choice for racers and hobbyists out there. Most 1:32 slot cars measure five to six inches long.
HO-sized slot cars – these cars differ in scale, ranging from 1:97 to 1:64 scale sizes. No matter what their size are, they operate on track with the same width. A typical HO-sized slot car may come 2.5 to 3.5 inches long.
Aside from these three major scales, 1:43 slot cars are also available in the market as toddler's toys. In the 1960s, 1:48 slot cars were also marketed.
Slot Car Components
• Body Also called shell, this component is made up of solid molded plastic and is fitted over the car's chassis. Much like in real cars, the weight of the vehicle's body as well as the distribution of the said weight are considered in building a slot car. Attached to the body is an interior portion which oftentimes contains a driver figure. To make room for the motor and other components, most slot car interiors come only half the body's height.
• Electric motor This component can be positioned in front, in the middle, or in the rear of the slot car. Motors are rated by means of their speed or their revolutions per minute. This factor is determined by gauging the quantity of voltage received by the motor.
• Guide Dubbed as guide flag, this is the plastic piece placed under the vehicle's chassis to assist the car in running along the slot. This guide, which holds the braids, pivots in the slot.
• Gears These components play a major role in the slot car's acceleration and speed. Standard gears, including the small gear that's connected to the motor, can be upgraded using aftermarket components to deliver better performance.
• Magnets These components are installed in the front and rear portion of the slot to provide the vehicle with downforce. This makes sure the vehicle does not fly off the track. Some racers prefer slot cars without magnets and favor the use of lead weights. Some even want to race without magnets or weights at all.
• Microchip Not all slot cars come equipped with such component. The microchip allows the slot car to follow a car in the same race track or to change lane at a pre-set portions on the track.
Most components of slot cars can be modified, upgraded, or improved for better performance. However, without a track, your slot car will look nothing more like a car model.
Carrying out routine maintenance on slot cars should be very easy. This is especially true if you are handling the larger scale sizes 1:24 and 1:32 which don’t have hard to reach very small parts, unlike with HO slot car models and other scales in between.
Critical to performing car maintenance is knowing the model of your car. Although the basic components of slot cars are pretty much the same, there are some minor variations with each model. Before you open your own, check out model information first so you can be sure that you are not doing anything wrong with your car. If, for any reason, there is a need to replace a part, you should check available parts for that particular in online stores and hobby shops near you.
If you don’t wish to open your car yourself, it is advisable that you have a professional do it for. If, however, you prefer to do it on your own, you should take note of the first step to opening up a model – removing a few screws to separate the shell from the chassis. After opening the model, you should inspect the following:
Braids Braids, or brushes as other drivers call them, are the wires connected to the side of the track that send power to the motor. Although these are generally for keeping the slot car powered and running, they are also very important to keep the car attached to the grooves on the track. Worn out braids won't do that. Worse, they won't guarantee that your car receives the power it needs.
It is, thus, very important to replace worn out braids with new ones regularly. To do this, simply pull off the braids and replace them. New slot car sets often come with extra braids. If you've run out of these, you can always buy them in packs of 4 in slot car or hobby shops.
Gears If your car creates strange noise while running, you have problems with the gears. The best solution is often to replace the worn gears with new ones.
Motor Motors, no matter how excellently built they are, do not last forever. After long hours of racing, your motor should be replaced. A good sign that your motor needs replacement is when problems with speed and performance start to crop up.
Tires Your car's tires should be replaced whenever necessary as well. Bad tires affect performance. Often cars with bad tires often perform slower than those with perfectly good tires. Also, these tend to fly off of the racetrack as they no longer have the grip suitable for racing.
Replacing parts is not the only thing you should do during routine maintenance. Cleaning the entire car should also be part of the process. Usually, cars collect fluff, dirt and other components on the ground. To prevent these from affecting your car's performance, it is best to remove them regularly or after each race. You need not open the entire model every time though. You can simply scrape off the dirt or fluff using a small tool like a screwdriver or a pair of tweezers.
If, however, you wish to remove the fluff or dirt that has collected in the chassis of the car, you can unscrew the car and separate the chassis from the shell. This should allow you access to the gears which usually collect fibers, hairs and dirt.
Are you familiar with the cliché that goes, “Don't fix it if it is not yet broken”? Apparently, this does not work out every time. Take the case of your slot cars, for example. Just like life-size automobiles, there will come a time when age would ultimately take its toll on them. They're not necessarily broken, but would you want to see this happen before you even make an action?
Slot cars need an amount of regular maintenance to make sure that they are always on top-notch speed and performance. Unlike life-size automobiles, maintaining your slot cars is not really a daunting task. Just as long as you maintain and clean them on a regular basis, then they're good to go.
As with any other machine, the parts that are always vulnerable to wear and tear are the ones always in motion. These are the tires, gears, axles and motors.
If you start to notice that the slot car is gradually slowing down, the parts that should be checked first right away are the tires, gears and axles. Dust are often times absorbed by the tires, thus, making the tires loose their grip on the track.
One simple way of cleaning the tires is by rolling them over a Scotch tape. All of the dirt will simply glue their way over the tape, and the tires will tighten its grip once again.
Axles and gears, meanwhile, are also susceptible to dust, dirt and lint. If you let the dirt accumulate, chances are it will clog down the gears and cause the car to slow down. You can simply use a pair of tweezers to remove those dirt pieces one by one.
When everything seems to be okay on your slot cars and you notice that they're still running slow, then you now have to turn your attention to the slot car tracks. Remember, two of the track's main enemies are dirt and corrosion.
If the track will not be used for a long period of time, it needs to be covered or have it removed from dust-prone areas such as the garage or the basement. Too much dirt and dust will get in the way of the flow of electricity, which could reduce the speed of your slot car.
It is a big no-no to leave the tracks in humid areas. Be more cautious on moisture especially if what you have is a metal track. Moisture will make the track rusty and will later on lead to corrosion.
If you've seen that there's already an amount of dirt and rust that have already mounted up the tracks, wipe them off with a damp micro-fiber cloth, followed by a dry one. Scrub off the rust with a sandpaper or a wire brush. Of course, before you begin with the cleanup, make sure to turn the power off.
Lastly, don't forget to lubricate your slot car parts and tracks once in a while. If humans need water for sustenance, then slot cars need lubricants too to them to keep going. Just don't overdo it; a moderate amount is enough for your slot cars to start running smoothly again.
Toys are effective learning tools for kids since they effectively integrate fun with learning. Kids love to play, and most of the time that's the only activity they care for. Hence, parents have to be ingenious in their attempts to sublimate their kids' learning into more pleasurable activities. If your child is a boy, chances are he'll be more inclined to play with toy cars, even more so with the ones that can move really fast! Also, it's a proven fact that kids have a natural inclination to toys that are controllable. You simply can never go wrong with slot cars.
Almost everyone has already seen slot cars at one time or another. These miniature cars are modeled out of real cars, and are a joy to behold when they are running fast on tracks. A remote control gives you the ability to control its speed, taking care to put on just the right amount at certain points of the track in order for it to stay on course.
Slot car racing has also been a popular sport among hobbyists for a few decades now. If you want your kid to get really serious, it's about time you join slot racing competitions and get your kid involved in them. When kids get competitive, they are going to learn the nuances of the sport by their own volition. This is a perfect opportunity to have them involved in physical science, electronics, and basic mathematical concepts.
To start with your kid's "education", you need to tell him how the whole process of slot car racing works. I would advice not to go with the smaller HO slot cars, the 1 24 slot car or 1 32 slot cars are larger and easier for little fingers to hold, plus not as delicate as the smaller cars. When showing your kid about slot cars, don't make it sound like you're giving a lecture; instead, make it sound as casual as possible. If you're lucky, you might not need to make the initial effort since the kid might ask about it himself if he's really interested.
So tell your kids how slot cars accelerate, decelerate and stay on track as they move through a track's twists and turns. Ask him about the adjustments that need to be made in lieu to a particular track. Should the magnet in the car be toned down for a track that doesn't involve sharp turns? How does car shape affect speed? In this manner, kids will learn how aerodynamics and wind resistance come into play in determining speed.
Making modifications on slot cars allows your kids to develop their mechanical and logical faculties. Slot cars have lots of variables. Values such as gear ratios, magnets, electrical contacts, tire size, tire grip, and weight need to be deliberated on since each of them can determine a slot car's performance in a designated track. Some of these concepts might be too complex for a kid, so don't put too much pressure on him. Give him the simple tasks, and allow him to watch you as you do the more complex ones.
Learning is best when it happens without you being aware of it. This is even truer for kids. Slot car racing can benefit your child in so many ways, and more importantly, he'll get a kick out of it.
America was in the midst of a cultural overhauling during the sixties. Among the fads that became very popular during this time was slot car racing. Decades after the craze over slot car racing has fizzled out, many enthusiasts are still stuck in the hobby.
Slot car racing miniature models of actual cars that are raced on shallow groves or channels integrated into the racetrack. These grooves act as guides for the car as they race. These make problems such as flying out of the track during difficult turns more manageable. also, these serve as power source for the car's motor.
With new developments in slot racing, these groves have become a little less important than they were a few decades back. Digital slot cars no longer have to be constrained into specific lanes, unlike conventional slot cars. Instead, 4, 6 even 8 individual cars can now run simultaneously on 2-lane tracks, which make racing more competitive and skill-oriented.
Anyone can purchase a full set of slot car which include the body or shell, an electric motor, steel or copper braids, a guide, magnets, and for the modern varieties, a microchip.
The Shell The body or the shell represents the external make of the model car. This is often made of molded plastic piece which is fitted to the chassis of the slot car. Just like real cars, the weight of the shell is a huge consideration in creating slot cars. Weight should be evenly distributed throughout the entire model.
Some slot cars have significant level of detailing. Enthusiasts and hobbyists alike take pains to imitate the actual appearance of the car model they are copying from. Of course, there are always those mass produced slot cars that do not necessarily look like their real, full-sized cousins. Most of these are fitted for their substance, not their style. In other words, they are geared towards performance and not on appearance.
The Electric Motor Just like in real cars, these are placed in front, at the rear or in the middle of the slot car. Most cars are rated according to their speed or revolutions per minute or RPM. These rates are determined by the voltage the motor receives.
The Steel Or Copper Braids The braid is what gives the car the power. these provide power by allowing the car to make contact with the rails on the track.
The Guide The guide is the small piece of plastic attached to the underside of the chassis which keep the car stable relevant to the track below it. This is also what holds the braids.
The Gears Or Gear Set Gears dictate how the car performs. It affects speed and acceleration. Standard gears, those that usually come with store-brought slot cars, are oft en removed to customize the car's performance.
The Magnets To race with stability and downforce, most drivers attach magnets in the front and at the rear of the car. This allows for easier maneuverability and control over the car, making it easier to take turns without the danger of falling off of the track while doing so.
Slot cars have been around for decades and children of all ages have, in one way or another, experienced the thrill of racing miniature models of their favorite cars, whether by watching adults race slot cars or by growing up racing the cars themselves. But not everyone is very familiar with the hobby because as far as gaming and sports goes, children nowadays are more computer-game-oriented.
So what is slot car racing? Slot car racing is a hobby or a sport, depending on which side of the coin you are looking. Nowadays, it is largely considered a hobby among those who were born during the earlier decades. In the sixties, however, it is widely considered as a sport, somewhat in the league of baseball, bowling, and basketball. During the earlier decades, both young and old are involved in the sports. Huge commercial raceways dot nearly all cities, just as they do now with bowling facilities. Unfortunately, as with most fad sports, this one died its natural death. But it was never really forgotten as evidenced by the fact that slot racing these days is experiencing revival in popularity.
The New and The Old When it was first introduced to the public, slot racing was the sports of the sons of the filthy rich. The raceways as well as the model cars are very very expensive, thus it started slow. But the general public soon picked up the habit when less expensive model cars and raceways became available. Its Golden Age began and ended during the sixties to seventies. It is only now that people are rediscovering slot car racing.
The classic style of slot racing comprises of model cars made of wood or plastic that are powered by electricity. This is considered the conventional slot cars.
In this type of slot racing, cars race in a single line. The number of cars that are raced during a single 'competition' depends on the number of lanes available. Say when the raceway only has 2 lines, only 2 cars are allowed to compete. Whenever there are 4 lanes, 4 cars are allowed for completion, and so on. Because variations in the general speed of the slot car are affected by the position of the lanes, most races are divided into heats wherein drivers switch lanes to equalize any limitations imposed by each lane. Being the conventional or classic mode of slot racing, this is the more popular method used among race sets all over the world.
The newer form of racing is the digital slot car racing. This allows for 2 to 8 drivers to compete in 2-lane tracks. Unlike with the conventional mode of racing, this one allows for better control of the lane as well as the car. Any or all of the drivers can race in one lane simultaneously, thus allowing for better competition and real race-like appeal.
Why you should race? Slot car racing is many different things to different people. Some people race for fun, others as a hobby and still others for money prizes. For starters, slot car racing is purely for the satisfaction of one's innate sense for racing.
It would be a waste if a top-grade slot car is not properly cared for. In the sport of slot car racing, proper maintenance and effective improvisation almost always determine the victor. And if you're serious about being competitive in slot car racing, it'd do you well to heed the tips that are going to be discussed in this article.
1. Keep Your Slot Car Clean
Slot cars can accumulate dust and dirt in its nooks and crannies, which can cause congestion on the wheel hubs, axles, and pick up shoes. If not properly cleaned, these components will have a hard time to rotate freely.
What you should do is remove the body and make sure that the chassis is clean. The moving parts amount to tires, gears, axles, springs and motors. Rotate them and determine if they can move without difficulty. In case there are parts that are worn out, replacing them is the smarter thing to do. As long as all these components are working properly, the slot car will perform better and last longer.
2. Apply Lubrication
Cleaning is simply not enough. Even a clean car will have difficulties in maintaining a solid run if friction is left alone to do its nasty work. To avoid this problem, make sure to lubricate the slot car chassis and the motor. A small drop of oil on each of the chassis axle bearings is a good insurance policy as far as keeping the axles spinning without any interruptions is concerned. Do the same procedure for the front and rear end bells to make sure that the armatures can spin without difficulty. Remember, a small drop on each component will do; otherwise, the operation could become messy.
3. Stick to One Car
You have to choose a slot car that works for you. In case you have a lot of slot cars to choose from, do a test drive on each one and choose the one you can handle best. If you think that some tweaks have to be made, feel free to do so and do a test run again.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
Once you're finished choosing your "baby", you need to do regular drills in order for you to have a better "feel" for all the little but important nuances that are involved in handling the slot car. Believe it or not, each slot car is unique. And funny as it may sound, each one seems to develop its own set of characteristics.
So treat your slot car like a prizefighter. Do a test drive for a few hours each day. Try different types of tracks. If you spot a weakness, do the necessary adjustments and then give it another try. With plenty of time, you can spot subtleties more effectively and know exactly what you need to do with each one.
These are the basic guidelines to ensure that you and your slot car remain competitive in the slot car racing arena. Slot cars are curious things, but if you are familiar with all the little things, you are well on your way to making it big in the sport of slot car racing.
It would be a waste if a top-grade slot car is not properly cared for. In the sport of slot car racing, proper maintenance and effective improvisation almost always determine the victor. If you are going to spend a lot of money on quality slot cars, like the micro scalextric cars, you want to take care of your car. And if you're serious about being competitive in slot car racing, it'd do you well to heed the tips that are going to be discussed in this article.
1. Keep Your Slot Car Clean
Slot cars can accumulate dust and dirt in its nooks and crannies, which can cause congestion on the wheel hubs, axles, and pick up shoes. If not properly cleaned, these components will have a hard time to rotate freely.
What you should do is remove the body and make sure that the chassis is clean. The moving parts amount to tires, gears, axles, springs and motors. Rotate them and determine if they can move without difficulty. In case there are parts that are worn out, replacing them is the smarter thing to do. As long as all these components are working properly, the slot car will perform better and last longer.
2. Apply Lubrication
Cleaning is simply not enough. Even a clean car will have difficulties in maintaining a solid run if friction is left alone to do its nasty work. To avoid this problem, make sure to lubricate the slot car chassis and the motor. A small drop of oil on each of the chassis axle bearings is a good insurance policy as far as keeping the axles spinning without any interruptions is concerned. Do the same procedure for the front and rear end bells to make sure that the armatures can spin without difficulty. Remember, a small drop on each component will do; otherwise, the operation could become messy.
3. Stick to One Car
You have to choose a slot car that works for you. In case you have a lot of slot cars to choose from, do a test drive on each one and choose the one you can handle best. If you think that some tweaks have to be made, feel free to do so and do a test run again.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
Once you're finished choosing your "baby", you need to do regular drills in order for you to have a better "feel" for all the little but important nuances that are involved in handling the slot car. Believe it or not, each slot car is unique. And funny as it may sound, each one seems to develop its own set of characteristics.
So treat your slot car like a prizefighter. Do a test drive for a few hours each day. Try different types of tracks. If you spot a weakness, do the necessary adjustments and then give it another try. With plenty of time, you can spot subtleties more effectively and know exactly what you need to do with each one.
These are the basic guidelines to ensure that you and your slot car remain competitive in the slot car racing arena. Slot cars are curious things, but if you are familiar with all the little things, you are well on your way to making it big in the sport of slot car racing.
Slot cars come off the production line with the best setting and performance according to its capacity. This is not to say though that you, as the driver, can't add some changes to the original product to optimize its performance.
Most cars won't perform their best when raced straight out of the box. They are just not competitive enough for racing against other cars that have received some modifications. Fine-tuning is very much needed to shake off the mass production settings of the car.
Braids The original braids of slot cars are often too small for good performance. A little push to keep them apart will do the trick of allowing them closer contact to the rail. For better performance, exchange the original braids with softer ones to reduce friction and enhance electrical conductivity. Always do routine maintenance to the braids to keep them free of dirt.
Rims and Tires Slot cars are molded from plastic and as such, are likely to have burrs in some areas which could affect the performance of the car. Remove all burrs as much as possible. Remove, especially, the burrs on each wheel and polish the rim to make it completely round.
To do this, remove each wheel and give the rim a more round profile. Put back the wheels and run the car on sandpaper for a few seconds. This process, called 'truing the tires', should polish the entire circumference of each wheel. For further polishing, you can soak the wheels with oil to soften the rubber.
Clean the tires. Use light fuel to rub the entire with a clean sheet to remove dirt. You can do this for routine maintenance and every after race to keep the tires free from dirt.
Some people glue the tires to the rim to prevent these from spinning. You can do this if you don’t want the axles of your car's wheels to move during the race.
Cleaning Routine maintenance is a key component of keeping the car's performance at its best. After each race, cars get dirty. This is especially true if you are racing on simulated rally courses that use either cocoa powder or flour to substitute for dirt or snow.
Check the entire car for dirt, especially the interior or chassis. Check the chassis for dust and dirt and wipe these out.
Motor Serious attention should be given to the car's motor. Needless to say, the motor should always be clean and well maintained.
Prior to the race, most racers make it a habit to warm up the motor before putting the car on the track. This should take more or less a few hours to complete. When doing this, be sure to gradually increase the voltage to ensure that the car gets the power it needs to perform well.
To prevent wear and tear, most racers attach the motor to the chassis permanently. Do this by either gluing the motor to the chassis or by taping it.
Chassis Just like real racecars, the chassis of any slot car should be optimized for performance. Sanding the sides of the car as well as loosening the screws will do the trick.
The types of slot cars available in the market these days are basically divided into the limitations that technology imposes on the make of the car. One is the good old system of conventional slot cars and the other is the new form of racing presented by digital slot cars.
Conventional Slot Cars Conventional slot cars are actually fashioned from the traditional system racing slot cars – racing electric-powered cars on wooden or plastic tracks. This type of cars has a motor that is directly connected to the guide that is attached to the chassis of the model. This guide is then hinged to one of the parallel rails on the racetrack which acts to keep the cars in place no matter the speed. The car gets its speed from the hand-held controller which determines the amount of power that is supplied to the model.
Each conventional car races only in one lane and is not capable of changing lanes during the race. Thus, if there are only 4 lanes in a track, there can only be 4 cars that will race. To compensate for the limitations and disadvantages of racing in just one lane, races are divided into heats which allow the drivers to switch between lanes to equalize any factor that could make one lane disadvantageous for racing.
Digital Slot Cars Digital slot cars are the newer car models in the market. These basically pick up from where the traditional slot cars left off. Unlike its older counterpart, digital slot cars allow for simultaneous racing on as few as two lanes per race – much like as you would see with other types of car racing. Newer technologies have allowed this new form of slot cars to be less dependent on the guide that keep the old cars hinged to one side of the racetrack. The electronic circuitry of the digital models allow for drivers to have full control over the speed and movements of the car.
Generally, digital slot cars are more expensive than their older counterpart and are arguably harder to drive than the conventional models. This is because drivers of digital slot cars have to learn how to control the speed of the car as well as learn how to switch lanes without falling off of the racetrack.
On Slot Cars In General Slot cars, as you would know by now, are actually scaled-down models of actual cars. Some are just tiny mock-up models that are purposely built for miniature racing while others are made to copy all aspects of the actual models, including the actual car's capacity in terms of performance.
Most racers race with commercially available slot cars that are mass produced by such manufacturers as Scalextri, Johnny Lightning and Carrera. Most of these are modification-ready models to enhance performance. Some enthusiasts by motorize static models while hobbyists create 'scratch-build' cars that run on their own mechanism and bodies. These are often created from store-brought spare parts built to create true models of the original cars being copied.
Slot car racing is a very popular hobby among miniature car racing enthusiasts. It satisfies the inner speed demons among us and is a relatively inexpensive hobby for people who love building model cars. In this article, we will provide you with information that can help you not only save on buying slot cars and slot car accessories but also buying advices that will allow you to make the best choice:
Which slot car scale? There are 1 32 slot cars, 1 24 slot cars, HO slot cars and more.
Slot cars come in various scales and each scale has its own pros and cons. The larger scales, for example, have superb detailing and are often geared to perform according to the performance specs of the original cars they were modeled from. These are usually raced in competitions and are often considered among the cars worth collecting.
The main disadvantage of using the 1:24 scale, the largest there is, is that this takes so much space. The same is quite true with the smaller 1:32 scale. For a decent basic racetrack, you should at least have an 8 by 6 feet racetrack.
The space needed to accommodate the racetrack for larger scales is always a major consideration. If you have a small space available for your racetrack, it is often more advisable to stick with smaller scales, like the HO scale.
The HO scale is where the smallest of slot cars are categorized under. This includes small cars whose size ranges from 2 ½ inches to 3 ½ inches.
Now, when it comes to buying, it is very important to first check how much space you have for your toys. If you don’t think larger scales are good for you, it is advisable that you settle with the smaller ones. Also, if there are no race circuits for 1:24 and 1:32 slot cars near you, you should stick with smaller scales.
Which manufacturer? There are literally hundreds of companies that produce competition-ready slot cars for hardcore slot car racing enthusiasts to slot car toys for children. Obviously, you should look for those companies that produce high quality slot cars whose performance is optimized for racing. Among the most common manufacturers are Artin, Johnny Lightning, Carrera, Fly, Ninco, Monogram, and Scalextric. These differ in the quality of cars they produce as well as the price range. The most affordable cars are produced by Artin and the manufacturers that are known for winning the most race are Scalextric, Carrera and Johnny Lighting for individual scales. The high-end slot cars are produced by Fly.
Where to buy? Slot car shops can be found in brick and mortar shops as well as online shops. eBay, a very popular worldwide online bidding site, is where many slot car hobbyists and enthusiasts go for their supplies. Individual online vendors are also some of the best places to visit online to get your car sets. It is also a good idea to check out hobby shops near you.
How to buy? It doesn’t matter where you buy; what matters is how you buy. Slot cars command relatively inexpensive price tags although there are some well-made ones that could cost you a fortune. So do your research first before you buy your own car. It is important to know everything about the car first before you pay some serious money for it.
Does your kid love racing? To make him experience the joy and excitement of being on a race track without actually driving a real race car, you should think of buying him a slot car set. AFX Slot cars are replicas of actual automobiles with bodies made purposely for miniature racing. While there are commercially available slot cars of different sizes and styles, some racers still prefer to make their own models from basic parts and materials. But how and where did slot cars originated?
The first slot cars to hit the market were built by Lionel Corporation. This model, which appeared on Lionel's catalog in 1912, draws it power from a toy train rail that was set in the wide slot between the rails. Racers can adjust the speed of their vehicle by regulating the switch positioned on the track's power supply. This very first model has much resemblance to modern slot cars, but independent speed control was offered only as an option way back then. Production of this toy set was stopped after 1915.
1930s In late 1930s, hobbyist use relatively large model cars with 1:16 to 1:18 scales. These cars derived their power from miniature internal combustion engines that were initially equipped with spark-ignition that was later on replaced with glow plug engines. Since there was no way for the player to control the car's speed and steering, this kind of car was mainly a mechanic's hobby.
1940s In 1940s, British hobbyists start experimenting controllable electric cars that feature hand-built motors.
1950s In 1954, the Southport model Engineering Society in the United Kingdom was dared by a patent-holder to use rail-guided gas-car exhibition on raising funds. So its staff made an electric racecourse with six-lane layout and measuring 60 feet long. This course is designed for 1:32 rail-guided cars which are considered as the ancestors of slot racing cars.
Inspired by the said layout from Southport, some US and UK clubs start racing electric cars assisted by center rails in 1955 to 1956. These rails were soon after replaced by slots on the track surface and cars raced on these tracks are name slot cars. In 1957, Minimodels has produced a famous line of slot-guided vehicles called Scalextric. Victory Industries also launched the VIP line. The Scaletrix became an instant hit, causing engineers and some companies like Aurora Plastics Corporation to develop HO vibrator sets. These small cars amazed the public because their price and size best suit the needs of average consumers.
1960s It was in the 1960s when slot cars became very much popular. In 1963, after manufacturing a million and a half units, Aurora made flat-commutator motor to replace the vibrator cars. From this, the best-selling slot car in history, called Aurora Thunderjet-500, was produced. The Thunderjets, along with their upgraded versions, dominated the market for around a decade.
1970s It was in the late 1970s when the slot car craze sputtered out.
By using computer-aided designing, more detailed and authentic models have been made in 1990s. And in 2004, the digital control systems which have modernized model railroading, start appearing in 1:32 slot cars. Such systems provide racers with the ability to race multiple cars in every lane, and to enjoy more realistic racing experience.
If you love cars and get off on speed as much as I do, you would do well to try slot car racing. In my opinion, Tyco Slot cars are the most fun, but slot cars have been popular since the late 1950s, and despite the proliferation of many other hobbies ever since, slot car racing is still very much in the mainstream. The fun factor and the customization possibilities involved in slot car racing simply give the sport an immediate appeal to many car and toy enthusiasts.
Slot car racing is an exciting prospect, sure, but being successful with it also involves a meticulous eye for detail and a propensity to mechanics. And in this article, we'll discuss the fundamentals of how slot cars work in order to steer you in the right direction.
First, what is a slot car? Quite simply, it is a miniature car that can run on a fixed track. These tracks are not different from real racetracks, except that they are in miniature form. As the term "slot" implies, a shallow groove is laid out on the full length of a track to guide the slot car as it does its rounds. This groove is formed between two metal rails that are in close proximity with each other and is responsible for keeping the slot cars in place.
Of course, speed for speed's sake is not enough to win a race. Each participant uses his own controller to administer the amount of speed needed to move past opponents and keep his car on the tracks. Anticipating sharp turns, inclines, and dives come into play here; hence, the slightest mistake can send your slot car tumbling off the tracks and cause you to lose the race.
Most slot cars have magnets installed to the front and the back since the downward force they provide can help in keeping them glued on the metal rungs. This, however, doesn't guarantee that the cars won't tumble into oblivion due to sharp turns. Most modern cars, on the other hand, use a sort of microchip to allow them to operate the same way as another car and make it possible to switch lanes at pre-determined points on the track.
Almost all components of a car can be upgraded and modified according to the owner's preferences. Before heading out on a competition, one has to investigate the particular tracks involved in order to make the necessary adjustments. For example, the speed gauge of the controller has to be toned down when the track doesn't have many sharp turns.
Lastly, a slot car track is made up of plastic segments. Each lane has two steel rails, with one of them producing the power needed to move the car and the other providing the ground. The tracks absorb power from a power supply that plugs into a wall outlet. This power sends the electric current to enable the car to move.
There's no sign that slot cars are going to lose their popularity any time soon. Slot car racing is definitely worth trying, and it's not a bad idea to go out and buy a slot car as soon as you can.
Slot cars are small replicas of automobiles designed to scale. They race along a fixed track with slot or groove. The word "slot" in the name of these automobiles is derived from those shallow grooves or channels place on the track to assist vehicles as they go through turns and twists and along straight sections. Lining these grooves are two metal rails that are separated narrowly and placed into the track to form a slot in the middle. Underside the slot car is a small blade which fits into the groove to keep the car on the right path as it runs fast around the track.
If you love speed but you didn't like the idea of risking your life in driving a real race car at incredibly high speeds, then you should purchase a slot car set. Included in such set are all the necessary components needed in setting up the race track out of the box. If you need extra track pieces, controllers, car bodies, and other additional accessories, you can purchase them too.
Cats Like Slot Cars Too!
History of Slot Cars
Slots cars first appeared in early 20th century and immediately became famous not only with children but also with youngsters and adults. Early designs are based on a raised rail which was embedded in the track and players back then don't have control over the speed of the vehicle. After some modifications, slot cars in 1930s came equipped with small internal combustion engines. As time passed by, slot cars were then powered by electrical current.
There was a move in the 1950s to improve the tracks by utilizing grooves rather than raised track. With the current flowing through the groove, the speed of the car can now be managed by using a hand-held remote control for every car running on the track. With these innovations, it became possible for several individuals to enjoy slot car racing using the same track.
Because of the refinements made on slot cars, slot car racing also became popular. More and more manufacturers start offering slot car sets with a number of cars and a track that can be enhanced using add-on kits. In 1960s, a wide variety of slot cars and track configurations appear, providing slot car racers more options to work with.
Slot Car Scales
For serious competition, there are three common slot car scales or sizes. These are: 1:24 scale, 1:32 scale, and HO. The largest cars used in slot car racing are 1:24 scale cars, which come seven to eight inches long. These cars need a large course so it's really impractical for home use.
More suitable for home race courses are the smaller 1:32 scale cars that are five to six inches long. But they are also popularly raced on commercial tracks found in clubs or in hobby shops. HO–sized slot cars, on the other hand, have different scales ranging from 1:87 to 1:64. Regardless of their sizes, these cars all run on a track with the same width. The size of a typical HO slot car is from 2.5 to 3.5 inches.
Slot car racing, by the name itself, is focused on controlling the car while on the track. The name 'slot' itself refers to the grooves in the racetrack that prevents the cars from falling off of the track. But slot car racing needs more than grooves for total control. Drivers need to have something in their hands to have full control over the acceleration, breaking and general performance of their slot car. They need the slot car controller.
Analog Slot Car Controllers Analog slot car controllers are handheld devices that distribute the desired amount of voltage to the slot car on the track. A trigger, a common part of the controller, is connected to an electrical contact that is then connected to a resistor. When this trigger is squeezed, the track sends more voltage to the car, thereby causing it to pick up speed. When released, the reverse happens and the car slows down. The resistance of the controller is measured in ohms which should be noted as changes in the resistance positively affect the response time of the car.
But analog slot car controllers provide more than better manageability of the voltage received by the car. Without this, drivers would have lesser ability to make turns when needed or to follow a straight path where there are long straight sections on the track.
Modifications in the extent of control controllers provide have somewhat emerged in recent years. As opposed to the older system of squeezing and releasing the trigger to speed up or slow down the car, newer controllers now provide at-the-push-of-the-button breaking system. These controllers come with an integrated button which sends negative voltage (remember the positive effect of resistance on response time?) to the slot car's electric motor. This action then causes the car to stop.
Improvements in analog slot car controllers have also paved the way for even better control on the breaking system. More advanced controllers are not equipped with a highly accurate system of controlling breaking power which lends these newer controllers a decent advantage over drivers during turns in the track.
Electronic Slot Car Controllers Electronic slot car controllers, on the other hand, pick up where their older counterparts left off. Unlike analog controllers, these do not use the same system of power delivery to the grooves on the track. Instead, these use an electronic circuit that distributes the precise voltage amount needed by the car. This also offers better car performance, improved control of the car, and better command with virtually all motor setups. These also work very well with cars that have different magnet setups.
Getting Yourself A Slot Car Controller Choosing between an analog and electric slot car controllers is basically a matter of preference. Most slot car drivers begin with analog slot car controllers. These are relatively much cheaper than electronic ones and do not require much know-how and electronic savvy. Enthusiasts, on the other hand, prefer the more complex system used in electronic slot cars.
Electronic controllers allow better power manageability and excellent breaking systems which make it very easy for drivers to control their cars on the racetrack.
Slot cars are powered small vehicles that are assisted by a slot or groove set in the tracks on which they run. At the bottom of the car is a blade or pin that keeps the car in the slot. To make the car run, the metal strips placed next to the slot deliver power to the car motor. Such power is picked up by contacts found beside the guide flag, under the front portion of the slot car. The voltage is controlled via a resistor in the hand controller.
HO slot cars operate on similar principle. The only difference is, in HO models, the current is transported through thin metal rails which are hardly seen above the track surface and are placed farther from the slot. These cars usually have electrical contacts dubbed as pick up shoes. These shoes are directly installed to the chassis and it usually uses round guide pin rather than swiveling flag.
These days, traction magnets are employed to deliver downforce, which helps hold the car in the track especially when it is running at higher speeds. There are also enthusiasts who believe that there's greater challenge in magnet-free racing.
For serious slot car racers out there, here are some tips that will help improve your slot car's speed:
1. Maintain the cleanliness of your slot. It pays a lot to keep your slot clean. You can do this by detaching the body and visually inspecting the car's chassis regularly. Pick up shoes must be clean and should float freely. Also inspect the wheel hubs to be sure they do not rub on the car's chassis. Spin the tires and see if there are bent axles. If there are any worn components, replace them long before they fail. Remember: nothing beats the performance and longevity of a clean slot car.
2. Use oil in moderation. Oil keeps the chassis and motor of your car lubricated but use only the right amount. For your chassis' axle bearings, a small drop at every bearing is sufficient enough to keep it spinning. You'll also need a drop of oil in the front and rear motor end bells to keep the armature lubricated.
3. Choose only one slot car. Avoid switching slot cars and chassis frequently. By using only one car, you can be familiar with its handling characteristics, making it easy for you to tweak it to your preference.
4. Practice. By spending more time on your chosen chassis, it will be easier for you to develop some techniques and tricks that make your car perform better than its rivals. Run your slot car on all the lanes, especially those inner lanes with very tight turns. Do this regularly. A lot of practice makes you know your chassis more as well as its exceptional characteristics. It is also through practicing that you'll be able to find out chassis and motor problems long before the serious competition.
Almost all the tips involved in improving your car's speed are free. Other cost-effective ways of enhancing the performance of your HO slot cars is replacing rear tires and giving the pick up shoes an upgrade.
There wouldn’t have been a choice if we were living in the sixties. But as it is, slot car racers are polarized between sticking to the traditional system used by conventional slot cars and the modern appeal of digital slot cars. Here, we will walk you through the differences between the 2 types of slot cars. Let's begin.
Conventional Slot Cars Conventional slot cars are the traditional slot cars. These root from the earliest types of cars released during the 60s. As such, they pretty much pick up from the technologies used by their earlier predecessors and thus stick with the true slot cars. Although generally fun, conventional cars lack the same type of technology applied with its more modern cousins.
Digital Slot Cars Digital slot cars, on the other hand, are the new forms of slot cars. Among the notable differences between the types are the capacity of digital slot car tracks to allow several cars to race on 2-lane tracks (thus cars can change lanes during the course of the race), better manageability of the car during the race because of the integration of precise breaking systems (which are lacking with the conventional models) and the overall improved control over the car.
Surprisingly, despite the advantages offered by digital slot cars, most enthusiasts prefer the good old fashioned way of racing conventional cars. For some reason, the digital ones just don’t have the same appeal as their predecessors.
When choosing between conventional and digital slot cars, a few important factors should be considered.
Space: The amount of space you can use for your slot car track largely determines which type you should be using. Because conventional cars require individual lanes (remember they are stuck in the same lane during the entire course), the tracks they need require plenty of space. If you can afford space, you can go for conventional cars. If you can't, the digital ones can better suit you.
However, another major consideration with space is the number of drivers who would use the track. If you are just driving with your son as recreation, a conventional track may still work for you. Just use 2 lanes and you're good to drive traditional slot cars without worrying about taking up too much space. However, if other slot car drivers frequent your track, it is advisable to stick with digital cars. These are best for smaller spaces.
Cost: Slot car racing is a relatively expensive hobby. And its gets more expensive with digital slot cars.
In general, digital slot car sets and tracks are more expensive than the conventional sets. This is because there's just too much electronics involved. However, since you only need a set for a 2-lane track, you need not buy as much track as you would if you are building yourself a conventional track.
Complexity: Your skills as a driver are very important when choosing which type to buy. Digital slot cars need you to get over some learning curve as this will force you to learn the tricks of changing lanes among other things. With that said, it is way easier to drive conventional cars.
Other factors that you should consider are expandability of the racetrack, convertibility of the track as well as aftermarket value of your car, in case you are planning to sell your cars in the future.
