Hobbies And Interests
History
Lionel train company made the first slot cars in 1912. The cars ran on a model train track. Speed controls did not come with the cars but could be purchased as an accessory. In 1954, a hobbyist club in Great Britain developed an electric track for cars. Unlike the earlier models that ran on a track, these cars followed a slot on the track's surface. The name slot cars became popular to distinguish these cars from the older rail cars. By 1963, even most rail car tracks switched from rails to slots. Slot cars' popularity peaked during the 1960s, then began to fade away. Technological improvements during the 1990s and 2000s have brought back something of a resurgence in slot car racing.
Slot Car Sizes
The most common slot car size is the 1/32 scale, but other options include cars built at the 1/24 scale and 1/43 scale. Even 1/64 and 1/76 cars are available, though not as common. Additional scales have been used by various makers but never caught on as a standard slot car scale.
Tracks
Slot car tracks come in the original analog version and the newer digital version. Advantages to digital tracks include the ability to have more people racing on a track set up in a smaller area and the ability to pass by using special digital lanes. Analog tracks cost less, have more cars available for racing, and are simpler to use. Digital cars, unlike analog cars, cannot get "souped up," so mechanically inclined people may enjoy analog slot cars more than digital.
Racing
A hand controller determines slot cars' speed. The harder the driver squeezes, the faster the car goes. In racing, the operator tries to maximize the car's speed while going around corners without causing the car to spin out of the slot. Some tracks and cars use magnets to create an additional force pulling the car to the slot. While this increases the speeds the slot cars can achieve without de-slotting, purists say it removes the realism of seeing the cars fishtail when taking corners too fast.
Collecting
Older slot cars cost anywhere from $5 to $750 for rare models. According to the slot car collectors guides, most people choose to collect one type of car or cars by one maker. Cars in their original packaging and with paint in bright and authentic colors are also more valuable than other cars. Repainted cars and cars with replaced wheels have little value other than fun.