The Best Slot Car

Carrera 30942 Dodge Charger 500 No. 71 1:32 Scale Digital Slot Car Racing Vehicle for Carrera Digital Slot Car Race Tracks 4.7 out of 5 stars 16 5 offers from $65.95. Carrera 30942 Dodge Charger 500 No. 71 1:32 Scale Digital Slot Car Racing Vehicle for Carrera Digital Slot Car Race Tracks 4.7 out of 5 stars 16 5 offers from $65.95. Shop online for 116 slot cars at discounts up to 38%. HO Slotcars is the most popular of the 3 slot cars categories, then 1/32 Battery Slotcars, and 1/32 Slot Cars. AFX is ranked #1 out of 6 slot cars manufacturers, followed by Auto World Racing, and Innovative Hobby Supply. AFX America's Sports Car Chevy Corvette 32-Foot Mega G+ HO Slot Car Track Set w/Tri-Power.

Update: With Christmas coming up, you may want to splurge on the most luxurious slot car racing sets on the market, so if you’re into that, click here for our latest post which delves into the best sets that money can buy. Otherwise, keep reading to find the reasonably priced best slot car set.

Slot car sets have been gaining tons of popularity again with the end of the holiday season. The innovation in new slot car racing has brought adults and kids alike back into the sport!

It does not matter whether you’re a kid or an adult. Regardless of age, a slot car set is an excellent toy for those who like cars and racing. Basically, you will have a miniature car that is electrically driven and will have to travel in a slot on a track. This is a great alternative to video games and is a cool old-school way to play with cars!

You just have to be a kid at heart to enjoy slot car racing. There are even slot car racing leagues for racing enthusiasts, divided into four categories— local, regional, national, and international organizations. You can partake in 1:24 and 1:32 scale racing competitions, HO racing organizations, and Formula-2000 racing in the United States. You can even register for slot racing competitions that occur globally. These competitions are open for all ages – kid, adult, or the elderly. If you’re not into competitive racing, you can race slot cars for fun. It’s always good to have an activity that you enjoy during your free hours, and driving slot cars can be yours.

Slot car racing is for people as young as age 8 and as old as age 80, and mastering it doesn’t require a lot of time and effort. Just pull the trigger and watch your car race around the track. Quick tips for you: the trigger controls the speed, increases speed on the straights, and decreases speed on the sharp corners. The only rule is to keep your slot car on the track and avoid crashing into other slot cars. What is it about slot cars that attract various age groups? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Children love to control their slot car, and watching it go around the track gives immense joy. If you’re giving your child a slot car set, get them a track with intricate and realistic details and design. A race track that looks like a real track, landscape, or city will excite your kids again. Slot racing is an activity that has gotten parents’ approval. Since the only action is to squeeze and release the trigger, it’s a risk-free, safe, and entertaining activity that doesn’t involve any strenuous motion.

Young adults will love the competitive aspect of slot car racing. With a wide range of slot car sets to choose from, most modeled after real cars, teens like having more than one option. Racing slot cars encourage communication and teamwork between racers. It’s also a great bonding activity between parents and teens, allowing them to build a track for their slot cars.

Slot car racing is also popular among adults and the elderly. They can customize their slot cars and construct race tracks. The reason the elderly and even people with disabilities or injuries can play with slot cars is that they require minimal strength. Adults throw entire parties where people race slot cars against each other on the track.

From the quality of the track to the performance of the car, there are many characteristics worth noting to help you narrow down the options that are available. If you need help looking for the best slot car set, keep on reading and let us extend a helping hand.

At A Glance: Our Top Picks of Slot Car Sets

• Tracer Racers R/C High Speed Remote Control Super 8 Speedway Glow Track Set Our Top Pick

Our Top Picks for the Best Slot Car Set

QUICK OVERVIEW: Our Top Picks of Slot Car Sets

The options can be overwhelming, but this should not give you the reason to buy just any slot car set. As an intelligent buyer, you have to take the time to differentiate the possibilities. We hear you, and that is exactly the reason why we came up with this guide.

Tracer Racers R/C High Speed Remote Control Super 8 Speedway Glow Track Set

Every dollar spent will surely be worth it with this set! The track has a total length of 46 feet, which will make every race more exciting. On top of that, it also offers versatility as there are multiple different power settings that are available. Users can choose from beginner, intermediate, and expert, which means that it will take quite a while before someone can outgrow this toy. Cars are controller at a to-scale speed of 500 mph! Plus, there are unlimited laps in every race. It is also quick and easy to assemble! It comes with detailed instructions from the manufacturer.

Carrera GO!!! GT Contest Slot Car Race Track Set

Ideal for those who are aged eight and up, this is one of the most popular choices for a slot car set. It has a 1:43 scale, which adds up to the excitement of every race. The track has a total length of approximately 12 feet and the cars can reach a scale speed of up to 370 mph. It can be used by more than two players, which makes it a fun toy to play with. The long track featuring a hotspot junction can make you feel like a professional racer. The hotspot junction makes the entire racing experience even more intense. One wrong move can to your car colliding against each other, especially if you’re neck to neck with the other player’s slot car.

If you want your child to develop a passion and skill for racing slot car or if slot racing interests them, this slot car race set is perfect for them. Its controller has governors, which help young children learn and develop their slot car racing skills by driving the slot car at slower speeds around the race track. There are also expansion sets that are available for an endless way to race with this toy!

DMXSLOTS Exclusive Slot Car Racing Package

This is the perfect option for those who are looking for a more innovative option as it is able to overcome the limitations that are present in the traditional slot car sets. Among others, one of its revolutionary features is the lane-changing technology. With the rotating pin technology, which has been exclusively developed by the manufacturer of this toy, cars will be able to change lanes regardless of where they are in the track. In most models, you can do so only at a predetermined point. This set comes with a 12-foot track, including 12 curves and 12 straights.

HOMOFY Dinosaur Toys Slot Car Race Set

View Product 9.7

For a budget-friendly slot car set, this is one option that should be on your radar. With 142 pieces, this is the perfect way to make playtime more educational. With a Jurassic World theme, the track also includes vehicles, trees, and dinosaurs. Children can enjoy endless possibilities when it comes to how they will build their track. The toy parts are made of ABS plastic, which is eco-friendly and non-toxic, making it safe for kids. To provide buyers with peace of mind, it is a good thing that the manufacturer offers a 90-day warranty.

Carrera First Nintendo Mario Kart Slot race Track Set

Made for children who are aged three and up, this is another themed slot car set that is worth considering, especially for those who love Super Mario. It comes with a 7.87-foot track, as well as two cars that feature Mario and Yoshi. The track features eight turns and more than two players can play with this set. There are two electronic controls that are strategically positioned to provide kids with the freedom to have a hand on their race. The assembly and disassembly of the track will also be fairly simple, which can be easily done even by kids.

Carrera Evolution Speed Patrol Slot Car Race Set

Another product from Carrera, this set provides real racing action to its users! The cars have a scale of 1:32 while the track has a scale of 1:24. When assembled, the track has a total length of 24 feet. Meanwhile, the maximum scale speed of the cars is up to 370 mph, which makes it easy to actually feel the thrill in every race. Right out of the box, the kit is inclusive of everything that will be needed and the assembly can be completed even by kids. There are also two analog controllers that are included upon purchase. Meanwhile, the cars included are Lamborghini and Porsche 911 Polizei.

Scalextric James Bond Micro Slot Car Race Set

If you are searching for a slot car set that is ideal even for adults, this is definitely what you should pick. This will allow you to recreate the iconic James Bond car chases that you can see in the movies. It includes a classic and modern Aston Martini DBs, which is the perfect way to show off your elegant taste in cars. The set is inclusive of an approximately 12-foot race track that can be further expanded. It is also easy to assemble and has easy power controls, making it a great choice even for the little ones. The hand controllers feature a power selector, which allows you to adjust the car’s speed, hence making it ideal for beginners. If you’re up for the challenge, increase the car’s speed. This 3’9” by 2’3” race track is compatible with all HO 1:64 scale slot racing cars.

See Full List On Msn.com

Scalextric ARC One American Classics Playset

From the same manufacturer as the product mentioned above, it is revolutionary in the sense that you can download a compatible app in your mobile phone, providing a one-of-a-kind way to control the car while on the track. This also allows users to unlock a host of new features. You can personalize every game by inputting the number of laps and the name of the driver, among other things. You can also easily monitor race stats and fuel usage through the app. The track has a total length of 16 feet and four inches. Meanwhile, users will be able to set it in three different layouts.

AGM Slot Car Set With Racing Assistant App

This product takes slot car racing to the next level because of the mobile app that is included, providing a new way to have the car controlled. The app can provide commentary as well as real-time data. Meanwhile, as for the track, it has a total length of 26 feet. There are three challenging layouts to add excitement to every race. The set comes with good-looking Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG cars, which are sure to make even adults drool. Lastly, there is an ergonomic control that is designed to run up to two cars.

Artin Super Loop Speedway

With this set, users will be able to enjoy up to 34 feet of track, which makes it one of the longest from the products that have been briefly reviewed in this guide. It comes with two Porsche 911 GTS RS cars, each with a scale of 1:43. The manufacturer has done an excellent job of creating miniature versions of Porsche 911 GTS RS cars, as they’re instantly recognizable. If you already have another track from this brand, you can add this track and extend it to 14” x 5.” With the slot car set, you receive an easy-to-understand user guide that shows you how to build the track. You can even change the shape of the track, making it a square if you want. You can easily assemble and disassemble the track to create new tracks to race the slot car each time. It’s a large track, making it perfect for homes with a room dedicated to racing slot cars. It has the loops and the turns that will add excitement to any race. There are also crossover tracks, as well as squeeze and lap counter tracks. The set includes two speed controllers.

How Does a Slot Car Work?

It was in the 1960s when the slot car toys have been popular. These days, even with the emergence of digital technologies, it still remains a popular toy of choice, especially for those who love racing. Basically, the tracks have grooves or channels, which are the slots. They are the ones that will guide the car as it turns and twists throughout the race. There are two metals that form a slot between the tracks. The cars are also equipped with magnets that will allow it to stay in place regardless of its speed.

The metal on the tracks is the one that provides the supply of electricity for the cars to run. There are hand-held remotes that are used by the racer to control the movement of the cars. For the driver, it is important to be smooth and consistent in the control. It is basically like playing a racing video game, except for the fact that there are actual cars and tracks that can be built.

Types of Slot Car Sets

Before you shop, it is important that you are familiar with the different types that are available. In this case, you will basically have two choices:

• Analog Slot Car: With this type, the number of lanes will determine how many cars will be able to race. Each lane will be able to power only a single car. Once the car is on the track, the rail will be powered once the trigger from the controller has been pulled. Analog slot cars are modeled after the conventional slot car racing system. Your electric-powered slot car travels around a plastic or wooden race track. The slot car has a motor attached to the guide, which is connected to the car’s chassis.The rails prevent the slot car from coming off the track, regardless of the speed you’re driving it. You use a controller to control the speed of the car. Each person races their analog slot car in one lane of the race track. At one time, only four slot cars can compete with each other. For these reasons, people separate the races into different heat. This allows drivers to use a different lane for each heat, hence giving every race equal advantage.This is an ideal choice for beginners and for those looking for a cheaper alternative.
• Digital Slot Car: If you want one that is more innovative, this is the type that you should choose. Each car comes with a digital chip and each lane is full-powered. They also have crossover sections, making the race more challenging. Digital slot car racing isn’t limited to the local race track. You can compete in slot car racing from a remote location via the internet. You can compare times, compete in real-time against other racers, and go on qualifying runs.Combining digital slot car racing with the internet makes the entire experience of racing slot cars even more surreal as if you’re partaking in a real race. However, there are drawbacks to digital slot car racing. Digital slot cars and tracks cost more than analog slot cars and tracks. If you switch to a digital race track, you’ll need to buy digital slot cars, as analog slot cars will not work on a digital race track.Moreover, you can’t race a digital slot car on a digital race track from another brand. You’ll have to buy digital slot cars from the same brand as your digital race track, hence limiting your options. Even though you can invest in several different digital slot car sets, doing so will not come cheap. It is more functional and is best suited for the more experienced users.

Making your choice

Need help picking a slot car set that can provide the best bang for the buck? Here are some of the most important factors you have to take into consideration:

Best Slot Car Sets Reviews

• Cars: The car should not only be good-looking, but it should also have innovative features that make it worthy of a race. It should be fast and must be able to handle itself while on the track. Pay attention to the scale as well to determine what size is best for your needs. Some have Porsche and Mercedes Benz accessories to add to the fun of the race.
• Track: Aside from the car, the track is another important part of the race system. Take note of its length, as well as the number of twists and turns. The latter is important because it adds excitement to every race. It will also be good if you have the option to expand the tracks by buying compatible accessories.
• Battery: This is the source of power. If there are no batteries, the cars won’t move. See to it that the battery will last long and powerful enough to survive the race. Look for rechargeable batteries as they will be economical.
• User: This means that you will have to think about the age of the user before you buy a slot car set. Many models are good for those aged three and above. Those that are more complicated and expensive, however, are for older users. Meanwhile, because of its technical nature, slot car sets are recommended for children who are at least eight years old.
• Controller: You should also evaluate the remote that comes with the slot car set. It should have an ergonomic design to promote the highest level of comfort during its use.
• Ease of Use: The slot car should be as user-friendly as possible, especially if it is meant to be used by kids. Assembling and dissembling the track should be almost effortless for the user.
• App: In the case of the modern options for a slot car set, they come with a compatible app that you will have to download in your mobile phone. It provides a revolutionary way of controlling the car and a wealth of features.

Conclusion

In sum, the best slot car set will make a great addition to playtime. Even adults will enjoy such a toy. With too many options available, those mentioned above are some that should be a part of your list. Their premium construction will make races more exciting for the little ones.

If you get the hang of racing slot cars around the track, you can join a slot car racing league. You should start small by joining a local league before you make the leap to race slot cars regionally and then slowly make your way up to race nationally and internationally.

Slot car racing is not bound to a particular age range, so even if you don’t know whether this is something you’ll like or not, it never hurts to try. If you’re a beginner slot car racer, start with one of the slot car sets we mentioned here. After all, you don’t want to waste money on a set that turns out to be a dud. Whether you compete or not, just remember to always have fun. Happy racing from one slot car racer to another!

HO Slot Car Set - AW Hot Wheels Funny Car ...

Better than Braids?
By Shawn J. Smith

Since I first began reviewing slot cars, some three years ago, it's been pretty rare for me to check out individual parts for slot cars rather than fully ready-to-run cars. So... when Bruce of CincySlots.com asked if I had any interest in checking out his newest 'part' I couldn't wait to get my hands on some and get to work.

Appearance:



What are these? A replacement for the braids on our slot cars? Aren't these similar to pick up shoes many of us are used to using on our HO slot cars? Weren't pick up shoes like these used a long time ago? Ok, yes these are solid metal replacements for the conventional braids we use today and yes they are similar to the rail contacts used on many HO racers. In any case they are no doubt a little odd by today's current 'braid standards' so just for giggles we're going to check them out.



One of the first questions I had to ask, after seeing the initial pictures of these shoes, was whether or not these are used in place of a cars normal braids or if these are used in conjunction with cars existing braids. The answer I got from Bruce was to leave the standard braids in place and simply install these along with them. Bruce also suggested using the Scalextric 'blue' guides because of the ease of install so that is where I started.



'Seems a little like over-kill' I thought to myself when preparing for the set up on a previously unused Scalextric guide. Having dozens of Scalextric cars that use this braid set up I couldn't think of a single time when the standard braids would perform to my liking although keeping an open mind I continued with the installation by feeding the small 'tab' of the pick up shoes through the pre cut groove in the Scalextric guide.



Seating these shoes were certainly a simple affair and I chose to keep the unaltered braids tucked under the shoes rather than having the braid come out on top of the shoe as pictured in one of the images on the CincySlots home page. By unaltered I mean that I did absolutely nothing to the braids prior to installing the shoes so the braids were not shortened, fattened or spread at the ends like I would normally do to them prior to normal running.




Now with both pick up shoes installed it looks suspiciously like a mechanical horse-fly doesn't it? These blades or not only double the length of the traditional Scalextric braids but they are also almost twice as wide without the need to modify them in any way. 'Makes sense' I said again to myself as I inspected my guide 'insect' a little closer. Now it's time to get this thing under a car.



What a better way to try out our new big shoes than to slap them under one of Scalextric's smallest production cars. Our 'Sport' model Mini just grew some wing's so let's see if she flies!



Performance:

With our new pick up shoe equipped Mini on the track I took a few seconds to first check out a couple of things. Because these pick up blades are more rigid than traditional braid I wanted to make sure our guide wasn't being lifted by the tension out of the slot. While a small amount of 'lift' was present I attribute that with the slight amount of 'bend' I created to assure full contact with the flush rails on my Carrera track surface. The guide still has a decent portion of the guide blade in the slot and a bit more hand tuning had the Mini sitting almost flush on the track surface.



Next I was curious to see exactly how much of the pick up shoes came in contact with the surface of the rails and by this picture we can hopefully see that the full width of the rail is covered by the new metal shoes. After seeing this view for myself I slightly repositioned the left contact to be more centered like the right shoe. I then set off to do some laps.



To be honest I couldn't really tell the difference between using these shoes and running the cars traditionally with the braids alone. The car accelerated the exact same, it handled the exact same and it sounded the exact same. What I did determine however is that these guide shoes, because of their added length, come precariously close to the front tires on our narrow Cooper Challenge Mini however as none of the turns on my track will ever cause the guide blade to turn that dramatically I've decided that it's really nothing to worry about. At this point I wasn't really sure what advantage having a pair of these would really be and then I had an idea.
What if instead of using these pick-up shoes in conjunction with the normal braids we completely took the braids out of the scenario and only used these shoes. Off I went in search of a car with a different style guide than the Scaley 'blue' guide and I just happened to have one of my favorite Slot.It cars sitting quietly near by.



Gently removing the lead wire post from the top of the guide I easily removed the Slot.It copper braid and set it aside.



How ironic it was to find that these guide shoes had the perfect sized tab to be used with this guide with absolutely no modifications. The tab slipped in easily and because of a raised 'bump' on the tab they were held in quite solidly once the wire post was pushed back in to place.



As you can see from the next picture there is a noticeable difference between this seated shoe and the seated braid on the other side. It was a perfect fit too as the top of the tab sits virtually flush with the top of the opening in the guide. Not bad huh?



I then installed the second shoe and flipped the chassis over to make sure the motor was getting power. Even though I had little doubt it would work I was still pleased when the motor ripped to life and proved I didn't have to use the braids after all. Now we have something here as being able to use these in place of a pair of braids made more sense to me than using these in addition to a set of braids. However... would the car drive the same?



Because these shoes are actually thinner than the normal Slot.It braid I felt as if I almost HAD to turn these shoes down a bit to assure constant contact around the track. Because they are fairly rigid though I tried not to add too much lift as I wanted to avoid having the shoes act like a spring and lift the guide out of the slot.



And it worked perfectly. My Audi test car rocketed off like it always had using its previously installed braids and just like I found on the previous test, where the braids weren't removed from the guide, the test car's characteristics were practically unchanged. In fact, the only thing I did find different was a tiny audible 'ting' sound the shoes would make when going over a select couple of track connections on my layout.



Now that's not to say these shoes weren't without one issue. The size of these shoes did get in the way of re-securing the body of our Slot.It Audi as the front screw sits centered and under the cars guide. With the shoes in place there is no easy way to get a screwdriver in there to put the body back on. That is unless of course you...



Bend one of the shoes up to gain better access to the screw. This then creates a potentially different area of concern as if you find yourself running your cars a lot and if you have to keep bending and re-bending this shoe in order to remove the body to perform normal maintenance will the shoe weaken and eventually break? While it's too early to tell whether something like this will happen it seems like a logical conclusion. Maybe I need to find a car with a different method of fastening the body!

The Final Verdict:

A couple of different thoughts here... My first thought on these guide shoes is that it doesn't seem to be all that essential to have these if your cars have perfectly good braids. Using these pick up shoes along with standard braids doesn't seem to make a bunch of sense either simply because they don't seem to do anything more than a set of well prepared braids can do. You might think the added length and width of these shoes might assure you never loose contact with the rails although again its nothing you can't accomplish if you know how to set your braids up properly.
Where I can see the benefit to having these pick-ups is in use on cars, much like my test Slot.It, where these shoes can be used instead of using braids and in doing so you can wipe out the need to continually adjust your braids. Providing your guide is straight these shoes practically guarantee your contacts will also be straight and that I can certainly see some value in.
More long term testing will really tell the tale on these pick up shoes as to whether or not they are a reliable alternative to our current braids and my Slot.It Audi will be the test horse to wear them for the long term testing. So far so good is how I'll have to end this review! If anything else changes I'll let you know.

Special thanks go to Bruce of CincySlots for providing us a sample of his new pick up shoes for review and as always please feel free to email me with any comments or questions about this or any other review and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that I can. Happy slotting!

The Best Slot Car Race Tracks