Autonomous scalextric car

Slot Cars & Slot Car Racing Sets

If you, like many a young boy (and girl), once dreamed of being a race car driver, its a safe bet that the nearest you came was racing Scalextric slot cars. Slot car racing is a hobby that appeals to both old and young (it never dies, it simply gets filed away until you are old enough to know better!) and has been so for many years now, thanks to the enduring appeal and fantastic array of Scalextric slot cars, tracks and ready made sets.

Scalextric first hit the market in the late 1950s in the UK, providing boys with toys that were both exciting and relevant to the growing interest in motor racing across the world. The basic idea has changed little since then, and models from the early days (hotly collected and valuable these days) will run on a modern track without modification.

Slot car racing is as popular today as ever, perhaps more so with the worldwide fascination with anything fast and on wheels and the range of track and sets available is simply vast, with new models and ideas added to the range each season. While the standard track allows two cars to race in individual lanes, a new innovation for the 21st century, known as Sport Digital, allows several cars to run on one track, and to switch lanes by way of a special handset, giving greater scope for competition and enjoyment, and adding to the many Slot Car clubs and championships that were already prevalent across the world and the USA.

While a UK invention and with a comprehensive range of models and sets focusing on Formula One and other European based categories of motor racing. Scalextric has a massive following in the USA. Indycar, NASCAR and many other US based races are represented and in actual fact the USA has seen the fastest growth in this fantastically fun pastime. Scalextric actually encourages alternative manufacturers who deal in more specialist models, and hence the US market is well catered for. The manufacturer Fly for instance, make a range of US based models including the endurance racing Corvette, while MRRC can supply a set of Chaparral racing cars, evoking the spirit of the great American racing teams of the 1960s.

Indy cars, NASCAR and others are all available from a wide range of suppliers, for you to build you own with a simple kit, plain body and powerful motor, and paint it to match the model you wish to emulate. The range of track is simply amazing, allowing the reproduction of real tracks across the world and the creation of your own, and a selection of superb slot car sets, from single seaters, through Moto GP, to road cars and various others, gives the Slot Car enthusiast a choice that is unequalled in this sphere of hobbying. Scalextric is so well established that the range of accessories, tyres, bodies, body parts, and trackside grandstands, Armco and pit accessories, enables one to build an accurate replica of a race track or event, and give hours of enjoyable competition between family and friends for years to come.

Buying cheap slot car sets in the age of the internet has never been easier, the internet has provided a huge range of retailers, clubs and enthusiasts to come together and make it easier for even total beginners to find the perfect set for their own situation. Sites like NewSlotCars.com provide the casual viewer with access to all sorts of video and information to help with their slot car decision making.

Jo's site at http://www.NewSlotCars.com provides the best Slot car racing information available anywhere, combining information and videos with results and club information regularly updated for all Slot Car enthusiasts. NewSlotCars.com has teamed up with the No.1 Web retailers on the web to provide the best prices on all slot cars sets, see the best possible deals at ChristmasBargainBuys.com.

Scalextric crashes!

Rally Drifting Extreme Scalextric (Slot Car Racing)

Scalextric Cars

Scalextric produce a range of cars for their range of Scalextric sets, whether you have a drift set or the new digital set there is a wide range of manufacturers available for your choice.

Scalextric have produced a range of vehicles that are easily compatible with analogue and digital sets with their digital plug ready (DPR) chassis, the cleverly engineered chassis have a small trap door located on the underside of the car secured with one small grub screw. You can simply fit a digital plug C8515 in about 1 minute. Digitally fitted cars can operate on analogue and digital tracks without and compatibility problems. Not all vehicles can be converted to digital such as some drift cars, also four wheel drive cars can be problematic to convert due to the chip having to be placed at the rear of the as the motor in this design is fitted at the front that allows the realistic characteristics of a rally car. You will have to extend the wires to allow them to run down the channel on the side there the four wheel drive band runs from front to back of the vehicle. You will have to use a digital chip either a saloon car chip C7006 or the F1 chip c7005. These chips require some solder work to fit them to any older cars or some of the non DPR digital plug fitted. Mounting slats are generally fitted to the chassis of the non DPR cars and the chip will simply fit between the mounts to hold the chip safely in position.

As mentioned before they produce a rally range, they skid more in the corners than standard cars. This is due to the front mounted motor, most of the power is sent to the front wheels and this helps pull the vehicle around your track allowing the rear tyres to skid.

The drift range act in a similar nature as the rally cars with the rear wheels having very little grip, they can drive in both directions around you track with a clever guide blade set up. They are created this way to test your skill with the controller to try and drift the cars around the corners on you layout.

The last type of Scalextric cars is the standard vehicle, these all have the new easy fit guide blade that simply slide on and off when required. This means no more struggling to fit braids and trying to secure then with fiddly brass lugs. Other features are adjustable Magnatraction this is two slots cut in the chassis and these fit the standard magnet that Scalextric produce to allow preference for you driving style to help lower your lap times.

Not all of Scalextric vast range of cars have front and rear lights fitted as standard you will find that cheaper cars are normally designed for younger racers with a robust design and few parts that can be damaged are ideal for smaller children or for tracks that have points for crashes. Some more expensive cars are made in the robust style these are cars that have extra lights fitted as emergency vehicles or a siren.

Scalextric racer and collector

How to Service the RX Motor in Your Scalextric Car

Introduction
The RX motor was fitted to most Scalextric cars from the 1960s. In order for your Scalextric car's RX motor to give the best possible performance it has to be in the best possible health. Effectively giving the maximum torque for the electrical power available to it. For any electrical motor to give its best 3 key areas need to be considered; the mechanical condition of the motor, the electrical condition of the motor and the magnetic condition of the motor.

Mechanical
Mechanically the RX motor needs to be in the best condition possible to ensure that no energy is lost and the motor can transfer all of the generated torque to the rear axle. To do this several areas need to be reviewed: 

• Firstly check and ensure that all the parts are present and undamaged. All missing or damaged parts must must be replaced.
• Check and ensure the motor armature spins freely with no rubbing or tight spots. This could be caused by missing or damaged bearings or a damaged motor housing.
• Review the motor pinion gear and ensure all the gear teeth are in good condition. Replace the pinion gear if gear teeth damage is found.
• Add a drop of oil to each of the bearing felt pads.
• Ensure the brush spring sleeve is present and in good condition. Replace if necessary.

Electrical
There are many electrical connections and contacts used on the RX motor. Each of these must be in good condition to ensure the best performance of the motor. To do this several areas need to be reviewed:

• Firstly check and ensure that the solder joint between the wire from the pick-up brush and the eyelet that fits over the brush spring sleeve is complete and sound. Replace or remake this joint if any of the wire strands are broken or not making contact.
• Inspect the eyelet for any dirt or metal oxides that may have formed over the years. Clean the brush spring back to clean shiny metal where it contacts the motor brush.
• Inspect the brush spring for any dirt or metal oxides that may have formed over the years. Clean the brush spring back to clean shiny metal where it contacts the motor brush and the screw that secures the magnet.
• Inspect and clean the motor brushes removing any dirt, oil and carbon deposits. Ensure the carbon block is present and securely attached to the brass strip. Clean the motor brushes back to clean shiny metal where they contact the brush spring and eyelet.
• Remove any dirt, oil and carbon deposits from between the commutator segments of the armature.
• Remove any dirt, oil and carbon deposits from the commutator.
• Check the three solder joints that secure the armature windings to the commutator, remake these joints if necessary.

Magnetic
The magnetic field used by the RX motor is provided by a permanent magnet at the rear of the motor. The magnetic field reaches the outside of the armature by the use of steel plates that are also used as the housing for the motor. To ensure the magnetic circuit is maintained the RX motor uses various materials to ensure the magnetic field is not reduced.

• Ensure the magnet is secured by the correct brass screw.
• Ensure both the steel housing plates make good tight contact with the magnet.
• Ensure the aluminum plate adjacent to the magnet is fitted correctly.
• Ensure the brass plate at the commutator end of the motor is fitted correctly.

General
Through experience we have found that some RX motors still do not perform well even with all of these checks completed. This may be caused by a weak magnet or internally damaged armature windings. These faults are outside the scope of this article. There are many other possible faults with the earlier cars with the open frame motors. This is intended as a simple fault finding guide only. If the information above does not resolve the fault then contact us for further information.

Further help and advice relating to this article or Scalextric slot cars in general can be found at:

http://www.scalextric-car.co.uk

Gary Harding has been working with Scalextric cars for over 30 years and now operates Scalextric Car Restorations in the UK. Scalextric Car Restorations is a Worldwide internet based business that offers for sale high quality Scalextric cars and Scalextric parts from the 1960s to the present day. All the restoration work is carried out to the highest standards with the highest quality parts available. Only the best cars are selected and the final result is a car that is genuinely like new. Further help and advice relating to this article or Scalextric cars in general can be found at: http://www.scalextric-car.co.uk

Scalextric - The Slot Car Originators

Slot car racing is a hobby that is timeless, and when you hear the words, one name stands above the rest: Scalextric. Scalextric originated in 1952 from the Scalex brand of Minimodels Ltd., which was powered by a clockwork system. What this meant is that it used a series of gears to mechanically power each car. They basically took the words Scalex and electric, and combined them to form Scalextric. The Scalextric Slot Cars were first introduced in the UK at the annual Harrogate Toy Fair in 1957 by their inventor, Mr B. "Freddie" Francis.

In 1958, the company was sold to Line Bros Ltd., who at the time, operated as "Tri-ang". Rovex was a subsidiary of Tri-ang that specialized in plastic and started converting Scalextric's metal slot cars to plastic because it was easier and cheaper to mold them. The track, which was originally a rubber compound, also became molded plastic at a later date.

Most Scalextric products were 1:32 scale, with the exception being Super124 cars and tracks, that between 1968 and 1970 were manufactured at 1:24 scale. Then, in the late 1990s, the Micro Scalextric line, which is at 1:64 scale, was introduced. Scalextric was looking for a way to make their tracks easier to assemble, and early 2000, they did just that. They gave it the name Scalextric Sport, and it can connected to the classic track using special adaptor pieces. You can also run cars from different manufacturers on Scalextric tracks without and kind of modification. These manufacturers would include such names as Ninco, Fly, Slot.it, SCX, and MRRC.

In 2004, Scalextric really stepped up and introduced Scalextric Sport Digital. This is a track in which up to 6 digital cars can be raced in a single slot. There are slot-lane changing tracks that allow the cars to change from one slot to another. Sport Digital cars will run on the standard non-digital tracks, but the original analog cars require you to install a digital chip to them to run on a digital track.

You can find a Scalextric slot car in just about any model of car you want. However it doesn't just stop at cars. You can get go-karts, motorcycles, skateboards, even horses! Since it originated in the UK, Scalextric has a huge following there, but has also become unbelievably popular in the US. This would have a lot to do with the Indy and Nascar lines, which Scalextric has replicated perfectly.

Since there has been an increase in popularity of Scalextric over the years, you can find lots of sites that give you information on how you can modify any of your vehicles to perform better. It doesn't matter if you're looking for your first slot car track or your 100th, if you choose Scalextric Slot Cars, you've got over 50 years of experience backing you up.

Paul Hundrieser is an internet marketer, electrical contractor, and guitar enthusiast. Some of my passions are my family, my friends, the outdoors, and automobiles.

7 Steps to Improve the Track Performance of Your Classic Scalextric Car

The older Scalextric cars from the 1970s and 1980s are great models but can seem slow and difficult to race by the standards set by modern Scalextric cars. Luckily these classic Scalextric cars can be upgraded to greatly enhance their track performance making them competitive on the track while not removing any of the enjoyment and skill required for the older Scalextric cars.

This article lists seven simple changes to greatly improve your classic Scalextric car. We have based this article on a 1970s Scalextric C.052 Ford Escort RS1600 which was selected as being typical of the Scalextric cars of the period. It was not prepared before the test apart from ensuring the motor operated as expected and the car was complete, electrically and mechanically with no obvious faults. The tyres were not cracked or split to any great degree and still had grip when run on classic Scalextric track. Our overall impression is that this car had been stood unused for a long period of time.

The results are based on a Scalextric Sport track with a test circuit specifically designed for this test. Built from the modern Sport Scalextric track the surface offers little mechanical grip with a smoother surface compared to the original classic Scalextric track. It incorporated tight inner corner hairpin sections, long straights, chicanes, corners that tightened, corners that opened out. Essentially all types of challenges.

Step 1: After conducting a visual inspection we measured the best lap times the car could achieve. The best lap time achieved was 18.72 seconds. Then the car was given an electrical service with new; copper pick up braids, pick up pins and wires from the pick up assembly to the motor. A retest gave a new lap time of 15.22 seconds which is an improvement of around 18%.

Step 2: Then, the car given a full lubrication service with all the motor and axle bearings given a small drop of oil each. Also, the gears were lightly coated with Teflon impregnated grease. A retest of the car gave a new best lap time of 13.77 seconds which is a further improvement of around 9.5%.

Step 3: After the lubrication service, slightly wider axles were fitted and a little weight added to the rear of the chassis. Again the car was tested of the track and this time gave a best lap time of 12.50 seconds which is an improvement of 9.2%.

Step 4: Next a set of high grip replacement SuperSlix tyres were fitted to the rear wheel hubs. A retest gave a new best lap time of 9.99 seconds which is a further 20.1%.

Step 5: With the improvement made so far the next step was to replace the original Johnson motor with a new Mabuchi motor. This more powerful and lighter motor slightly increased the car's lap time, probably due to problems in getting the power down to the track. The best lap time recorded was 10.49 seconds which is a degradation of 0.5%.

Step 6: In order to give the car a chance to use the power available from the Mabuchi motor a Neodymium magnet was added to the chassis of the Escort. The best lap time achieved was 9.12 seconds which was an improvement of 25.5%

Step 7: Our final change was to add MAX Grip tyres as some tyre slip was clearly evident even with the Neodymium magnet present. These replacement SuperSlix tyres are manufactured from a latex material and give outstanding track grip. The best lap achieved a time of 6.44 seconds which was a further improvement of 25.5%.

The overall improvement in lap times make this car competitive on the track while not removing any of the enjoyment and skill required. With these simple changes this car was almost a staggering 3 times faster than when purchased.

A more detailed account of the parts used and the results of each step can be can be found at Scalextric Car Restorations. Gary Harding has been working with Scalextric cars for over 30 years and now operates Scalextric Car Restorations in the UK. Scalextric Car Restorations is a Worldwide internet based business that offers for sale high quality Scalextric cars and Scalextric parts from the 1960s to the present day. All the restoration work is carried out to the highest standards with the highest quality parts available. Only the best cars are selected and the final result is a car that is genuinely like new. Further help and advice relating to this article or Scalextric cars in general can be found at: http://www.scalextric-car.co.uk

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Purchasing a Scalextric Set

When purchasing your first Scalextric set we advise to purchase the largest set for your budget. As this will provide you with the most track for your money. As you can never have enough track

There are two different types of Scalextric available.

1. Scalextric sport the basic standard Scalextric set. The Analogue sets are based on the same principals as the first sets that where made 50 years ago when it all first started

2. Scalextric Digital This type of sets offer up to 6 cars to race on the track at any one time.
Scalextric Sport

This type of track is the most simple and is suitable for all ages especially suited for ages 6-9, Prices start from £30 - £150

In 2004 Scalextric brought out there new set layouts to make their layouts simple and easy to expand.

X-1 this is a small figure of 8 with a 90 degree crossover.

X-2 is an extended figure of 8 with elevated crossover and 2 90 degree racing curves.

X-3 Track is a large figure of 8 with both sides of the loops extended, with elevated crossover and 90 degree curves as per the X-2 track just is slightly larger.

All of these tracks can easily be extended by the track extension packs 1,2,3 and the Ultimate Extension, these packs represent good value for money if you are looking to expand your circuit.

If you have the older type track that was made prior to 2002 you will require the Scalextric Sport converter track(C34). These items come in packs of two and are used to connect old sections of track to the new sports track. You simply put one of the half straight converters at either end of the old track then continue with the new type track.

Scalextric Digital

Is the newest way to race, you can race up to 6 cars on the two lane track, This track has selectable lane changes all operated from your digital hand throttle. We would recommend for ages 9-90. Its great fun for all the family. Starter sets are available from £120 - £300. The top of the range set is the Scalextric pro GT C1242, which is well worth a look at as it is great value for money.

Digital racing is simple to set up, all you need to do is plug in the hand throttle and place the car on the track then hold the button on the powerbase for a few seconds to register that car to the hand throttle. Then repeat this for every car you wish to race on the track.

In 2009 Scalextric are re-releasing their 6 car power base (in the 2nd quarter of the year), early models had some technical issues so they was withdrawn, so be careful if you are purchasing one of the older models.

Scalextric have a basic conversion set that contains all you need except the cars so you can decide what Scalextric carsyou want. or even convert your own cars, you have you may only need the digital Plug to convert your existing car to digital and these only retail for around £9 or choose from our large range of digital cars that are available. The conversion of a standard car to digital is easy if it is digital plug ready and only a screwdriver is required. However most cars can be converted dating back to 1957 by using the conversion chips these come it two types one for saloon cars and one for F1 cars. A soldering iron will be required to fit this correctly. If you are converting to digital make sure you have enough of the correct lane change track pieces so they do not direct the cars to one lane and leave the cars on that one lane of track, so are unable to move to the other lane. The most simple was to resolve this is to use the straight lane change as this is the only piece of track that you can change lane from either side. Scalextric racer and collector

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Scalextric - Then and Now

Scalextric slot cars were initially created in the 1950s by British firm Minimodels. The company had in 1952 introduced a range of clockwork powered race car systems called Scalex, which were then adapted into electric systems and renamed Scalextric, combining the words Scalex and electric.

Initially focusing on 1:32 scale models of Grand Prix racing cars, Scalextric cars became a landmark hit within the burgeoning slot car racing market, so much so that Minimodels was unable to meet the demand for its popular range and was incorporated as a subsidiary of Triang. At this time production of Scalextric vehicles changed from metal to plastic, which was both cheaper and easier to mould.

The first Scalextric tracks were made of a rubber compound and had two parallel grooves running along the course to allow two cars to race against each other at a time. In the 1960s production of the tracks themselves also switched over to moulded plastic, and this style of plastic track with a new attachment system is still in use today.

As slot car racing became more popular during the 1960s, Triang opened additional factories in Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand. One notable occurrence was that the Australian factory produced some vehicles with obvious colour variations from the parent company's guidelines. These included a black Mini Cooper and an apple green Lotus, which was supposed to be British racing green. This is believed to have been done by local factory workers to spite its British parent company. These models are extremely rare and popular with collectors.

Towards the end of the 1960s, Scalextric 1:24 scale models were introduced to meet demand in the US and Europe. Sadly, these cars were not financially successful, and due to high production costs were discontinued in 1970. Another financial disappointment was the 'You Steer' line of Scalextric cars, which allowed racers to steer the car left or right just under an inch along the slots in the racecourse.

By the 1980s, Scalextric's parent company had collapsed and one of its subsidiaries became Hornby Railways, which to this day is the producer of Scalextric vehicles. By this point slot car racing had lost some of its widespread appeal and Scalextric saw some of its biggest competitors, such as like Fleischmann and Märklin, stopping production.

The 1990s saw computer design and 3D printing methods create more authentic and detailed models than those of the initial slot car boom. New replicas of slot cars from the 1960s and 1970s appeared on the market, giving enthusiasts the option of racing modern and classic cars against each other. The Micro Scalextric range was also introduced, using 1:64 range cars racing on dedicated Micro Scalextric tracks.

Towards the end of the decade slot car racing saw something of a resurgence and Scalextric were joined by new kids on the block like Nico and Fly, whose cars can race on Scalextric tracks without modification.

Today Scalextric is as synonymous with slot cars as Hoover is with vacuum cleaners or Tannoy with loudspeaker systems. Scalextric Digital cars have been introduced, with digital control systems that allow up to 6 cars to race in a single slot with more realistic passing. Today's cars are usually based on racing vehicles from F1, A1, NASCAR, Le Mans, touring, rallying and ordinary road cars.

One prominent Scalextric enthusiast is Top Gear presenter James May. In 2005 he attempted to set the land speed record using Scalextric slot cars and a scale measured-mile, inviting 42 of the world's best Scalextric racers to break the then-current record of 458 mph. He himself used an off-the-shelf 1:32 scale Scalextric Ford GT to reach the equivalent speed of 392 mph, which is faster than the real Ford GT's speed of 212 mph. The winning speed was 696.6 mph, which was in 2008 beaten by actor Dallas Campbell, who set the current record of 983.88 mph using a Scalextric Honda F1 model.

The future for Scalextric is looking good, with franchises such as the Scalextric James Bond Quantum of Solace and Scalextric Lewis Hamilton ranges predicted to be big sellers for Christmas 2008, and other franchises such as Micro Scalextric Disney Cars, Need For Speed Scalextric and Micro Scalextric and new Scalextric MINI ranges released in 2009.

Paul Jones is an avid model enthusiast and has been involved with model assembly, design and painting for over 20 years.

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