[autoavia]

Having worked in a model shop that sold Scalextric I would say that most of the problems with any good quality slot car set are usually down to the customer not understanding that everything needs a little tlc occassionally.

 When a customer came in complaining that the set didn't work properly the most common faults were :-

 Mangled braids where the cars had been pulled backwards.

 Bits of thread and carpet fluff tangled in the rear wheels and gears

 Axles which had come unclipped where someone had pushed down too hard on the car or walked on it.

 Controllers which had burnt out because a child had run a car at constant speed for a long time and overheated the windings inside the controller. 

 Most of the problems were easily resolved with a bit of time and common sense but unfortunately in modern times people just don't have the basic skills to maintain anything so if a slot car set breaks down it either gets thrown away or put in the attic. A real shame people get put off slot racing for life for want of a little knowledge and time.