[CMOTD]

Cases of children swallowing magnets have increased five-fold in five years, doctors say. They have recommended a 'strong public health campaign' amid a significant rise in the number of children needing hospital treatment.
If the elf and safety brigade start campaigning for a ban on magnets in toys then Scalextric could be in trouble!  

[rallyhub]

That would be good news!
A whole new generation of slot racers would emerge that could keep a magnetless slot car on the track.
Scalextric would finally deliver tires with more grip. 

Hub

[Nonfractal]

... a ban on magnets in toys then Scalextric could be in trouble!  

Yeah, 
They'd have to recruit staff that could design slot cars and get a factory that could build them properly
Alan

[KensRedZed]

I think the magnet ban will likely be on toys under a certain age bracket. By age ten, kids are hopefully over that phase of their life.

Slot cars are not meant for little children that can still swallow small things. Besides, it's tough to swallow a whole slot car. 

But I'm all in favour of making cars better so they don't need magnets to stay on the track. 

[I.Pace]

Hornby might end up making slot-cars where the traction magnet cannot be removed!   Eek !!

[dvd3500]

The  fact that you have to take the body off using a small screwdrivers should mean they are more than safe enough...

I found it hilarious in 2003 when lighters added little buttons to make them "child safe" in the US when the same kid could get a gun....
 It least he wasn't burned...

[Bazzer]

... a ban on magnets in toys then Scalextric could be in trouble!  

Yeah, 
They'd have to recruit staff that could design slot cars and get a factory that could build them properly
Alan

I do not quite understand the dislike of magnets, don't you think this is similar to aero downforce on full size racing cars.

I have Scalextric Formula Juniors, no magnets, feather weight cars and slide around all over the track and are great fun. I also have cars like the Scalextric Porsche 911 GT3 and GT40s both clearly relying on magnets to a great extent but also great fun and seem pretty fast as well.

Magnets seem part of the package to get a nice handling slot car, but they are only part of the story as far as I can see.

[Nonfractal]

I do not quite understand the dislike of magnets, don't you think this is similar to aero downforce on full size racing cars.

Magnets seem part of the package to get a nice handling slot car, but they are only part of the story as far as I can see.

Baz,
My dislike of magnets is because their usage in a car completely overwhelms any other design and tuning that could be done, Hiding bad design, cheap manufacture and poor setup. Everything else comes a long way down the list once you add magnets. I really dislike cars that cannot be made to work magless. 

Mags are not like aero because the downforce is constant , not related to speed. 
I've been hit by cars while marshaling at some clubs. 
The magnet cars are lethal because cornering speeds are so high. 
It's very hard to "read" how close you are to the edge on a mag car. 
When they let go, they really let go. 

Alan

[Bazzer]

Alan

Good points that you raise.

I have done some slot racing on permanent tracks, mostly at the old Netley track near Southampton.

A car deslotted and got in the wrong slot one night and went up the hill at full speed (very fast, I think it was an Open 16) normally you would lift approaching the hill but this car literally flew and hit the plasterboard wall behind the drivers, so I know what you are talking about.

Clearly different view points that make an interesting discussion.

Baz

[Gordon Steadman]

Tried magnets once. Hated it. Never again