[Gary Brantley]

I want to buy a new slot car track and cars for my grandchildren and myself to play on.   The oldest are both 6 year-old boys, with a couple younger sisters coming up too.   The boys both love cars and anything "fast", and I did get out my old (1977) Aurora A/FX track over the weekend.   We had plenty issues getting it going and never were completely successful but they had a lot of fun when it did work,  and I could see that that joy would only increase as they get older, playing with a reliable new set. 

The HO cars of the Aurora set are very similarly sized as the Hotwheels cars they love to play with, but I'm thinking a larger scale (1/32?) might better for them.   The cars do need to be a bit rugged as they learn some finesse, and the size of the track layout is an issue too of course.  I haven't thought enough yet about where and how to store the track layout.  I see references to analog and digital racing and I'm not sure of the difference; I could use a little help with that too. ;)

I'm sure this topic comes up around here from time to time.   Can you guys offer some suggestions for a slot car set that will serve our needs well?  Any help will be much appreciated!  Thanks, Gary

[CMOTD]

Hi Gary and welcome. A good place to start is with our Slot Racers Manual. LINK

Have a browse through it and then ask if you need further advice.

[Nonfractal]

Gary,
There are many 1/32 sets available from many manufacturers.
Would you please let us all know which country you are in ?
The best options can be quite  country specific.
I'm sure there will be lots of help for you on this subject.
Do you have an idea of your budget? 


Alan W

[Gary Brantley]

Hi Gary and welcome. A good place to start is with our Slot Racers Manual. LINK

Have a browse through it and then ask if you need further advice.

Thank you sir, I will do just that!

Gary,
There are many 1/32 sets available from many manufacturers.
Would you please let us all know which country you are in ?
The best options can be quite  country specific.
I'm sure there will be lots of help for you on this subject.
Do you have an idea of your budget? 


Alan W

Alan, I live in central Texas, in the USA.   As far as budget goes, I'm willing to spend a few hundred bucks on a good set for those kids.   Thanks for the reply!

[woodcote]

Hi Gary. Exciting plans

• Scale - 1/24, 1/32, 1/43 or HO? It all depends how much space you have and what you prefer - for yourself as well as the grandchildren.
  
• Analogue or Digital? How many of you do you want to be racing at the same time? Analogue is traditional traditional one-car-per lane racing - the controller controls the lane. Digital is multicar racing - up to six cars can race on two lanes, the controller controlling the car's speed and lane-changing. Digital is more complex and more expensive.
  
• Retro or modern gameplay? Do you want traditional slot car racing - like we did it in the 60s & 70s - or also have modern electronic gadgets and gameplay, like fuel consumption, tyre wear, pit stops etc...
  

Carrera is widely available in the US - their main product is a track system that is designed for 1/24 scale cars, but also perfect for 1/32. It comes packages as traditional one-car-per lane (analogue) 1/32 scale Carrera Evolution, multiple cars on two lanes (digital) as Carrera Digital132 and Carrera Digital124. The cars are robust. Carrera also produce a 1/43 scale Carrera Go!!! system that is aimed more at younger racers and is better suited for smaller spaces. It offers an excellent range of track, very-robust cars and accessories - including some neat electronic gadgets, some linked to app on a phone or tablet.

Scalextric have a good-value 1/32 scale range - both standard analogue and their ARC Pro digital. You fit more track into the same space than Carrera. There is also a premium analogue ARC Air system that offers many of the gameplay features of ARC Pro, but is one-car-per-lane. Although Scalextric have some beautifully detailed cars, they also have a range of robust 'Super Resistant' models ideal for beginners. Scalextric's system for younger racers is the HO Micro Scalextric. At 6 years old, your grandchildren have probably already outgrown this. All the Scalextric sets have the option to limit power (and speed) using a switch on the controller or settings in the ARC app - this is very useful for beginner racers.

Racemasters / Tomy AFX still produce the best HO sets and - in my opinion - is the only HO system worth looking at. The modern set cars are quick and have traction magnets, so are well suited to younger racers. All sets (I think) come with the Tri-power pack, which has beginner, intermediate and advanced power settings. Racemasters produce some very nice HO cars, but almost all other HO cars - past and present - will work on the AFX track.

I hope that helps!

[Gary Brantley]

Yes, it helps immensely woodcote!   Thank you so much for taking time to help.   I am only about 50 years out of the loop and need a lot of help catching up; I do appreciate it.   In two years, I'll have a 5 and 6 year old granddaughter and two 8 year old grandsons.    I can just see that lot racing each other at the same time, so the 4 lane idea is attractive for sure.  They can start now, as each is able, and sort of grow with the set for a few years.  I've been looking at the AFX - Super International (MG+) set and it seems to be well reviewed with some neat features. There are features of the digital tracks that sound very interesting too.   I'm not too sure about the sportsmanship of my four untamed grandkids when it came to stacking up and blocking, lol.

Size is definitely a consideration as well; still not sure how we'll handle that issue here.   I might have to get really creative with that one.
I've got a lot to consider and a lot to learn, and I'm sure I'll be back with a list of questions before I decide, so please bear with me!  Thanks again for all the help thus far!  

[KensRedZed]

Hello Gary,

Speaking of creative AFX tracks.

Now you see it.

   

Now you don't.

   

A 2x4 was securely attached to the wall. Then 4-hinges were added to a 3-foot by 7-foot plywood board. The track is screwed down to the plywood. Two hinged supports fold down by gravity. The wiring runs under the track to each end. With children of any age, cars are likely to fly off the track. The design of the track is somewhat self marshalling by each racer.

   

You might be able to come up with a similar idea for your set. Another idea is hanging it from the ceiling, and hoisting it up when not in use.

I look forward to seeing whatever you come up with. 

[Gary Brantley]

That is very cool!   I like that idea a lot, especially the use of the retaining barriers along the sides.   Great idea that!   

Regarding suspending it from the ceiling; when I was about 6 I guess, my parents gave me a Lionel train set for Christmas.  It was put together by a long-time electric train guy in our hometown.   I remember going over to his workshop, out behind his house one night so my Dad could make the deal.  Mr. Johnson had maybe four or five trains running simultaneously on a huge layout, with the controls right in the middle.  He crawled under to reach it I recall.  He had many complete Lionel trains sitting on shelves and he assembled one for my gift.  It was pulled by a '49 model steam loco I believe and has a big old transformer with a big lever.  It was attached to cork-like rail beds and screwed to a sheet of plywood that he had covered in white glue, then sawdust and then green paint.   We kept it under my bed when not in use.     I still have all of it I believe; the roadbed may not be in great shape now though.  ;)

Years later, I removed the RR track and set up my Strombecker 1/32 set on that base, with an extension added.   My Dad and I suspended it from two pulleys attached to the rafters in the garage, pulling it up tight against the open ceiling joists, and then lowering it onto sawhorses to race.  The biggest problem with that setup was the Texas summer heat.

[woodcote]

Gary - yes the Super International is a brilliant way to re-start with HO...

   

It allows 4-lane action straight out of the box and plenty of development potential. There are several third-party lap-timing options (Trackmate, ViaSue, Race Coordinator etc) as you grow into 'serious' racing tournaments, plus controller upgrades (DS, OS3, Parma, DiFalco etc) when you want something better than the set controllers. This set has been the basis for so many HO slot car racing hobby-ists, racing groups and clubs over the past 20-30 years.

There were days when you'd have to do some work on the cars (silicone rear tyres, shoe tweaks etc), but the Mega-G+ set cars are pretty good. They either work or they don't. And if they don't AFX will replace them - their customer service is excellent. If you decide on HO - then the Super International is the perfect choice.

However, I reckon it's still worth looking at those bigger options too...