Slot Cars and Slot Car Tracks

Slot cars are powered miniature auto guided by grooves or slots in the slot car tracks on which they run. Model motorcycles, trucks and other vehicles using the guide-slot system are also generally included under the loose classification of "slot-car".

Slot Cars

Modern slot-cars are categorized in the time span 1970 to date.

All cars coming from pre-1970 era are put in the category of vintage slot-cars.

In 1/24 slot-cars 1 unit of length of the model equals 24 units of the actual size of the car. So, if a real car is 180 inches in length, its 1/24 model would be 7.5 inches long.

1/24 Slot Cars

Such a big sized model requires a lot of space on its running track to operate, hence it is not fit for home settings and is used in clubs and parks only.

In 1/32 slot-cars 1 unit of length of the model equals 32 units of the actual size of the car. So, if a real car is 160 inches in length, its 1/32 model would be 5.0 inches long.

1/32 Slot Cars

1/32 is a mid sized model which stands between 1/24 on the higher side and 1/43 on the lower. It is fit for home-sized race courses as well as it is widely raced on commercial tracks in hobby parks and clubs.

1/43 slot-cars are a new addition to the slot car market and have started gaining acceptance for two reasons. One, they are more affordable and the other, they require much less space to run and hence can be used in any home setting anywhere.

1/43 Slot Cars

In 1/43 sized cars 1 unit of length of the model equals 43 units of the actual size of the car. So, if a real car is 215 inches in length, its 1/43 model would be 5.0 inches long.

HO slot-cars vary in scale. The size varies between 1/87 and 1/64; so if an actual car is 160 inches long, its HO 1/64 model is going to measure 2.5 inches in length.

Ho Slot Cars

They are the most suited toy cars for the more junior one who want to have fun at home rather than in a club setting, although HO races on commercial level are also being organized now.

Slot Car Tracks

Modern slot-car tracks fall into two main categories: Plastic tracks and Routed tracks. Plastic Tracks are made from the molded plastic commercial track sections whereas Routed Tracks have the entire racecourse made from one or a few pieces of sheet material.

Carrera Slot Cars

Carrera slot-cars are manufactured in Germany. The range that this company covers includes 1/43, 1/32, and 1/24 slot cars, slot car tracks, and digital control systems.

We shall be dealing with each one of them in our next posts to come.