What is "Model Car" or "Slot Car" Racing All About?
INTRODUCTION TO SLOT CARS
You are about to enter a hobby that has captured the fancy and imagination of millions of people.
Need For Speed Model Car Raceway is a wonderful family oriented environment. The hobby has been around since the early sixties, but the technology has changed significantly through the years. Model Car or Slot Car Racing is affordable for everyone and is fun for any age group. Many of the adults you see racing today, began racing years ago and most are always willing to teach new comers about the hobby.
Other tracks that offer RC Racing typically offer far more expensive cars and parts and the cost to start is expensive. Here at Need For Speed Model Car Raceway , we offer the advice, and the assortment to make slot car racing fun and more affordable. We offer wide range of racing classes from the beginner to the extreme, and everything in between.
Even our least expensive cars have good handling characteristics and can approach very respectable "scale speeds". You don't have to own an expensive slot car to enjoy the thrill of racing. You do not even need to buy a slot car to enjoy racing as we also provide rental cars that you may try.
HOW SLOT CARS WORK
Slot cars are powered by a small electric motor, which runs on about 12 volts. This is completely safe, and there is no danger of getting a shock from this low voltage. The hand controller regulates the speed of your car. The further you squeeze the trigger, the faster the car goes. When you release the trigger, the controller activates the car's brakes. The slot in the track guides the car eliminating the need to steer the car. The power to the track is controlled by a timer, which will turn off automatically at the end of the time, which you purchased.
While operation of a slot car is easy for younger children, adults enjoy the thrill of finding the highest speed at which their car will remain on the different portions of the track without coming off the track. Slot car racing provides excellent "hand-eye" coordination training for younger children. There is also the element of exercise, when you consider having to get up and walk to where a car came out of the slot to put it back on. We can decrease the power to your lane for young children learning to race, to make learning that much easier. Our different tracks allow you to choose how challenging you prefer your racing to be. Our objective is always to make sure you are having fun.
CONTROLLERS
The controllers hook up to the drivers panel by hooking the Red, Black and White Clips on the controller wires to the corresponding posts at the he track. The controller you need depends upon the car you drive. Our team will be happy to help you with your choice of controller, or you may just rent one of ours.
CLASSES AND SIZES OF SLOT CARS
We offer cars in the two standard sizes. The smaller car is 1/32 scale. This smaller car is the least expensive. The larger slot car is 1/24-scale. The most common of these larger cars are also known as "Flexi-cars". The "Flexi-car" Can take a variety of different motors and the flexi-car frame tends to allow the car to negotiate turns at higher speeds, and really can push the thrill of speed. Another class of 1/24 scale cars that are popular are "Hard body FCR" cars. These are very affordable and durable slot cars that use hard plastic "model" bodies which are really fun to drive...but do not handle quite as well as the Flexi-Cars, as they slide and fall off easier...but you will laugh at all the crashes.
We also offer the much faster types of cars that much more exotic in materials, construction, maintenance and cost. These cars typically have much faster motors and are capable of faster "acceleration" coming out of the turns and down the straight-aways. All told there are over 25 different classes of racing to answer your "Need For Speed"
MAINTENANCE OF SLOT CARS
Maintenance of a slot car is minimal. We provide all replacement parts for the cars we sell, as well as a large assortment of different bodies to fit your car. We even have "clear" bodies, which you can paint in the design of your choice.
The two copper braids at the front of the car are the most important part of the car. This is how the car receives the electric from the track, as well as activation of the brakes. These copper braids must be clean, and must lie flat and straight with a slight curve down at the ends. Whenever a slot car is pulled backwards on the track, or whenever car performance becomes erratic, it is time to inspect the braids. Whenever your car doesn't stay on the track as well as it used to, you will probably find the braids lifting the guide flag partly up out of the slot. The deeper the guide flag is in the slot, the better the car stays on the track. We would be happy to show you how to position your copper braids to obtain the best performance from your car.
While we do sell a wide variety of tires for your car, usually tires need only be cleaned, rather than replaced. Applying a small amount of tire cleaner to the tires, and wiping it off with a rag will restore your tires to better than new condition. Cleaning new tires will actually make them grip the track better. Tires need only be replaced when the frame of your car begins to touch the track surface. We sell a test-board to allow you to determine this clearance.
This board will also allow you to see if the frame of your car has become bent as a result of a crash. We also offer a large choice of gears for your car. This allows you to obtain the combination of power and speed to suit your style of driving. We would be happy to discuss the gearing possibilities before you buy any different gears. Your gear mesh may be affected in a crash. You should check that there is the slightest space between the teeth of the two gears, all the way around the gears. Gears with no space will make the car run slower, while too much space will wear-out the gears quickly. Your rear tires should be adjusted so that your wheels do not bind against the axle bushings. The axle should be able to move sideways by the slightest amount. This will allow the car to reach the fastest speed. Your car should be oiled after 15 to 20 minutes of actual running. Too much oil is as bad as not enough. We would be happy to show you how to oil your car, as well as adjust your gears and axle. Accidents happen in all forms of racing. In the event of a serious crash we will show you how to restore the condition of your car. Some parts of your car are soldered together. While we do sell an excellent soldering iron, we will be happy to do any soldering required to fix your car. It is not unusual to see children with only a few years of experience, taking a slot car motor apart to rebuild it rather than replace the complete motor. We will be happy to show you how to do any necessary repairs upon your car. Don't be afraid to ask for our help.
ORGANIZED RACING
Need For Speed Model Car Raceway offers several forms of organized racing. Please check our schedule page regularly as it is updated frequently. You can also sign up for our periodic emails which announces special races and activities going on.
We have races for inexperienced drivers on Friday evenings starting at 7:30 pm. Children as young as five years old are welcome to race together. The races are set up according experience and always a lot of fun for all. While these races are primarily for those newer to slot car racing, other times during the week experienced racers may also compete together. You are never too young or too old to enjoy slot car racing.
We are here to make your slot car racing as enjoyable as possible. We will not tolerate any objectionable behavior, so your entire family will be comfortable watching you race. Be sure to ask about our Party rooms available for Birthday parties and other events. We look forward to seeing you enjoy this hobby for many many years, and always welcome any suggestions that you may have.
SLOT CAR COURTESY
What does Slot Car Courtesy mean? It means that certain behaviors are not acceptable to all attendees at the track. Language not suitable to a family oriented environment will get you removed from the premises. Poor sportsmanship will also get you removed from a race or the track proper. Drinking alcohol on premises, not to mention drug use will immediately get you removed.
Never put your hands in someone else's slot car box, or handle someone's cars or tools without their permission. Many get upset not because they are hiding something illegal, but because it does not belong to you. Our racers will be glad to show you anything or help you out with questions if you have the courtesy to ask first. Borrowing tools can be a good way to become unpopular. Many racers have a sizable amount of cash tied up in equipment. Replacing tools takes money out of their mostly limited racing budget. If you do borrow with permission, please promptly return said tools.
Learn how to race with respect for those on the track with you. If you are a new driver, find out quickly the courtesy of learning how, where, and when to pass another car. If you always cause other drivers to crash, you can expect the same treatment from them. If you are careful and allow faster drivers to safely pass you without crashing, then those other drivers will show you the same respect. Keep a look out ahead of your car and slow down if there is a crash ahead of your car. Running into other cars will cost you laps in a race as well as extra money for parts. You don't win races or get any laps while your car is on the floor.
Model Car/Slot Car Racing is the alternative to the pricey hobbies, video games or TV