As with model rockets, a lot has improved in slot cars since the last time around: high-energy ceramic motor magnets, silicone rear tires, independent front wheel rotation, light-weight polymer traction magnets, separate power supplies for four racing lanes, banked turns, and, of all things, brakes…
(I wrote this up as a WIRED Geek Dad article.)
Your shot here inspired me to look for my old slot car I raced long ago. It’s good to know slots have kept up with technology. Check out my Childhood Fun set for some old technology slots.
Is this at a toy store? That’s a lot of cars! Do they now have different capabilities too? All that happened back in the day was some happened to be slower than others, but it wasn’t a huge difference.
Edit: Oh, forgot to say that I love the picture too. Fun appearance of a real race, even though we all know that, for now at least, such a slot car race would be a fenderbender fest only. Maybe one day we’ll figure out how to do a slot car race with real steering instead of the slots.
Paul: brakes can help you barrel into a turn at higher speeds….
Rocketeer: looks like you rolled your own. Were the traction magnets the speed limiters?
Ben: heh, heh, heh… I commandeered a room at home… Big boys with toys. 4 parallel lanes with various turn radii is a kick. Yes, they are on display for this photo. Having two cars in one slot is not a typical configuration, but they sometimes end up that way after going airborne a bit….
And yes, the cars have very different performance levels. The Super G2 from BSRT (“Top Dog” in this photo) can go so fast that it’s hard to see, but it can also fly off the track with dramatic effect in a tight turn. From HO Speed Tips:
A stronger traction magnet can help with cornering, but will lower the top speed (it’s like having more friction to work against). With a standard AFX power supply (even hotwired as I have done to avoid sharing power supplies across lanes), the Wizzards’ magnets are so strong that they never leave the track, at full throttle in the tightest turns (red and blue Lexan bodies above). So that’s OK for the kids to learn with, but not so challenging. But… with an aftermarket power supply and a custom-built single piece track, they can be “in balance” again. I have a friend with a track like this. It is custom designed to fit a specific space in his house, and the entire 4-lane race track loop is one huge solid piece. I have no idea how they installed it. As with any hobby appealing to big boys, the cost can go exponential.
It also has a built in digital timer for each lane, to compound the competitive pressure. The dynamics of guys practicing solo racing vs. four-person competitions follows the Sapolsky rule for baboons:
“When baboons hunt together they’d love to get as much meat as possible, but they’re not very good at it. The baboon is a much more successful hunter when he hunts by himself than when he hunts in a group because they screw up every time they’re in a group. Say three of them are running as fast as possible after a gazelle, and they’re gaining on it, and they’re deadly. But something goes on in one of their minds—I’m anthropomorphizing here—and he says to himself, "What am I doing here? I have no idea whatsoever, but I’m running as fast as possible, and this guy is running as fast as possible right behind me… I’d better just stop and slash him in the face before he gets me." The baboon suddenly stops and turns around, and they go rolling over each other like Keystone cops and the gazelle is long gone because the baboons just became disinhibited. They get crazed around each other at every juncture.” (http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/sapolsky03/sapolsky_index.html)
I jokingly call the timed slot car races "baboon races" as over-eager cars fly off the track in the very first turn…
No traction magnets on mine… very basic. What you have there is way beyond what I had going.
Haha, very cool. I do agree with the baboon race aspect! I remember getting the over confident driving under control after a few tries, but yea, totally a competition anxiety sport. *laugh* Brings back memories of competing on my friend’s set. Oh the finger cramps. And the animal and sibling interfeerence!
A popular spot for kids birthday parties near me: http://www.flatoutfun.com/
Most of the fun without having to own/maintain your own track.
Hi, I used this photo here: photographicdictionary.com/r/raced – thanks for sharing it!
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