# Dopers: suggestions on slot car race tracks **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136 "2005-05-23T18:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/1 "2005-05-23T18:58:52Z")
I am in the preliminary round of looking for a slot car race track for our son’s Big xmas present. I don’t know what a good brand is or what the general costs are. [John cooper challenge](http://www.modelflight.com.au/rc_model_cars/scalextric_john_cooper_challenge.htm) looks really cool and fun. We had been given a basic set ( about$30)years ago and that thing was a pistol to put and keep the tracks together. All suggestions are appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/2 "2005-05-23T22:07:23Z")
I have nothing constructive to add here, but I wanted to share this. While on vacation last week, I was in the resort’s gift shop. In keeping with my “still ain’t grown up” style, I was poking around in the toy area, and came across a slot car set. Judging by the picture on the box, it was the dinkiest little track ever created by man. An absolutely _tiny_ oval that was just about as close to being a circle as you can get. Any kid would be bored with this thing in well under a minute. Now, I’m guessing that it is being marketed exclusively in the U.S., as it seems that they hope folks here will think it to be a much larger track. You see, the box had a huge-type, bolded starburst box proclaiming that it contained… **137 CM OF TRACK!!** Oooooooooooo… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/3 "2005-05-24T01:45:40Z")
OK-here’s my somewhat dated information on slot-car tracks and such. Three basic sizes, 1/24, 1/32, and 1/87 AKA HO. Depending on how far you want to go, all three scales have cars that can be modified for speed, torque, low drag-you can spend lots of time (as I did before discovering girls) putting roller bearing axles, extra sticky tires, and high-conductivity pickups on cars. You’ll have to research who is big in the genre nowadays regarding track, if you’d like to build a really rockin’ layout. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/4 "2005-05-24T11:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > You’ll have to research who is big in the genre nowadays regarding track, if you’d like to build a really rockin’ layout. Rockin’ Layout…huh…that’s costs me money! (I feel like Mr. Krabbs, some days.) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/5 "2005-05-24T11:46:46Z")
Wait until he complains that you didn’t buy him GT4 instead. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-suggestions-on-slot-car-race-tracks/305136/6 "2005-05-24T14:40:13Z")
I have a pretty neat Scalextrix set I’m looking to get rid of (no space to set it up). It’s 1/32; Scalextrix seems to be the big brand in 1/32 slots. All told I prefer 1/24, but to run those you need to find a dedicated slot car track and drive over there when you want to race. I spent a number of Fridays for a year or two at a [track in Ashland](http://www.modelvillehobby.com/main.htm), MA. Forgive my rambling.