Slot Car Racing, the Resurgence!
The resurgence of slot car racing in a nutshell is fueled by the timeless thrill of America’s love of racing cars, horses, dogs, each-other, et Cedra, et Cedra. The sound of tiny cars abuzz as they conquer the slots, the excitement of a well-planed passing maneuver, and the joy of witnessing a finely tuned car perform perfectly on the track are experiences beyond reach elsewhere for a young Slot Car Racing enthusiast. Whether it’s the nostalgic return to childhood or the discovery of a new passion, slot car racing offers a unique blend of excitement, creativity, and comradery to the activity of pure “Fun”!
The resurgence lies in a powerful blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology; specifically, manufacturers have developed digital slot car systems that allow multiple cars to race on the same lane, make pit stops for “fuel refills”, and new age wireless controllers that bring the race a bit closer to a-real-life-experience.
As the hobby continues to evolve, slot car racing is sure to prove that what was once old can be revived. With the aid of digitized cars and tracks, renewed interest, and a diverse community of racers, this classic pastime is well on its way to reclaiming its status as the most beloved hobby for RC Devices—even though the “radio” aspect is not always directly present in the way it is with traditional RC cars and flying machines.
Overview
Historically, Slot Car Racing has been among the most affordable of all RC Hobby‘s and it continues to be suitable for people of all ages and skill levels.
Trouble is, when the new and improved Digital Slot Racing sets are considered, prices have escalated by three-fold or more when compared to Analog Sets! This is especially troubling for entry-level sets offered by many of today’s brands.
Wondering if a conversion kit is the smart fix?
Converting an analog slot car set to digital is not necessarily difficult, especially if you have a newer analog set that is “digital ready” which means you can simply add a Digital Chip to the cars and make a few upgrades to the track. However, it does require some technical knowledge and soldering skills to install the necessary components to the cars, depending on the specific system and car model. As for older analog cars (prior to 2004), expect extensive modifications to convert them to digital. Sounds simple enough, huh? Except that those Digital Chips for the cars and the upgrades to the Track is very likely to cost a few dollars more than a new Digital Slot Racing Set!
In-any-event, Digital Slot Racing Systems are still in their infancy and current manufacturers insist it is very unlikely Analog Slot Racing systems will be phased out anytime in the near future. And too, as with all new electronic equipment, given sufficient time, prices are sure to drop!
Most Slot Racing enthusiasts note that Digital Slot Racing’s most noteworthy advantage is the ability to run up to 2, 3, or 4 cars at once on a single slot-lane or track, while an Analogue system will only support 1 car per slot-lane.
Finding
Guess these little-known facts explain why Digital Slot Car Sets are sooo very difficult to find in comparison to “digital ready” Analog Slot Car Sets which cost hundreds of dollars less.
Can You Imagine That
Need a free lift back over to the Hobby Department?