Slot Car Sets

December 2006

It’s time to get slotted! After years of being pushed down the grid by computer and console games, slot racing is back with a vengeance. The latest sets even offer real-life overtaking!

All the top players now have digital sets which allow lane changing, passing and blocking. They’ve upped their game when it comes to cars, too, with just about every type covered from classics to NASCAR stockers – all produced in stunning detail.

Towing eyes, aerials and liveries are all there, minutely modelled. And they are fast as well, thanks to punchy motors, sticky tyres and magnets which grip the power rails. Slot car racing is nothing like it was five years ago, so now is a great time to get back to carpet racing! But what to buy this Christmas? Here we test the latest systems – and in a separate product test, we review the cars you should not miss out on.

There are four main players when it comes to 1:32 tracks: veteran Scalextric, US firm Carrera, Spanish specialist SCX and compatriot Ninco. Unfortunately, its digital system was too new for our test, but will be in stores this month. Instead, we tried Ninco’s conventional Master Track. Which firm has the right package for your living room? We tested eight sets to find out...

How it works
On a digital set, all the racer has to remember is to press a button when approaching a crossover to change lanes. This flips a guide in the track and directs the car on to the next lane.

Unlike on conventional systems, where the controller is linked to a lane, now they match a specific car – which means it’s possible to have up to eight motors on the track at once. Some systems require specially modified cars, but Ninco provides kits to convert rival vehicles.

There’s plenty of fun to be had with standard sets, too. If you already have one, take a look at the latest cars, which have improved greatly in recent years. Four-wheel drive is common, and there is just about every kind of engine/axle configuration from in-line through to sidewinders.

Check out the magnets, too. These ‘grip’ the power strips, but some cars allow them to be moved to change the handling, or even taken off for the ultimate driver experience. It is a bit like turning the aids off in a console game.

Ultimately, the sets have to be fun. If the cars are slow or undriveable, the track is awkward to assemble or the whole lot falls apart at the slightest nudge, they will be used once and consigned to the attic. So our top choice had to be user-friendly – easy to build, drive and, of course, race. Finally, we looked at cost, using the track’s price per metre as a guide, also taking into account cars and accessories such as barriers.

See a video of the cars in action Here

Verdict

SCX goes to the top of the podium. Its digital system is the costliest here, but it worked brilliantly and the pits element made it a tactical challenge. The Scalextric Digital Triple Rivals set had good playability, hampered only by minor niggles.

For the same reason as its digital partner, the standard SCX takes the chequered flag – great racing fun straight out of the box. Ninco’s Master Track was the most involving, but is tricky to build and you must add cars.

Digital
1 SCX digital System
2 Scalex. Digital Triple Rivals

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