| Slot car racing is a hobby that is timeless, and | | | | also run cars from different manufacturers on |
| when you hear the words, one name stands | | | | Scalextric tracks without and kind of modification. |
| above the rest: Scalextric. Scalextric originated in | | | | These manufacturers would include such names |
| 1952 from the Scalex brand of Minimodels Ltd., | | | | as Ninco, Fly, Slot.it, SCX, and MRRC. |
| which was powered by a clockwork system. | | | | In 2004, Scalextric really stepped up and |
| What this meant is that it used a series of gears | | | | introduced Scalextric Sport Digital. This is a track |
| to mechanically power each car. They basically | | | | in which up to 6 digital cars can be raced in a |
| took the words Scalex and electric, and combined | | | | single slot. There are slot-lane changing tracks that |
| them to form Scalextric. The Scalextric Slot Cars | | | | allow the cars to change from one slot to |
| were first introduced in the UK at the annual | | | | another. Sport Digital cars will run on the standard |
| Harrogate Toy Fair in 1957 by their inventor, Mr | | | | non-digital tracks, but the original analog cars |
| B. "Freddie" Francis. | | | | require you to install a digital chip to them to run |
| In 1958, the company was sold to Line Bros Ltd., | | | | on a digital track. |
| who at the time, operated as "Tri-ang". Rovex | | | | You can find a Scalextric slot car in just about |
| was a subsidiary of Tri-ang that specialized in | | | | any model of car you want. However it doesn't |
| plastic and started converting Scalextric's metal | | | | just stop at cars. You can get go-karts, |
| slot cars to plastic because it was easier and | | | | motorcycles, skateboards, even horses! Since it |
| cheaper to mold them. The track, which was | | | | originated in the UK, Scalextric has a huge |
| originally a rubber compound, also became molded | | | | following there, but has also become unbelievably |
| plastic at a later date. | | | | popular in the US. This would have a lot to do |
| Most Scalextric products were 1:32 scale, with the | | | | with the Indy and Nascar lines, which Scalextric |
| exception being Super124 cars and tracks, that | | | | has replicated perfectly. |
| between 1968 and 1970 were manufactured at | | | | Since there has been an increase in popularity of |
| 1:24 scale. Then, in the late 1990s, the Micro | | | | Scalextric over the years, you can find lots of |
| Scalextric line, which is at 1:64 scale, was | | | | sites that give you information on how you can |
| introduced. Scalextric was looking for a way to | | | | modify any of your vehicles to perform better. It |
| make their tracks easier to assemble, and early | | | | doesn't matter if you're looking for your first slot |
| 2000, they did just that. They gave it the name | | | | car track or your 100th, if you choose Scalextric |
| Scalextric Sport, and it can connected to the | | | | Slot Cars, you've got over 50 years of |
| classic track using special adaptor pieces. You can | | | | experience backing you up. |