Any good Slot car makers out there today?

CorCentral

Banned
Feb 11, 2001
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The big one used to be AFX and then Tyco. I believe Tyco was bought out by Mattel, hence the name Hot Wheels now.


Hot Wheels--- Is it Still the same as Tyco was? (cars/track?)
What about--- Life Like, AFX, Carrera.


Which is the best now?




 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I had slot cars before everything went to HO size. Bigger was cooler. I loved my full sized Lionel train set when they were quite heavy and used steel.
 

BlackTigers

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2006
4,491
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Originally posted by: CorCentral
Oh, what's a slot car?.......... Forgot to add that for the Noobs that grew up without a set :laugh:

Life Like Nascar set

I have that!

I remember going to the hobby shop and buying all the little cars. There was one, "Patriot 3" that just kicked the shit out of everything I had.
 

CorCentral

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Feb 11, 2001
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Originally posted by: compuwiz1
I had slot cars before everything went to HO size. Bigger was cooler. I loved my full sized Lionel train set when they were quite heavy and used steel.

I know how you feel.


This looks half decent for the price..... SET

Just found out Life Like was bought out by Walthers Inc.

 

compman25

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2006
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I have around 150' of Artin 1/32 track, used to have it all set up in my old house. Lots of fun.
 

CorCentral

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Feb 11, 2001
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Looking more into this, I noticed the sets today run on batteries? What happened to the Power Supply?
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
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Originally posted by: compuwiz1
I had slot cars before everything went to HO size. Bigger was cooler. I loved my full sized Lionel train set when they were quite heavy and used steel.

I have a set that my Dad originally bought in the 1960's. Good stuff!

Also have some of the older AFX sets from when I was a kid, but man that set my Dad had kicks their ass all over the place.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
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This is when a real old fart comes in and talks about the "real" slot cars of yore. Back in the early 60s slot cars were all the rage. You bought a car and a controller and took them to a race car club house to race them. You paid the guy by the 1/2 hour and raced your car on one of several tracks. Each track was maybe 30' X 15' and would have tons turns and rises. I bet my dad still has mine, somewhere.

small one

another


I was even in one club house that had a drag strip that was probably 75'.
 

CorCentral

Banned
Feb 11, 2001
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Just bought THIS set off Ebay. I also bought an older Tyco power supply that's compatible. Batteries were a BAD idea!! Why in the hell?

 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: Squisher
This is when a real old fart comes in and talks about the "real" slot cars of yore. Back in the early 60s slot cars were all the rage. You bought a car and a controller and took them to a race car club house to race them. You paid the guy by the 1/2 hour and raced your car on one of several tracks. Each track was maybe 30' X 15' and would have tons turns and rises. I bet my dad still has mine, somewhere.

small one

another


I was even in one club house that had a drag strip that was probably 75'.

Now that is friggen awesome. I remember reading about those when I was a kid, but never got the opportunity to use them.

I have always dreamed of building a non-slotted electric racecar set that allowed cars to change lanes whenever they wanted. Now, thinking about it, I believe something like that was manufactured and sold back in the late 70s early 80s.
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
17,112
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Originally posted by: CPA
Originally posted by: Squisher
This is when a real old fart comes in and talks about the "real" slot cars of yore. Back in the early 60s slot cars were all the rage. You bought a car and a controller and took them to a race car club house to race them. You paid the guy by the 1/2 hour and raced your car on one of several tracks. Each track was maybe 30' X 15' and would have tons turns and rises. I bet my dad still has mine, somewhere.

small one

another


I was even in one club house that had a drag strip that was probably 75'.

Now that is friggen awesome. I remember reading about those when I was a kid, but never got the opportunity to use them.

I have always dreamed of building a non-slotted electric racecar set that allowed cars to change lanes whenever they wanted. Now, thinking about it, I believe something like that was manufactured and sold back in the late 70s early 80s.

TCR - Total Control Racing
 

compman25

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2006
3,767
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Originally posted by: Squisher
This is when a real old fart comes in and talks about the "real" slot cars of yore. Back in the early 60s slot cars were all the rage. You bought a car and a controller and took them to a race car club house to race them. You paid the guy by the 1/2 hour and raced your car on one of several tracks. Each track was maybe 30' X 15' and would have tons turns and rises. I bet my dad still has mine, somewhere.

small one

another


I was even in one club house that had a drag strip that was probably 75'.

They still have those, both the drag strips and wood tracks. Along with my 150' of 1/32 track I have a bunch of brass chassis 1/24 cars. Here's a good site for slot car info.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,154
58
91
Originally posted by: shinerburke
Originally posted by: CPA
Originally posted by: Squisher
This is when a real old fart comes in and talks about the "real" slot cars of yore. Back in the early 60s slot cars were all the rage. You bought a car and a controller and took them to a race car club house to race them. You paid the guy by the 1/2 hour and raced your car on one of several tracks. Each track was maybe 30' X 15' and would have tons turns and rises. I bet my dad still has mine, somewhere.

small one

another


I was even in one club house that had a drag strip that was probably 75'.

Now that is friggen awesome. I remember reading about those when I was a kid, but never got the opportunity to use them.

I have always dreamed of building a non-slotted electric racecar set that allowed cars to change lanes whenever they wanted. Now, thinking about it, I believe something like that was manufactured and sold back in the late 70s early 80s.

TCR - Total Control Racing

Ah, my brother had one of those. They were worthless....didn't work anywhere near as good as the commercials showed.
 

Old Hippie

Diamond Member
Oct 8, 2005
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They were worthless....didn't work anywhere near as good as the commercials showed.

I had one too. Pretty bad.

There was another style where the cars rode on a pivot that was connected to a "T" slot in the track. IIRC the front wheels actually steered via a hand held steering wheel.

The steering didn't do a helluva lot because the cars were still in a slot, but it looked cool.

 

CorCentral

Banned
Feb 11, 2001
6,415
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Originally posted by: foghorn67
I miss my Cliffhangers. They were even glow in the dark Corvette ZR-1's.


I had one of those sets :)

Right now, I'm looking for an extra car for my wife. just posted a thread in the FS/Trade forum. Looking for a Lowe's LifeLike slot car to complete the gift.