30 replies to this topic

[idare2bdul]

It could have been RC Cars or RC Airplanes both hobbies of mine or even archery or photography. I have tried to figure out what it is about slot cars that has held my interest for so many years. I used to think that I preferred slots to RC cars because G27 and G7 cars accelerated so much faster than RC cars but now I race far slower cars.

Ideas from fellow addicts?

[Rotorranch]

It's cheaper than my 1:1 race cars?

 

And I'm slower now. 

 

Rotor

[Jairus]

I have a lot of interests.
Art
Writing
Music (Ahhhhlistening)
Politics
History
Surfing
Swimming
Building model cars and of course slot cars.

Classic cars too are an interest to me as I drive daily a 61 year old Station wagon.

But why do I like Slot cars?
Because of all of they above. 
Life is all about moderation and enjoying what God has provided to us.

[Tim Wilkins]

.............because I'm too old to play baseball, football and basketball anymore.  Even hooking up the boat to go fishing became difficult.  Ultimately, I grew up on competition and it's something I can still do.  At least for now.

[Half Fast]

.... all of the above plus competing with something I built myself with simple tools and the camaraderie of my fellow addicts and speed crazed lunatics.

 

Cheers

[Pappy]

Because I'm reliving my childhood. I've even gone back to 1/32 scale slot cars like I began with.

[Pablo]

Slot cars only require manipulation of one trigger. That's all I can handle for something that goes so fast.

[Fitzy]

Slot cars aren't just a hobby Slot Cars are Life!

[Roy Lievanos]

I don't think it's just the slot cars, it's a combo including the people you meet. Good and bad. Lots of characters. Even being in touch with racers and track owners through out the country via this blog. We all talk the same. Once you get your first podium your hooked.
I am attending services this Saturday for the track owner that got me started some 50 years ago.
Santa Ana Raceway's John Hale RIP.

[Courtney S]

For me its just fun I started in commercial racing in collage 1985 And it was great but today I have a carrera track in the basement And the 1/32 cars are great fun to drive and work on. Now I get to race with my kids and the neighbor kids and I dont have to leave the house. Last year for Christmas I got my 7 y/o a green Lamborghini ...... he cried it was just what he wanted.
So if you want get me a gift I need a 4 lane wood track ( hint hint Pappy/Santa) . No matter what kind of day I can go turn a few laps and it all melts away. FUN

[Kim Lander]

I started my slot addiction when I was 10 yrs....it was an HO set from Marx...when I was 12 a local track opened with four tracks, they were American tracks...a Red ..an Orange...a yellow... and I believe a black. Man I was in HOG HEAVEN.....just some thing about slot cars you cant shake...the people also are a huge part of the hobby, I cannot even begin to recognize all the friends I have made in slots. I just dont get any better . 

[Dave Crevie]

For me, too, it is reliving my teen years. I can't afford to race real cars anymore. So I do this.

[Ramcatlarry]

SLOT racing model cars makes more affordable FUN than the other racing 'technologies' to me:

 

Tether cars - get it started and watch it go.  Boring like Tamiya trough racing and hot wheels.

Rail racing - rail gets in the way of a good drift. Could still be fun with the controller and timing technology we use today.

RC cars - too complicated and expensive.  I have never gotten used to steering them  AND speed controlling at the same time.  Not a fan if OFF road racing.

Boat racing - Even though we have a lot of neighborhood ponds, it is illegal to use them for anything but ducks and geese.

Airplane racing - Park district closed down our U-control field in the 1950s to expand the golf course.  Free flight and RC flying fields are hard to find and use.  One area I know uses it for dog training 6 days a week.  Watch your step.

 

BUILDING anything can give personal satisfaction. RACING what you build adds the adrenaline factor to that.

I have done them all.

[PCH Parts Express]

The adrenaline. The folks. The race. 

[havlicek]

Well...slots has a lot going for it.  You can be competitive and race.  You can just be social and "run".  You can be creative and build.  I mean, if slot cars came with pizza and beer, they'd pretty much have it all!    No...really!

[NY Nick]

Going to a raceway is like being a kid again.

Being in a Candy Store.

[Roy Lievanos]

Also to me it's like the song from Cheers.

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
The troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name
You want to go where people know
The people are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name

[Pappy]

I can't sing either, Roy.   

[gatormark]

I hunt, run beagles, fish salt and fresh and am vrry active with our Church. Got back into slots because my daughter liked it when shecwas 10. Now shes into volleyball and tennis so Im flying solo. Still like flexi, got rid of the wings. Have a few buddies who still run and the track is 10 mi from home.

[MattD]

It is just fun to race for fun with other guys having fun.   Not serious competition, just guys playing around.

 

A sense of accomplishment when you have built a car that runs nice and looks nice , restored a vintage car, or learned to create some bits or pieces from skills you learn to further your hobby.

 

Friendships with other guys that like playing with toy cars!

 

Not so much on this forum, but there are lots of guys who enjoy building a track of some sort and adding scenery like  model railroader to create a special race track of their design or recreation some famous track.    The challenge of building a track and doing the electrical part.   

 

Many reasons guys enjoy slot cars..   I like it all except SERIOUS racing.

[NSwanberg]

Retro - conceive, design, build, test, tune, race, repair, repeat. It has all been fun. It seems to me more young people ought to be interested in slot cars. I think they are missing much.

[Tim Neja]

If it moves--- I WILL RACE IT!!!   I've raced anything and everything--I enjoy them all!! But, as I age out and physical conditioning becomes a factor, slot racing still gives me the ability to race with fun people who love cars!! I still have R/C cars and WILL race them on occasion, but it takes a LOT more energy physically than slot cars, so I have to take more time to prepare for it.  Same with R/C planes! I love to race them as well, but it takes a LOT more energy, so, slot racing wins out with my spare time.  And reality is, it's the people in ALL the different endeavors that make it FUN!! So I'll slot race till I"m in the grave!  In two years when I finally retire, I'm hoping to take more time to race around the country!! It's ALL FUN!!

[mickey thumbs]

   When I drifted back into slots last year, I was disappointed to see that most of the 1/32 guys were running highly tuned RTR cars. And the plastic track sets were expensive! So instead of building cars, I decided to chase a childhood dream build a routed wood track. No real router experience and my scenery skills were still those of a 12 year old. But I had a blast over the next several months and the results turned out better than I expected.

I have since discovered that scratch building is alive and well. I have begun cutting and soldering brass again. Still at the 12 year-old level but thanks to you guys and the crew at HRW my builds are improving. Bill from NH conned me into posting pics of build #2    . #3 is a whole lot better but no more pics for a while. I’ve spent many very happy hours in my slot cave building and racing my 1/32 scale cars. I marvel at the quality of modern RTR cars and the  gorgeous scale bodies available. Again, many thanks to all of you .

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[Dave Buchholz]

Slot cars.... Why not.

I enjoy the rush of concentration during the race.

The comradery, new friends, shared interest, improving or learning new skill.

Most importantly, getting away from my wife for a few hours.

[Pappy]

I think the thing that keeps me slot car racing is kicking someone’s rear, completely humiliating them in front of their friends and family and sending them home crying to their momma or wife. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s like that really good round of golf that makes you eager to get back on the course again next week. It's the most exhilarating feeling you could imagine.