Modifications for Faster Slot Car Racing
How Hobbyists Modify Equipment for Speed, Performance, and Fun
Sep 10, 2009
For such simple machines, slot cars have a lot of variables. A slot car enthusiast can alter a car’s weight, motor, gear ratios, magnets, electrical contacts, tire size, and tire grip. Each individual component affects a cars’ performance and speed.
Modifications to Slot Car Magnets
Magnets hold slot cars to the track by an attraction to the steel conductor rails. There’s no definite agreement among slot car racers as to which magnets are best: strong, weak, or none at all.
Slot cars without magnets can slide around corners, which many enthusiasts agree is a great deal of fun. Cars with strong magnets cannot slide around corners, but tend to be faster overall because they don’t have to slow down as much for curves. Neodymium magnets which are incredibly strong and lightweight, take this approach to an extreme level. Weak magnets allow some sliding but help keep the car on track.
Modifications to Slot Car Tires and Wheels
Slot car owners can do two things with tires. First, replacing wheels with some that are larger and wider will increase a top speed. Switching wheels in this way may also require replacing the axle. Second, replacing foam rubber tires with silicone rubber tires will provide more grip. Moving parts need to be lubricated, but this should be done conservatively!
Modifications to Slot Car Electrical Contacts
Slot car racers take a car’s amount of electrical contact area into consideration. Braids and brushes offer a larger contact area than a shoe, but will need to be replaced more often.
Gold brushes, braids, and shoes conduct electricity better than copper. BSRT offers a gold electrical system kit including gold-plated shoes, springs, motor end bell, and pick up shoe holders.
Modifications to Slot Car Motors
Not all motors are created equal. The more loops of insulated wire a motor has, the stronger the motor magnet, the faster and stronger the motor is. Some motors--like BSRT Hot Motors—excel in these areas.
Slot Car Controller Modifications
The controllers that come standard with a slot car set are basically a variable resistor—much like a volume knob on the stereo. Less resistance means more power is permitted to the track.
Racers can modify controllers by rewiring them with transistors, which are basically power amplifiers, through the use of diodes, or through more complicated electronics. Hobbyists can either experiment with electrical engineering or pick up an aftermarket controller from Parma.
These high-end controllers allow racers to use a technique called motor-braking to approach curves faster than non-brakers. Slot cars with modified controllers leave the competitors in the dust as they power out of curves with ease.
Tools for Modifying or Repairing Slot Cars
Slot car enthusiasts who enjoy modifying their cars range from dabblers to near professionals. For the dabblers, a few basic tools including Jewelers’ screwdrivers, hobby pliers, and a small set of tweezers are enough to get started.
Some enthusiasts quickly grow into more complex jobs. These will find a volt-ohm meter, a set of Exacto knives, miniature drill bits, a Dremel set, and a hobby vise handy.
For the serious racer who designs and builds his own cars, more professional tools are essential. A milling machine helps a designer create a custom chassis, and an engine lathe allows him to fashion perfectly balanced armatures and wheels.
Hobbyists can also check out related articles covering slot car repair, digital slot car racing, and slot car brands and scales.
For decades, slot car modification has been a hobby confined to scaled cars and tracks. But, according to the LA Times, the future of transportation may well involve life-size slot cars powered by nationwide electric rails. Could today’s toy tinkerers be tomorrow’s highly qualified mechanics?
BNC101
Some information in this article from HO Slot Car Racing.
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