Porsche slot cars anyone?

[Doug E]

The recent thread about 1:32 slot cars got me thinking that it would be neat to see our fellow board members Porsche slot car set-ups/lay-outs.

Obviously the understanding is that these are our kids toys (wink wink) and we only play with them when our kids are with us

This first one is of my (oops, I mean our) track layout. The outer track is for the 1:32 cars while the inner track is for the AFX cars (and if anyone is curious in the back corner is the HO train track).

[Doug E]

Here's a shot of our 1:32 Porsche only collection:

[Doug E]

And here is a shot of our AFX collection with an emphasis on Porsche:

[Moses]

Here is a picture of a nasty accident I was involved in whilst racing my Mercedes. It is still painfull to view the carnage.

[Wayne 962]

Too cool. Do you guys mostly race the slot cars, or how about those cars where you can change lanes? I remember them from when I was a kid. Do they still make those? If I remember correctly, they didn't work too well, but were a lot more fun than simple slots...

-Wayne

[Fishcop]

After a long absence from these toys, I've just got back in to them and purchased about 30' of track from SCX (1:32). My wife is has already spat it over the room I'm taking up. So I've decided to set up a permanent track on a very large piece of Craftwood (still working on the logistics). I too would love to see other peoples set ups and ideas for setting up semi permanent track that I can lean up against the garage wall or some other space saving ideas. So far I've only bought a Fly 356 spider, but want to look at a 917 soon. Please post pics and ideas!

[cegerer]

I remember hearing about a piece of software that spits out a parts list to design nearly every well-known racetrack in the world, or you can design a custom track. It gave all the part numbers for the various pieces of track needed. It might have been at www.sportcraftcars.com ?? -- Curt

[atlporsche]

I've got 4 lanes, 37 feet. my brother is a software engineer finishing his last semetster in Erie, PA (he needs a job if anyone's got one) and for his senior project he did a 2-8 lane timing and scoring system.

I'll post a pic later.

My porsche's include the JEVER dk green with red and white stripe GT-1

908-3...probalby my fastest car

Joest porsche (white)

I collect mostly LeMans runners. I was there in 2000 with Cadillac as the damper engineer.

sjd

[gregk1]

I bought a track out of a storage unit for $250, It is called a uphill figure 8, And is 1/24 scale, That is 82 running feet on the center lane With 8 lanes total. The foot print of the track is 38' long and 10' wide over all. It is all run by computer with lap timer to the hundredth of a second and round robin race format, The Quickest car I have has a best time of 1.88 seconds!! Will run 2.0 all day long and this is on 82feet with turns, Friday night racing and cold beer With about 5or6 buddys (PRICELESS) I have some good pictures but Know way to post them Oh and I can still fit two Porsche's in my shop with all of that

[Rot 911]

You guys really got my interest renewed about slot cars. I've got a whole basement to play in and want to get started again. Doug, where would be a good place for me to go online to buy 1:32 track, cars and assorted slot car items?

[jyl]

Great subject. About 3 years ago I had a pretty big 1/32 track set-up, 15' straight and some nice decreasing-radius hairpins leading into increasing-radius sweepers. Took up much of the living room floor - so it couldn't last. The cars and pieces are all boxed up in a big carton.

In '98 I went to Madrid and visited several slot car shops and a slot car track. Spain is sort of the current home of slot cars, IMO, with lots of cars made there. There are all kinds of great Spanish slot car brands that we don't see in the US. There is, or was, also an interesting sub-culture of "rally" slot car racing, with deliberately bumpy tracks and cars with AWD and working suspension. I saw intricate chassis with independent swingarms and belt drive for each wheel.

I just moved to a larger place and had thought of setting up a fold-away track in the basement (even with the additional space, I can't take over a room just for slot cars). Was thinking of building a folding (hinged) base from 4' x 8' boards, with a track routed into the surface, sized to accomodate 1/24 and 1/32.

[clnilsen]

Can someone post some websites with info on this with brands, scales, etc?

It looks fun, but what little I'm familar with is the Tyco stuff from the 70's when I was a kid. Haven't looked at it in over 20+ years.

Thanks!

Chuck

[911driver]

collection??!!

good websites can be found in google, ehobbies has a good one, and there were one or two good ones in another 1:32 slot thread on this forum.

There seem to be a few major brands of track: scalectrix, few others, carrera (who appears to be the maker of the excellent factory offering -- pelicanparts has 1 or 2 left in stock).

The great thing about Carrera is that the track can handle 1:24 cars as well as 1:32. However, Carrera track is stiff and breakable if you have small kids.

'77 911 3.0l

[widebody911]

What do breasts and slot-cars have in common?

They were originally intended for kids, but it's the dads (and dad's friends!) that play with them...

[724doorE]

Doug,

I think you talked me into trying a fly or two. Better be two, I'm sure they will walk all over my old Cox and Revell cars. I have been buying old tycopro stuff from my youth as well lately. The old brass pan flipper brush cars are great fun and a challenge to keep on the track!

My problem is the 24X12 lionel layout in the basement that leaves little room for slot cars. Too many hobbies.. to little money...and time. But then again, any of the three allow me relaxation time and that is what it is all about.

[Fishcop]

Here is a great website for slotcars, it's Australian, but has good links to some US based shops. There are a lot of photos of cars from all the main manufacturers.... some have unbelievable detail.

http://www.armchairracer.com.au

[Doug E]

Hey guys - nice to know there are some other grown up kids on the board

Wayne - you are thinking of TCR [Total Control Racing] which allowed the cars to switch lanes. Somehow I remember it being much neater as a kid b/c the set I currently have pretty much sucks. The concept it very apealing but the cars are difficult to control and aren't interchangeable with the regular AFX or Tyco chasis or bodies.

My AFX collection started 25+ years ago as a kid and most of what I have today has been in my possession for that long. I just got into the larger cars about a year ago and now we barely use the smaller AFX cars. The detail on any of the 1:32 cars are AWESOME but I have found that the FLY's seem to run the best.

Some of my 1:32's were purchased on e-bay but a large majority of them came from a small hobby store I found after searching the net. If you use yahoo or google do a search on 1:32 slotcars and you will find more then enough sites to make your head spin. If you are serious about buying something I'd recommend you try "The Hobby Store" (937/436-6161 or www.hobbyshoponline.com) which is who I used. Ask for Jim or Randy and they should be able to help you out.

Here are some additional pictures to show the detail and wet your appetite:

[Doug E]

Here are some more 917s:

[Doug E]

Here are a few more 917's:

[Doug E]

Now for some 908's: