7 ways to improve the track performance of your classic Scalextric car

Lap times improved from 18.72 seconds to 6.44 seconds. Read on to find out how we did it…..

Abstract
Frequently the older Scalextric cars can seem slow and difficult to race by the standards set by modern Scalextric cars.  This article shows that in seven simple steps a typical Scalextric car from the 1970s can be updated to give track times nearly 3 times faster compared to the car when found.  This was all accomplished with some basic servicing and with some readily available replacement parts.

Introduction
The older Scalextric cars from the 1970s and 1980s are great models but can seem slow and difficult to race by the standards set by modern Scalextric cars.  Luckily these classic Scalextric cars can be upgraded to greatly enhance their track performance making them competitive on the track while not removing any of the enjoyment and skill required for the older Scalextric cars.
This article lists seven simple changes to greatly improve your classic Scalextric car.  We have based this article on a 1970s Scalextric C.052 Ford Escort RS1600 which was selected as being typical of the Scalextric cars of the period.  It was not prepared before the test apart from ensuring the motor operated as expected and the car was complete, electrically and mechanically with no obvious faults.  The tyres were not cracked or split to any great degree and still had grip when run on classic Scalextric track.  Our overall impression is that this car had been stood unused for a long period of time.



The seven steps
The results are based on a Scalextric Sport track with a test circuit specifically designed for this test.  Built from the modern Sport Scalextric track the surface offers little mechanical grip with a smoother surface compared to the original classic Scalextric track. It incorporated tight inner corner hairpin sections, long straights, chicanes, corners that tightened, corners that opened out. Essentially all types of challenges.

Step 1:  After conducting a visual inspection we measured the best lap times the car could achieve.  The best lap time achieved was 18.72 seconds.  Then the car was given an electrical service with new; copper pick up braids, pick up pins and wires from the pick up assembly to the motor.  A retest gave a new lap time of 15.22 seconds which is an improvement of around 18%.

Step 2:  Then, the car given a full lubrication service with all the motor and axle bearings given a small drop of oil each.  Also, the gears were lightly coated with Teflon impregnated grease.  A retest of the car gave a new best lap time of 13.77 seconds which is a further improvement of around 9.5%.

Step 3:  After the lubrication service slightly wider axles were fitted and a little weight added to the rear of the chassis.  Again the car was tested of the track and this time gave a best lap time of 12.50 seconds which is an improvement of 9.2%.

Step 4:  Next a set of high grip replacement SuperSlix tyres were fitted to the rear wheel hubs.  A retest gave a new best lap time of 9.99 seconds which is a further 20.1%.

Step 5:  With the improvement made so far the next step was to replace the original Johnson motor with a new Mabuchi motor.  This more powerful and lighter motor slightly increased the car’s lap time probably due to problems in getting the power down to the track.  The best lap time recorded was 10.49 seconds which is a degradation of 0.5%.

Step 6:  In order to give the car a chance to use the power available from the Mabuchi motor a Neodymium magnet was added to the chassis of the Escort.  The best lap time achieved was 9.12 seconds which was an improvement of 25.5%

Step 7:  Our final change was to add MAX Grip tyres as some tyre slip was clearly evident even with the Neodymium magnet present.  These replacement SuperSlix tyres are manufactured from a latex material and give outstanding track grip.  The best lap achieved a time of 6.44 seconds which was a further improvement of 25.5%

Conclusion
The overall improvement in lap times make this car competitive on the track while not removing any of the enjoyment and skill required.  With these simple changes this car was almost a staggering 3 times faster than when purchased.

A more detailed account of the parts used and the results of each step can be can be found at Scalextric Car Restorations.

About the author:
Gary Harding has been working with Scalextric cars for over 30 years and now operates Scalextric Car Restorations in the UK.  Scalextric Car Restorations is a Worldwide internet based business that offers for sale high quality Scalextric cars and Scalextric parts from the 1960s to the present day. All the restoration work is carried out to the highest standards with the highest quality parts available. Only the best cars are selected and the final result is a car that is genuinely like new.

Further help and advice relating to this article or Scalextric cars in general can be found at:
http://www.scalextric-car.co.uk

Can new Scalextric cars run on the old Scalextric track?

On the whole, yes, a new Scalextric car can run on the old classic Scalextric track.  The dimensions of all the interfaces are the same.  However, there are some exceptions.  The modern cars have fixed front axles which mean they like relatively flat track otherwise a front wheel will lift the guide up causing the pick up braids to come away from the track rails and the car can stop or hesitate.



Classic Scalextric track features to avoid are the traditional banked corners and the hump back bridge as some new cars belly out on that.  There may also be a problem negotiating the rock used in the classic chicane track.

The other way around, can the classic Scalextric cars be used on the modern Scalextric Sport track?  This now does depend on the cars and in particular the guide used.  Some of the older Scalextric cars fitted with a pin guide can have problems with the cross over pieces and junctions on Digital track.

Modern Scalextric Sport track offers less mechanical grip compared to the classic Scalextric track and so grip can be a problem.  This can be overcome by using Max Grip tyres or adding a Neodymium magnet fitted between the motor and rear axle.

Another great insight from Scalextric Car Restorations

Library of Scalextric cars 1960 to 2015

Identifying your old Scalextric car is essential if you want to find the right replacement parts.  This on-line library of Scalextric cars covers all the cars made from 1960 to 2015 and contains the details of 1677 distinct Scalextric cars.



You can search the library by entering text into a search window and the matched cars are listed in the search results.  You can simply browse the library too by incrementing through the C number reference of the cars.

Each car is presented with a picture, C number, description, special features e.g. headlights, and the years for which is was produced.

This is the most powerful library of Scalextric cars produced.  So, next time you need to identify your Scalextric car, go to the on-line Scalextric car library.

Another great tool produced by Scalextric Car Restorations.

Scalextric – evolution, revolution or death

Scalextric are clearly going through a difficult time at the moment, even our local Hobbycraft store has just sold off it’s Scalextric stock but has retained it’s Hornby railway stock.  Going back to the early years Scalextric was always an expensive, aspirational toy, everything was expensive in relative terms.

Today there is a lot of competition for the slot cars market with manufactures like, Artin, Ninco, SCX and Autoart to name just a few.  The market has become squeezed too with so many other things for people to do; the internet, computer gaming etc.

So how do Scalextric fight back, well, we have a new Scalextric Sport track system and we have the Scalextric digital system.  There’s also no doubt that Scalextric are not the best at electronic innovation and the digital chips are no exception.  There’s a high failure rate, we measure at about 5% to 10% which is crazy for modern electronics.  Scalextric should sort it out or ditch that part of the market.

Our solution for Scalextric?  Go back to the basics, simple cars with OK detail and basic track systems.  Get rid of these blacked out windows and let’s have some interiors back, basic one or two piece mouldings is OK, just like the old Scalextric cars.  Ditch the Scalextric Start system and simplify the main product line up.  Scalextric must waste a fortune and time on innovations like Scalextric Start – why bother?

Finally, sort out the project management, as all these late deliveries from China are causing chaos in the market place especially for the Christmas market.  I support you Scalextric, but you must do your part too.

Another great insight from Scalextric Car Restorations