Coffee & a Chat - What is the future of slot car track?

[@simonkeyse8185]

Thank you Dave, It's about time people started talking about track. I have a Scalextric track set up and thinking of upgrading to Policar....

[@fredmoon2487]

Thank you Dave for sharing your knowledge. I’m fairly new to the hobby. Always enjoy your broadcasts.

[@Madd_Dadd]

Very good topic today Dave. I have Carrera track, not set up, and my current layout is policar track. I really love the policar track, but it does have its shortcomings. First thing I experienced when I took down my six lane layout, and built a two lane layout in one afternoon. The track texture is amazing, that’s true, but when you handle this track for hours on end that same texture will destroy your hands, especially because of the really snug fit of the sections. Ouch. Second thing, at the moment there are no fun variation pieces, crossover, hairpins or anything, you just have your straights and curves for the analog system.

[@robertsale6528]

Great video Dave with some very interesting thoughts. Now we just need Scalextric and Carrera to watch it and take some hints for further improvement on their systems 👍👍👍

[@slotjournal]

Excellent chat, Dave. Very thought-provoking and insightful. Less relevant to me, perhaps, as I am an analog dinosaur with a more permanent track; but anyone who cares about the future of the hobby should take note. Nice work! 👍

[@foznoth]

I think having sensors in track sections isn't thinking far enough ahead. I'd think a continuous induction loop, using NFC chips in the cars may be the future. Basically the same technology in tap to pay cards. That way the control unit will know exactly where each car is. My dream idea would be a modernised version of TCR, if people remember that.

[@Clearwater124]

Well thought out and presented. TRACK FANNNNSSSSS!!!!

[@maryginger4877]

Garden Layout - I did one and it was successful, with stainless steel ... Raised flower bed, job done... Size is restricted by eye sight... massive straight, add up and down... it was great.

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

Well that took me to 4 cups! and thanks for this great discussion...anyway adding to your digital talk : on one of the world wide slot car chats that was live on youtube there was a discussion and proof (video urls) that a person has almost perfected the idea using Carrera ghost cars and computer readings on several sections of the track to create very competitive "ghost" cars that learn what traits the human slot car racers are doing. Greg Gaub runs the show and any question he can answer or forward interested parties to that person. The idea of being able to have smart intelligent ghost cars racing competitive is incredible!🏁

[@kool-k-kel]

Food for thought Dave, thx as always. Invaluable opinion as per usual.

[@leesslotcars]

Great question and really well addressed. I use the scalextric track and it doesn’t clip together very well. Seems like most of the manufacturers go for ‘safe’ options rather than being innovative. I did run a few laps on Pete’s Policar track and I was very impressed with that

[@lewismumby2040]

Dave, A great point excellently made. My track is a Scalextric , and has warped because of the recent heat.. possibly because I used PVA to create scenic borders? I’m going to change to a a wooden track as I don’t want to replace poor quality with poor quality. Also surely a better green footprint . Keep up the great work Dave.

[@kevinwooldridge8261]

Thanks Dave 🤠 cheers from Colorado oblast 🇺🇸🇺🇦 take care and be safe!

[@SlotCarWildman]

very interesting view on the track. but will these companies push forward if they just classify themselves on just being a toy company. anyone's guess. but as you said by time they do will it be too late? thank sender and yourself Dave for sharing. great topic!

[@Nelson-slot]

Yes Dave totally agree about the track, and the digital game can have endless options if done right. Been wanting a speed trap on my layout for a while now.

[@turboprop5371]

Jeez Dave, Slot Car track and sets are not affordable now for the average Joe. I scored a couple of discounted sets of Carrera Go for my Grandsons so they could enjoy the thrill of slot car racing. It seems that all the talking heads are playing a game of 1 up-man-ship with track upgrades on KZbin for content... I do enjoy your videos but I think most of us Average Joes will live vicariously through you guys. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming, Cheers

[@pats-slots]

Wow Dave what a great video you always impress me with your thoughts and ideas well done something for all of us to think about

[@kirbs50]

Fascinating video (from a wood-track owner). I wonder if backwards compatibility will stifle progress on track development.

[@McCraeMoto1]

Well Dave you do have an eye for detail. But I am very happy with my carrera track possibly because it’s old teck. It allowed me to build my layout. And It gives the ability to cut and change the angle of corners as well as changing the pit lane. You have made a video of just that. The big problem that needs addressing is the composition of the material in the track. It shrinks and expands. That is my issue. The click clack I can’t hear on my track. My layout is 85% elevated with only the strait on the table. 3d home printed track ? Thanks again for the conversation on track. Cheers from Ken.

[@Carl.SlotCarImagination]

Thanks Dave for picking up on my question 👍 a very good run through of the now, the future and possibilities. It would be good to know if any of the big manufacturers have plans to do anything with their track, I am guessing not, but as you say there are others waiting in the wings, cheers ☕️

[@slotr]

It was a great question, thanks again for asking it :)

[@orestkucyna5546]

Dave, thanks for the discussion topics. I especially enjoyed your Carerra digital portion. The other thing that would help track design would be additional and improved track options such as banked curves, lane expanders, single lane pieces in both straight and curve configurations, and matching borders. All of this would help “customize” your track layout without going crazy modifying and cutting track to suit. Thanks again, enjoyed your chat.

[@trackfanstv]

Nice chat Dave, a sensor per track sounds amazing - sort of like how they envisaged a smart motorway to work? 💯

[@nexpresspro]

This was a great video…thank you for covering this topic so thoroughly. As someone who has 4 different digital track systems, Carrera Digital 124, Scalextric Arc Pro, SCX Digital System, and even a Ninco N Digital system, I’ve got a lot of time and money invested in the hobby. Currently my more permanent track is the Carrera Digital, as I’ve really learned to love the 124 cars, running mag-less. I use the Scalextric track and Arc Pro when I’m going to set up a track on the floor for family races (mostly at holidays). The SCX and Ninco stock all really just stays in storage, and once a year we will get it out and have a couple weekends racing on it. All this said, the track for each system has been fairly disappointing for various reasons. What I’ve been waiting on for 20 years to see is Carrera or Scalextric make a pro-level system…something with better track, better controllers, better lane changing systems and options, more advanced digital options and maybe even more advanced cars. I know there are ways to move to more advanced third party systems like Oxigen, but that takes some extra work and more investment, plus you still end with the current mediocre track systems. If Carrera or Scalextric were to put out a more pro level TOTAL system, I think the serious hobbyists would invest, even if it was a little pricier…I believe I would. My two cents…

[@Doug-MagneticRacing_ThinkScalo]

I'm late to the game with catching up but enjoyed this.Very interesting and got me thinking about our equipment. Maybe its time to jump over to one of the other brands - we test drove Policar and Scaleauto at slotfest and i must admit they were way ahead than the 2 big brands.

[@shotgundaveslotcars]

Great chat Dave. It was a 3 cupper for me. Lots to think about for the future of track.

[@FoxSpeedshop]

It was saturday, i paused and poured another whisky. Not being a slot car racer this was just interesting to me cos its interesting seeing progress. Also your screen voice is better enunciated than real dave lol

[@SlotCar2021]

Policar is a good system, your right. It is probably time for an update.

[@SlotCar2021]

Wow I can now post 😮

[@pistolpete651]

Very insightful Dave. And enjoyable. Your take on digital is interesting. I feel like I'm going full circle from analog to digital back to analog, with the Axel Box, and plan on going with a wood track from Racetrack Scenics.

[@nitromancer6460]

- At this point it’s ridiculous that there is not a common track design from all the different brands. This is what the Model Railroad companies have done for years. - The brilliant 30, 60 & 90 degree design of Carrera track avoids a lot of the issues with getting a layout to connect together precisely.

[@darrenhall6400]

Very good and thought provoking video Dave 🔥

[@slotcarstore]

Great vid Dave!

[@davidpinner4598]

The best thing two things I did to my Carrera track to make it better was number 1 make small holes in between the tracks where they join together and use cable ties to hold the track together and not just rely on the red clips because I have different layers and heights of track, number 2 was to make Daves SlotR analogue/digital box which opened up the amount and variety of cars used, my mate had 20 scalextric cars he had not used in 15 years, not all run great but they run.

[@Area51racewayNC]

Good Video Dave !

[@bernard_wheeler]

Great video Dave - informative, entertaining and brilliantly presented as usual. Firstly, where I'm coming from: I don't have any Carrera track, but I do have Scalextric Classic and Sport (both boxed up and in the garage), SCX Off-Road and Digital (now their 'new normal') and a couple of Ninco rally loops - with adapter pieces between all the various types. I don't use the Scaley track any more because the slot is too shallow. If I buy a car from virtually any other maker, then to run it on Classic or Sport I have to cut a couple of mm off the bottom of the guide for it to run. So I don't. I think Scalextric has for some time lived by the mantra "just about good enough is enough". They never visibly try to excel at anything. It's as if they equate 'excellence' with 'excessive' and 'expensive', despite others showing this doesn't have t be the case. Scaley seem to view their track as an uncomfortable necessity to shift their sets - aimed at higher price points and profit margins than individual cars. So I'm not holding my breath for any kind of innovation from them. Others may take their 'just about good enough' foundation and add useful functionality, but I don't see Hornby doing it for themselves. Witness their lack of adopting any kind of industry standard or norm, or even hobbyist appetite (guide depth and fixing, wheel fitment, tyre size, ease of magnet removal, etc.) and also their lack of re-introducing more interesting track pieces from the past - the Goodwood chicane, the Le Mans start, the skid chicane, the hump-backed bridge, etc. So no, nothing from Scaley. Carrera I think are also solidly (deliberate use of that word) focused on their own universe. Again, there's no attempt at interchange between brands, although their track is a little more friendly towards other makers. So although there's a lot more they *could* do, I'm not holding my breath. I find this introspective and isolationist view disappointing and concerning, because these two major brands seem bent on grabbing a larger portion of a shrinking market at the expense of all others, rather than all working in a more inclusive way to grow the hobby and the market for all in the face of the virtual racing competition. So ultimately I see the future being fired by independent innovators adding spice to pretty uninspired factory produce. If that means a 3rd party creating and selling piece-by-piece sensors, track-aware ghost cars, track map displays and the like, then bring it on. I think there is an appetite for it, but just don't expect it from a big vendor. Until their offering is so far below "just about good enough" that their very existence is under threat. Which may be very soon...

[@slotr]

Yeah I'm with you, they need to react now but they won't until it is far too late

[@SlotCarMisfitsofallscales]

Great video

[@markcornman628]

I joined you with 3 cups! Thanks Dave, now I’ll be up all night thinking about track😂

[@slotr]

buzzzzzzz HAHA

[@davidjcoupland]

Very good points you've put across. I hope the likes of Scalextric watch your videos. I think there's also a market for lap timing in the analogue world. I'm currently stuck with the old scalextric 1 tenth of a second system and a Carrera optical system which eats batteries for fun.

[@slotr]

Scaley have just released their own phone app for timing I think, check slotcar 2021's new from a few videos back

[@paulsharp5405]

Thank you Dave a great conversation starter in my few years of slot car ownership I have had Carrera Go track which is great as is .Now Carrera 1/32 / 1/24 is a great track in the way it is made and as you pointed out does need an upgrade alas for Me it needs to much space to have a decent sized layout living in the UK small sized rooms is the biggest issue hence why i sold all my track no point keeping it if I don't have space to put it up. Now Scalextric size wise is great for small spaces but the track does need to be upgraded to a better standard maybe 1mm added to the guide space to make life easier with other makes of cars lets hope the powers that be take note and make some improvements to there tracks as you said act to slow and your on the back foot

[@davidturgeon2087]

Sounds like you should give Policar a look-see. It would probably fit the bill size and lane spacing wise.

[@SwiftSlots]

The future of track is MDF, always has been 🤣🤣

[@trackfanstv]

🤣🤣🤣

[@strato8230]

My Scalextric sport track doesn’t clicketi-clack, i think the pliable LDPE plastic that it’s made of makes it a bit quieter compared to a hard plastic track. A benefit when racing in the living room.

[@Slickslot]

The best grip and space , SCX track .

[@slotcardude68]

Great chat Dave, great ideas and thoughts there!!!!!

[@thomassanders2600]

Having my coffee about 12 hours after viewing your video. I get your point. I have a Carrera system; with that being said, I’m thinking out loud…Do I want to reinvest in Policar or ScaleAuto? I doubt it when it comes to either manufacturer. At the current time neither are available in adequate quantities (at least to my knowledge) and according to other KZbin voices, ScaleAuto is track only system, a enthusiast has to provide a power source, controllers, etc. In my humble opinion, too much, not enough resources and definitely not worth the money. I painted my Carrera track (indoor latex paint) and the grip is slightly better, additionally, I don’t get the clackity clack on my track either. Thanks for the insight though. Cheers.

[@davidturgeon2087]

I just built a 4 lane Policar layout and had no trouble at all in obtaining all the track, borders, barriers, etc I required. It seems Policar availability in N.A. is much better than in Old Blimey.

[@twolinesslotcars]

ScaleAuto is throwing a wrench into the game.

[@markphillips5368]

As long as people have the old styles of track and don't want to have to spend large amounts of money to replace it with something new, manufacturers of the old-style tracks will continue to manufacture them. The small amount of noise generated by cars on the likes of Carrera is not a great problem to most people. The old adage of "If ain't broke, don't fix it" is appropriate to most people, who are tired of having to upgrade technologies like computers and smart phones to get the latest features. Carrera Evolution track will run scales, from 1/43rd up to 1/24th successfully and possibly HO.

[@jeffcr8864]

Good thoughts about track, but one thing about Carrera track is it is not pure stainless steel as it is magnetic and it is prone to rusting under certain conditions.

[@slotr]

Indeed, the plating can wear off under heavy use and it tarnishes too, also come across a case where someone sanded it... oops! haha

[@sweetybnz7482]

Oh dear. And I just ordered a whole load of shoulders for my carerra track.😂

[@KarynJacobson]

The future of my slotcar track is digtel scroing system.Carrera is the best made track syestem on the market. 🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

[@SpareRoomSlotCars]

Good video Dave, So my question to you is Where's your layout?, what track are you going with?

[@slotr]

It's not as drastic as you think

[@jetjacko]

A big thanks for looking at tracks. I am currently a Ninco user, both road and raid. But now looking for the solid constant flow and consistency of a wooden road layout... without the wood. Policar and Scaleauto are definitely the new candidates. The Scaleauto track set up at the Festival didn't seem to have the quality of the Policar. Do we know if the Scaleauto was normal production or prototype pieces? Also, Dave's Scaleauto track on Slot Car News does make the clunking sound through the joints on curves, I guess they're all the same. Biggest problem is I can't find Scaleauto track in the UK, I wanted to buy a few pieces to check it out. If all the pieces aren't available by year end, it's an easy Policar choice. Oh yeh... great shows 😁

[@slotr]

I believe the track on display was the production stuff and they had both clipped it and added all the extra orange connectors underneath it all too. I think if/when I upgrade it will be to scaleauto as I like the BRM 1/24 cars, I also rather like the texture. I've given up trying to buy anything track related non Scalextric in the UK, all my Carrera track came from Slot Car Union and I'm sure in time that's where my scaleauto track will come from.

[@jetjacko]

Dave, many thanks for a full reply. I'm going to blame you now... I will get a few Scaleauto track pieces and locks from SlotCarUnion and will let you know what I think. And yes, I do also have a bit of a soft spot for it's non-black colour. So far I've managed to keep myself away from 1/24, I already spend far too much on the 1/32 masterpieces. Your videos are on my must-watch list. See you, Rob

[@slotr]

@@jetjacko I don't know if they're doing them yet, but I'm with you when they do

[@slotr]

@@jetjacko also: Denys at Slot Car Union sends Haribo :)

[@Clearwater124]

Dave....I would like to add a couple of ScaleAuto different radii curves to my Carrera just to give it a try. I certainly would not think of replacing my Carrera. If I was going to do that, I would rout a track I believe.

[@slotr]

I'd gladly replace my carrera with scaleauto if I had the money right now

[@McCraeMoto1]

I actually watched the show and just received the notification for this show 20 hours after the show ?

[@slotr]

I gave up on the notifications, now I mostly watch youtube on desktop and click the blue new content dots in the left menu

[@SLOTCARHUB]

Good video very interesting

[@MrDarrenp40]

Some intelligent philosophical thinking with this Dave. What will happen to Scalextric and Carrera track? Locally we have blue flip lid recycle wheelie bins for this but I am stepping a little ahead of myself. Personally, I will stick to Carrera for a while but the newer brands are tempting. I otherwise believe that scratch building wooden routed track will become more popular with enthusiasts and this leaving plastic snaps for more ad hoc and 'pop up' use and with entry level wnthusiasts. Moisture resistant mdf boarding and quality routing power tools were not around when these main brand tracks were first devised. Here today then retail home improvement sheds aplenty. Otherwise, the digital side will no doubt move over to Oxygen style systems albeit how cross over tracks may be achieved without some Maurizio Ferrari to lead the charge would prove beyond my own personal available time investment in undertaking for the time being. I otherwise think designing Laguna Seca style corkscrew and such similar 'feature' sections from scratch in this way is a great way forward for those, such as yourself with strong practical skillsets. Of course, textured polymer paints answer to your graded surface choice ideas. What will Hornby and Revell/Carrera do? As commercial businesses and with lots of employees and business leverage (i.e. debt) and overheads then what can they do? Carrera produces a document sheet as compendious as an old London phone book and this just to detail one new car. In short, it is not looking likely that the commercial investment risks when set against the potential rewards in terms of profit will catalyse either company to start afresh? It would be a huge and an otherwise bureaucratic undertaking in today's world. So yes, the future for manufactured track is either Policar or Scaleauto and for theose who know then rightly so.

[@slotr]

In the UK the Aldi middle aisle risk is very real, Policar are producing sets for the home, and cars for those sets that are half the price and twice the quality as the set box cars Scaley make. Policar are going after them, Scaley need to step things up again, although I fear the "Ashley effect" usually works in the other direction.

[@djpatrickgc]

Rubber or aluminum track pieces?

[@3roomsraceway612]

Some of the Carrera track really dodged the quality control department…gaps in some boarders are bad

[@GPS52]

I say route out your own track Dave , you of all people can do it

[@slotr]

I have a longer term plan to rout something that can sit under Mundon Park, it doesn't take long to remove Mundon Park so that will happen one day. But I am interested in taking slot cars out of my shed and putting them in front of other people as well in the future and a decent clipping system track is just the job.

[@hankfay3230]

Very interesting, but the mystery remains …. Now that you’ve torn down your track, what’s next?

[@slotr]

I think you (and several others) have mis-guessed the reason I tore it down - tee hee... all will be explained soon, possibly next week