If you want a fast Slot Car.. you have to pay the price?

[@darrellrogers8213]

If we dont share our knowledge then the new guys who finishes at the bottom every week will get disgusted and quit coming to race and the hobby slowly dies out. But when we are willing to share our ideas and techniques and they get better and keep coming back over and over and they share what they learn as well and we are all better for it.

[@twolinesslotcars]

I just think about how competitive it is at Cincy Slots from top to bottom. Because of how everyone shares knowledge and wants people to do well. It is fantastic racing!

[@darrellrogers8213]

@@twolinesslotcars Its all greed on my part, the less they wreck the less i have to stop, lol. Truth is i want everyone competitive so we all have fun.

[@bradsanders6954]

@@twolinesslotcars Hours and hours driving the cars, is what really helps. Every de-slot kills a race effort....gotta be right on that edge. Smooth.

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

Thanks for describing to us what it takes to be real "pros" in this hobby! Fortunately we here will never consider ourselves lucky enough to be in the position to be pros in the hobby. We prefer keeping slotcars stock as much as possible and testing the slotcars and drivers to set the races to be as even as possible. Thankfully we like this part of the hobby also and hopefully new people will understand that this hobby can be looked at a lot of different ways🏁

[@twolinesslotcars]

Absolutely! I will never be a “pro” either, but it will be fun to go to a big race. The process of prepping this car has been a great lesson for me to understand my ceiling in the hobby. I think that is why is important for the hobby, that there are many levels for people to be happy! Thanks for the comment as always.

[@johnd8892]

I was racing that exact same NSR Porsche 908 #31 last night with my Melbourne racing group. We are aware of rules that let the costs increase but really do not get more even racing. So we run most classes box stock, except for glueing and trueing. Some makes with poor tires we replace by urethane, but the NSR, RevoSlot, BRM and Pioneer tires are so good that we go with stock tires for those makes. All work well on our routed tracks and give close racing when keeping the costs down.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Perfect John! I love the 908! All great ways to keep the racing even and cost reasonable!

[@slotr]

As they say at Sirius Cybernetics Corp... Share and Enjoy :)

[@jarrettwhaley6885]

I am new (well more returner) and this content helps me so much!!! Thank you!!! It's all about community and fun (and yeah its nice to be competitive too) but I enjoy the price point to be able to participate. Would love to see how you incorporate the new parts in your Nationals car!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Great to have you back! I will continue to share the journey. Yes, just have fun! It is a great community!

[@Dafingers1]

🎉well spoken Darrell.....thanks Marty...

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks for listening!

[@markbondy]

Good video Marty. It is good to put an idea of what it takes in parts and the potential cost out there. It helps people get an idea of what they are getting into. Lol. The cost is reasonable when you break it down, but as you stated if others dont help explain how to use the parts then someone will quickly become frustrated and lose interest. More knowledge share grows the hobby.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Exactly Mark! The last thing we want is people getting frustrated and giving up. That’s why people like John Albright, Darrell Rogers, Mike Stott, Jim Rose, and a host of others who help and share are a true blessing in the hobby!

[@mikestott9828]

Marty, if you touch base with me I will help you and let you know what you really need. I am looking forward to seeing you guys in November. I really did try to keep the cost down. That's why I don't allow a bunch of different motors or a bunch of different tire sizes. A hand put motor is not a good idea I have seen in the past a lot of guy's won't even attend a race that requires that. A 917/10 is the car to try. Blue chassis and black pod.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Mike, I need to order some tires for the race.. I was going to text you about your plan to livestream.. maybe I can help with that? We are looking forward to it!

[@LightekSlots]

LOL the Struggle is real - Playing Catch up, Thank you for Sharing.

[@twolinesslotcars]

It is a struggle for sure! 😂

[@ChrisSeekers]

Marty, you rock brother! Another GREAT video on a subject I was looking for! Thank you! Chris

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Chris! I appreciate the kind words. More to come on this little 908…

[@MrDarrenp40]

Another great clip, Marty. These bits seem to be to be mostly about homologation and repairs. If there is a prescribed motor to help in keeping things equal then this choice is gone. When it comes to 'going faster' then we do otherwise have to know and understand the limits. Too much speed and the thing becomes unstable and we enter the world of deslots. As you say yourself, we buy lexan interiors on the one hand and balancing weights on the other. There's an art to NSR gearing and we now have four types on in line pinions. Gear ratio is certainly another $150 'rabbit hole' to go down - one I quite fancy. Jim at NorCalSlotCar has just done an excellent tech video on these. Correspondingly, it is all about the basics in terms of adjusting meshes and lubrication. Then there's the tyres and the different compounds and what we do to prep these. At the end of the day it's all about balance and what best suits the track and in terms of consistent fast lap times. Judging by his results Jim seems to be one of the best we have when it comes to mixing calibrations. We need to pay attention to knowing our controllers too and how to adjust torque, breaking and acceleration. Most of all, 'have fun' as we know that you do, Marty. :)

[@twolinesslotcars]

Great info Darren! Yes, Jim Rose knows his stuff. You are correct..a lot of parts to keep on hand. I am hoping for a quick car that is an easy drive. We will see if I get there 😂 thanks!

[@bradsanders6954]

Cost, can indeed vary. There are sports, and there are hobbies. Ive had a motorcycle addiction since age 10 or so, very long time. Currently an 890R KTM and a 690R KTM live here. Great bikes. Then there's the bicycles, 5 trick ass bikes to do different things with, from road to gravel to dirt. I dont want to think what all those bikes cost. My slot car hobby, from time to time it costs a little. A home track, generally sheer speed and power arent the ticket. A stock Slot it Car is way fast enough, keeping it on the track is the trick. And keeping it running consistently is another trick. For the most part the carrera cars are very solid. Kinda wish I had never heard of digital but its a little late now. Im not buying any more 40+ dollar chips for cars.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Brad, I don’t want to count up the money I have spent on hobbies over the years 🤦🏻‍♂️😂. There are many levels to every hobby, but slot cars can be an affordable one. As long as you don’t go overboard. Great comment! Thanks for being here.

[@bradsanders6954]

@@twolinesslotcars You have the right idea getting away from digital, so many more brands of cars to be had, with out digital. The chips are too pricey and a pain. Half the price of a car for a chip.

[@Slot.car.Monsta]

Great segment mate, I like that you are sharing your speed tips….i had been thinking of doing something similar…. i will be interested in the chassis & pod choices to see how they go…good luck with it Marty 👌

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks! I am curious how the chassis and pod combo will work on the plastic track. I appreciate it!

[@clinttalbot9093]

Looking forward to seeing how well you guys do. Keep it simple, and enjoy the racing. Good luck!

[@twolinesslotcars]

We are setting the bar pretty low when it comes to expectations 😂😂

[@bomamo9620]

Hi Marty. Nice bunch of stuff you got for your tunnings. I didn`t see any plastic axxle distance rings. ? They are availiable in many variations. They minimize the weight, too. Also, I did not see any ball-bearings. They should be your choice to go for, in terms of bearings. But there is a lot to go for. Have fun any good luck on your preparations Brother. Run`em! 🙂

[@twolinesslotcars]

Bo, I bought NSR brass spacers..

[@bomamo9620]

@@twolinesslotcars Marty, that could not be hidden by my attention, but therefore I mentioned the plastic spacers, because you mentioned weight reduction. It is not, that the brass spacers have too much weight, but the plastic ones are much lighter. 🙂

[@johnboy876]

Remember the old saying " Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go "

[@twolinesslotcars]

Exactly! I am Trying to find a happy medium between speed and drivability.

[@SewfastSpeedway]

Working on several 1:1 cars, it’s cutting into the slot car track journey but by late spring I should be full on with slot cars. Good video 👍

[@twolinesslotcars]

Sounds great! Thanks Sewfast!

[@gradyvarner5076]

Whenever somebody is shocked at the slot car costs, I ask them if they've ever played golf. Mic drop. I love this stuff. Thanks for the video, Marty.

[@twolinesslotcars]

You nailed it. I enjoy golf, but I can’t afford to enjoy golf and be good at it.

[@jarrettwhaley6885]

Truth lol

[@bradsanders6954]

18,000 for an ADV bike, then 5K in mods, really puts slot racing in perspective also.

[@garydunmore9179]

Well done Marty.

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@garydunmore9179 thanks!

[@demynngashepherd8588]

Let me get on that white kit

[@twolinesslotcars]

👊 painting is not my specialty but I have some ideas with this one.. let’s see if I can take what is in my head and make it happen!

[@markphillips5368]

Keeping the cars as stock as possible keeps the cost down and relies on your ability to tune the car properly and your driving ability. Allowing racers to change to a deeper guide, adding weight to the car, and the ability to glue and true the tyres allows a small margin for improvement of the cars without great expense. Our club rules mandate a minimum weight of 80 grams for the cars, helping to keep the cars more evenly matched. These rules keep the cost of preparing a car down to a reasonable amount of money spent. Whether you win the race or not is irrelevant. What counts the most is the comradeship of the competitors and the friendships you make due to the racing.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Mark, you nailed it! Nothing beats the great people you meet at the track! Mike has done a great job with the rules to try to control costs. Now it is up to me to build a good car… that’s yet to be determined 😂

[@jimstaigers8200]

Nice choice of cars.. i stopped playing golf so slot cars are not that hard on the bank account in comparison 🤣🤣thanks for sharing the set up tips 🤜😎

[@twolinesslotcars]

Enjoy golf.. when someone else is paying for it 😂😂

[@fredmoon2487]

Thanks

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thank you Fred!

[@matusknives]

I have upgraded a few Carrera 132 cars - and whatever engine I put in, the engines keep overheating. I mean - it’s not a huge surprise, but I have bot seen a viable solution. Plus the screw-on wheels don’t stay put and slowly shift inwards because of the curves eventually causing a friction. It is fun, but these are still toys and it is quite obvious.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Great to never loose sight of that fact.. they are toys. Are you using a lot of magnets? That’s the only time I have ever had a motor over heat.

[@matusknives]

@@twolinesslotcars I have kept the magnets as they were in originally. They for sure are central to the overheating. But if I take them out, then there is little point left for any more serious engine upgrade, as one will lose grip (tires have all been long upgraded). We also have a pair of Revoslot F40 - beautiful little cars. Those have no magnets. The torque of the engine (200g/cm if I recall correctly) is way too high for the traction. So I guess I would get similar behavior by taking the magnets out of the Carreras …

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@matusknives have you tried treating the tires? There are lots of videos out there for that.. if you are running rubber. We run silicone and a clean track and have good luck with traction. Stock magnets should not cause the motors to over heat.. what voltage are you running your track?

[@matusknives]

@@twolinesslotcars I definitely have some room for improvement with the tires. I am using now Ortmann. I did some home-made rounding /smoothing (with sandpaper on the track) on some. But nothing more involved. I am still using the standard Carrera power source for their 132 cars.

[@terrymann9723]

Awesome Videos I'm a newbie, just jumping into the hobby, Any Advice? Where do you buy your parts?

[@twolinesslotcars]

Welcome to the hobby, Terry! Lots of advice out there! 😂 I host a livestream on Tuesday nights at 8PM EST that is all about helping people learn more, the chat is a pretty popular place. Hit me with any questions, happy to help however I can.

[@simoncycling6685]

Tyre truer hudy in UK £230 ...truespeed controller ...??? ...at least we're not throwing it behind the bar ..but how much does fun cost ...and hopefully you'll still have the parts for next race ...

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Simon.. yes, fun !

[@Clearwater124]

Ok, so, cars, car prep, entry fee, travel expenses, what's the weekend gonna cost you?

[@twolinesslotcars]

lol too much

[@Clearwater124]

If you can't tune a car, you can always tuna .........................

[@twolinesslotcars]

😂😂😂

[@ToJuRacing]

those GT 40's though..... ;)

[@twolinesslotcars]

Todd, they are beautiful!

[@dkmoon7543]

Red cars go faster. The red 908 looks like a good choice...

[@ToJuRacing]

Even the Ork's in 40K agree. Red goes faster!

[@twolinesslotcars]

It’s is a fun car to drive!

[@gerrbearlavallee6687]

In my mind, slot car racing is dirt cheap. I used to race R/C, OMG that is expensive.........

[@twolinesslotcars]

Yes, you can get a slot car for the cost of a set of tires for RC!

[@SimonAlgra]

Good video Marty and yes there's a lot of value in tuning slot cars, way cheaper than a lot of other hobbies

[@twolinesslotcars]

Absolutely, thanks Simon!

[@BSslotcars]

A old saying want to play got to pay! I guess that goes for making a slot car fast too! Great video.

[@twolinesslotcars]

You got that right! I had no clue what I was really going to say until I hit record 😂

[@SpareRoomSlotCars]

Performance comes at a cost no matter what the sport/hobby is. Good video Marty

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Gene. You are right.