Slot Car Racing Tip - Cars De-Slotting Too Easy?

Hafa Adai Slot Car Cousins!

Got another tip here that will probably help those just starting out. You pros already know this.  When I put up my first layout right out of the box, I knew nothing about slot cars at all.  I just wanted to get up and start racing.  To my amazement I was very frustrated that the cars would de-slot so easily.  After a week or so, I discovered that there was a very simple cost effective solution to this.

1. Keep the tires Clean! Hello?! This is just common sense for most people - guess I'm not most people, but I did figure it out, after some time.

2.  Clean the track.  Wow, this is just too easy.  I use rubbing alcohol and a Swiffer duster for the dust.

Just these two things alone made a huge difference, and the fun had just begun from this point.

3. Sand the tires, or what is also referred to as "Truing the tires"  meaning make them truly round.

There are many ways to achieve this, but for starters, and simplicity purposes, cost effective too, I use a powered track on my work bench with a stock power supply unit, and controller.  I started with about 160 grit sand paper or finer placed on the powered track. Then place the car in the slot with the rear tires on the sand paper.  You can tape down the sand paper if needed.  I also put a tooth pick or small piece of wood depending on the distance between the chassis and the track under the car about mid-way between the wheels between the chassis and track.

Then gently lower the rear tires on the sand paper while pressing the controller.  I start slowly and increase the speed as needed.  Mainly, I'm looking to achieve a smooth even surface across the entire width of the tire. You can also use a finer grit depending on the material that your wheels are made of.  Silicone tires do not true as easily; however can be trued, but there is a certain process involved.  To be visited in a future posting.

4.  This is the easy one, and most effective:  Change your rear tires to silicone tires.  I recommend that if you choose silicone tires, then you should run nothing but silicones on your track.  Otherwise you will still get excessive sliding.  You must first clean your track well; use alcohol to remove the excess rubber.

Or, if you plan on using both silicone tires and the stock rubber tires, then I would recommend urethane tires, these work will with tracks that have accumulated a rubber build up.

Tip: rubber tires will grip better after the track has been used a bit accumulating a fine layer of rubber.

Well, I hope this simple tip will help some of you, as it did for me.

Adios!

rob