[Kamel Racer]

Is it just me, or is Scalextric Sport track too narrow for the current generation of low and wide scale racers? Presumably the width of this track was in effect set during the 1950's when 1:1 race cars were considerably narrower. Interestingly, Carrera track is more than 25% wider than Scalextric.

Googling through "alt.hobbies.slotcars" turned up a few positive comments about the extra width of Carrera. The minus being a Carrera circuit takes up more floor space. There was also some speculation about Carrera being "brittle", although no actual evidence.

Are many of us running on Carrera?

Kamel Racer

 

[GRAH1]

while sport is indeed a better track than classic It is poor compared to carrera both in grip and width, my carrera is nearly as smooth as my old routed track and Im sure once Ive fixed it solid to the base and painted it it will be even better , the only down side I have found is the rails are very slightly proud when compared to copper tape on mdf so I have to run my cars a little higher than I do at the club but I think once painted the thickness of the paint will takecare of that. However having raced on sport track It must be said that it too is quite smooth and flat .and probably gives a better scale representation of a race track .

 

[Difflock]

The Carrera track is also sized to take their range of 1/24 scale cars too.

Mark.

 

[uksqueezea]

Re: Carrera track, You can pretty much drive right around the outside of anyone anytime you like. I like the discipline required with the width of Scalextric, forcing you to be neat, fast and tidy but still having to fight your way past both ruthlessly polite and cleanly.

When Ninco came out with a slightly wider track it was like a mile of pressure had been lifted from the game and the challenge had become virtually non-existant.

But realistically, its up to the individual. Scalextric does hone your reflexes sharper than a jungle cat and lets you build a bigger circuit for the space you have.

Nice that Carrera make 24th scale for the old pharts who like to think of the olden days.

Maybe old Ralf should have had a Scalextric set instead of Carrera when he was a little boy. He could sure use the practice now.

 

[Guest]

Surely it doesn't matter what track you use, if you race against another person with the same skill you both have the same problems with smaller or wider tracks unless your are vertically challenge!

 

[Mecoprop]

It IS all a matter of personal preference and there is something to be said in favor of both wider and narrower lane spacings. I think it would be fair to say that Scalextric knows a thing or two about the home slot car market and would have very carefully considered whether to change their standard spacing before making the considerable investment in the new Sport Track.

On the other hand, there IS undoubtedly and always has been a market for the wider spacing of Carrera and, although it is very much more difficult to clip together, once it IS clipped, it is, to my mind superior.

Definitely a personal preference and choice.

 

[uksqueezea]

QUOTE another person with the same skill

Thats not likely to happen HERE anytime soon.

 

[Difflock]

That's what we like to see on SF!

Someone's first post wanting to upset another member

Ahem... Oh, welcome to SlotForum Mr.C

Mark.

 

[Mr Croker]

Back to topic i can remember in the dim and distant past the Scalex track (classic i suppose) just blasting round the outside of the curves with the back of theh car being kept on just by the barrier. Much quicker and no skill. Horses for courses.

Mr C

 

[Brian Schindler]

I run a 95 foot Carrera track. One of the things I was looking at when I decided to buy my first track was the width. After reading so much about how people put borders on their Sport, Classic, Artin or Ninco track, I kinda felt that the Carrera track was somewhere in the middle of other tracks without borders and other tracks with borders.

Although I like a good hanging out of the ol rear end occasionally, it is not realistic with todays real cars...but then again, banging the guardrails is not either. So I was not interested in running Borders that extend the width of the lanes.

Carerra gives me enough room to let it all hang out and still keep it controlled. So in essence...I do not consider Carrera track for Handicrapers when so many use borders that make their tracks even wider than Carrera.

My opinion.

 

[Doug]

I've removed the original offending bit.

Edited a few referrals to it and deleted a bunch of posts that are now redundant.

Regards,

Admin

 

[speedyweenie]

I agree with Kamel Racer's initial observation that contemporary cars are much wider and longer than vintage machines, thus making the racing on narrow tracks unnecessarily cozy. Although I race on a routed track, I made my lane spacing on 3-inch centers. I knew this would be a problem when running current generation GT or F1 machines, but due to space considerations and the fact that I like primarily vintage cars, it was my choice at that time. If I was to build another track though, (and had the room to do so) I would definitely expand the spacing to 3.25-3.5 inches. On plastic track with magnets it might not be such an issue, but without mags a broadsliding Audi can sweep a track clean of its competition - not very realistic. I find it curious that Scaley opted for a deeper slot when introducing Sport track, but maintained the same narrow lane spacing of its Classic track.

If you have not already done so, I would recommend that you check out a few of the US-based websites (SCI, HRW, FW, etc.) for comparisons of the pros and cons of the various track brands. Individual readers tend to be very partisan in support of their favorites, but the articles for the most part are pretty even-handed.

mp

 

[Kamel Racer]

"Race For Real" is a bit too realistic for me!

This is what prompted my post.

2 lane Scalextric Sport home track, 2 open-wheeled IRL Dallaras. Whoever is out of the first corner first has the race won unless they do something really stupid. Passing is harder than threading a needle with one eye closed. Just like the real thing!

Kamel Racer

 

[LMP]

What puts me off carrera is the borders, argh they are ghastly. The road lines don't help either, its a racetrack not a motorway.

Anyway, I guess scaley is OK for club racing, the other lanes will provide widht. Similarly, home racing individuals (such as myself) just need somewhere to practice.

So, preference. haha, I reached a valid conclusion there didn't I?