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Q. What is slot car racing?
A. Slot car racing is done with model cars on a plastic track. A "slot pin" guides the electrical engine powered slot cars and the connection is powered through copper braid brushes on the bottom of the car.
Q. What size are the cars?
A. There are four basic sizes of slot cars.
1. Scale 1:24 - 7.0 to 8.25 inches x 3.0 inches
2. Scale 1:32 - 5.75 inches x 2.0 inches
3. Scale 1:43 - 3.75 to 4.0 inches x 1.75 inches
4. Scale 1:87 - 2.0 inches x 1.0 inches (HO Scale)
Q. How do the slots guide the slot car around the track?
A. The track is powered by a transformer with elecric current fed via the drivers hand held controller. The car picks up power from the brushes underneath that are wired to an electric motor.
Q. What should I know about the contact brushes?
A. Always make sure your contact brushes are clean and aligned with the transmission rail on the track. If they become tangled or move, smooth them back together and readjust them. If you are having trouble with the connections, then you may need to replace them. They are available in accessories.
Q. How fast do slot cars go?
A. Slot cars are capable of high speeds. The more you squeeze the hand held controller, the faster the car goes, let off the controller and the car slows.
Q. How much room to I need?
A. The track width and the length is dependent upon the scale, race set and if you add any extension pieces.
Q. What is the track like?
A. The Artin and Carrera track is rigid plastic. The tracks are snap together track with plastic tabs for quick, easy secure fastening of the track pieces. The track slides together fitting snug with the transmission rails connected for current.
Q. Can I add to the track?
A. You can add length or width to nearly any track by adding additional straight or curve pieces available in extension sets.
Q. Is it safe to use my track on a floor?
A. The conductor strips on the tracks are made of stainless steel. The plastic track is molded around the conductor strips so using your track on a floor will not harm the track or cause any reduction in power transmitted through the conductor strips. If you set your track up outdoors, the plastic is UV resistant.
Q. How should I keep my track clean?
A. The tracks are prone to dust particles around the transmission strips and the slot groove, which will reduce acceleration and deteriorate the contact between the car and the track. When cleaning the track, use a clean dry cloth to wipe down the track, do not use any cleaning chemicals or greases.
Q. How do I troubleshoot cars and track?
A. Troubleshooting begins with isolating the problem. Is the car at fault or is it the track? If you have trouble with one car, try another. If that does not help, try another controller or check the controller connection. If the problem persist with just one car, then it might be just that car. If you can isolate a problem with the track, it usually can be traced to a loose joint or a bent connector strip that is not making contact across the track joint.
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