Therefore, picking the best slot car tracks is a difficult task. Besides your personal preference, you need to pay attention to types, track material, spaces, and other race track accessories in order to choose the most suitable slot car racetrack. Slot Car World has recently acquired access to the full line of track, accessories and parts and is the U.S. It is an easy track to assemble and disassemble, a hard plastic instead of flexible one, and being almost exactly the size of Scalextric you can fit a 4 lane track in smaller spaces quite nicely.

Best Slot Car Track Designs

Update: With Christmas coming up, you may want to splurge on the most luxurious slot car racing sets on the market, so if you’re into that, click here for our latest post which delves into the best sets that money can buy. Otherwise, keep reading to find the reasonably priced best slot car set.

Slot car sets have been gaining tons of popularity again with the end of the holiday season. The innovation in new slot car racing has brought adults and kids alike back into the sport!

It does not matter whether you’re a kid or an adult. Regardless of age, a slot car set is an excellent toy for those who like cars and racing. Basically, you will have a miniature car that is electrically driven and will have to travel in a slot on a track. This is a great alternative to video games and is a cool old-school way to play with cars!

You just have to be a kid at heart to enjoy slot car racing. There are even slot car racing leagues for racing enthusiasts, divided into four categories— local, regional, national, and international organizations. You can partake in 1:24 and 1:32 scale racing competitions, HO racing organizations, and Formula-2000 racing in the United States. You can even register for slot racing competitions that occur globally. These competitions are open for all ages – kid, adult, or the elderly. If you’re not into competitive racing, you can race slot cars for fun. It’s always good to have an activity that you enjoy during your free hours, and driving slot cars can be yours.

Slot car racing is for people as young as age 8 and as old as age 80, and mastering it doesn’t require a lot of time and effort. Just pull the trigger and watch your car race around the track. Quick tips for you: the trigger controls the speed, increases speed on the straights, and decreases speed on the sharp corners. The only rule is to keep your slot car on the track and avoid crashing into other slot cars. What is it about slot cars that attract various age groups? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Children love to control their slot car, and watching it go around the track gives immense joy. If you’re giving your child a slot car set, get them a track with intricate and realistic details and design. A race track that looks like a real track, landscape, or city will excite your kids again. Slot racing is an activity that has gotten parents’ approval. Since the only action is to squeeze and release the trigger, it’s a risk-free, safe, and entertaining activity that doesn’t involve any strenuous motion.

Young adults will love the competitive aspect of slot car racing. With a wide range of slot car sets to choose from, most modeled after real cars, teens like having more than one option. Racing slot cars encourage communication and teamwork between racers. It’s also a great bonding activity between parents and teens, allowing them to build a track for their slot cars.

Slot car racing is also popular among adults and the elderly. They can customize their slot cars and construct race tracks. The reason the elderly and even people with disabilities or injuries can play with slot cars is that they require minimal strength. Adults throw entire parties where people race slot cars against each other on the track.

From the quality of the track to the performance of the car, there are many characteristics worth noting to help you narrow down the options that are available. If you need help looking for the best slot car set, keep on reading and let us extend a helping hand.

At A Glance: Our Top Picks of Slot Car Sets

• Tracer Racers R/C High Speed Remote Control Super 8 Speedway Glow Track Set Our Top Pick

Our Top Picks for the Best Slot Car Set

QUICK OVERVIEW: Our Top Picks of Slot Car Sets

The options can be overwhelming, but this should not give you the reason to buy just any slot car set. As an intelligent buyer, you have to take the time to differentiate the possibilities. We hear you, and that is exactly the reason why we came up with this guide.

Tracer Racers R/C High Speed Remote Control Super 8 Speedway Glow Track Set

Every dollar spent will surely be worth it with this set! The track has a total length of 46 feet, which will make every race more exciting. On top of that, it also offers versatility as there are multiple different power settings that are available. Users can choose from beginner, intermediate, and expert, which means that it will take quite a while before someone can outgrow this toy. Cars are controller at a to-scale speed of 500 mph! Plus, there are unlimited laps in every race. It is also quick and easy to assemble! It comes with detailed instructions from the manufacturer.

Carrera GO!!! GT Contest Slot Car Race Track Set

Ideal for those who are aged eight and up, this is one of the most popular choices for a slot car set. It has a 1:43 scale, which adds up to the excitement of every race. The track has a total length of approximately 12 feet and the cars can reach a scale speed of up to 370 mph. It can be used by more than two players, which makes it a fun toy to play with. The long track featuring a hotspot junction can make you feel like a professional racer. The hotspot junction makes the entire racing experience even more intense. One wrong move can to your car colliding against each other, especially if you’re neck to neck with the other player’s slot car.

If you want your child to develop a passion and skill for racing slot car or if slot racing interests them, this slot car race set is perfect for them. Its controller has governors, which help young children learn and develop their slot car racing skills by driving the slot car at slower speeds around the race track. There are also expansion sets that are available for an endless way to race with this toy!

DMXSLOTS Exclusive Slot Car Racing Package

This is the perfect option for those who are looking for a more innovative option as it is able to overcome the limitations that are present in the traditional slot car sets. Among others, one of its revolutionary features is the lane-changing technology. With the rotating pin technology, which has been exclusively developed by the manufacturer of this toy, cars will be able to change lanes regardless of where they are in the track. In most models, you can do so only at a predetermined point. This set comes with a 12-foot track, including 12 curves and 12 straights.

HOMOFY Dinosaur Toys Slot Car Race Set

For a budget-friendly slot car set, this is one option that should be on your radar. With 142 pieces, this is the perfect way to make playtime more educational. With a Jurassic World theme, the track also includes vehicles, trees, and dinosaurs. Children can enjoy endless possibilities when it comes to how they will build their track. The toy parts are made of ABS plastic, which is eco-friendly and non-toxic, making it safe for kids. To provide buyers with peace of mind, it is a good thing that the manufacturer offers a 90-day warranty.

Carrera First Nintendo Mario Kart Slot race Track Set

Made for children who are aged three and up, this is another themed slot car set that is worth considering, especially for those who love Super Mario. It comes with a 7.87-foot track, as well as two cars that feature Mario and Yoshi. The track features eight turns and more than two players can play with this set. There are two electronic controls that are strategically positioned to provide kids with the freedom to have a hand on their race. The assembly and disassembly of the track will also be fairly simple, which can be easily done even by kids.

Carrera Evolution Speed Patrol Slot Car Race Set

Another product from Carrera, this set provides real racing action to its users! The cars have a scale of 1:32 while the track has a scale of 1:24. When assembled, the track has a total length of 24 feet. Meanwhile, the maximum scale speed of the cars is up to 370 mph, which makes it easy to actually feel the thrill in every race. Right out of the box, the kit is inclusive of everything that will be needed and the assembly can be completed even by kids. There are also two analog controllers that are included upon purchase. Meanwhile, the cars included are Lamborghini and Porsche 911 Polizei.

Scalextric James Bond Micro Slot Car Race Set

If you are searching for a slot car set that is ideal even for adults, this is definitely what you should pick. This will allow you to recreate the iconic James Bond car chases that you can see in the movies. It includes a classic and modern Aston Martini DBs, which is the perfect way to show off your elegant taste in cars. The set is inclusive of an approximately 12-foot race track that can be further expanded. It is also easy to assemble and has easy power controls, making it a great choice even for the little ones. The hand controllers feature a power selector, which allows you to adjust the car’s speed, hence making it ideal for beginners. If you’re up for the challenge, increase the car’s speed. This 3’9” by 2’3” race track is compatible with all HO 1:64 scale slot racing cars.

Scalextric ARC One American Classics Playset

From the same manufacturer as the product mentioned above, it is revolutionary in the sense that you can download a compatible app in your mobile phone, providing a one-of-a-kind way to control the car while on the track. This also allows users to unlock a host of new features. You can personalize every game by inputting the number of laps and the name of the driver, among other things. You can also easily monitor race stats and fuel usage through the app. The track has a total length of 16 feet and four inches. Meanwhile, users will be able to set it in three different layouts.

AGM Slot Car Set With Racing Assistant App

This product takes slot car racing to the next level because of the mobile app that is included, providing a new way to have the car controlled. The app can provide commentary as well as real-time data. Meanwhile, as for the track, it has a total length of 26 feet. There are three challenging layouts to add excitement to every race. The set comes with good-looking Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG cars, which are sure to make even adults drool. Lastly, there is an ergonomic control that is designed to run up to two cars.

Artin Super Loop Speedway

With this set, users will be able to enjoy up to 34 feet of track, which makes it one of the longest from the products that have been briefly reviewed in this guide. It comes with two Porsche 911 GTS RS cars, each with a scale of 1:43. The manufacturer has done an excellent job of creating miniature versions of Porsche 911 GTS RS cars, as they’re instantly recognizable. If you already have another track from this brand, you can add this track and extend it to 14” x 5.” With the slot car set, you receive an easy-to-understand user guide that shows you how to build the track. You can even change the shape of the track, making it a square if you want. You can easily assemble and disassemble the track to create new tracks to race the slot car each time. It’s a large track, making it perfect for homes with a room dedicated to racing slot cars. It has the loops and the turns that will add excitement to any race. There are also crossover tracks, as well as squeeze and lap counter tracks. The set includes two speed controllers.

How Does a Slot Car Work?

It was in the 1960s when the slot car toys have been popular. These days, even with the emergence of digital technologies, it still remains a popular toy of choice, especially for those who love racing. Basically, the tracks have grooves or channels, which are the slots. They are the ones that will guide the car as it turns and twists throughout the race. There are two metals that form a slot between the tracks. The cars are also equipped with magnets that will allow it to stay in place regardless of its speed.

The metal on the tracks is the one that provides the supply of electricity for the cars to run. There are hand-held remotes that are used by the racer to control the movement of the cars. For the driver, it is important to be smooth and consistent in the control. It is basically like playing a racing video game, except for the fact that there are actual cars and tracks that can be built.

Types of Slot Car Sets

Before you shop, it is important that you are familiar with the different types that are available. In this case, you will basically have two choices:

• Analog Slot Car: With this type, the number of lanes will determine how many cars will be able to race. Each lane will be able to power only a single car. Once the car is on the track, the rail will be powered once the trigger from the controller has been pulled. Analog slot cars are modeled after the conventional slot car racing system. Your electric-powered slot car travels around a plastic or wooden race track. The slot car has a motor attached to the guide, which is connected to the car’s chassis.The rails prevent the slot car from coming off the track, regardless of the speed you’re driving it. You use a controller to control the speed of the car. Each person races their analog slot car in one lane of the race track. At one time, only four slot cars can compete with each other. For these reasons, people separate the races into different heat. This allows drivers to use a different lane for each heat, hence giving every race equal advantage.This is an ideal choice for beginners and for those looking for a cheaper alternative.
• Digital Slot Car: If you want one that is more innovative, this is the type that you should choose. Each car comes with a digital chip and each lane is full-powered. They also have crossover sections, making the race more challenging. Digital slot car racing isn’t limited to the local race track. You can compete in slot car racing from a remote location via the internet. You can compare times, compete in real-time against other racers, and go on qualifying runs.Combining digital slot car racing with the internet makes the entire experience of racing slot cars even more surreal as if you’re partaking in a real race. However, there are drawbacks to digital slot car racing. Digital slot cars and tracks cost more than analog slot cars and tracks. If you switch to a digital race track, you’ll need to buy digital slot cars, as analog slot cars will not work on a digital race track.Moreover, you can’t race a digital slot car on a digital race track from another brand. You’ll have to buy digital slot cars from the same brand as your digital race track, hence limiting your options. Even though you can invest in several different digital slot car sets, doing so will not come cheap. It is more functional and is best suited for the more experienced users.

Making your choice

Need help picking a slot car set that can provide the best bang for the buck? Here are some of the most important factors you have to take into consideration:

• Cars: The car should not only be good-looking, but it should also have innovative features that make it worthy of a race. It should be fast and must be able to handle itself while on the track. Pay attention to the scale as well to determine what size is best for your needs. Some have Porsche and Mercedes Benz accessories to add to the fun of the race.
• Track: Aside from the car, the track is another important part of the race system. Take note of its length, as well as the number of twists and turns. The latter is important because it adds excitement to every race. It will also be good if you have the option to expand the tracks by buying compatible accessories.
• Battery: This is the source of power. If there are no batteries, the cars won’t move. See to it that the battery will last long and powerful enough to survive the race. Look for rechargeable batteries as they will be economical.
• User: This means that you will have to think about the age of the user before you buy a slot car set. Many models are good for those aged three and above. Those that are more complicated and expensive, however, are for older users. Meanwhile, because of its technical nature, slot car sets are recommended for children who are at least eight years old.
• Controller: You should also evaluate the remote that comes with the slot car set. It should have an ergonomic design to promote the highest level of comfort during its use.
• Ease of Use: The slot car should be as user-friendly as possible, especially if it is meant to be used by kids. Assembling and dissembling the track should be almost effortless for the user.
• App: In the case of the modern options for a slot car set, they come with a compatible app that you will have to download in your mobile phone. It provides a revolutionary way of controlling the car and a wealth of features.

Conclusion

In sum, the best slot car set will make a great addition to playtime. Even adults will enjoy such a toy. With too many options available, those mentioned above are some that should be a part of your list. Their premium construction will make races more exciting for the little ones.

If you get the hang of racing slot cars around the track, you can join a slot car racing league. You should start small by joining a local league before you make the leap to race slot cars regionally and then slowly make your way up to race nationally and internationally.

Slot car racing is not bound to a particular age range, so even if you don’t know whether this is something you’ll like or not, it never hurts to try. If you’re a beginner slot car racer, start with one of the slot car sets we mentioned here. After all, you don’t want to waste money on a set that turns out to be a dud. Whether you compete or not, just remember to always have fun. Happy racing from one slot car racer to another!

There are 16 different track packs, bundles, and plan books to download here at Slot Track Pro. Some of the best slot car tracks can be found for Scalextric, Carrera, and other brands of tracks. This past December they were download almost 1,100 times. We will take a look and see what the most popular download for track layouts was. Will it be for Carrera or Scalextric? Let’s take a look at the list.

#16 – 27 Circuits for Scalextric

It will be interesting to see where this falls in future lists. We just added it to our collection on the 31st so it only got 2 downloads that day. Scalextric published this catalog in 1985 and there are 27 different Scalextric Classic track layouts. (2 Downloads)

#15 – Slot Track Pro Track Pack 1

Our first Track Pack includes 5 Carrera slot car tracks. We have released four additional track packs so far and have more planned for the future. The first few packs included 5 tracks each. However, we will be increasing the number of tracks in each future pack as well. (16 Downloads)

#14 – Slot Track Pro Track Pack 2

Our second track pack includes 5 Scalextric digital tracks. Each of them have an alternate plan including a pit lane. These track layouts were created in Track Power but a PDF of each track is included so it is not needed to view the layouts. (22 Downloads)

#13 – Carrera Go Track Layouts

This is bundle of Carrera GO!!! track layouts. We added this to the site on the 19th and it was grabbed 30 times before the end of the month. This bundle includes 20 different Carrera GO! tracks, including six different Mario Kart inspired tracks, official Carrera sets, and several custom tracks we created. (30 Downloads)

#12 – Slot Track Pro Track Pack 3

Track Pack 3 featured 5 new Carrera track layouts based off Lucas Oil Off Road Racing tracks. Real world circuits such as Bark River International Raceway and Glen Helen Raceway. (32 Downloads)

#11 – Slotict’s Misc Tracks

Slotict had a website years ago where he provided many different slot car tracks for people to download. At some point in time the website went offline and is no longer available. We were able to archive some of his tracks and host them here at Slot Track Pro for anyone to continue to download and use. (33 Downloads)

#10 – Slotict’s World Circuits

In addition to the miscellaneous tracks above, Slotict created a huge amount of slot car tracks based on real world circuits. This bundle of tracks includes 168 slot car tracks for 42 different race tracks such as Laguna Seca, Road America, and a lot of F1 tracks. Most of these layouts are for Scalextric but there are some for Carrera as well. These tracks were created using the editor Tracker 2000. (40 Downloads)

#9 – Track Power Track Pack

Definitely the largest collection of slot car tracks that we are aware of. The Track Power track pack includes 758 slot car layouts. The track files are saved in both the 1.6.6 version of Track Power and the newer 1.7 version. There are all sorts of sizes and types of tracks including NASCAR and F1. If you don’t have the full version of Track Power you may not have much luck with this track pack due to the 20 piece limit the demo has. (42 Downloads)

#8 – Scalextric Track Designer Layouts

This is the original bundle of Scalextric track layouts that was offered with their track designer years ago. It includes 32 different layouts. Some of the tracks are Scalextric set layouts with their different track extension packs added. In addition, there are a handful of world circuits included as well. (57 Downloads)

Slot Car Racing Sets Reviews

#7 – SCX Slot Car Track Plans Book

SCX released their track plan book in 2007 with some of their best slot car tracks detailed out. There are 54 slot car track plans included in this book including 18 F1 circuits. The F1 circuits are impressive, and huge so you will need plenty of room if you want to layout those tracks. (65 Downloads)

#6 – 102 Circuits for Scale X Racers PDF & Track Pack

As a tribute to the 101 Circuits for Scalextric Drivers Scale-X-Racers released 102 Circuits for Scale X Racers. Tracks include the 201 Formula 1 circuits, British circuits, rally stages, and other various real world circuits. In addition to the PDF to download and view, you can download a track pack with all the tracks. Tracks are created with Ultimate Racer so you can view and edit them if desired.. (73 Downloads)

#5 – Slot Track Pro Track Pack 4

Our 4th Track Pack was a super pack with 15 different Carrera slot car layouts. They range in size from 4′ x 8′ to 8′ x 12′. It is a good variety pack for all different types of slot car racers. (77 Downloads)

#4 – Scalextric Track Plans 9th Edition

Scalextric often releases a Track Plans publication with multiple layouts and plans for slot car tracks. The 10th edition came out for purchase in 2020. The 9th edition can be downloaded as a PDF and includes over 20 different Scalextric track layouts. (101 Downloads)

#3 – Scalextric Track Plans 4th Edition

Coming in the third spot for our best slot car tracks list is the 4th edition of Scalextric’s Track Plans publication. This edition offers 31 different slot car track plans for your review. However, these layouts are done using Scalextric Classic track which includes some different angled corners from today’s Sport track by Scalextric. (123 Downloads).

Best Slot Car Tracks To Buy

#2 – Carerra Digital Tracks

Best Ho Slot Car Track

Our runner up for the best slot car tracks to download is the bundle of Carrera Digital 132 tracks that they provide on their website. These were made available in 2007 and can support either their 1/32 or 1/24 scale slot cars. (178 Downloads)

Best Slot Car Track

#1 – 101 Circuits for Scalextric Drivers

And our reader’s top choice for the best slot car tracks, 101 Circuits for Scalextric Drivers. This publication includes quite a few basic layouts and multi-lane slot car tracks. The world circuits that are featured include a great description of the track and some nice track details and circuit history. The layouts utilize older Scalextric track. However, it is a great resource to use for layout ideas. (205 Downloads)

That completes our list of the best slot car track downloads that we provide here at Slot Track Pro. If you missed it, check out our Top 5 Slot Car Track Designer Programs article. We have more slot car track plans and layouts lined up for 2021 so be sure to check back often. If there is something you would like to see on the site please let us know. Thanks for visiting!