Note:  Item reviewed here was obtained directly by Slot Car Garage

These reviews are done on my custom Carrera 1/24 Exclusiv road course layout.  

Test Drive Results - Ten Lap Sprint:

* Data does include some minor wrecks during the course of the trial run...

Test Drive Observations:

I forget if BUM or Ninco was the first to release Go-Kart slot cars for the 1/32 marketplace but Ninco definitely has the market cornered in the detail segment.  Let's see if this BUM slot car is worth the price.  BUM which stands for Barcelona Universal Models™ takes average day cars and converts them into standard 1/32 slot cars.  I also have from them a Camel Land Rover and European type Rig with Trailer.  You can tell that they take toys mostly and convert them using plastic slot car chassis but some are very well made.  They are nothing to drool over but they do fill in some gaps for the 1/32 segment where others wouldn't even dare touch.  With that thought, you can tell that the Go-Kart here came from some kind of toy possibly.  The chassis reminds me of an Artin 1/43rd (or is it 1/48th) battery-operated type with a pin instead of a guide flag.  It looks though as this one as been molded for 1/32 scale slot car use with provisions made for the front and rear mounted magnets.

The overall dimensions are similar to the Ninco Kart making it more 1/18 scale for 1/32 scale track.  Similar to what some model train people do with running different scale trains on HO scale track, think they call it narrow gauge.  Anyway, the car looks good with a driver in the seat ready to go.  The car is detailed with stickers instead of tampo-printed markings or decals which distracts from the look of the car but we get a Mabuchi S motor here no wimpy HO motor :)

Is it a Pocket Rocket?  You bet!!!  The car is fast down the straights but with the high center of gravity you must slow down at the precise moment for the curves or you will find your driver upside down with his hands in the air.  It takes the curves pretty good with the traction magnets but the narrow design of the Go-Kart and high center of gravity does not help it.  You will need to learn the handling characteristics of this car but once you do you will surely beat the Ninco Go-Karts.

When comparing the results with the Ninco car on my Test Drive Data page, you will see it has a faster lap time but slower for the rest.  This is because I had a mishap or two which slowed down the times.  It really flies down the straights and sticks like glue when taking it easy around the curves.  Remember though that this car will not slide like the Ninco one.  You will either be in the slot or flipping out of control.

I am giving this 1/32 slot car 3½ out of 5 tires.  The car would easily get 4 or even 5 if they would have used better markings than the stickers.  Nothing really wrong with the car, it is a little pocket rocket and for the cheap price you can't go wrong.  You can possibly buy two of these for one Ninco Go-Kart.  Don't really care for detailing and just wish to race and bash around some karts on your 1/32 slot car track then go for these!!!

Slot Car Garage Review Rating:  

3½ out of 5 tires!!!

Back to the main reviews section for a complete listing or take a look at some listed below.

More Reviews and Test Drives:

1. Return to Main Reviews Section - Read more Slot Car Garage reviews of slot car items including cars, sets, parts, etc. involving all scales (1/24, 1/32, HO)

2. Current Slot Car Test Drive Results - Current data from testing on my Carrera 1/24 Exclusiv track.  Includes results from 1/24 and 1/32 scale slot cars.

3. Slot Car Test Drive Results Archive - This is a run-down of the various slot cars I tested with their average, best lap times and the total time it took the car to complete the ten lap trial run.  These cars were tested on my Riggen 1/32 layout. 

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