Slot Car Racing has been around for many decades but most fondly remember the "Golden Age" of slot cars during the 1960s.  This was when most of the enthusiasts in their younger years got started in the hobby.  Now, many have returned after some years to regain their hold on the hobby with the money to buy what they couldn't when they were kids.  Some are collectors looking to get cars that they could never have as kids.  Others are into vintage and club racing with cars and techniques they remember as kids.  Still the main group has been influenced by slot cars in one way or another...many like me have been started on the HO Aurora Magnatraction AFX cars and later got introduced to Tyco, went to 1/32 and 1/24 home slot car racing and collecting, etc.

The debate will continue on who really came out with the idea of "slot car racing". The very early systems from the 1950's used a rail similar to the Lionel O-Gauge on top of the track system with an interlocking guide on the car.  Most of their cars were truly scratch-built using model railroad train electric motors, watch gears, brass parts, etc.  Bodies were carved from wood and taken from anything people could find.  It wasn't until the road racing sets from England which came out on the market that started it all.  It's ironic that in both 1/32 and HO scale that companies from England started the trend in the 1960s.

What you will find in this section:

Slot Car Garage has decided to bring you some vintage articles on slot car racing and collecting.  Most of the information from these articles can still be applied today.  Slot Cars were big in the 1960s and then fizzled out.  The same thing then happened with model kits and video games.  It seems that all of these hobbies have had their high points and then fizzled only to come back stronger than ever.  The Internet seemed to have opened up many more doors with slot car racing and collecting than print newsletters and local toy / swap meets could ever have.  Let's hope this trend continues for many years to come.