Useful Information & Advice
Maintenance
Scalextric Types
Scalextric Sport Vs Scalextric Classic Vs Scalextric Start
Scalextric Classic 1:32 Track Reference Guide
Scalextric Sport & Digital 1:32 Track Reference Guide
Digital
A Brief History of Scalextric
Why are there two power inputs on a Scalextric Sport Powerbase C8217?
Scalextric Track Layout Design
We recommend truing the tyres, even on new cars.
To do this, hold the rear tyres against sandpaper whilst revving the car. This will remove any unevenness from the moulding process and increase the contact area with the track to improve grip performance.
Light cleaning of the track surface is recommended for daily use. We recommend using a damp cloth or very lightly oiled cloth. This removes light grime and dust from the track surface. Wipe surface dry after using a damp cloth. As a matter of good practice, always do this before using the Scalextric layout as this will help ensure you get the best grip from the car tyres.
Use a mild abrasive material to shine up the running surfaces of the pick-up rails, making sure that the male and female connections at the ends of the track sections are also bright and shiny.
If the track is tarnished (dull) or has rust spots, all you need to do is give the metal parts, around the affected area, a quick clean. I personally use a PECO PL-41 Rail Cleaner Rubber. Click here to purchase. They are amazing and you will need one after every few times of usage to keep the rails shiny for maximum performance. Alternatively you can give it a rub with very fine sandpaper or wire wool etc although these aren't recommended but will be sufficient for just the once.
If you have a circuit and the car isn't running round, a method to find out which pieces of track are affected is just to join one piece of track to the powerbase track and run a car on it. You don't need a circuit.
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Scalextric Types
There are four types of Scalextric track:
Classic / Vintage 1:32
Sport / Digital 1:32
Start 1:32
Micro / My First 1:64
1:32 is the scale or size of the track. Scalextric Sport 1:32 is what most people call the current / normal size and cars are generally around 5 or 6 inches long. Micro Scalextric or My First Scalextric 1:64 scale is smaller with the cars at around 3 inches long.
Micro Scalextric and My First Scalextric are the same shape, just coloured differently, so fit together perfectly. Micro Scalextric and My First Scalextric cars will work on both tracks types.
Classic Scalextric or vintage is pre-2000 and usually from around the 70s, 80s or 90s.
Scalextric Sport or Digital are the same track types and are the current models. It is only the powerbase and throttles that make them differ from each other. Digital track has crossovers allowing the car to change lanes. Cars need to be fitted with a Digital Plug to make use of this feature. These are the most popular sets. Easier to join together tracks and a nicer feel.
Scalextric Start is the same size as sport and classic but different connectors.
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Scalextric Sport Vs Scalextric Classic Vs Scalextric Start
Here is a brief guide explaining the comparison of Scalextric Sport, Scalextric Classic & Scalextric Start.
Any reference can be searched on our website by simply typing the name of the part or the ref such as C8222 into the search box at the top right of the page (magnifying glass icon).
Scalextric Sport
The main advantages of Sport compared to the old Classic (vintage) sets are that the track sections are much easier to assemble, the track surface is smoother and gives better grip levels especially when using cars with Magnatraction. There is a wide range of variety of track sections available along with borders and barriers. The track slot is deeper allowing cars with deeper guides to be used. You can power each lane independently by adding additional transformers. Throttles are now wired for dynamic braking. The slot of the Sport track is deeper than Classic.
Sport advantages
• Dynamic braking (when you take your finger off the throttle, the car slows down)
• Easier to assemble
• Better grip
• Variety of track and accessories
• The slot of the Sport track is deeper than Classic
• Deeper slot (will suit most cars, even other brands)
• Easier to change braids (metal brushes underneath the cars).
Scalextric Classic
Scalextric Classic track ran from the 60s to the 90s. More info is available in our brief history section. It is still very popular and works very well.• Cheaper
• Some track pieces that aren’t available in Sport such as hump bridge, long chicane, obstacles, crossover straights, loop the loop, rev start and rough terrain
etc).
Scalextric Start
Start is no longer in production.The track types are quite limited and only has one curve radius and one type of straight length. There are no borders or barriers available. The material is a harder plastic than SPORT which makes it a little better to build bridges but this firmness also makes it more brittle. There is a converter piece available to connect SPORT and START together. While they look like different widths and slot depths they are basically the same.
The controllers have an adjustment to keep children and beginners from pressing down the trigger all the way. They also have no brakes. These controllers are also available for Sport.
The Start cars’ guide blade is slightly longer and squarer, although it is thinner and more prone to breaking.
You can run START cars on SPORT track (and vice-versa) with no problems.
Start advantages
• Beginners track
Other points to consider
The Classic, Sport and Start labels only apply to track. Scalextric Cars will generally be compatible on all three types.
Sport track will connect to either Scalextric Classic or SCX track by using adaptor sections part C8222.
Start track will connect to Sport track by using adaptor sections C8525.
All three track types can be cleaned in the same way. As discussed in another section.
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Scalextric Classic 1:32 Track Reference Guide
Track
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Straight Track C160 Standard Straight |
Inner Curves C156 Inner Curve 90º Standard Curves C151 Standard Curve 45º |
Outer Curves C153 Outer Curve 22.5º Banked Curves C187 Banked Curve 30º Track Accessories C710 Track and Bridge Support Pack |
Specialist Track C248 Hump Back Bridge |
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Scalextric Sport & Digital 1:32 Track Reference Guide
Table showing the letter references which are written on the underside of each Scalextric Sport track.
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Part number C7039 Digital electronic lap counter |
Letter Ref EC |
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Scalextric Digital
Why switch from Scalextric Analogue to Digital?
Race multiple cars on the same sections of track, switch lanes (the lane change is controlled by a button on the throttle), overtake and perform blocking manoeuvres. All to satisfy your competitive spirit.
Digital Cars are compatible with Scalextric Sport & Classic Track.
What is the difference between Scalextric Analogue & Digital Track?
The standard track is the same in both sets. For example a standard straight C8205 is the same whether it is digital or analogue. A standard curve C8206 is the same on both sets. What makes the difference is the powerbase, throttles and adaptor (also adding lane changing track at a later date if required).
Here is a standard sport powerbase set:
Here is a standard digital powerbase set:
The above two images are what turns Scalextric Sport track into analogue or into digital.
Convert Scalextric Sport into Scalextric Digital
This requires a digital power base, power supply (transformer), lane changing track (to utilise the full benefits), and digital controllers.You can convert analogue cars using a digital decoder which is installed underneath the car. This is quite easy if the car is Digital Plug Ready (DPR).
Otherwise many of the original Scalextric cars can be fitted with a digital decoder depending on available space within the body shell. Performance of converted cars on a digital system can vary, but enthusiasts have been able to successfully convert a wide range of cars, both from Scalextric and other brands.
Compatibility - Analogue and Digital
Why? The analogue control system is the traditional method which uses a basic resistive coil of wire in the hand controller to control the D.C. voltage sent to the track and car. The wires from the braids, in the car, connect directly to the D.C. motor.
The Digital system uses frequent digital data messages from the controller to a microprocessor fitted in the car. The track has an A.C. power supply which also goes to the microprocessor in the car. This microprocessor then controls a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) power feed to the D.C. motor based on the digital data messages from the controller.
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A Brief History of Scalextric
Scalextric is a brand name for a range of slot car racing sets. The brand is owned and distributed by Hornby. Scalex was the first incarnation of the slot racing system which was invented in 1952 by Fred Francis. Scalex was a range of toy racing cars with a clockwork motor which was activated by pulling a chord out of the steering wheel. In 1957 he substituted the clockwork motors for electric motors and Scalex-electric became Scalextric which he sold through his firm Minimodels Ltd.
The original Scalextric track (Mark 1) was made from rubber with electrical connectors, and held together with separate metal clips. This track had white lines between the lanes.
In 1958 Fred Francis sold the Minimodels company to Lines Brothers (who operated as Tri-ang) which thrived through the 1960s.
In 1962 with the Mark 2 Scalextric, the material became plastic, electrical connections were wider and the track was held together by two spoon-shaped pins and sockets moulded into each end. Converter pieces were available to link the two types. It is now known as Classic or vintage track.
In 1964 Tri-ang was merged with Hornby to form Tri-ang Hornby and the tinplate bodies were replaced with plastic bodies.
In the 1970s Tri-ang was disbanded and the company focused on Slot Cars and Railways.
In 1996 Micro Scalextric was introduced.
Scalextric Sport was introduced in 2001, another plastic track, but with a smoother surface. The track connectors are square. Converter pieces C8222 are available to link Sport to Classic track.
Scalextric Sport Digital (SSD) was introduced in 2004, Scalextric Digital is compatible with Sport. It allows up to 6 cars on a 2 lane track at any given time, with each car fully controllable either by the user or by a computer. In late 2010 Scalextric released a revised six-car digital powerbase, C7042. This powerbase includes a separate screen which aids set up and also displays race information such as lap times. Also includes features such as yellow flag options for dealing with crashed cars, ghost cars to race against which can run and change lanes automatically, and the ability to race in analogue mode for older models that have not been converted to digital.
Scalextric Start was released in 2010 which aimed to be a basic track for children but at the same size as Scalextric Sport. It had only one type of straight and corner. The cars included in the sets were fantasy models to reduce manufacturers' licensing costs. A converter track piece C8525 is available to allow cars to cross from Start track to Sport and back again. These are extremely rare.
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Why are there two power inputs on a Scalextric Sport Powerbase C8217?
There are four inputs on the powerbase. Two are for throttles. The other two are for mains adaptors. Any standard set is supplied with just one adaptor which will work fine for two cars.
Alternatively, you can use two adaptors. Slide the blue switch to the right and this will distribute power to both tracks independently. This means that you get more power if you have extremely long circuits (I have gone round large rooms with just one adaptor) and it also means that if one car de-slots (comes off the track) then the other car will not suddenly get a power boost.
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Scalextric Track Design Service
If you can provide the dimensions of the area where you wish to place your layout and your approximate budget. Which track type? Analogue or Digital. Add any features such as bridges, lap counters and barriers etc. We will guide you through the process with our friendly and helpful staff.
We charge £25 per hour and a minimum of 2 hours. No physical product is included in the design price.
actionslotracing@gmail.com