Sunday June 05, 2005

Start Small!
The Scalextric IndyCar Series T1 Set!

The Scalextric Sport track system is a very popular choice with current enthusiasts and more than likely you have seen this brand name in your local hobby store or while shopping online. They have a wide variety of track, accessories, and most all of the sets come 2 very well detailed and great running slot cars. The very basic system to get started with is the T1 oval IndyCar Racing Series set, and thanks to Scalextric-USA we can take a closer look at what it has to offer.

For a retail price of only $99.95, this set is truly ideal for those on the strictest of budgets. In fact, this system really offers you a great value when you consider that the cars included in the set retail separately for $29.95. When we talk about starting out small, this set certainly qualifies in not only the budget department but in space requirements as well. The box is also small enough to fit neatly in a closet or under a bed when and if you decide to move or store it.

Assembly

Everything arrived neatly intact from Scalextric-USA and it was time to get started with assembly. The set includes 7 full straights, 1 multi-lane power base, 8 standard curves, guardrails, 2 controllers and power supply.

The instructions included are very simple and easy to follow and you should have your new race track up and running in only a few minutes. The Scalextric Sport track system simply slides together and tabs on the underneath lock the track together.

Power & Control

One item that is a major plus for those that plan to expand for the future is that this set includes the multi-lane power base. This power base comes in 2 sections and if you ever decide to go 4 lanes, power for those lanes are already there for your use. Power and control are all plug and play with connections clearly marked for easy assembly.

The Cars

As nice as this track system is, it is the cars that you will most likely be impressed with. The Indy cars that Scalextric makes are not only very nicely detailed, they are some of the fastest slot cars you can buy today.

Most Scalextric cars utilize a strong bar magnet that really makes the cars stick to the track and it provides you with some very fast paced and exciting racing. The only items that might see damage in hard crashes are the small mirrors and rear wing but overall these cars can take some serious punishment.

Although this is a simple oval, do not let the small size of this layout deceive you. This track is very fun to operate and will give you a great first experience with 1/32nd scale racing. You can even modify this oval by removing the straights on the ends and placing one of each on the sides making your straight-aways a little longer. The original oval as shown on the box will fit on a 4 x 8 table with the dimensions being 4 foot by 6 foot with even a few inches of room to spare.

Again, the price point of this set simply makes it a great choice for those with tight budgets. It allows you to discover the fun of this hobby and can be a good foundation of a larger layout if you decide to stay with it. As with most other companies, Scalextric also makes extensions sets that allow you to quickly expand your current configuration. We decided to start with the T1 Extension set that will bring your layout from the current T1 to the larger T2 design.

Expansion

For a retail price of $49.99 you get plenty of track and you also get turn borders that really help you by allowing the car in the outer lane more room to slide out. Inside the box you have 4 full straights, 1 half straight, 1 short quarter straight, 1 R2 45 degree curve, 1 R2 22.5 degree curve, 3 R4 22.5 degree curves, 1 pair of black lead-in borders, 3 black border R2 curve 45 degree and 1 black border R2 22.5 degree.

We chose to stay with the T2 design as shown on the box and the instructions show you clearly how to assemble the track and borders. Like our first layout you should be back and racing in just a few minutes and time to experience some fast-paced road course action. Our assembly time from the T1 to the T2 was 15 minutes.

One thing you might want to know is that the box cover for the extension set states that when the layout is complete, the dimensions are 9 feet, 3 inches long by 5 feet, 11 inches wide. If you are going to build a table for this layout, I highly suggest making it 10 1/2 feet x 6 1/2 to give you a few inches of room for the addition of more borders if you so desire.

Summary

Scalextric IndyCar Series T1 Set #C1100TR - $99.95

Scalextric Track Extension Pack "T1 to T2"  #C8245 - $49.99

TOTAL - $149.94

This set by Scalextric is an ideal way for you to get started in 1/32nd scale slot car racing. It provides you with everything you need and is easy on both your wallet and space required. Most all large and elaborate layouts start out small and simply grow over time. This set and expansion pack could very well be the foundation of your new dream layout.

- Harry

As always feel free to contact me about this article or just the hobby in general at harry@homeracingworld.com, or better yet drop into our Message Forum and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts!

Thanks Go To Scalextric-USA For Providing Us With This Set!