![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Intro1.3.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nWhat\u2019s available?<\/h4>\n
NSR are undisputed top-dogs when it comes to their modern ‘anglewinder’ GT cars (eg Corvette C7R above, available here: https:\/\/www.jadlamracingmodels.com\/nsr-corvette-c7r-whelen-adac-2016-no-31-aw-king-21-evo3-nsr0179aw-1-32-scale\/<\/a>). They\u2019ve also been battling with Slot.it on tracks around the world to grab Classic Sports Car honours. Slot.it have built up a fabulous 1980s Group C grid over the past 20 years and \u2013 more recently \u2013 an exciting 1990s DTM and Japanese touring car range. Both of those make great single-make club racing classes.<\/p>\n Slot.it\u2019s stablemate Policar are the go-to brand for the best-performing Classic 1970s F1 cars and have recently added a modern generic F1 \u2018 Monoposto\u2019 model. Not to be outdone, NSR introduced a very rapid \u2018Formula 86\/89\u2019 car, harking back to the late 80s and early 90s heyday of Grand Prix racing.<\/p>\n Apart from a couple of older NSR hatchbacks and rally versions – plus the Slot.it Le Mans Prototypes and a couple of new Slot.it modern GT cars \u2013 these are the ranges offered. Performance manufacturers focus on the quality of their components, not so much on the quantity of different models available. Having said that, there are still plenty of cars and a lot of liveries to choose from.<\/p>\n In the UK, we\u2019re all very familiar with Scalextric cars \u2013 we know what to expect in terms of a wide range of detailed scale models, plus perfectly adequate performance on Scalextric track. The layout of the cars hasn\u2019t changed much over the past 20-30 years and the mechanical components \u2013 motor, axles, gears and bearings \u2013 have remained identical. Scalextric cars typically need tweaking and tuning to run at top performance \u2013 as we\u2019ve seen in my Scalextric tuning blog posts (https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/tag\/scalextric-tuning\/<\/a>). They need a lot of work if you remove the traction magnets, which is required for almost all club racing series.<\/p>\n Performance slot cars \u2013 by which I mean plastic cars, not the metal chassis and vac-formed body type \u2013 are a fairly recent development. When you look at a Slot.it or NSR car from the top, they don\u2019t look too different from a Scalextric car \u2013 but it all becomes clear when you look underneath the body at the chassis layout…<\/p>\n A Scalextric chassis is a simple tray, into which the basic mechanical components clip in place. On a performance slot car, it is usually a two-piece assembly with the motor and rear axle fitted into a motor \u2018pod\u2019. This gives a very stiff connection between motor, gear and axle which overcomes power-transfer and handling issues common in a one-piece tray. The second component of a performance chassis is the chassis tray \u2013 which holds the guide, front axle and the body mounts.<\/p>\n Both NSR and Slot.it offer three different pods \u2013 In-line, Sidewinder and Anglewinder (see pictures above). These place the motor in three different orientations to the rear axle. They also require different types of gear on the axle. In club racing, it\u2019s usual for the rules of each class to specify the motor orientation \u2013 Classic Sport is usually sidewinder-only, Group C and Classic Touring in-line. Modern GT and LMP classes are usually a free choice and the preference is for the high-torque long-can motors in an anglewinder pod.<\/p>\n Beyond the different layout and motor pod options, performance cars use higher-quality components \u2013 and offer a wide range of tune-up parts. With Slot.it and NSR, the car will usually work very nicely straight out of the box \u2013 and then there is a fairly logical progression of tune-ups and tweaks available. These include more powerful motors, grippier tyres, longer guides (for wood club tracks), different gear ratios (for more speed, better acceleration\/braking etc), plus stronger and lighter components.<\/p>\n A perfect performance slot car has a low centre of gravity and is nice and wide across the rear axle \u2013 plus it should have an excellent power to weight ratio. NSR have a bit of a reputation for squashing and stretching their cars and keeping body details (and therefore weight) to a minimum. That might not be to everyone\u2019s tastes, but it sure gives you a great racer! Most NSR cars are pleasing to my eye \u2013 certainly not perfect scale models, but they look like they mean business. The Mercedes AMG pictured above is a front runner in anglewinder GT racing and is available here: https:\/\/www.jadlamracingmodels.com\/nsr-mercedes-amg-sebring-2017-no-33-aw-king-21k-evo3-1-32-0114aw\/<\/a><\/p>\n The Policar and Slot.it models are certainly much closer to the Scalextric ethos of producing scale models with plenty of detail. The Policar 1970s F1 cars are as detailed as their Scalextric counterparts and \u2013 in my opinion \u2013 the Policar Lotus 72 is a more accurate model. They also have the far superior Policar motor and drivetrain, giving plenty of authentic rear-end drift and a car that\u2019s fast and handles well without a traction magnet.<\/p>\n The Slot.it cars are rarely stretched or out of scale. The Lola B12\/80 below (available here: https:\/\/www.jadlamracingmodels.com\/slot-it-lola-12-80-no-27-american-le-mans-series-mid-ohio-2012-1-32-ca39d\/<\/a>) is very much a scale model, yet the performance is still there in bucket loads. The lightweight Slot.it body shells carry lots of pleasing detail \u2013 and many a Slot.it car has pride of place in a collector\u2019s display cabinet as well as in a racer\u2019s pit box. In many ways, a Policar or Slot.it model seems more familiar to a Scalextric fan than an NSR \u2013 and the cost is closer too. However, NSR fans would argue that their big price tag is worth it. Don\u2019t forget Jadlam\u2019s price match guarantee and free 48 hour tracked delivery.<\/p>\n Both NSR and Slot.it cars are typically fitted with a traction magnet \u2013 but they are absolutely designed to be raced without extra downforce. A performance car with a magnet will be a supersonic missile on a home track \u2013 and the body may well get trashed when it crashes. Without a magnet, they will be a little slower, but utterly wonderful to drive \u2013 bringing a new dimension to your slot car racing experience. I strongly recommend ditching the magnet immediately \u2013 and driving them as intended.<\/p>\n NSR, Slot.it and Policar package their cars so they are \u2018ready-to-run\u2019 on Scalextric track. Even the tyre compound is suited to the Scalextric Sport surface. They can usually do with the bearings and gears being lightly oiled, plus some of the basic \u2018out-of-the-box\u2019 tweaks that I described for the Scalextric cars \u2013 including scuffing the rear tyres and loosening off the body screws (https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/2020\/11\/20\/scalextric-tuning-2-tweaking-a-new-car\/<\/a>). Gently spreading the ends of the braids and lifting them slightly will help with connectivity on the Scalextric Sport rails.<\/p>\n Digital<\/strong>: Performance cars can be converted to Scalextric digital (including ARC Pro) and Carrera D132 systems with a suitable chip. They are not Digital Plug Ready (DPR) and can’t be easily converted with the C8515 Digital Plug, but the latest (2020 onwards) Slot.it cars are fitted with a connector between guide and motor that plugs into the latest version of their SISP15B Scalextric chip (here<\/a>) and the new SISP43 Carrera D132 chip. The connectors are sold separately (part number SISP45 here<\/a>) and can be soldered to older Slot.it and Policar models and to NSR cars. Alternatively, just solder the SISP15B or SISP43 in place of the motor wires. I would not<\/strong> recommend using the C7005 chip with performance cars.<\/p>\n Controllers<\/strong>: Although using standard Scalextric controllers is fine with ready-to-run performance cars, a controller upgrade \u2013 for example, the Slot.it SCP models \u2013 will enhance the experience and expand your enjoyment of the hobby enormously. Switching to an SCP controller is a bit like jumping into a 2021 F1 or Le Mans car \u2013 there are loads of switches and dials to understand and tweak… It can be a bit overwhelming to begin with! However, when you get to grips with your new controller, your driving will improve and lap times will drop.<\/p>\n The SCP2 with an oXigen cartridge (here<\/a>) and the new SCP3 controller (here<\/a>) can be used – with updated firmware – as a ‘pro’ upgrade for the Scalextric ARC Air and ARC Pro powerbases. With an additional analogue cartridge, either the SCP2 or SCP3 will double as a top-quality club controller. However, they should not be plugged into a standard Scalextric analogue powerbase as this is wired the opposite way round to a club track and risks damaging the controller.<\/p>\n Power upgrades<\/strong>: As you progress with performance cars, it is wise to upgrade the power to your track. ARC Pro will give you plenty of power, but ARC Air users should swap the standard power supply for the Scalextric P9300\/C7024 unit (https:\/\/www.jadlamracingmodels.com\/scalextric-hornby-digital-c7024-p9300-power-supply-for-r8213-c7042\/<\/a>). This provides sufficient current for the more powerful motors and is a ‘semi-official’ plug & play upgrade recommended by the Scalextric team. If you like your analogue ‘pure’ and controllers wired, consider building a UK club specification driver station. I’ve written a tutorial at SlotRacer Online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That\u2019s it for this quick introduction to performance slot cars<\/strong>. If I\u2019ve whetted your appetite, why not treat yourself? A first Slot.it or NSR is always a special purchase! I\u2019ll be writing more over the summer \u2013 looking in more detail at the different brands, reviewing a couple of cars and also offering some snippets of advice to any of you preparing to try out slot car club racing.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Intro1.4.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nWhat makes a performance slot car?<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nDo they look as good as they perform?<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nHow do you race them?<\/h4>\n
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