| The slot car is well known by everyone in some | | | | began producing motors made for slot cars. |
| form or another. The 1950's and 1960's were a time | | | | Prior to 1966, emphasis was put on scale appearance |
| when people were able to enjoy all the new and | | | | and detail. A slot car was fundamentally a model car |
| exciting things being introduced for consumption. | | | | with a motor adapted into it. Manufacturers |
| Along with new music styles and fads like the hula | | | | employed master mold makers who would examine |
| hoop and slinky, there was the arrival in full force of | | | | photographs at all angles of every new race car |
| commercial slot car racing. | | | | being campaigned even some vintage models. Some |
| Companies like Revell, Monogram, Cox and | | | | would even get permission and licensing from the car |
| Strombecker, took detailed models of popular stock | | | | owners and could precisely measure the actual car |
| cars, Indy cars, formula 1 cars and sports cars, added | | | | then reduce those measurements to 1/32 or 1/24 |
| rudimentary chassis with motors and the hobby of | | | | scale. |
| slot car racing was officially was established. | | | | The early tires used on slot car were actual rubber, |
| Home sets were sold by the tens of thousands at | | | | just like on real cars. The tires were molded with the |
| Christmas time, in HO scale, 1/32 scale and even 1/24 | | | | shape and all the detail right down to the Firestone |
| scale. Of course, racing with family and friends on a | | | | logo. These slot cars were top heavy and really slid |
| plastic track is fun, but soon the desire to compete | | | | around. Getting one around a track with any pace |
| on a larger scale becomes a huge business | | | | took a very good driver. Most of the people who do |
| opportunity. | | | | slot cars back then or today are not good drivers. |
| Commercial raceways in 1963 consisted of small ovals | | | | Just like Tiger Woods is the best golfer or Michel |
| or figure 8's in the back of hobby stores. Four and | | | | Schumacher is the best driver, some people have an |
| six lane layouts were common. All slot car tracks | | | | inborn skill to be good at slot car racing and most |
| were custom made. There were no standards so no | | | | don't. |
| two layouts were the same and the number of lanes | | | | In 1966 the whole focus of the hobby changed. |
| were as high as ten. It wasn't until American Model | | | | Going fast and making the slot car easier to drive |
| Raceways went into production of a full line of | | | | became the new priority. The beautiful and accurate |
| beautiful Formica sided tracks, that an 8 lane | | | | scale appearance of the slot car would become the |
| standard was settled on. | | | | casualty. |
| As the popularity of slot car racing increased, more | | | | Today, those early very scale slot cars are by far |
| companies were formed to meet the rabid demand. | | | | the most collectible. Some rare slot cars sell for well |
| Early cars adapted toy electric motors and HO train | | | | over $1000. Not bad for something that was $8.95 |
| motors for propulsion. Soon Mabuchi motors of Japan | | | | new. |