This set is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Oval racing returns to our 1/32nd scale hobby and leave it to Scalextric to be the brand that does it.
Of course I’ll admit my bias right away. I love oval racing and the cars that race in it. Regardless of this, this is one great set to get started in this hobby.
Most of this review is video. I hope it clearly shows you everything you need to know.
The cars in this set are the stars of the show for me.
You can ONLY GET THESE VERSIONS in this set.
Assembly of this track is very easy. The powerbase hook up is as simple as it gets and the banking supports really add to the visual and performance of the set and cars.
Plugs are simple and connection is solid.
This is my first time with this powerbase and I like it’s simplicity. I also REALLY like the new transformer that puts out enough amps to allow the cars decent performance. Not to be too technical, but in older sets the transformers have very few amps that led to one car getting a burst of speed when the other one came off. There is literally none of that here.
It’s worth mentioning that this powerbase is wired “correctly” for American oval racing. Meaning the cars travel counter-clockwise as they should.
Perhaps the biggest change for me was the new controllers. Most set controllers are not very good quality, but these seem durable enough to get started and they function rather well.
But the REALLY big deal? They have a new speed limiter switch. These are much easier to use than older versions and more importantly, THEY WORK.
Please watch the video below. One of the most common complaints from parents is their children “can’t keep the cars on the track”. Now we all know that practice makes perfect, but anyone with younger children can better understand how important this feature is.
That truly is a big deal.
ALTERNATE TRACK PLAN #1
I decided to change the track plan just a little. This way the design fits on a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. That table size is the most popular for taking the next step and building a layout.
Finally, you might be curious if other cars will run on this set. Of course they will. Some might need a guide change, but most of the new cars you will purchase will run just fine.
So there you have it. In my opinion this is THE set to start your hobby with this year.
- It has enough track to make the racing fun and with Scalextric, a system you can build upon.
- Controllers that are adjustable for the wide variety of skill levels.
- Very tough and equally COOL CARS!
For the more advanced enthusiasts, these cars work great on other surfaces. I have tested and tuned them pretty extensively over this past week. Quite frankly, these are the most important releases in 1/32nd scale for me. This era of stock car racing has long been overdue and the team at Scalextric deserve credit for actually producing something new and ORIGINAL that current enthusiasts have asked for.
After-market tires are available of course. The new Quick Slicks silicone’s were specifically designed for these new wheels and they have an excellent fit. That is not an easy task to accomplish for a plastic wheel as most of you know.
Of course if you prefer urethane’s, the venerable Paul Gage line already has a tire that fits equally well.
As always, I hope this article helps you in choosing your new set. Feel free to contact me anytime about this article or just the hobby in general.
-Harry
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