Moosepower

Pete Varlan's Pitstop Raceway

About PitStop Raceway

Slot racing is the world’s fastest motor sport.  A 1/24^th Scale Slotcar Lapping Our 180-Foot Track in 3.5 Seconds is Running at an Average Scale Speed of 840 Miles Per Hour.

 

SO… WHAT EXACTLY IS A SLOTCAR?

It's a miniature race car driven by a 12-volt electric motor run by DC power supplies and storage batteries connected to the track. The car follows a groove (the "slot") cut into the track surface with a router. On either side of the slot are conductive copper strips carrying the electrical current to power the car.  Attached to the front of the car is a plastic guide. This guide fits into the slot and allows the car to follow the turns in the track.  On the guide are two short strips of braided copper that run along those on the track. The power is picked up from the track by these braids and delivered to the motor along two wires connecting the positive and negative braids to the positive and negative terminals of the motor.

 

OK… THEN WHAT?

 

You 'drive' using a pistol-shaped controller that regulates the acceleration and braking of the car.

Pulling the trigger of the controller allows more current to reach the car.  The further the trigger is pulled the faster the car travels.  Slot cars also have brakes.  The braking action is activated by fully releasing the trigger.  This closes a circuit that uses the motor as a generator of reverse current to slow the car.  Drive too fast into a corner and the car will come out of the slot, lose power, and stop until you put it back into the slot.  Drive too slowly and everyone else on the track will be passing you.

 

HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST?

 

Glad you asked.  Not only is slotcar racing super fast, you can get started in one of the entry-level classes for less than virtually any other form of motorized competition you can name.  Just about everything you need to get you up and racing can be had for a shade less than $100.  An hour of practice time is $8.  Race entry fees vary, but local events are in the $3 to $5 range.  Prizes are usually awarded in the form of gift certificates or merchandise.

 

DRAG RACING?

 

1/24-scale funny cars can cover the quarter mile (that's 55 feet) in less than half a second at a real-time speed of over 120 miles per hour.  That's a scale speed of 2,880 mph.  Yes, that kind of speed has a high price tag, but bracket racers that run around 1.2 seconds at 45 mph are great values at around $60.00.  With no need to regulate cornering speeds or apply brakes, you can drag race with an on/off switch as your controller.  Our timing system is computerized and uses a christmas tree starting system just like those at full-size drag strips.