Slot car racing has been around for over 40 years. It consists of racing model cars with electric motors around a slotted track. Slot car tracks can be almost any design, but long ovals with a handful of switchbacks are the most popular.

Along the center of each lane is a groove called a slot. The slot car’s engine gets power from electric contacts on either side of the slot.

The slot cars are made of a body, engine, gears, tires, shocks, and often magnets. The magnets apply a downward pressure to help in cornering, but if you use too strong of a magnet, you can sacrifice performance or burn out your motor.

Slot cars are only held in the slot by gravity (and maybe a light magnet), so if you go too fast your car can “de-slot,” which means you’ll lose power. And that’s the secret to slot car racing: go as fast as possible without “de-slotting.”

The strategy in slot car racing is to go as fast as possible on the straightaways, but then slow down in the corners to keep yourself from de-slotting. It is legal to “bump” the car in the next lane when cornering in hopes of de-slotting your opponent. Many beginners try this tactic, and while it works occasionally, most experts think focusing on your own race and getting into a rhythm are much more successful long-term tactics.