The 1960’s was the decade that slot car popularity soared and the USA was the very heart of the slot car universe. They returned 20 years later in the 1960’s and started to produce cheaper slot car toys for Sears department stores targeting the general public. Not only did Marx at this point in time manufacture this clockwork set they also had launched an electric speedway, this was much more expensive. There were 2 keys included and you powered the cars by winding them with keys. Marx, in 1938, was manufacturing and selling the “Motorcycle Cop & Car Speedway” it was a single track and included 2 clockwork vehicles made from tin. Over the next 40 or so years there were even more slot car racing sets that came and went from companies like the Bachman Brothers and Marx. There were approximately 12,000 sets manufactured by 1915 when for unbeknown reasons Lionel discontinued the set. Not much different from the modern slot cars we see today.

The cars got their power from a toy train that was sunk in a rough and connected to a battery. The first ever manufactured slot car was created by Lionel in the USA and was available from 1912. Some even build their own model cars from scratch using their own mechanisms, parts and materials. Slot car racing has become increasingly popular and has advanced over the years, and serious competitions now exist. If not then allow me to explain: Slot car racing is a competitive hobby of racing model cars around a track, the cars are guided around this track by a groove in which the cars slot into. Ever played Scaletrix? If so then you pretty much know what Slot car racing is.

Speed zone slot car shop