Conventional Or Digital Slot Car Racing – Which Is Best For You?
Slot car racing has existed since the 1950s in its original form, the “conventional” or “analog” version, where each car runs in its designated lane. Now, however, the modern digital version, allowing cars to change lanes to overtake and pass, is rapidly gaining popularity within the hobby. This expansion offers more options than ever for beginners. Which version might be best for you or for someone you’re gifting a race set to? Here’s some information to help you choose. In conventional slot car racing, each car remains in a single lane, with the number of cars that can race at once limited by the number of lanes available. Most home tracks feature 2 or 4 lanes, though up to 8 lanes are possible if space permits. Each driver races within one lane, but the race can be divided into heats, with drivers switching lanes between rounds to ensure equal time on each lane. This approach balances out any lane advantages for all participants.
Four conventional 1/32 scale slot cars line up for a race on a 4-lane track
Digital racing, the latest advancement in model car racing, enables up to 6, or sometimes even 8, cars to compete on a 2-lane track. Each driver has full control over their car thanks to electronic circuitry in the cars and controllers. All cars can race in either lane at any time, with lane change track sections positioned around the circuit allowing drivers to switch lanes for overtaking, passing, or taking the optimal line for the entire lap.
Two SCX digital NASCARs race closely while a third shifts lanes to overtake
Choosing between conventional and digital racing depends on various factors that differ for each individual. Here’s a guide to help you evaluate them:
Space:
Space is a key consideration. With digital racing, multiple drivers can race on a compact 2-lane track, making it ideal if you have limited space for your layout.
Cost:
Cost is another factor. Digital sets and cars generally cost more due to the electronics involved. Converting cars from different manufacturers for digital use requires installing a digital chip in each, costing up to $20 per car. However, because a digital track only requires 2 lanes to accommodate 4-6 cars, you may need less track compared to a 4- or 6-lane conventional setup. Depending on layout size and number of cars, digital can sometimes be more economical. If you’re aiming for a long, complex layout without many cars, digital might be advantageous. But if you want a variety of cars from different brands, the added cost of digital chips could make conventional racing more affordable.
Complexity:
Complexity is also worth considering. Conventional racing is simpler—drivers control only the car’s speed, without lane changes. Many find digital controls easy to learn, but young children, who may still be developing coordination and focus, often find conventional racing simpler and less frustrating. Conventional cars and controllers are also easier to maintain, with fewer parts that could malfunction and no programming required.
Layout Size and Power:
There’s no set limit on layout size or lap length for either conventional or digital tracks. However, with lap lengths over 30 feet, additional wiring is needed to ensure consistent power throughout the circuit. Manufacturers offer snap-on wiring kits for this purpose. Digital tracks may have an additional consideration: as lap length increases, more lane change sections are usually added. Since both cars and lane-change gates share a single power supply, exceeding 4-5 lane changes may require a power upgrade to avoid impacting car performance. Alternatively, the system can be rewired to power the lane-change gates separately, though this requires soldering skills. In terms of cost, this may be similar to upgrading to a larger power supply or using separate power for each lane in a multi-lane conventional setup, which is a common approach.
The digital chip module in a Scalextric (L.) and an SCX car. The method of lane change activation—electric or mechanical—determines the module’s size, configuration, and placement constraints. One manufacturer, SCX, uses mechanical power for its lane changers instead of electrical power, which removes lane change tracks from the power equation entirely. While this feature is beneficial, it comes with a trade-off: SCX’s mechanical lane changers require a large activator placed just behind the guide post, between the car’s front wheels. This design often makes it difficult, if not impossible, to convert cars from other brands to SCX’s system due to space limitations within the car. With enough skill, equipment, cost, and effort, nearly any slot car can be adapted to any digital system, but practically speaking, many users will be limited to SCX cars on an SCX digital layout. Scalextric, Ninco, and Carrera share the same track system for both conventional and digital racing, so you can easily switch your layout from digital to conventional by removing all digital-specific track sections and components and replacing them with those for conventional racing, or vice-versa. Digital cars can also run on a conventional track, though they may lack dynamic braking. With Scalextric, converting cars from conventional to digital is straightforward; in some cases, it’s simply a plug-and-play process. This flexibility allows you to start with a basic, lower-cost conventional system and later transition to digital at a moderate cost. Conversely, you can convert a digital track to conventional if you find digital racing unsuitable. However, SCX employs two distinct track systems, making it necessary to start from scratch when switching from SCX conventional to digital or vice-versa. One notable limitation with digital racing, at least currently, is the lack of compatibility between different brands’ digital systems. A digital car from one brand cannot be used on another brand’s digital track unless it is converted to that system by swapping the chip module, which requires soldering and sometimes chassis modifications. Those who want to use a range of cars from various manufacturers on a digital track will need to install a compatible digital chip in each car, costing around $20 per installation. In contrast, any 1:32 scale ready-to-run (RTR) car can be used on any conventional track and power system with only minor adjustments to the guide flag, if necessary. While cars may not achieve optimal performance with a different brand’s power supply and controllers, they will still function adequately. Additionally, cars from brands that don’t produce sets and tracks are compatible with any conventional track system. Both conventional and digital cars can be upgraded with different tires, traction magnets, and even motors to enhance performance. Motor and magnet upgrades increase a car’s amperage draw, which may necessitate a higher-amperage power supply or separate power for each lane, as well as aftermarket controllers with resistance values better suited to the modified cars. With conventional systems, power upgrades are straightforward and often plug-and-play. Power bases usually feature sockets for connecting a power supply to each lane, and a wide range of high-quality aftermarket controllers is available for conventional systems. Currently, no aftermarket upgrade controllers exist for digital systems, though this is likely to change soon. With digital systems, modified cars compete for power with multiple lane change gates, making power upgrades, especially for the lane changers, more crucial. The standard power systems that come with digital sets are typically inadequate for both modified cars and multiple lane changers without upgrades. Modified cars also require power upgrades on conventional tracks, but most hobbyists can enjoy substantial performance enhancements without needing more than a standard power supply per lane. On this point, opinions may vary among enthusiasts. However, our experience suggests that most slot car hobbyists prioritize balanced performance and enjoyable handling characteristics over pushing each car to its performance limits. For the majority of home racers, extreme power upgrades are unnecessary.
