Slot car racing (also called slotcar racing or slot racing) is the competitive hobby of racing electric-powered, scaled vehicles guided by grooves (slots) in the track on which they race. The slot cars themselves are usually modeled after actual cars, although some have bodies specifically designed for miniature racing.
As with most hobbies, slot car racing goes from casual get-togethers at home or club tracks, using whatever cars the host makes available, to very serious competitions with custom, scratch-built vehicles.
Slot car racing peaked in popularity during the 1960s, with sales reaching $500 million annually, and also featuring 3,000 public courses in the United States alone. As with most hobby fads interest diminished, particularly with the rise of Remote-Controlled (RC) cars.
These days, most of the action takes place inside clubs, which are usually owned by the community, local church, or motor racing club, and the typical racers are fairly young. However, it seems to be making a come back amongst the 60-year-olds who grew up with the hobby at its peak in popularity.
