TRACK TEST DIGEST

FULL RACE TRACK TEST REPORTS ON 21 MODEL RACING CARS

MODEL CAR RACING TRACK TEST RESULTS  SUMMARY, ISSUES 1 through 6

This is a digest or summary of all the track tests on 1/32 scale race cars we have performed in the fist six issues of Model Car Racing magazine. In some tests, there were errors or omissions in the numbers which we have tried to correct for this compilation. Individual back issues are not available but a complete package of the first six issues is available as part of a Special Limited Edition package that includes a Scalextric Cadillac Northstar LeMans car as described on our subscription page.

Race Car:   

Race Performance:

Lap Time, 36-foot 

Scalextric Indy F1 Course:

Lap Time, 36-foot 

Carrera Indy F1 Course:

Cornering Speeds:

Scalextric Skidpad (32 1/4-inch circle):

Sport Skidpad (32 1/4-inch circle:

Carrera Skidpad (35 1/4-inch circle):

SCX Skidpad (32 1/4-inch circle):

Ninco Skidpad (36 3/4-inch circle):

Acceleration & Speed:

15-Foot Scalextric Straightaway, Time:

        Speed (through trap at 14-15 feet):

15-Foot Carrera Straightaway, Time:

    Speed (through trap at 14-15 feet):

ISSUE #1. SCALEXTRIC FORD TAURUS NASCAR PERFORMANCE:

*Stock: 5.33 sec. 5.77 sec. 11.2 fps** 5.32 fps 7.22 fps 11.233 fps 11.497 fps 13.86 mph 20.33 fps 13.03 mph 19.11 fps

*Stock: 4.36  sec. 4.87 sec. 14.216  fps NA 10.691 fps 13.397 fps 14.481 fps 13.63 mph 20.00 fps 13.10 mph 19.21 fps

 Tuned: 4.23 sec. 4.35 sec. 14.267 fps NA 12.585 fps 13.773 fps 14.208 fps 13.70 mph 20.09 fps 13.20 mph 19.36 fps

*NOTE:  Phase I cars have gray magnets that are not as powerful (less downforce) as the shiny Phase II magnets (which have more downforce). The Phase II magnets can be ordered  from your Scalextric dealer. You can raise the Phase II magnets if you want to reduce the downforce to match the downforce to the Phase I magnets. The Phase III NASCAR cars are the new for 2002 sidewinder-style with full interior detail. 

ISSUE #1, FLY 1/32 SCALE PORSCHE 908/3. PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 4.5 sec 4.993 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Tuned: 3.9 sec 4.425 sec 16.583 fps 10.05 fps 13.75 fps 16.987 fps 16.550 fps NA mph 18.91 fps NA mph 17.31 fps

ISSUE #2, SCALEXTRIC CADILLAC NORTHSTAR LMP PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 4.8 sec 5.83 sec 8.88 fps 9.23 fps 7.69 fps 8.34 fps 8.97 fps* 13.47 mph 19.76 fps 12.14 mph 17.81 fps

W/silicones:  4.05 sec 4.53 sec 9.17 fps NA 8.63 fps 8.49 fps 9.19 fps NA NA NA NA

*The speed on the Ninco Skid pad would have been somewhat higher but the cars juderred at most track joints, causing understeer (front end slide).

ISSUE #2, SCX AUDI R8 PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 4.55 sec 5.76 sec 9.00 fps NA 6.99 fps 9.05 fps 9.30 fps 9.67 mph 14.18 fps 8.58 mph 12.58 fps

Light mag: 4.70 sec 5.73 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Silicones: 4.15 sec 4.675 sec 9.21 fps 9.34 fps 7.89 fps 9.25 fps* 9.49 fps NA NA NA NA

ProMotor: 4.15 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA 13.47 mph 19.76 fps 11.4 mph 16.72 fps

*The speed on the Ninco skidpad would have been somewhat higher, but the cars juddered at most track joints, causing understeer (front end slide) on the Ninco skidpad.

ISSUE #3, CARRERA1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427 STING RAY PERFORMANCE: 

Stock: 5.25 sec. 5.42 sec 7.00 fps 6.49 fps 6.15 fps 6.78 fps 6.87 fps 13.7 mph 20.09 fps 12.8 mph 18.77 fps

ISSUE #3, SCALEXTRIC SIDEWINDER FORD TAURUS NASCAR PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 3.95 sec 4.40 sec 10.90 fps 9.23 fps 9.52 fps 10.64 fps 9.03 fps 13.4 mph 19.65 fps 11.7 mph 17.16 fps

Mid-magnet: NA 4.70 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Front-magnet:3.90 sec* 5.20 sec* NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

*NOTE:  These test results are for the sidewinder car with the stock magnet in the forward position and the Slot.it magnet stuck beneath the motor

ISSUE #4, SCX ARROWS A21 FORMULA 1 PERFORMANCE:

Low magnet: 3.85 sec 4.257 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

High magnet: 4.21 sec 4.16 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Narrow/low: 3.75 sec 4.198 sec 10.03 fps SP 9.98 fps 9.64 fps 9.88 fps  XXX XXX XXX XXX

Narrow/high: 4.15 sec 4.242 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NOTES:  Narrowed SCX Arrows car ran at least as well, if not better without “Pontiac Wide Track”, and is less likely to make contact with other cars on track, and is less fragile with regard to guide and steering linkage. Problems with the fragility put the Arrowsi out after a few "offs" on the skid pad.

ISSUE #4,SCALEXTRIC SPORT MC LAREN MP4-16 

AND WILLIAMS FW23 FORMULA 1 PERFORMANCE:

F1 McLaren

Both mags: NA* 3.80 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Front-mag: 4.14 sec 4.13 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Rear-mag: 3.8 sec 4.30 sec 10.03 fps SP 10.51 fps 11.37 fps 11.72 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

Rear mag

(w/rain tires): 4.21 sec 4.16 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 

F1 Williams

Rear-mag

(w/rain tires): 3.4 sec 3.38 sec 11.40 fps SP 11.62 fps 11.80 fps 11.79 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

Rear mag

(w/slicks): 3.52 sec 3.70 sec NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

*NOTES:  Scalextric McLaren front magnet holder became loose from frequent removal, and since car ran better without, rest of tests were run sans front magnet. Scalextric does not recommend running both magnets, anyway. Both "Sport" cars ran faster with the rain tires from Williams car, with a bigger advantage on Carrera track.

ISSUE #4, SCX 2-WHEEL DRIVE VS. 4-WHEEL DRIVE RALLY CARS PERFORMANCE:

SCX Renault Megane #46

IL, 2WD: 4.08 sec 4.46 sec 8.04 fps SP 7.63 fps 7.15 fps NA 9.0 mph 13.20 fps 8.9 mph 13.05 fps

SCX Ford Focus #1

IL 4WD: 4.05 sec 5.03 sec 8.61 fps SP 8.39 fps 8.44 fps 8.53 fps 8.4 mph 12.32 f[s 8.2 mph 12.03 fps

SCX Toyota Corolla #1

IL 4WD: 4.25 sec. 4.95 sec 8.53 fps SP 7.76 fps 7.74 fps 8.41 fps 9.0 mph 11.73 fps 7.9 mph 11.58 fps

SCX Peugeot 206 #10

IL 4WD: 4/2 sec 5/13 sec 9.38 fps SP 8.32 fps 8.79 fps 9.40 fps 8.9 mph 13.05 fps 8.6 mph 12.61 fps

ISSUE #5, FLY RACER VS. STANDARD FLY PORSCHE GT-1/98PERFORMANCE:

Standard: 3.6 sec 3.53 sec 10.18 fps 10.86 fps 12.52 fps 11.72 fps 11.32 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

Racer: 4.5 sec 4.12 sec 10.05 fps 9.28 fps 10.82 fps 10.99 fps 10.20 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

ISSUE #5, SCALEXTRIC TRANS-AM MUSTANG AND CAMARO PERFORMANCE:

Mustang: 3.7 sec 3.67 sec 11.02 fps 10.73 fps 11.85 fps 12.02 fps 10.74 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

Camaro: 3.8 sec 3.68 sec 10.67 fps 10.20 fps 11.30 fps 11.13 fps 10.21 fps XXX XXX XXX XXX

 Notes:  While Camaro is wider and magnet sets slightly lower, performance figures show that the test  Mustang was slightly

 faster all around. This could be attributed to a "lucky" motor in the Mustang, or due to the higher magnet drag on the Camaro.

 The Camaro showed a marked decrease in skid pad times due to magnet drag and subsequent

ISSUE #6, SCALEXTRIC 2WD VS. 4WD RALLY CARS PERFORMANCE:

Toyota Corolla #45

IL 2WD 6.1 sec 5.85 sec 6.49 fps SP 6.15 fps 6.30 fps 6.43 fps 13.1 mph 19.2 fps 12.7 mph 18.63 fps

Subaru Impreza #10

SW 2WD: 4.3 sec 4.32 sec 9.61 fps SP 9.42 fps 10.34 fps 10.95 fps NA NA NA NA

Ford Focus #5

SW 2WD: 5.4 sec 5.99 sec 7.74 fps SP 7.21 fps 6.92 fps 7.20 fps 13.1 mph 19.21 fps 12.9 mph 18.92 fps                                                                                                       

ISSUE #6, CARRERA 1967 CORVETTE 427 STINGRAY, MODIFIED, PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 5.35 sec. 5.42 sec 7.00 fps 6.49 fps 6.15 fps 6.78 fps 6.87 fps 13.7 mph 20.09 fps 12.8 mph 18.77 fps

Modified: 4.3 sec 4.0 sec 9.34 fps 9.52 fps 9.32 fps 8.70 fps NA* XXX XXX XXX XXX

*NOTE:  guide too deep, front end bounces

ISSUE #6, NINCO ARROWS F1 PERFORMANCE:

Stock: 4.60 sec 4.69 sec 9.4 fps SP 8.79 fps 10.27 fps 10.58 fps 11.0 mph NA 9.98 mph NA

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS:

Bold Face type is fastest in each testing category

2wd:   two-wheel drive

4wd:   four-wheel drive

fps:  feet per second

mph:  real miles per hour

IL:  inline motor

SW:  sidewinder motor

sec:  second

INDEX BY RACE CAR BRAND & BY ISSUE:

MODEL CAR RACING TRACK TEST RESULTS (by brand):

CARRERA 1967 CORVETTE 427 STING RAY PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #3

CARRERA  427 STINGRAY LE MANS PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #6

FLY PORSCHE 908/3 PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #1

FLY PORSCHE GT-1/98 PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #5

FLY RACER PORSCHE GT-1/98 SUPERTUNE PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #5

NINCO ARROWS A20 FORMULA 1 PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #6

SCALEXTRIC CADILLAC NORTHSTAR LMP PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #2:

SCALEXTRIC INLINE FORD TAURUS NASCAR  PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #1

SCALEXTRIC SIDEWINDER FORD TAURUS NASCAR PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #3

SCALEXTRIC SPORT MC LAREN MP4-16 FORMULA 1, ISSUE #4

SCALEXTRIC SPORT WILLIAMS FW23 FORMULA 1, ISSUE #4

SCALEXTRIC TRANS-AM MUSTANG PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #5

SCALEXTRIC TRANS-AM CAMARO PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #5

SCALEXTRIC RALLY CARS, (3 CARS:  INLINE VS. SIDEWINDER) PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #6

SCX AUDI R8 PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #2

SCX ARROWS A21 FORMULA 1 PERFORMANCE,, ISSUE #4

SCX RALLY CARS (4 CARS:  2-WHEEL DRIVE VS. 4-WHEEL DRIVE) PERFORMANCE, ISSUE #4

SKIDPAD TEST RESULTS: CORNERING SPEEDS ON THE SPORT SKIDPAD, ISSUE #3