Picking the Best Track; Pros and Cons

Scalextric Sport Track:  

Pros:

            •Snap-together assembly and disassembly

            •Locks together well on a sold floor or tabletop

            •Slightly rough surface  (allows a broader choice of super-grip or powerslides through corners)

            •Best variety of different track sections

            •Great-looking borders for all curves

            •Borders for all curves are wide enough

            •Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track

            •Flexible enough to allow some misalignment

            •Flexible enough to allow slight banking in turns

            •Great looking guard rails

            •Excellent low-cost lap counter/timers

            •Plug-in option for reversing

            •Highly-recommended "Pacer" option to race against yourself

            •Interchanges with Scalextric and SCX and can be adapted to NINCO

Cons:

            •Track comes apart too easily to be moved without compete disassembly

            •Borders do not attach firmly enough for use on crossing bridges

            •Must buy second transformer and connector track for individual power supply to each lane

            •Lane spacing a bit close for modern Formula 1 and sports/GT cars

            •No banked curves available

Scalextric "Classic" Track:  

Pros:

            •Easiest track made to assemble and disassemble

            •Because of the above, it is probably the best track for younger children

            •Locks together well on a solid floor or tabletop

            •Good compromise between too little and too much traction

            •Best variety of different track sections

            •Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track

            •Flexible enough to allow some misalignment

            •Flexible enough to allow slight banking in turns

            •Great-looking borders for standard curves

            •Borders for all curves are wide enough

            •Great looking guard rails for standard curves

            •Excellent low-cost lap counter/timers

            •Plug-in option for reversing

            •Highly-recommended "Pacer" option to race against yourself

            •Interchanges with SCX and can be adapted to Sport and NINCO

Cons:

            •Track comes apart too easily to be moved without compete disassembly

            •Borders do not attach firmly enough for use on crossing bridges

            •Must buy second transformer and connector track for individual power supply to each lane

            •Slot too shallow for many other brands of cars

            •No outer-outer curves available

            •Lane spacing a bit close for modern Formula 1 and sports/GT cars

            •No banked curves available

            •Color of outer curve and straight borders not realistic

            •No longer produced so some sections are difficult to find

SCX Track:

Pros:

            •See Scalextric “Classic”

            •Outer-outer lanes available

            •Best-looking borders of all the tracks

            •Offers self-racing program track

Cons:

            •See Scalextric “Classic”

            •Track surface too rough in some racers' opinions

            •Borders are too narrow to be really useful

            •Can be more difficult to find

            •Must use Scalextric track section for individual lane power supply

 NINCO Track:

Pros:

            •Track assembles easily and holds together well

            •Offers outer-outer curves

            •Offers outer-outer-outer curves

            •Slot deep enough to allow any brand of car to operate

            •Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track

            •Flexible enough to allow some misalignment

            •Flexible enough to allow some banking in turns

            •Borders available for inside and outside of all curves

            •Borders for outer curves are wide enough

            •Individual lane power standard

            •Reversing standard

            •Brake feature standard

Cons:

            •Track surface too rough in some racers' opinions

            •Can be more difficult to find

            •Can be more expensive

            •No banked track

            •Color of borders not realistic

            •No self-racing program track

 Carrera Track:

Pros:

            •Track holds together tightly enough to operate on carpet or to move

            •Offers outer-outer curves

            •Offers borders for all curves

            •Borders are wide enough for any 1/32 scale car

            •Offers banked turns

            •Connector track has built-in brake feature

            •Slot is deep enough for any brand of car

            •Individual lane power standard

            •Brakes standard

Cons:

            •Can be difficult for under-12-year olds to disassemble

            •Plastic tabs can break-off if track is carelessly disassembled.

            •Track can break if stepped on

            •Reversing only avialable with Carrera cars

            •Borders are black with "Construction Zone" red and white chevrons

            •Solid wall guardrails not realisticv

            •No self-racing program track

Artin Track:

Pros:

            •Lowest cost

            •Track locks together easily and firmly

            •Offers outer-outer curves

            •Borders attach easily and firmly

Cons:

            •Can be difficult for under-12-year olds to disassemble

            •Plastic tabs can break-off if track is carelessly disassembled.

            •Track can break if stepped on

             •Borders are black with "Construction Zone" yellow chevrons

            •No self-racing program track

Riggen or Strombecker/Bachmann Track:

Pros:

            •Locks together tightly

            •Lane spacing wide enough

Cons:

            •Can be difficult for under-12-year olds to disassemble

            •No half inner curves available

            •No half straights available

            •Only standard and outer curves available

            •No borders available

            •Track can break if stepped on