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By "slotless" I mean the old Tyco TCR, Command Control, Aurora Speedsteer, Ultra Five, or Ideal TCR racing. Today's digital slot cars are not the same thing as they can change lanes on only certain sections of track. So basically we're talking about what is called "vintage racing" in 1/1th scale. Old race cars fixed up to run again, usually with equally old drivers and enthusiasts.

While I've raced slot cars for years, and had an Ideal TCR set a long time ago, I really got into slotless racing in 2013 and have enjoyed it al LOT because it's so unique. I have managed to gather some Tyco TCR track and cars and modified some Aurora Speedsteer cars to run on the wider Tyco track. A couple of friends have become mildly interested, but I've found that slotless racing can also be set up to race by yourself (like computer racing simulators) when there's no one around to race.

I have connected with a couple of guys online who do this, but there seems to be no widespread interest. I have wondered about setting up a Slotless Yahoo group, but have been told there would never be enough interest to make it worthwhile. In the meantime I have a small website at http://slotless.weebly.com in case anyone is interested. Even more info can be had at http://www.tycotcrracing.com .

So IS there anyone out there interested in slotless racing?

Stumpy in Ahia :character-oldtimer:

TCR was big back in the late 70's. My older brother and another kid in our neighborhood had a TCR track. We would get together and race regularly. While it was a lot fun. I felt the main limitations were -

a) one car was usually a little faster than the other car which unless the faster car was held up by a jam car, the faster car/driver would win.

b) you can run wide open around the track so throttle control isn't as much of a factor as tradional slot cars.

c) limited to only two drivers.

I didn't know it at the time but TCR did release an equalizer that allowed the resistance to be adjusted for each controller circuit so that each car would run the same top speed. I wish I knew about this accessory back when I was into TCR since it would have made for some better racing.

Best regards,
Brian

As Dan at tycotcrracing.com explains, the problem with the early slotless systems such as Ideal's was a lack of power. The later systems (Aurora in the 1980s, and Tyco in the 1980's & '90's) both upped the power supplies for better performance. Ideal DID add various power and control options as time went along. They also improved their cars from a somewhat lame first car to a Mark 2 for late 1977 & '78, Mark 3 in about 1980, and Mark 4 later. But the Ideal Toy Company failed and the TCR system and other things were sold to Majorette of France. Majorette continued to make the improved system for some years as slotless racing lasted much longer across the Atlantic. By the way, Majorette actually owns the name "TCR" having gotten it with the Ideal TCR system.

I have read information that some people champion the Ideal tracks with the later cars as actually being better than other systems, though the Mark 3 and 4 cars are harder to come by and more costly that either the Aurora or Tyco cars. Ideal items come up on eBay regularly and some bigger slot car dealers also have Ideal TCR equipment, some of it NOS (new- old stock.)

Stumpy in Ahia :character-oldtimer:

Well if your interested in any TCR stuff let me know as I have a ton of track and several cars.
Tried it,it did work,but just not for me.
Good luck with your site. :) It is an interesting part of the hobby.
Rusty

I scrounged and bought enough Tyco TCR track to set up a good sized layout, but only have room for a 3x6 rectangle to this point. I've gathered almost twenty cars (both Tyco TCR and Aurora Speedsteer), two "wall wart" power packs, and four controllers after a little over two years dabbling in slotless racing. I also have some Ideal TCR track, but no cars, controllers, or power packs.

There are also some freebie battered cars and bodies that are becoming parts or bodies to customize. I'm still learning which Tyco bodies fit their TCR cars, but found that Aurora Speedsteer chassis can also use Aurora AFX, Tomy SRT and Mega G, and Auto World X-Traction bodies, so the supply and variety is quite good. Some of my experiments can be seen at: http://slotless.weebly.com . (I'm hoping to add many more photos, but am having problems with the website right now as Weebly has done some changing around.) There is also no option for communicating back and forth, so that's why I'm wondering about setting up a Yahoo group.

Stumpy in Ahia :character-oldtimer: