Do you feel the need for speed, but do not want all of the dangers and risks that are involved when driving a real car at high speeds incurs? Not to mention the cost to repair a real racing car when you wad it up in a crash. If this is you, then try your hand at slot car racing. You see, model slot car racing has been around since 1929 and has gained immense popularity, nationally and internationally.
The tracks on which slot cars run are made up of groves or slots(hence the words ‘slot’ car) into which the cars are guided with the help of a pin or a blade like apparatus on the under carriage of the cars. Only one slot car slot is to occupy one slot. So for example, if you have an eight lane track, you can have up to eight cars circulating the track.
Each slot is connected to a power source, such as an electric power pack or batteries which maintains that the power supply remains stable throughout the whole time the slot cars are on the track. To prevent the slot cars from jumping out of the slot, some of the slot cars under carriage have some sort of magnets which keep these electric model cars in constant contact with metal strips even at high speeds. Some model car blades are even magnetized to achieve the same effect as the undercarriage magnets. The speed of the cars are controlled by the squeezing of the trigger way on a pistol-grip joystick placed in the hand of the person who is controlling the slot car. Squeezing the trigger increases the speed of the slot car and releasing the trigger slows the electric model car down or stops it completely.
Slot car racing is truly international. International competitions are held annually in the united states and abroad. The united states has 2 HO scale car organizations called the United Federation of HO racers Association (UFHORA) and the HO Professional Racing Association (HOPRA). Each year both organizations hold national and international events around the country. These events are not only for racing the slot cars, but also to raise general awareness slot car racing in general..
So you want to race, huh? If you are a true beginner to slot car racing, first I recommend you join an slot car organization, either a local one in your neighborhood and or one that is recognized nationally. You can access a wealth of information from these places. For the HO ethusiast, check out the national organization HOPRA. Their website is at http: //www. hopra. org/
Then go down to the hobby store and purchase a model slot car racing set of the scale you want to race. It does not have to be a big set. Go home, set it up and have FUN!! See how the track and the cars are made. Notice how the car is able to propel itself down the track, stay in the slot and stop. Don’t be afraid to delve inside the cars to check out the gears, chassis and how the body is mounted.
In no time you will be upgrading to a larger set either by adding on to you current set or jogging down to your local track for more experience and or better competition. You will most likely upgrade your car(s) also by lightning your chassis, installing a tighter wound motor with custom brushes, installing stickier tires for better traction and more. and believe me when i say more, as there are many ways to make a slot car faster…. much faster.
In recent times, slot machines have become the biggest attraction at casinos. Slot machines are available with three or more reels, which spin when a lever on the side of the machine is pulled, and are coin-operated. Development in computer technology has replaced the traditional slot machines to the latest video slots, which has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concepts.
Video slots are known by different names in different parts of the world such as video poker in Australia, Video fruit machine in the Britain. On the other hand video slot machines are also known informally as one-armed bandit due to their appearance and ability to leave the gamer penniless. Video slot machines function on a computer programmed chip, which is fitted in the machine itself conversing the traditional mechanism, which operated on the motion of the reel.
Video slots can be categorized in two types: straight slots and progressive slots. Straight slots have set jackpot payouts, which are determined and are dependent on machines payout schedule. For instance, if playing on a straight quarter slot, winning a jackpot by betting on a quarter will give 200 coins, a two-quarter bet wins 600 coins, and the jackpot amounts to 2000 coins. Progressive slot machines have jackpots, which are tied into a bank of machines or to carousel of machines or even into other machines at a different casino. The progressive jackpot is displayed on an electric board, which is attached to the progressive slot machines. The progressive jackpot increases with every play on each slot machine of the progressive group. The payouts on progressive slots can reach to extremes and can range from several thousands to multi-million dollar payments.
Most casinos even include other video slots such as the 3-reel slot machine, 4-reel slot machine, 5-reel slot machine, fruit machine. Often odds increase with more reels in a slot machine. Similar to these casinos come up better gimmicky names and enhanced digital effect video slots every season thus maintaining and increasing the attraction. One of the biggest successes in video machines has been the nickel slot. This slot has become very popular amongst players and has earned millions for casino owners. Video slots have greatly enhanced the gaming experience making playing more enthralling and fun filled.