Slot cars are more than just tiny mock-ups of real cars, some are lovingly built from scratch by slot car enthusiasts and most cars, whether store-bought or hand-crafted, are modified for better performance. Similar to model trains, these early slot cars sped along a raised track, and racers could increase or decrease the speed of their car by adjusting a switch on the track's power supply. Although slot cars gained popularity in the 1960s, it was way back in 1912 when the Lionel Corporation first created the original slot cars. You can purchase a slot car set, which includes all the necessary parts to start racing right out of the box however, additional track pieces, car bodies, controllers and other various after-market components are available for purchase, too. The grooves are lined with two metal rails that are narrowly separated and set into the track, creating a slot between them.
The 'slot' in the name comes from shallow channels or grooves in the track that guide the vehicles through the twists and turns as well as on the straight sections. Slot cars are miniature scale model cars that race along a fixed track.
