I havent had a slot car track in about 30 years. I used to have a Tyco set. Then got an AFX set. I expanded over time and had many cars. Anyway, I am thinking of getting back into it because I think this is something I can have tons of fun with my son. A few questions I have:
Whats popular?
Whats got the best support?
Which track system is best?
Where do you guys buy your stuff?
Thanks in advance!

I havent had a slot car track in about 30 years. I used to have a Tyco set. Then got an AFX set. I expanded over time and had many cars. Anyway, I am thinking of getting back into it because I think this is something I can have tons of fun with my son. A few questions I have:
Whats popular?
Tomy AFX, Life Like and Auto World are all offering cars and sets with some regularity. Occasionally you will see new Hot Wheels Electric Racing sets (Mattel / Hot Wheels bought out Tyco many years ago). The Tomy cars & sets are very good. Life Like is a little lower quality-wise, in my opinion, but still very popular due to their NASCAR license. Auto World make nice bodies but their chassis quality is spotty -- you have to be a tuner & tweaker and be committed to working on getting them to run consistently.

Whats got the best support?
The aftermarket support for all the brands is there. Each manufacturer offers pit kits with replacement parts like pick-up shoes, axles/gears, etc.

Which track system is best?
You'll get a lot of opinion on this, but I will say this: Tomy AFX has the biggest selection of track pieces. Everyone does 9" & 12" turns, but with Tomy AFX you can go all the way up to 18".

Where do you guys buy your stuff?
I'm lucky enough to have a couple of real good shops in town here. Online, I guess I'd recommend Lucky Bob's in Milwaukee & Bud's HO in New York.

Thanks in advance!

Good luck and welcome back. :thumbsup:

Where are you located? There are many clubs throughout the U.S., and can further help you out.

Central New Jersey

Look up Nostalgia Hobby in NJ. They should hook you up.

i got back into it for the same reason,jerzferno,granted my boy was 8 months old when i showed up with the first free box score of a/fx...now i have over a 100 ft of ho track and a bunch of 1/43 stuff i found in thrift stores for a song..and a bunch of cars my wife is still choked about...sigh...boys will be boys...

hey again jerz gotta concure with "76 cobra,the jl chassis axles are shite...absolute shite.but otherwise,if ya buy after market hubs,tires and axles their electrics{silver}work just fine,plus the jl magnets are pretty much matched out of the box,which is great...add some silver notched brushes and yer good to go! depending on the class yer racin in of course...

Im not looking in to hopping these things up. Just buy'em and run'em. I save my hopping up for my RC cars. LOL Just looking to get some track, a few cars, and get beat by my son. LOL