AFX was a classic slot car racing car set manufacturer that peaked in the 1970s and 1980s that built products for home use. The Aurora Plastics Corporation produced the Aurora Factory Experimentals (AFX) line of slot cars and slot car track sets which became the preeminent brand until the company went out of business in 1983. The AFX brand has since been revived and produces slot car sets again.
Today you can still buy vintage AFX slot car sets from collectors and modern slot car set are now available that use modern technology that was previously unavailable.
Let’s take a closer look at the AFX brand and slot car set in general in case it’s something you are considering adding to your games room.
AFX slot car brand
AFX is a brand of slot car racing sets and accessories that has been in business since the 1970s. The brand is known for producing high-quality, reliable slot cars and tracks that are popular with hobbyists and enthusiasts around the world.
Their tv ads used to feature the tagline “AFX, for the feel of real” to highlight the exciting and lifelike racing experience it offered, certainly for the era. As such, the AFX brand name is the one usually associated with slot cars.
AFX offers a range of slot car racing sets, including beginner sets for children and more advanced sets for experienced hobbyists. The company also produces a variety of accessories, including track expansion packs, replacement parts, and performance upgrades.
One of the features that sets AFX apart from other slot car manufacturers is their use of the Mega-G+ chassis, which is designed to provide superior handling and control. This chassis is used in many of their higher-end cars, and is prized by serious racers for its performance and durability.
AFX is a well-respected and reliable manufacturer of slot cars and racing sets, with a long history of producing high-quality products that are enjoyed by hobbyists and enthusiasts of all ages.
What is a slot car?
A slot car is a miniature model car that is powered by electricity and runs on a track with a groove or slot in it. The plastic cars are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and are modeled after actual real life car models to give you the feel of racing, but in the comfort of your home.
The slot in the track guides a metal strip on the bottom of the car, which provides power to the car’s electric motor. Typically, the metal strip is like a small rudder that sits in the slot of the track – hence the name slot car – to not only power the car but also to keep the car in the track as it races. You put the cars on the track so that the metal strip sits in the slot.
The track for slot cars is typically made up of sections that snap together to form a circuit, with curves, straights, and sometimes jumps or other obstacles. The cars are controlled by hand-held controllers that allow the player to accelerate, brake, and steer the car as it races around the track.
Slot car racing is a popular hobby that has been around since the 1960s. There are many different types of slot cars available, ranging from basic toy cars to high-performance models that can reach speeds of over 100 mph on specially-designed tracks. Slot car racing is often done in clubs or at dedicated tracks, but there are also sets available for home use.
AFX slot car components
Here are some key things to know about AFX Classic Car Racing Sets:
- Components: A typical AFX Classic Car Racing Set will include a race track, one or more cars, hand-held controllers, and a power supply. The race track will be made up of multiple sections that snap together to create a circuit. The cars are miniature replicas of classic automobiles, such as a Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, or Dodge Charger. You typically have a track with two slots so you can race against an opponent or practice with one car by yourself.
- Track layout: The track layout can vary depending on the set, but most will have a loop or two with some curves, straights, and sometimes jumps or other obstacles. The track sections are designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble, so you can create different layouts each time you race.
- Controllers: The hand-held controllers allow you to control the speed and direction of your car as it races around the track. You’ll use a trigger on the controller to accelerate, and a squeeze button to brake. The controllers were wired (this was before wireless was prevalent) and were usually pistol-grip design in nature.
- Power supply: The power supply provides the electricity needed to power the cars around the track. Most AFX Classic Car Racing Sets use a plug-in transformer that converts household AC power to low voltage DC power for the track.
- Racing experience: AFX Classic Car Racing Sets offer a fun and exciting racing experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. The cars are fast, but easy to control, so even younger children can join in the fun. You can race against other players, or practice solo to improve your skills.
Slot racing tips
- You can fit the track pieces together as the kit instructs but can also re-design the track layout as you like.
- Long straightaways give you the ability to get your car at a high rate of speed.
- Some track designs have many turns which require you to slow down so there is some skill and restraint involved.
- It’s not uncommon particularly with older AFX sets to notice that some cars seem to race faster than other ones that you own.
- Some slot car kits mimic the design of real life race tracks.
- If you hit a high speed on a corner, there’s a chance that your car will lose connection with the slot and the car will fly off the track.
- Clean your slot car tires from time to time as they can attract dust and dirt which may negatively impact performance.
Final thoughts
Overall, AFX Classic Car Racing Sets offer a nostalgic way to enjoy classic cars and racing. With a variety of sets available, you can choose one that fits your budget and interests, and enjoy hours of high-speed fun.
One of the quirky aspects of slot car racing is that the cars can race around the track at a pretty high rate of speed, relatively speaking. There can be cases where you hit a corner too fast and the car either swings out to the side and/or leaves the track completely due to the speed.
In that regard, one aspect of slot car racing is to walk a fine line between outracing your opponent without going faster than what the car design allows even though they are manufactured to go faster than they should at times.
Here’s a short classic AFX slot car tv ad to show you how the products were marketed and what they look like in action.