| The year was 1967. Slot car racing had
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| | slot car racer, manufacturers in America
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| officially abandoned scale appearance in
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| | set up shop full time to produce high
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| favor of speed. This was a natural
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| | quality components that could withstand
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| progression but one that would have long
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| | the high power requirements. Motors used
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| standing consequences.
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| | high temperature endbells and thick steel
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| The motor of choice until this time was
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| | motor cans for more reliable magnetic
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| the Mabuchi 16D, a motor popular for its
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| | fields. Companies like Mura and Champion
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| balance of low weight and power. From the
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| | of Chamblee made these, as well as
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| factory, these motors were not
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| | armatures designed by real engineers and
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| competitive. To make a competitive motor
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| | scientists to reduce heat and increase
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| the internal armature would have to be
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| | performance. The research done during
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| altered. The easiest way, was to have
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| | 1968-1969 was lost and forgotten about by
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| some of its windings removed to decrease
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| | the mid 70's. Even today, motors being
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| it's resistance which was called
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| | produced costing over $300 are
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| de-winding. The best modification, was to
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| | technologically inferior from a science
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| remove all the windings, and replace them
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| | perspective, to the 1969 motors.
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| with thicker gauge wire with less turns.
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| | The slot car viewed from above, still
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| This was called rewinding and it became a
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| | appeared as a recognizable race car. It
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| cottage industry of it's own. Small
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| | was from the side that it was not at all
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| companies would rewind the armatures,
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| | realistic. The wheels were much too
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| epoxy it all in place and even balance
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| | small, and the profile much too low.
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| it. As these armatures utilized lower
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| | Unrealistic spoilers started to appear.
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| gauges of wire, the term "hotter" was
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| | From a drivers standpoint, these cars
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| coined.
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| | were really fast and stayed in the slot
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| Hot arms draw more current through them.
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| | very well, even for the average
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| More current means more heat. The
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| | participant.
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| component of the armature that accepts
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| | This speed and handing came at a cost.
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| the electricity into the armature is
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| | The price of a slot car had escalated,
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| called the commutator. Mabuchi made
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| | reducing the number of kids who could
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| theirs out of plastic with 3 copper
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| | participate. The loss of detail resulted
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| plates. Yes, plastic melts, so soon the
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| | in a lower appeal for the new prospect
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| need for a better commutator became
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| | seeing slot cars for the first time.
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| necessary. The endbell of the motor that
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| | Where before everyone could relate, now
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| holds the motor brushes that contact the
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| | fewer and fewer were interested.
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| commutator was also plastic. That needed
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| | The writing was on the wall for slot car
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| a better replacement also.
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| | racing. The fad had ended and this hobby
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| Can you see where slot car racing is
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| | would never reach this level of
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| going next?
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| | popularity again.
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| With speed becoming the appetite of the
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