10 Best Toy Race Tracks Rated by Features & Fun Play
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Race track racing is one of those fun home activities that kids can either play for fun or take to a whole new level of lifelong obsession.
A fantastic social and active alternative to video games, and racing tracks are becoming more and more interactive to almost full-fledged console games!
For most children, from about 4 to 5 years old, this Carrera GO Pixar Cars Neon Nights the best job to start with. Super fast, easy, and a fun entry into the world of racetracks with its Disney Cars theme.
Many of the race tracks are no longer as we used to know them, this top 10 will amaze you!
How would you like to go through this article?
Below is the list of the 10 best choices, sorted and compared by price from low to high.
Best race track for toddlers
Carrera First Mario Kart, with a Toy Award, offers value for money compared to OR TU Construction Race Track, which has more parts but no awards, and Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash, which is more expensive and has lower value for money.
Best cheap race track
The OR OR TU Construction Race Track offers more complexity than the Carrera First Mario Kart with 342 parts, which justifies the higher price, while the price-quality ratio remains competitive.
Best race track with looping
Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash offers average value for money compared to Carrera First Mario Kart and OR OR TU Construction Race Track; it has fewer parts but won a prestigious TOTY award.
Best Wooden Race Track
Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set offers durability and thematic depth compared to Carrera First Mario Kart, justifying the higher price with quality wood, more parts and recognized awards.
Best race track for preschoolers
Carrera GO!!! With 28 parts and a Toy Award, Disney Cars Neon Nights offers more than Carrera First Mario Kart, which justifies the higher price; the price-quality ratio of 8.7 confirms this.
Best Traditional Race Track
Scalextric Micro 007 offers great value for money with a recognized award, while Carrera First Mario Kart is cheaper but has fewer parts and no prestigious recognition.
Best to combine
AGM MASTECH Mini is more expensive than Carrera First Mario Kart, offers more parts for detailed construction, but lacks award-winning recognition that the Carrera has, which partly justifies the higher price.
Best slotless race track
Anki OVERDRIVE offers advanced AI technology, which sets it apart from Carrera First Mario Kart and OR TU Construction Race Track, both of which work with simple button technology, which justifies the higher price.
Best race track for 7 to 8 years
Better value for money than Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash, Carrera Evolution Lap Contest offers more parts and an Italian Toy Award, which justifies the higher price.
Best multi-functional race track
The Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower offers a unique playing experience with its train theme and multiple awards compared to the Carrera First Mario Kart, which despite a higher price-quality ratio and a vehicle award, has fewer parts and a smaller size.
The above list provides a good comparison when you are looking for value for money.
Below is the list of the best choices, sorted and compared by age suitability.
Best multi-functional race track
Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower is suitable for younger children (2-4 years) than Bigjigs Wooden Road and Countryside Train Set (3-6 years), with rounded corners for safety and a theme to suit the youngest train fans.
Best race track for toddlers
Carrera First Mario Kart is more suitable for younger children than Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights, with a starting age of 3 years versus 5 years, and focuses on the developmental stage of toddlers with simple fun.
Best cheap race track
The OR OR TU Construction Race Track is suitable for children aged 3-6 years, comparable to the Bigjigs set, but offers a year longer fun than the Carrera First Mario Kart.
Best Wooden Race Track
Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set Countryside is suitable for toddlers aged 3 years and over, with an ideal age between 3-5 years, while Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower is aimed at younger children aged 2 years and up and remains less engaging, up to 4 years. .
Best race track for preschoolers
Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights is more suitable for younger children than Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash due to its simplicity and Disney theme, but less suitable than Fisher-Price Thomas the Train due to complexity and theme.
Best race track with looping
Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash is suitable for children aged 5 to 9 years, more complex than Carrera First Mario Kart and OR OR TU Construction Race Track, which are simpler and aimed at 3 to 6 year olds.
Best race track for 7 to 8 years
Carrera Evolution Lap Contest is more suitable for slightly older children (7-11 years) than Carrera First Mario Kart (3-5 years), due to a more complex track structure and challenge that better suits the development level of 7-9 year olds.
Best to combine
AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe is more suitable for older children than Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower due to more complex building elements and themes that better suit the interests of 8 to 10 year olds.
Best slotless race track
Anki OVERDRIVE is more complex than Carrera First Mario Kart and Fisher-Price Thomas de Trein, aimed at older children (7+), offering longer-lasting play value up to 16 years, while Carrera and Fisher-Price target toddlers (2-5 years).
Best Traditional Race Track
The Scalextric Micro 007 is suitable for older children (8-14) than the Fisher-Price Thomas the Train (2-4) and Carrera First Mario Kart (3-5), due to more complex themes and fine motor requirements.
The above list gives you an indication of the age suitability of each of the top choices.
Below is the list of the 10 best choices, sorted and compared by playing time.
Best to combine
AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe offers longer play time than Carrera First Mario Kart, encouraging competition and imagination, ideal for extended indoor racing sessions.
Best Wooden Race Track
The Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set Countryside, with cooperative play mode and 80 parts, offers longer play time and more variety than Carrera First Mario Kart, which has shorter races and fewer parts.
Best slotless race track
Anki OVERDRIVE offers longer playtime than Carrera First Mario Kart through app-driven interactivity, offering more engagement and challenge while racing.
Best race track for preschoolers
Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights offers a competitive experience with 10-30 minutes of play time that is shorter than the AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe (30+ min), but offers more variety than the Carrera First Mario Kart (<10 min).
Best race track for 7 to 8 years
Carrera Evolution Lap Contest offers competitive fun for 10-30 minutes, longer than Carrera First Mario Kart, but shorter than the extended play time of AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe, leading to more intense racing sessions.
Best multi-functional race track
Thomas the Train Super Tower offers cooperative play, which lasts longer than Carrera First Mario Kart's short, competitive races; less complex than Bigjigs' long, cooperative train adventures.
Best Traditional Race Track
Scalextric Micro 007 offers a competitive racing experience with a play time of 10-30 minutes, ideal for fast action and short play sessions, unlike the Anki OVERDRIVE starter kit, which supports longer play sessions with app interactivity.
Best cheap race track
The OR OR TU Construction Race Track offers cooperative entertainment with 10-30 minutes of play time, while Carrera First Mario Kart, despite its competitive nature, has a shorter playing time, making it ideal for fast-paced racing sessions.
Best race track with looping
Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash offers a play time of 10-30 minutes, comparable to Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights, but shorter than the extended play sessions of AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe Block Building N Slot car, which encourages long-lasting building fun.
Best race track for toddlers
Carrera First Mario Kart offers shorter play sessions than AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe and Anki OVERDRIVE, ideal for fast, active competition without long setup time.
The above list gives you an indication of how long the expected play time with each of the top choices is per play session.
Below is the list of the 10 best choices, sorted and compared by sustainability.
Best multi-functional race track
Fisher-Price's Thomas the Train Super Tower, made of plastic, is less durable than Bigjigs' wooden toys, which use rubberwood, a byproduct of latex production, and have sustainable packaging.
Best cheap race track
The OR OR TU Construction Race Track, made from plastic with no sustainability initiatives, lags behind Bigjigs' wooden toys, which use sustainable rubberwood and recycled packaging materials.
Best race track for preschoolers
Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights, made from plastic without sustainable manufacturing, is less environmentally friendly than Bigjig's Wooden Road and Countryside Train Set, which uses sustainably sourced wood and recycled packaging.
Best race track for toddlers
Carrera First Mario Kart, made from plastic without sustainable manufacturing, is less environmentally friendly than Bigjigs with its wooden toys from sustainable sources and recycled packaging.
Best Traditional Race Track
Scalextric Micro 007 falls behind Bigjig's Wooden Road and Train Set in terms of durability; Bigjigs uses sustainable rubberwood and reduces plastic, while Scalextric has mainly plastic parts.
Best race track with looping
Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash, with future plans for 100% sustainable materials, is less sustainable than Bigjigs, which already uses sustainable wood and recycled packaging.
Best slotless race track
Anki OVERDRIVE, made from plastic without sustainable manufacturing, is less environmentally friendly than Bigjigs with wood from sustainable sources and fewer plastic parts.
Best to combine
AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe scores higher in sustainability than Fisher-Price Thomas de Trein, but lacks the commitment to bio-based materials and recycled packaging that Fisher-Price shows.
Best Wooden Race Track
Bigjig's Countryside Wooden Road and Train Set, made from sustainable rubberwood and packaged in recycled cardboard, is more environmentally friendly than Fisher-Price's plastic Thomas the Train, despite its recent bio-based initiatives.
Best race track for 7 to 8 years
Carrera Evolution Lap Contest surpasses Fisher-Price Thomas de Trein Super Tower in durability; Fisher-Price is taking steps with bio-plastic, but Carrera scores higher on timeless appeal, which is less likely to lead to replacement.
The above list gives you an indication of the sustainability and environmental impact of each of the top choices.
Below is the list of the 10 best choices, sorted and compared by educational value.
Best race track with looping
Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash encourages problem-solving thinking, but lacks the fine motor skills and multi-functional construction of Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower, which offers higher educational value.
Best cheap race track
The OR OR TU Construction Race Course, with a focus on fine motor skills, is less educational than the Bigjigs Wooden Road and Countryside Train Set, which, in addition to cognitive development, also stimulates fantasy play.
Best multi-functional race track
Thomas the Train Super Tower encourages physical and fine motor skills, while Bigjigs Road and Countryside Train Set, with a higher educational value, emphasizes cognitive development and pretend play without technological distractions.
Best race track for toddlers
Carrera First Mario Kart promotes decision speed but lacks the complexity of Anki OVERDRIVE, which boosts STEM skills through AI technology and provides longer playtime for deep learning.
Best race track for 7 to 8 years
Carrera Evolution Lap Contest promotes decision speed, less complex than Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash, which encourages problem solving, but offers similar cognitive development to Scalextric Micro 007.
Best Traditional Race Track
Scalextric Micro 007 promotes decision speed, similar to Carrera Evolution Lap Contest, but lacks the complex STEM education that Anki OVERDRIVE provides through AI technology.
Best slotless race track
Anki OVERDRIVE, with AI technology and magnetic construction, encourages STEM skills more than Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash and OR OR TU Construction Race Track, both of which offer single buttons and simple click constructions.
Best to combine
AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe promotes cognitive development and pretend play more than Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash, but less than Bigjig's Wooden Road and Countryside Train Set, which also won awards.
Best race track for preschoolers
Carrera GO!!! With a focus on decision speed, Disney Cars Neon Nights offers similar cognitive challenges to Scalextric Micro 007, but lacks the complex construction and STEM focus of Anki OVERDRIVE, making it potentially more educational.
Best Wooden Race Track
Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set Countryside promotes cognitive development and fantasy play, similar to AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe, but without technological elements like Anki OVERDRIVE, which stimulates STEM skills.
The above list gives you an indication of the educational value and learning objectives of each of the top choices.
Below is an extensive review of our top 10 race tracks on “Toy score”.
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Educational games and coloring pages for 3 to 6 years
Your toddler and preschooler will love this e-book, along with the accompanying printables. He or she can play with it at every stage of development, together with mom and dad.
Buy at Bol.comWhat we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 1. AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe Block Building N Slot car (8.7)
- 2 2. Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set Countryside (8.7)
- 3 3. Anki OVERDRIVE starter kit (8.6)
- 4 4. Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights (8.5)
- 5 5. Carrera Evolution Lap Contest (8.3)
- 6 6. Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower (8.3)
- 7 7. Carrera First Mario Kart (8.1)
- 8 8. Scalextric Micro 007 No Time To Die (8.0)
- 9 9. OR OR TU Construction Race Track (7.9)
- 10 10. Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash (7.5)
- 11 Toy Racetrack Buying Guide
- 12 Do you have to have a race track to play with toy cars?
- 13 How can you add more to your racetrack?
1. AGM MASTECH Mini Deluxe Block Building N Slot car (8.7)
- Super small but still runs fast
- Possibility to combine with LEGO
- Unique design
- App doesn't add much
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From: 7 years
-
Best: 8 – 10 years
-
Up to: 12 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 81
- Dimensions: 33,02 x 30,48 x 12,7 cm (13 x 12 x 5 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €99,00 – $79.99
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Pretend play
The power of this race track lies in the ability to combine it. This provides enormous play value and replayability, because you can always adjust the environment. Furthermore, extensions are available so that you can add even more road sections.
The quality of racing is also very good. You can go fast, but you also have to control yourself a bit so as not to go off the rails. A good combination of skill and fun.
Most kids have some LEGO, so this makes it a fun addition.
2. Bigjigs Wooden Road and Train Set Countryside (8.7)
- Very very sturdy wood
- Fun to build and play with
- Fits other Bigjigs sets
- It's not a race track
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From: 3 years
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Best: 3- 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Number of parts: 80
- Dimensions: 75 x 116 x 20 cm (29.53 x 45.67 x 7.87 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €82,29 – $98.21
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Theme: Vehicles, Train
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Pretend play
The manufacturer Bigjigs has expanded its line of train tracks with everything you need for a great racetrack.
And if you already have trains and tracks for your children, you can also use them perfectly to expand the set!
This company has made a very nice racing track with cars on wooden rails.
The wooden race track consists of separate track parts to build your own circuit and these parts are therefore easy to combine with wooden train parts from Bigjigs, but also from comparable other brands.
This set includes race cars, houses and two start lights that can be set to green by hand and is made of certified sustainable beech wood.
3. Anki OVERDRIVE starter kit (8.6)
- Time Magazine's 25 Best Inventions of the Year
- Play together or with an AI opponent
- More of a game than a race track
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From: 7 years
-
Best: 8 – 11 years
-
Up to: 16 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 16
- Dimensions: 39,97 x 13,97 x 58,01 cm (15.74 x 5.51 x 22.83 inches)
- Price at time of writing: 119 – 88.99
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Learning objective: STEM/STEAM, Technology
Seriously WOW!
The Anki OVERDRIVE has been named in Time Magazine's 25 Best Inventions of the Year and brings... toys race tracks to an incredible new level.
More computer game than racetrack. You can take out your friends with powerups and even play against an AI opponent.
Via smartphones, players operate their robotic supercars as they fly across the track.
The gameplay goes way beyond just faster and overtaking, each supercar has special abilities and weapons that allow it to literally blow the opponent off the track.
It looks more like a real-life computer game!
Players can even choose to play against an AI-controlled opponent.
And with more cars and track extensions available, this is a set that can keep growing and you can keep expanding.
Remark: Each player must have a compatible iOS or Android device to play.
Best for: Advanced Gameplay, AI, Battle Racing, Mobile Device, Upgradeable
4. Carrera GO!!! Disney Cars Neon Nights (8.5)
- Good traditional slot cars
- Expandable track system
- Nice theme suitable for younger children
- small set
- Not much happens without extensions
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From: 5 years
-
Best: 5 – 7 years
-
Up to: 8 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 28
- Dimensions: 39,97 x 13,97 x 58,01 cm (15.74 x 5.51 x 22.83 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €87,50 – $100.36
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Decision speed
The Carrera GO - Pixar Cars Edition racetrack is a fun spin-off of the popular Disney / Pixar movie 'Cars'.
Nice starter set with the characters of Cars.
It's a more traditional racetrack than some of the others on our list so it will bring back memories of your childhood as well.
While Disney certainly valued the odds for gold from this movie, there's no underestimating the appeal this trusted character can have in the world of racetracks.
This set is a more traditional racetrack, the kind of kit you'd know from your childhood.
- Two metal car tracks
- two speed controllers
- two cars (McQueen and Bernoulli)
- and a few exciting extras (high curves, narrow section, intersection, flyover, loop).
Featuring one of the most renowned race track designers in the form of Carrera, along with the endearing characters from the movie, this is the perfect starter kit for younger children.
Best for: Traditional slot cars, beginner, younger children, upgradeable
5. Carrera Evolution Lap Contest (8.3)
- Match tracks and cars with other models
- Model cars on a scale of 1:32
- The track is big and unique
- Pricey for an analog job
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From: 7 years
-
Best: 7 – 9 years
-
Up to: 11 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 16
- Dimensions: 73,5 x 48,5 x 11,51 cm (28.93 x 19.09 x 4.53 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €119,00 – $235.95
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Decision speed
One of my friends is used to digital games, playing on the laptop and PS4. Nevertheless, he told me he felt he needed some change.
Great to play with if you also follow Max Verstappen on TV, for example.
He decided to go online to see if he could find something that would keep him busy, as well as get his 7-year-old involved so they could play together.
He couldn't find one at the time, but we investigated further together and came up with this car race track Max Verstappen as a hobby. Eventually he fell in love with this one from Carrera.
This race track is a masterpiece. The racetracks are analog and almost look real.
In addition, it comes with two race cars namely Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari SF70H and fan favorite Max Verstappen in the Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer RB 13.
The tracks are huge, which makes the experience unique.
In addition, the scale is 1:32, which indicates that the car is large enough for an adult to enjoy maximum enjoyment.
And you can also mix the tracks and cars of this model with the Digital 124 series or other Carrera Evolution versions.
6. Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Super Tower (8.3)
- Very sturdy, will definitely last a long time
- Not only a race track down but also cranes
- Two jobs increases the chance of fun playing together
- It's not really a race track
- As a toddler they won't like it anymore
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From: 2 years
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Best: 2 – 3 years
-
Up to: 4 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 9
- Dimensions: 65 x 82 x 87 cm (25.59 x 32.28 x 34.25 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €123,82 – $106.12
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Train
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Physical development, Fine motor skills
Ready, set, go! Toddlers run wild with their imaginations with this fun racing set from Fisher-Price.
Super fun for the smaller children with larger pieces and safe trains. They will whiz down nicely with nice sounds.
Not only does it come with two trains – which are great fun in their own right, but the main thing is of course the steep race track.
Furthermore, there is also a crane and other grippers to keep the game fun longer and significantly increase the replayability, especially for toddlers.
The trains can whiz down nicely, twisting and turning around the center in fun racing adventures.
At just over 90cm in length, this is the perfect size for toddlers (recommended for ages 18 months to 6 years) to stand and play and for older children to sit and race.
To further fuel the action, there are tunnels, a movable lift and a car lift.
Sensitive, cheering, and car noises set the stage, and can be turned off if you want!
7. Carrera First Mario Kart (8.1)
- Simple job for small children
- Cars go quite fast
- Spinners to keep it interesting
- Just a small job
- Not expandable
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From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 4 years
-
Up to: 5 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 17
- Dimensions: 39,97 x 13,97 x 58,01 cm (15.74 x 5.51 x 22.83 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €29,99 – $48.99
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Decision speed
This is your first slot car race track for toddlers. A very nice theme with Mario Kart, because they will certainly know it from the game console or YouTube videos.
It's a fairly simple job, just a figure 8, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. It's very easy to play because you can almost just press the button and accelerate, and the cars go very fast. Very occasionally they go off track, so when your child gets a little older they can still work on their technique a bit.
My son enjoyed it as a toddler, but from age 5 onwards it became a bit too easy. But you can't go wrong with the Carrera brand. Definitely of quality!
8. Scalextric Micro 007 No Time To Die (8.0)
- The classic way of racing tracks
- Fun competition and really requires agility
- The job can get boring, but is expandable
-
From: 8 years
-
Best: 8 – 12 years
-
Up to: 14 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 20
- Dimensions: 53,34 x 35,56 x 12,7 cm (21 x 14 x 5 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €91,15 – $69.99
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Decision speed
This is the closest thing to what I played for days as a kid.
The Scalextric Micro Playset is a perfect starter set from one of the most famous race track makers, Scalextric.
This brand has been around since 1956 and now with new finishes it is still very good and great fun. Perfect for those who love more traditional racing sets.
A classic that is as loved today as it was when it was founded in 1956, there's good reason why this innovative brand has stood the test of time.
With rugged and solid tracks and durable super tough cars, the Scalextric can survive the most fierce games effortlessly in the pursuit of fun.
The set comes with two cars, two controllers, a lap counter and, with Scalextric, there are millions of ways to build on the set with more cars, track and extras.
Best for: Traditional Race Track Enthusiasts, Beginner, Expandable
9. OR OR TU Construction Race Track (7.9)
- Fun to build to create different jobs
- A lot of work for little money
- Plastic quality is not great
- The loop is difficult for the car to complete
-
From: 3 years
-
Best: 3 – 5 years
-
Up to: 6 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 342
- Dimensions: 50 x 30 x 15 cm (19.69 x 11.81 x 5.91 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €39,99 – $39.99
- Durability: None
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: None
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Physical development, Fine motor skills
The Or Or TU Construction Race Track is simple and looks a bit cheap, but this certainly does not make it any less fun to play. You just get a lot for your money.
This is not a slot car track, but one that you can click together and build as you want. Make any pattern you want with the loose track pieces and create the wildest ideas.
This one will also be too simple at some point when your children get older, but it will certainly be fun to play and build with.
Best for: Younger children, fast, visual, in heat
10. Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash (7.5)
- Connects to other Hot Wheels sets
- Most awesome loops ever made for racetracks
- Actually more fun when you buy more hot wheels
-
From: 5 years
-
Best: 5 – 7 years
-
Up to: 9 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 7
- Dimensions: 39,97 x 13,97 x 58,01 cm (15,74 x 5,51 x 22,83 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €67,95 – $58.99
- Sustainability: Future plans
- Theme: Vehicles, Car
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: None
- Playing time: Longer (10-30 min)
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Problem solving
This corkscrew track from Hot Wheels has the most amazing loops in a row and the trick is to stay in the track with your car.
BEST FOR: Little speed demons aged 6 and up
CONSIDERATIONS: Adult assembly required, motor is loud, it is large but therefore requires a lot of floor space
CONCLUSION: The Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash Track Set tests your child's timing and strategic skills as they launch their vehicles to make sure they'll fly across the track without causing major crashes.
Features
- Track has 3 crash zones and 3 fast booster zones
- 1 Hot Wheels car included
- Battery operated motor (batteries not included
Judgement
Your little one will have his cars all set and ready to go with the Hot Wheels Corkscrew Crash Track Set.
It takes some parental involvement to follow the easy-to-understand instructions while building this bulky colossus, but once it's complete, operating it is toys simple and they can continue to do this independently.
Kids will love it when their cars travel super fast speeds while performing stunts and traversing the loops.
Three power boosters keep the cars screeching around the three large loops the track has.
The ultimate goal? Avoid colliding with other cars at all costs!
Our toy testers loved playing alone with this set or racing against friends.
The track can be quite loud when played with so be prepared for some noise.
And while the Corkscrew Crash Track turned out to be durable, it takes up quite a bit of space, so make sure you have plenty of floor and storage space.
Only one vehicle is included, but other Hot Wheels cars will work on the track as well (check sizes only for compatibility).
And the track can also be combined with many other Hot Wheels tracks:
The more cars you add to the track, the more exciting the game will be!
Toy Racetrack Buying Guide
Slot car racing is an exciting, interactive hobby for car fans and anyone who loves speed and competition.
They are a great alternative to video games because they use similar skills:
- hand eye coordination
- risk-reward thinking
- competition
- manual dexterity
While still remaining physical, ie hands-on, three-dimensional and face-to-face.
There are two more traditional, high-quality car brands:
- Carrera, which tends to appeal to younger racers,
- and Scalextric Sport, which attracts an older audience and enthusiasts.
In other words, Carrera is a bit of a “toy”, while Scalextric is much more “a hobby”.
In addition, there are a number of newcomers who have entered the market with cool apps, power ups and other loops and things.
In this post, I'll explain some of the characteristics of each brand to help you make a better purchase.
Digital versus analog
Both Carrera and Scalextric offer analog and digital formats.
With an analog set - the kind that's been around for half a century - you can only race with as many cars as you have lanes.
Your controller adjusts the power that is sent to the track, making the car go faster and slower in that particular track.
With a digital setup, the controller is programmed to drive the car itself.
Digital sets often have crossover sections that allow you to switch from lane to lane for passing, blocking and overtaking.
These tracks also support more cars, so three or four (with some sets up to six) people can race at the same time. I will come back to that later.
Questions to help you decide what's right for you
There are a few things to consider beforehand when looking at a racetrack:
How old are your racers?
I do not recommend racetracks for very young children. Ideally, a child should be eight years old or older, and certainly no younger than six or seven.
Then you better buy them a plastic toy set like the one I discussed earlier in the article.
Eight would even be a bit young for the more technical demands of an advanced Scalextric set.
You need a lot of skill and finesse to navigate the track, especially around corners, and practice is imperative.
You can't just accelerate and expect the cars to zoom around flawlessly. They jump out of the trench and drive away. That's part of the fun, of course.
Without skill, you would get bored quickly.
For the most part, a child under the age of 8 simply lacks the dexterity and coordination to understand the finer points of adjusting the speed to stay on track, and may not have the patience to put in the necessary exercise.
Where do you put your track?
The three-dimensional, hands-on, physicality of racetracks is great, but it does mean you need space to devote to your layout.
Even the smallest tracks are several meters wide. You don't want it in the middle of the living room it's stepped over or on!
The track sections are generally quite flexible and robust and are designed to withstand a few treads, but they are not indestructible.
How often will you race?
It's not a good idea to set up the track, race a few laps and then pack up again.
The tracks are designed to be assembled and disassembled without too much effort, but not too often.
A racetrack wears out fastest from assembling and disassembling, not from racing itself.
You want to make sure you pull evenly so that you don't loosen the connector tabs that hold them together.
Repeated assembly and disassembly will eventually wear out and loosen the connectors when you want a good fit.
The best option is to place the court where it can be left standing, ideally on a table or some sort of platform.
Only take it apart if you want to add or change the layout.
But not everyone has the right place or desire to set it up like this.
Do you have to have a race track to play with toy cars?
No, you don't necessarily have to have a race track to have fun playing with toy cars. Although as children get older they will have a greater need for a form of play such as race tracks.
Individual toy cars are often for smaller children and race tracks are more fun as they get older. With the most toy cars you cannot also play on a race track, with the exception of the Hot Wheels cars that are compatible with most Hot Wheels race tracks.
Are car racing tracks the same as RC?
Car racing tracks are not the same as RC cars. Most race tracks work with a slot car system. That is a rail through which the electricity passes and supplies the cars with power. With a controller, often a push button, you can determine the speed of the cars.
Racing only works on a fixed track. Don't feel like racing on a permanent track? Check out these RC cars for street or off road.
How can you add more to your racetrack?
Here are some more tips to get even more out of your track:
Camera on board
This is a super cool idea from the guys at slotcarcity.com.
They mounted a mini camera on the roof of one of their slowest cars and then put it on the track.
The result is an in-car representation of what it feels like to fly one of these cars around the track. Breathtaking!
You can of course also mount a camera yourself and see what images you get in return.
Build and expand
One of the biggest advantages of racing tracks over other toys is that they are never really 'finished'.
Like any driving track or race track, there are always ways to improve and build on what is already there.
Whether it's adding extra curves and getting the latest and greatest race cars, it's easy to see why this is a hobby that goes well beyond childhood.
Bring it to life!
This is probably the most compelling part of creating and building your own toy car jobs for me.
There are endless possibilities to set the scene for your race.
From building fully custom tables to purchasing individual shrubs and trees, it's inspiring to see some of the amazing creations that are possible.
There's an app for that
And last but not least, it is unbelievable how far simple racetracks have come.
Yes, there is now a Carrera app for use with Carrera Digital sets and other courses are controllable with an app on your phone. The Anki Overdrive has a very good app and is one of them the best toys with apps on our list here. The AGM MASTECH also has an app, but that doesn't add much.
Configure individual driver profiles, record results, add sound effects and even set fuel limits.
It's a pretty exciting time to be doing race tracks!
Do you and your family have fun with race tracks? Let us know your tips, tricks, and recommendations in the comments below.
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.
