Carrera D143 High Speed Chase 1/43 Race Set

By Michael Ashton

Recently, we ventured into the world of 1/43rd scale slot car racing by way of a review of one of Carrera's entry level GO!!! race sets in an article that can be seen here. The general conclusion was that 1/43rd scale slot racing affords very good value and is a great way to get into the slot car hobby on a casual basis, without the need for significant commitments of time, money and space. So, now that digital technology has found its way into this 1/43rd scale world, it seems like a natural progression to see what digital adds to the party and whether or not it is worthwhile or even feasible for the casual slot racing consumer.

However, before jumping into the details of a specific product, let's look at a very brief summary of what makes a slot car track digital and what the differences between the conventional analog track and its digital counterpart are.

When running on a conventional or analog slot car track, each lane or slot of the track accommodates a single car. The hand-held speed controller (throttle) varies the electrical voltage to the lane's rails, thereby controlling the speed of the car. A two lane track can accommodate two cars. Three lanes — three cars, etc. Therefore, there must be a lane for each driver who participates in a race. 

There are two primary characteristics of digital slot car racing that distinguish it from analog:

1. Digital allows multiple cars to share each lane of the track. If you have three racers but only a two lane track, they can all run concurrently in either lane of the track. This is accomplished by a digital chip (microprocessor) in each car that receives coded instructions from the digital speed controller about how fast the car should go and when to change lanes. It doesn't matter which lane the car is in because the instructions are sent directly to the digital chip. Of course a controller is still needed for each driver.
2. Digital allows cars to change from one lane to another at specific area(s) of the track. Obviously, if multiple cars can be in the same lane, there must be a way to pass a slower or obstructing car in front. This capability is provided by special lane change track sections which allow a car to switch from its current lane to the adjacent lane when a button on the controller is pressed. This will be described in detail later in the article.

This tends to provide several distinct (albeit perceived) advantages of a digital track over analog:

• The number of lanes no longer limits the number of simultaneous race participants. So a track can require less relative space and people don't have to wait for a turn to race.
• Racing can be more realistic and exciting because it is closer to actual conditions where split-second tactical decisions are needed to determine when to pass and selecting the best racing line. Just having three or more cars on a two-lane track can be very exhilarating.
• If a car de-slots it doesn't matter which lane it is replaced in. Or if a car accidentally jumps into an adjacent lane (it happens) racing can continue uninterrupted.

Carrera's line of 1/43rd scale digital slot racing products is called Digital 143, or D143 for short. The set that was reviewed for the purpose of this article is the Carrera D143 High Speed Chase Race Set. This is an entry-level digital 1/43rd scale slot car set that is clearly intended for casual/family slot car fun in the home. Prior to testing there were two questions that I felt were important:

1. Generally, does the digital technology provide a worthwhile enhancement to 1/43rd scale slot racing (i.e., does it work well with the smaller scale)?
2. Specifically, does this entry level set contain enough track and accessories to provide a satisfying digital slot racing experience? 

The primary goal of this review is to answer those two questions.

High Speed Chase

First, a clarification: the Carrera D143 High Speed Chase Race Set is more of a game than a race. Yes, two cars are provided so technically they can be raced. However, lap timing/counting does not come standard. And the selection of cars — a "street" Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and AMG Mercedes SL-63 police car — indicates that the vicarious notion of outrunning and outsmarting the police in a hot sports car is more the order of the day than racing. Hey, I'm okay with that.

Underneath the vividly illustrated box cover is a well designed Styrofoam carrier that provides convenient access to all of the set's components and should serve as a secure storage medium, when the track is not in use, for many years to come.

Everything that is needed to set up a complete digital slot car track is provided:

• Two impressive looking cars (described above).
• Two thumb-trigger digital controllers.
• A 14.8 volt 750 ma AC/DC transformer (more than enough power for the two cars).
• One power/controller connecting track — a.k.a. the Red Box.
• One "X" lane change track section that allows changing from either lane to the adjacent lane.
• Functional guard rails for all curve track sections.
• Spare braids and guide pins.
• Enough track and accessories to create the layout (with some variations) pictured below.

General information on setting up a Carrera 1/43rd scale race set can be found in the Carerra GO!!! Power Grip set review. This includes connecting track sections, power and controllers, optimizing cars for racing, and a lot more. Therefore, those subjects will not be duplicated here.

The Track

The High Speed Chase set contains the loop track accessory which has not been covered yet and does merit some discussion. Connecting the loop accessory is not difficult, however, there are a few points that are good to know about, especially if dealing with the loop accessory for the first time. Shown below are the track sections and associated components.

There is a total of eight loop track sections (four for each lane). I recommend assembling the two loops prior to attaching to the main track.

There are two types of track clips that are specific to the loop. These clips are needed to keep the two lanes of the loop aligned and to increase stability of the structure. 

The single-sided clips are used to add stability to the outside of each loop's connections (red arrows below). The double-sided clips snap into the inside connections and keep the two lanes aligned, as show by the yellow arrow below. There are enough clips to accommodate the three joints of the loop itself.

Once the entry and exit ends of the loops are attached to the main track, the loop structure must be supported at both ends. Four track elevation supports are provided for this purpose.

Each support has two vertically adjustable towers that are assembled as shown in the following photos. First, the hollow threaded set screws are pressed onto the posts on the support base. Then the elevation cylinders are threaded onto the set screws as shown below.

After pressing the connection caps onto the top of the adjusting cylinders, the assembled support should appear as seen in the photo below.

The nipples on the connecting caps snap into receptacles on the underside of the loop track sections that connect to the main track. The cylinders are then adjusted up and/or down until the loop is rigid and the support bases sit flat on the table or floor surface.

For me, setting up the loop was the trickiest and most time consuming part of the entire assembly process. Over time, I imagine that proficiency will increase, however, when the track is disassembled and stored, I would recommend leaving as much of the loop section and supports "preassembled" as possible.

Connecting the speed controllers and power to the track is virtually identical to the analog GO!!! sets. The major difference is that the D143 Red Box allows up to three controllers to be connected. All controller connection receptacles are in the top of the Red Box, while power is connected in the receptacle at the right hand side. Controller connectors fit only in the controller receptacles while power will only fit in the power receptacle. Therefore, incorrect connections are prevented. The following photo shows the two controllers and the dc power supply of the High Speed Chase set properly configured. 

Once all track, power and controller connections are made you will have a finished layout that should look similar to the one in the following photo. This track sits on a 4' x 8' plywood sheet. The layout itself requires an area of about 7' x 3'.

The Controllers

The digital speed controllers supplied in the High Speed Chase set are the thumb trigger, or plunger type, similar in appearance to the analog GO!!! controllers. The external appearance is the only thing that the D143 and GO!!! controllers have in common. The plunger (throttle) is still used to vary the speed of the car, however, the button at the top of the D143 controller (shown by the yellow arrow in Figure 1 below) is used to change from one lane to the other. More on that a little later.

Figure 1

The controllers come fitted with a spacer which limits the downward travel of the thumb trigger, shown by the red arrow in the following photo of a Carrera GO!!! controller. This works effectively as a governor on either the analog or digital controllers, and is a nice feature for very young and/or inexperienced drivers, allowing the cars to stay in the slot while experience and confidence are acquired over time. The spacers are easily removed and reinstalled.

The Cars

The Carrera D143 High Speed Chase set comes with two cars: a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and AMG Mercedes SL-63 polizei (German for police) car, complete with flashing blue lights on the roof. Both cars are well detailed and seem to display reasonably good scale accuracy. I feel that the good quality and realistic appearance exhibited by these cars adds significantly to the appeal of this slot car set.

The Ferrari red body color is molded in the plastic and all graphics are decals. The body, apart from the windshield/window areas, is clear coated. The Mercedes body primary and secondary colors are painted and all graphics are Tampo printed. The Mercedes does not appear to have a clear coat. Detail, fit and finish of both cars is above average for any type of model car.

This Digital 'Thing'

So, what is this digital thing all about? Let's take a look at what makes this a digital slot car track — without getting too technical.

First is the fundamental ability to have more than one car per lane. This is facilitated, as previously described, by the in-car digital chip which allows the speed (and other aspects) to be controlled regardless of which lane the car is in by linking each speed controller to a specific car's digital chip. Figure 2 (left) below, shows the Carrera D143 digital chip in the chassis of the typical Carrera D143 car.

Figure 2

Second is the ability to change lanes, also described previously. Lane changing is made possible by a special red colored track section, shown in the following photo, that is able to divert the cars from their current lane to the opposite or, adjacent lane. To change lanes, as the car approaches the lane change track section, the lane change button on the controller (yellow arrow in Figure 1) is depressed (squeezed) and held in that position. An emitter in the underside of the car's chassis (yellow arrow in Figure 2) sends a "lane change code" to a sensor in the lane change track section (yellow arrows below), and a flipper is activated, diverting the car to the opposite lane. IMPORTANT:  the controller's lane change button must be depressed prior to the car reaching the track sensor. How far before the sensor is encountered will be learned through practice. Once the car has left the current lane, the button may be released.

Coding, or binding, a D143 controller to a specific car is a quick and simple process. From the instruction sheet excerpted below…

1. Place the car (and only one car) to be coded on the track in either lane. Click the lane change button of the desired controller twice firmly.
2. Lift the front of the car up and out of the slot momentarily, then place it back down.
3. Click the lane change button of the controller again, twice firmly.

If the car is coded successfully, a short low volume beep will be heard. Pressing the throttle will now move the car forward.

Performance

I found the track layout and length to be more than adequate for casual slot racing fun and enjoyment. And the digital aspects of operation were basically flawless. Throttle response was smooth and predictable — at least as good as the GO!!! controllers. Lane changing was smooth, reliable and easy to activate — even with one hand. The smoothness is no doubt a benefit of the fact that the Carrera D143 lane change track section is equal to 1 1/2 times the length of a standard straight section. Something unique to Carrera as a manufacturer. The extra length of the lane change track allows a more gradual transition from one lane to the other.

The loop is fun but can be a challenge, especially for youngsters who may be using the controller with the speed limiting spacer installed. The cars need sufficient speed when entering the loop to produce enough centrifugal force to traverse the loop. After which speed must be quickly reduced in order to negotiate the subsequent turn. If the car enters the loop too slowly, it will drop upside-down to the track below like a stone! A bit tricky.

If the loop proves to be too much for some users, it can be eliminated by removing a 114 mm straight section from each of the the front and back straights (two 114 mm sections). Then one of those 114 mm straight sections can be added between the turn #1 exit and the entry to the intersection track section. This will allow the former loop entry and exit points of the back straight to align and be connected directly. This way, no additional track is required. Regardless, my guess is that if the kids really like the loop, they will eventually figure out how to get through it.

Summary

Normally three cars are required to experience the full realism, excitement and capability of digital slot racing. Three cars will produce far more situations where lane changing and passing are essential for the competition than two cars. Having said that, the metaphor of a police chase does add a dimension to the digital environment that allows just two cars to exploit the digital capability more than simple two car racing can. One example is to establish a game where the goal is to overtake the Ferrari with the police car and then maneuver in front of the Ferrari in the same lane, forcing it to stop. The Ferrari driver must constantly be thinking ahead, changing lanes tactically to keep from being boxed in by the police car. When running the cars with two participants we found that this type of activity was able to hold our collective interest for numerous laps while providing more than enough excitement and a few hilarious moments!

The D143 system allows a maximum of three cars on the track simultaneously. So when the time is right, adding a third Carrera D143 slot car and D143 digital controller will add exponentially to the fun and excitement and is a relatively inexpensive proposition. When the racing starts to get a little more serious, the Carrera D143 Lap Counter is also an available enhancement.

In conclusion, I believe that the Carrera D143 High Speed Chase set is a smart entry into the world of digital slot car racing. The aspect of changing lanes presents a slightly steeper learning curve for younger and less experienced enthusiasts, but today's youngsters will hone that skill quickly. And having to deal with only two cars may make that learning experience a little less frustrating — at least in the beginning.  As to the questions of whether digital technology is effective in the 1/43rd scale and does the High Speed Chase set provide a satisfying digital experience, my answer to both questions is yes, without reservation.

In any event, feel free to drive recklessly, break traffic laws and thumb your nose at the local police just for the fun of it. But ONLY when you're driving on the Carrera D143 High Speed Chase slot car track!

Thanks to BRS Hobbies who made this review possible by providing the Carrera D143 High Speed Chase Race Set featured in this article.

_Michael Ashton