By alley - Nov 24, 2014, 5:27 PM ET

"Professor Motor" is your slot car expert on call

Whether you are an experienced slot car racing enthusiast or just getting interested in the hobby, access to the latest and greatest cars, tracks and ancilliary equipment is only half the fun (and challenge) of setting up and maintaining your model raceway. The dizzying array of types, scales and price points can be a little overwhelming.

To get the most out of your budget, and to know what the best options are for what you want to do, it helps to have a friend in the business. There are, of course, plenty of friendly and knowledgeable hobby store owners ready to help but for those not fortunate enough to have one in their area, or who prefer the at-home convenience of mail order, Professor Motor is a great place to start.

Livonia, Mich.-based Professor Motor is the dream job created by Andrew Smith after the Rhode Island native retired from a 30-year career in mechanical and automotive engineering at Ford Motor Company. Smith, who has designed and developed a number of slot racing products for major manufacturers in the hobby industry, has been an avid slot car racer since getting started as a child in 1961 with rail racing cars, and moved on through slot car drag racing, wing-type cars, open-wheel cars, sprints, sports cars, pickup trucks, eurosports, HO, 1/32 and 1/24 scales.

Professor Motor's online store at http://www.professormotor.com offers a literal A-to-Z variety of brands and styles of cars, sets, parts and accessories, as well as a wide range of links and downloads providing more information. If you are looking for insight into where to start or how to go about a slot car project, they will be happy to make suggestions – give them a call at (734) 462-4226. Gift certificates are available, too, providing a perfect entry point to the budding slot car racer on your gift list with the materials and the know-how to get started.

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