Also interesting as I am reading the early 60's MRs right now when HO slot cars first came out. Some of the early ones had 2 pins so they could go forward and backwards, and were more models of street cars and not all race cars. In Dec 63 I think there is a layout visit article with integrated slot cars for the roads. The bulder of this also isulated the slot rails and made multiple 'blocks' with independent power to adjust the speed. With the scenery built up to the slot track (so it's not raised up above the surrounding territory), it doesn't look too bad, if you ignore the slot down the middle.
In the early days, slot cars were advertised as (specifically in the case of Aurora) "model motoring", promoting realism as well as racing. It was only later that they became full-on race sets, with various brands trying to outdo each other on speed. "Our HO slot cars go 250 scale miles per hour" "Well ours go 280!" And then adding things like the magnets to actually keep them on the track at those speeds. One last gasp for somethign a bit more realistic was the Tyco USA 1 Trucking sets, those could run scale speeds and run forward and reverse. Regular slot cars could run on the track, although not reverse (I think I once hacked a second pin on a car so it could back up).
Interesting letter to the editor in late 63 as well, wondering how many more grade crossing accidents there would be starting in 1968 or so as the kids got old enough drive after having grown up with the road and rail crossings which in many cases were advertised with the cars trying to beat the train. Several railroads at the time wrote about thisin their company magazines and newsletters.
--Randy
