Frequently Asked Questions
What is THORN?
THORN is the Texas HO Racing Network, a slot car racing club based in Lubbock Texas that is open to the general public. THORN was created to provide a sanctioning body for competitive HO scale slot car racing at the club level, and to promote the growth of the HO slot car racing hobby in West Texas and beyond. The club is associated with other, similar HO racing clubs around the world. The club meets once per month, and welcomes people of all ages to come race in a safe, fun, but competitive racing environment.
What is a slot car?
A slot car is an electrically powered miniature car. It is guided around the track by a guide pin in a slot in the track. You control the speed of the car with a hand held controller. If you go too fast, your car will "crash" by de-slotting. Many of the cars are based on actual vehicles, look really cool, and are very quick.
What is "HO" scale?
HO (also known as Half 0) is a general term used to designate the size of the car. The cars are roughly 1/64 scale or the size of a Hot Wheels car, about three inches long.
What is the format for Racing?
All THORN race tracks have at least four lanes. Each driver races on each lane in 3 minute heats. Once every driver has driven on each lane, laps are totaled, and drivers are seeded based on their results for a step up final race, beginning with the slowest drivers. The winner of each step up heat advances to face the next fastest group of drivers until the winner is determined.
If my car crashes, is my race over?
No. A corner marshal will place your car back in your slot and you continue to race.
How do you keep track of laps and who is winning?
We use a state of the art infra red computer timing system to track every lap ever run on our tracks. The computer controls the race from start to finish. It determines which drivers race in each heat based on a random sort, provides lap times for every lap by every driver, and combines lap totals across each heat to determine the overall winner. The computer also turns the power to the track on just before the start of a heat, and shuts power down when time is up.
How much does it cost to race?
A single fee is charged for an entire evening of racing to help cover costs of the venue. The fee for adults is $10, and $5 for Juniors (age 16 and below) and full time students.
How old do you have to be to race?
We recommend ages 8 and up, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Any child that demonstrates the ability to drive the car can race.
Do the kids and adults race together?
Absolutely! All racers are treated the same no matter what their age, and everyone competes in the same race. For points and awards purposes, adults are racing against the other adults, Juniors under the age of 16 are racing the same time as the adults, but are competing in the Junior class. Racers age 10 and under are racing against other Cadet aged racers. The top racers in each category are deemed the winner in their age group.
What if I don't own a car or controller?
Club cars and controllers are always available to use at no additional cost. Club cars have been tuned to be "race ready" and are as competitive as any privately owned car currently being raced at a THORN meet. Conversely, you can purchase your own car and parts. New cars legal for racing at THORN meets can be purchased from anywhere from $15 to $40.
What do I win if I win a race?
We always award our race winners with medals at the end of the evening. You are also awarded points based on your finish which go towards the class and club championships. Class and Club Champions receive trophies at the end of the year.
THORN is the Texas HO Racing Network, a slot car racing club based in Lubbock Texas that is open to the general public. THORN was created to provide a sanctioning body for competitive HO scale slot car racing at the club level, and to promote the growth of the HO slot car racing hobby in West Texas and beyond. The club is associated with other, similar HO racing clubs around the world. The club meets once per month, and welcomes people of all ages to come race in a safe, fun, but competitive racing environment.
What is a slot car?
A slot car is an electrically powered miniature car. It is guided around the track by a guide pin in a slot in the track. You control the speed of the car with a hand held controller. If you go too fast, your car will "crash" by de-slotting. Many of the cars are based on actual vehicles, look really cool, and are very quick.
What is "HO" scale?
HO (also known as Half 0) is a general term used to designate the size of the car. The cars are roughly 1/64 scale or the size of a Hot Wheels car, about three inches long.
What is the format for Racing?
All THORN race tracks have at least four lanes. Each driver races on each lane in 3 minute heats. Once every driver has driven on each lane, laps are totaled, and drivers are seeded based on their results for a step up final race, beginning with the slowest drivers. The winner of each step up heat advances to face the next fastest group of drivers until the winner is determined.
If my car crashes, is my race over?
No. A corner marshal will place your car back in your slot and you continue to race.
How do you keep track of laps and who is winning?
We use a state of the art infra red computer timing system to track every lap ever run on our tracks. The computer controls the race from start to finish. It determines which drivers race in each heat based on a random sort, provides lap times for every lap by every driver, and combines lap totals across each heat to determine the overall winner. The computer also turns the power to the track on just before the start of a heat, and shuts power down when time is up.
How much does it cost to race?
A single fee is charged for an entire evening of racing to help cover costs of the venue. The fee for adults is $10, and $5 for Juniors (age 16 and below) and full time students.
How old do you have to be to race?
We recommend ages 8 and up, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Any child that demonstrates the ability to drive the car can race.
Do the kids and adults race together?
Absolutely! All racers are treated the same no matter what their age, and everyone competes in the same race. For points and awards purposes, adults are racing against the other adults, Juniors under the age of 16 are racing the same time as the adults, but are competing in the Junior class. Racers age 10 and under are racing against other Cadet aged racers. The top racers in each category are deemed the winner in their age group.
What if I don't own a car or controller?
Club cars and controllers are always available to use at no additional cost. Club cars have been tuned to be "race ready" and are as competitive as any privately owned car currently being raced at a THORN meet. Conversely, you can purchase your own car and parts. New cars legal for racing at THORN meets can be purchased from anywhere from $15 to $40.
What do I win if I win a race?
We always award our race winners with medals at the end of the evening. You are also awarded points based on your finish which go towards the class and club championships. Class and Club Champions receive trophies at the end of the year.