In fact, there are millions of people around the world enjoying this form of competitive racing. Tomorrow's Danica Patrick or Don "Big Daddy" Garlits may well be finding their interest in racing at a local slot car track.
The vehicles reach speeds in the 90s, some even higher, and they use very little fuel while satisfying the racing urge for many adults and youngsters.
The electrically powered vehicles aren't exactly the thunderous cars or trucks that run at Daytona, Texas Speedway, Indianapolis or Watkins Glen, but their owners and "drivers" have as much fun as anyone.
One of the adults doing what he can to introduce youngsters to the sport in East Texas is Mineola, Texas High School auto mechanics teacher Johnny Callison.
While summer racing is "hit and miss" they do race weekly once school cranks back up in late August and each year they hold competitions with pretty nice purses that find competitors from as far away as Arkansas, Oklahoma and Colorado joining their Texas sisters and brothers.
The Parts Plus Fall Bracket Nationals will be held the second weekend of October 2009.
The money races raise funds for scholarships that go to high school students who intend to further their education in the trades.