The 'Lane Change Challenge Set' (C1140) has the following content:

• 1 digital powerbase with integrated race computer
• 1 transformator 12V, 2.5A
• 2 Porsche Boxster cars
• 2 digital controllers
• 2 lane change tracks (plus sensor tracks)
• Scalextric Sport tracks with a total length 6,76m
  (R2 bends, straights and half straigths)
• 4 R2 outside curbs as well as 1 start and 1 end piece

Until the end of 2005 the 'Lane Change Challenge' set was the only available SSD set on the market.

The included curbs are far too few. At latest when you remove the magnets from the cars you have to supply further curbs to all of your bends.

Fortunately SSD uses the standard Scalextric Sport tracks, so an expansion of the basic set is no problem at all.

The powerbase is the heart of the whole system. It's not only a powerbase, it's a complete race computer also with an unfortunately too small display.

Up to six hand controllers and up to two PSUs can be connected. A second PSU becomes necessary, if you want to run more than three cars.

Finally the powerbase has a so-called Aux-Port in the form of a RJ11 socket. These connector may hopefully be used for future extensions like a bigger display. Some ardent hobbyists at http://www.slotforum.com have decoded the output data stream already.

The powerbase also lets you set up some parameters. You can configure if jump starts should be penalised, if the power should be cut off after the race and many more things.

The cars can be assigned to their specific id and the preferred braking mode can be chosen separately.

The race computer offers seven race modes:

• Grand Prix (GPR)
• Endurance (END)
• Rally (RLY)
• Pursuit (PST)
• NASCAR (NAS)
• Arcade (ARD)
• Qualify (QLY)

Each race mode can get configured by accordings parameters, like laps to go or time limits.

The display informs, depending on the active race mode, about remaining laps, current position, lap times or remaining time limits. Sadly it must be said, the display is totally unsuited for this purpose. On the one hand it's not possible to display every reasonable information at the same time and on the other hand it's so small (as mentioned before) that you have to stand right in front of it, if you want to read it.

The lane changer are implemented in 90° R2 curves. Each lane changer needs a additional sensor track in form of a half straight. The sensor and the lane change track are connected trough a 2.5mm mono jack. So watch out by putting them together.

The lane change tracks are available in four versions:

• left bend, out- to inside
• left bend, in- to outside
• right bend, out- to inside
• right bend, in- to outside

The advantage of having the lane change in a bend is that you have to slow down before the curve anyway. So there should be no problem to change the lane either. Disadvantage of this concept is that you have some limitations to the track layout.

Since the start of 2006 there are also straight lane change tracks available, what removes the above mentioned limitations in track designing. How these straight LCs behave if you try to change the lane at full speed I don't know, because I haven't get hand on one, yet.

The controllers of the SSD system have two buttons. The smaller button initiates a lane change.

The bigger button is used for braking. So that the button works at all, you have to activate braking in the powerbase settings for the specific controller. Four different options are available:

1. no braking
2. button braking
3. dynamic braking
4. both - button and dynamic braking

Dynamic breaking means, that braking starts as soon as you release the throttle control.

A small but fine details is the colored clip at the top of the controller. It can be replaced by a clip according to the color of the controlled car.

The included trafo has a voltage of 12V and provides up to 2.5A. If you want to run more than three cars, you have to connect a second transormator to the powerbase, which has to be purchased seperately.

The trafo not only supplies the cars, also the lane changers gets its current from it. So it can happen that the total consumer load is too high and the powerbase turns off with an overload. A remedy for this issue is to connect the lane changers to a seperate circuit. How to do this is well documented at www.slotforum.com.

The use of an aftermarket PSU is possible too and actually recommendable. A second Scalextric transformer costs 25 Euro at present. And then you only have a total current of 5A, what is pretty low for six cars and some lane changers. For the same money you can get an aftermarket PSU with a fixed voltage of 13.8V and a current of 10A. Such a PSU can feed both power sockets of the powerbase, so the provided Scalextric trafo can be used for powering the lane changers in a separate circuit.

In general an aftermarket PSU should have a voltage between 12 and 14V (the recent v1.5 powerbases even cope with 15V and more) and supply at least 7A. In any case the PSU should be connected to both power sockets, because if the powerbase recognizes the a PSU at the second port it allows higher currents before it turns in overload mode.

The digital converter pack (C7011) provides beside one lane change (and its according sensor track) and one racing curve (R2 90° bend with crossing lanes) no further track pieces. The remaining content is the same as in the above basic set: a powerbase and a transformator, two Porsche Boxster and two controllers. As an upgrade for analogue tracks the converter pack misses a second lane changer - one is definitely too few.

More reasonable is to expand an existing digital track with it. A second powerbase can be useful for programming cars off the track.