I walked in for “just a peek,” and stayed an hour. Funny how that happens when you love tiny fast things.
I grew up around cars. My dad kept sockets in old coffee cans. Now I tinker with small stuff—slot cars and RC. So when a friend said, “Go check World of Racing in Tustin,” I went. You can scope out their full lineup on the official site at World of Racing before you head over. I brought my nephew too, because he’s eight and thinks every car needs flames.
First look, and that shop smell
The place is small, but it hits you with that good shop smell—rubber, a bit of oil, new plastic. Pegs on the walls. Glass cases with bodies and motors. A little counter track up front where kids were testing cars. It felt busy, but not loud. Like a garage on a good day.
The guy at the counter greeted us without the pushy vibe. He let my nephew hold a controller while I poked around. You know what? I liked that. It felt easy.
What I actually did there
- I grabbed a pair of soft rear tires for my 1/32 slot car.
- Picked up a tiny bottle of oil and a spare guide flag.
- Asked about a pinion gear for my old RC buggy. The clerk pulled two sizes and explained the trade-offs in plain terms. No sales pitch. Just help.
He even showed me a quick way to seat the tires without making a glue mess. Then he checked my braid and said, “You’re running it too flat.” He fluffed it up and we tested on the demo track. It hooked better right away. My nephew yelled, “It’s faster now!” which, okay, sold me.
We didn’t break the bank, but it wasn’t bargain-basement either. Prices were a bit higher than online. But I paid for the help, and that felt fair.
If comparison shopping is your jam, a quick browse through PDV Racing will give you a sense of the going rates and maybe spark a few upgrade ideas before you walk into the shop. For bigger wheels and engines, I also went hunting for full-on racing karts recently—here’s what I’d buy again.
The good stuff
- Real help, not just “aisle three.” The staff speaks “car” and “kid” at the same time.
- Mix of slot car parts, RC bits, and some die-cast that made my nephew stare.
- Hands-on testing. A small track you can actually use for a quick check.
- Family vibes. A dad and teen were tuning a car in the corner. It felt like a club without the weird rules.
What bugged me a little
- Aisles are tight. If two folks are hunched over parts, you’re doing the side shuffle.
- Parking near the front was a mess when we arrived. We looped once and found a spot by a tree.
- Stock isn’t endless. They had my tire size, but not my first-choice gear pitch. No big deal, but call ahead if you’re picky.
A small digression (that still fits)
I carry a tiny screwdriver in my purse—just a habit now. I felt right at home when the clerk pulled his own beat-up driver and did a quick tweak for me. Moments like that are why I still shop local. You can’t get that from a cart page.
Speaking of meeting folks, hobby nights often turn into laid-back mixers once the controllers are set down. If you’d like to shift from racing partners to something a little more adult, the no-strings dating hub Fuckbook lets you browse nearby profiles, chat in real time, and set up face-to-face meet-ups faster than you can swap a pinion gear. And if your travel plans ever spin you down the coast for a weekend, many racers double-dip in the local social scene—checking out the Coronado Swingers guide can point you toward welcoming venues, outline the basic etiquette, and help you decide whether the vibe matches your comfort zone.
Tips if you go
- Bring your old part if you need a match. Pictures help, but the real thing is better.
- Go earlier on weekends. It gets cozy.
- If you’re new, ask them to check your braid or your gear mesh. It’s a small tweak, big change.
- And if indoor karting is more your vibe, see how my session at K1 Speed went—spoiler: lots of rubber and grins.
- Planning to push harder on the big tracks? Don’t skimp on headgear; here’s the story of the helmet I trust and why.
- Hate waiting? Book your slot in advance through their online booking portal.
So, should you go?
If you’re in Tustin and you mess with slot cars or RC—even a little—yes. It’s a good stop. Not perfect. But warm, helpful, and real. I left with better tires, a cleaner setup, and one very happy kid who now wants “the blue car with stripes.” Same, buddy. Same.
Would I go back? I already did. I ran out of oil.