In 1981, the US Market saw the planned demise of the Speedtrack brand. Instead, it was set to be replaced with the Powertrack brand, (logo as above).
The range of existing cars were generally overhauled and tarted up to become something new and exciting.
'The Positraction car, our fastest car ever, brings super speed and handling to Powertrack, AFX and Tyco Slot Racing Systems. This high performance universal track star brings racers more fun and less spin outs on any HO Slot system. Our track gripping magnet and new high torque motor makes the Positraction Car a winner in any class'
...went the blurb.
Interestingly, Matchbox clearly mention its arch rivals in this product area and state the Positraction chassis can be used with these systems.
Positraction consisted of a torquier motor, (having more winds on the armature) and a magnet located next to the crown gear on the rear of the chassis. No mention is made of the 'HVT' logo attached to UK Powertrack Plus cars, or wider Pick-ups, or an increase in voltage to 12V. This suggests that Positraction cars were not the same as Powertrack Plus cars.
The Powertrack cars were divided into three categories: Positraction cars, Lighted Positraction cars and Speedtrack cars.
Speedtrack cars were presumably unchanged and not having Positraction. The cars listed here were the yellow Jaguar (166201), Jagermeister BMW (166301) & Porsche 936 PACER (166101) from the Slipstream set. The Funny car (166707) and Police car (166801) from Race & Chase. Tyrone Malone's Superboss (166501) & Bandag Bandit (166401). And lastly the solitary yellow Ford Escort (166601).
What is apparent is the demise of some old favourites, Elf F1, Texaco F1, Renault Alpine, Spiderman, Gremlin, Pinto, and the Fiat Abarth. It's also worth noting that two years after launching the Corvette Stingray in the UK the Stinger still does not appear stateside.
Sadly, it does not seem that any of this planned initiative actually happened. Positraction chassis appeared in the UK as Powertrack Plus, but none of the revised car colours and styles seem to have materialised.
Photographic examples must exist somehwere though. I would suggest ANY positraction car (and any car with a US Powertrack logo on it) is worth looking out for.
