The claim: MAX Traxxx Tracer Racer 20 Foot Dual Loop Set — Glow in the Dark Racing System introduces the new side-by-side Mega Loop. This exciting new racing set includes 20 feet of glow-in-the-dark track, two Light Up Marble Racers, and the loop apparatus. Tracer Racers utilize Light Trail Technology as they blaze streaks of light on Skullduggery's patented Glow-in-the-Dark track. Each Tracer Racer beams down purple light rays from its undercarriage onto track.

Cost: $29.99

Where: skullduggery.com and ToysRUs.com

T he MAX Traxxx Tracer Racer was easy to assemble right out of the box. The track is pretty sturdy and fit together snugly. The cars do not power themselves — this open-ended track runs on gravity. The starting end of the track can be attached to a doorknob or glass pane, but we ended up propping them against a couch, and later held and manipulated the slope of the track to see if it helped win the race.

The gimmick is the glow-in-the-dark track. The cars have lights on the bottom, and as they run down the track, they leave a streak of light — either continuous or in a pattern, depending on which setting you choose. It's a neat feature, and probably the biggest draw for my 8-year-old, who also experimented with assembling the track in different ways and draping it on furniture to establish the needed gravity.

There are add-ons for the product, including finish gates and extra track. Similar products in this price range have cars that power themselves or closed, continuous tracks, so that might be a drawback for some. But if you are looking for an interactive, low-tech, low-noise toy, this is a fine option.

— Christine Zirngibl

Y ou've probably seen long plastic car-racing tracks before. The best way to put your best Matchbox/Hot Wheels racers to the test is to construct an impossibly steep ramp. We would try to get them to go down several flights of stairs — and let 'em fly.

The concept hasn't changed much in the 30-or-so years since I was a kid, but it was inevitable that someone would try to improve on the formula. The small toy company Skullduggery, has attempted a glow-in-the-dark variation on the formula — and it's pretty clever.

Max Traxxx comes with two parallel tracks with a loop in the middle, and two cars — “Blue Torch” and “Red Specter” — that have two LED lights on the bottom. Turn off the room lights, and send them racing down the track, and the cars will leave a streak of light behind them that stays imprinted in the track for several seconds.

Snapping the tracks together is easy, and they seem to fit together well with other, older tracks you may have, which is helpful. They fit Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars, although heavier vehicles may fall off the peak of the loop.

To get the required elevation, there's a flimsy plastic hook with suction cups, which ought to adhere to a door or other flat, smooth surface. It can require a little ingenuity to find a place to set up the tracks, but that's part of the fun.

Unfortunately, if you lose the cars, the glow-in-the-dark feature doesn't work. Within an hour of setting up the tracks, one of the cars had already disappeared under the furniture, and has yet to be found. Replacement cars are available, and there's an 8-foot starter set for sale.

— Michael Machosky

T he Max Traxxx Glow in the Dark racetrack with lighted race cars was a huge hit with the 4- and 6-year-old grandkids staying for a sleepover. Even the younger one, who worriedly reminded us that he's scared of the dark, didn't mind dimming the lights once he saw the zooming cars leave tracers of light on the track.

The plastic track clipped together and stretched down the hardwood floor hallway, hanging from a doorknob with the handy tail-end attachment.

The two race cars that come with the set have a few flash settings that change with the button switch on top — quite simple for small hands. When the gravity-powered cars zoom down the track, it lights up and tracks remain visible for a few minutes. Pretty cool! The dual track allows for a competition between racers.

Rather than completely pull the track apart for storage — I couldn't face the idea of missing parts — I was able to “roll” it into a loop that fit nicely into a shopping bag. It's ready for the next play date as an anticipated feature of Grandma's house.

— Sally Quinn

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