Location: Underneath the front of the car.
Function: Provides a place for electricity to go from the track to the car.
Brands: Pro Tech, stock and others.
Tips: Pickup shoes will need to be replaced every couple races, or even every race. The ones that came with your car should be replaced with an aftermarket pair for racing. The aftermarket pickup shoes are typically made of silver (copper and gold are also available) and are of the "ski" style. Ski pickup shoes provide for a greater surface area to be in contact with the rail for more power and to help stay in contact with the rail as a car slides through a corner. Pickup shoes should be cleaned with a dremel and wire brush to remove residue build up. This helps the shoe last longer and maintain optimum ability to transfer power. Also, racers bend the top tips of the pickup shoe back so that they have less chance of coming off the hanger in a hard crash.
When setting a car up to race, check the stripe on the shoe. Ideally there will be a line that is even in weight from the front to the back. If the shoe has a deep groove in the front only the front end is too low, or the shoe needs to be straightened. If there is a deep groove in the back of the shoe the car is too low in the back or the shoe simply needs to be straightened. Typically you will see heavy wear at the front and back edges of the shoe. This means you should bend the middle of the shoe down slightly so that the wear line evens out.
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