How to Find a Racing Snail

Once hidden away in dark basements and garages, snail racing has begun to make its way into the American mainstream. Finding and capturing the perfect racing snail takes patience and a bit of luck. True racing snails are a sneaky and sometimes savage group that is seldom seen and rarely caught. Knowing where to look and how to identify a solid performing snail can give you an edge in competition.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Find a snail by looking under foliage and damp areas known to collect large numbers of snails. Racing snails can't resist a crowd where they enjoy showing off their superior speed and maneuvering skills.
2. Look for signs of racing snails such as the telltale tracks left behind from doing snail donuts and excessive slime burnouts. Snail drifting has recently become popular making tight twisty trails through the grass irresistible to a snail with speed.
3. Wait along a section of a snail highway known for speed exhibitions and carefully monitor the snail traffic. Racing snails will line up together and suddenly accelerate to speeds in excess of 2 inches an hour. Racing snails return to the same portions of highway day after day, so take your time in selecting the right snail.
4. Consider choosing a heavily modified snail, which you identify by the lowered shell and massive chrome exhaust tip. Side skirts and spoilers are also common accessories found in the snail racing community.
5. Set your trap by extending your arm towards the target with the thumb and middle finger set slightly wider than the snail's shell. Gently close the thumb and middle finger around the snail's shell and slowly lift it away from the ground.
6. Provide housing, food and entertainment for the snails (they enjoy classic racing movies). Place your snail into a demanding training arena where it can hone the skills necessary to be a winner.