"Hells Gate" Speedway
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:05 amWell I took the plunge. After five years , the Old roadcourse was getting kind of shabby. To much intricate scenery to keep clean, and the track joints were just giving me fits. It was time for a new Oval track! I started by tearing down the old track and frame work.
Then Started back up with a couple of sheets of 1/2" MDF. I used biscuits to keep my seem aligned this time, so a glued and screwed flat surface was a must.
Once the table top was in place, I broke out the heavy machinery, and went to work Routing all my slots.
I built this track with a very specific purpose in mind. I wanted a very fast short track for my midgets.and I also wanted a more user friendly track manager station. With only a 12 x 16 room, there isn't a lot of extra space once a track is installed.
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I went with a Georgia red clay look on the racing surface, and will fill in the green areas with paint.
I added a 6" shelf to mount the driver stations, and track call buttons. Added the rear wall sky background, (still need to add clouds) and got one lane taped up.
The track itself measures 4' x 12'. I wanted a short track, and I wasn't disappointed when I got that first lane taped up! the action you get from a Fast motor, short track gears, and a good surface is unbelievable. Yes, I could have added the extra footage on either end, but I had that already, and wanted something a little more action packed. I think I hit the nail on the head with this one! Never underestimate a short oval.
by the way, though I haven't changed the name yet on my back board, the track name came from a neighbor that stopped over during the builds Saturday. He came in the back room, where I was working on the track. The A/C wasn't on. as I was routing, and cutting. Dusting up a storm! He stood there a minute, then said Man! how can you work back here? Its hotter than "Hells Gate" in here! so there you have it! A very short fast dirt track that pays homage to the hometown clay ovals in the south where its hotter'n Hells Gate!
Then Started back up with a couple of sheets of 1/2" MDF. I used biscuits to keep my seem aligned this time, so a glued and screwed flat surface was a must.
Once the table top was in place, I broke out the heavy machinery, and went to work Routing all my slots.
I built this track with a very specific purpose in mind. I wanted a very fast short track for my midgets.and I also wanted a more user friendly track manager station. With only a 12 x 16 room, there isn't a lot of extra space once a track is installed.
\I went with a Georgia red clay look on the racing surface, and will fill in the green areas with paint.
I added a 6" shelf to mount the driver stations, and track call buttons. Added the rear wall sky background, (still need to add clouds) and got one lane taped up.
The track itself measures 4' x 12'. I wanted a short track, and I wasn't disappointed when I got that first lane taped up! the action you get from a Fast motor, short track gears, and a good surface is unbelievable. Yes, I could have added the extra footage on either end, but I had that already, and wanted something a little more action packed. I think I hit the nail on the head with this one! Never underestimate a short oval.
by the way, though I haven't changed the name yet on my back board, the track name came from a neighbor that stopped over during the builds Saturday. He came in the back room, where I was working on the track. The A/C wasn't on. as I was routing, and cutting. Dusting up a storm! He stood there a minute, then said Man! how can you work back here? Its hotter than "Hells Gate" in here! so there you have it! A very short fast dirt track that pays homage to the hometown clay ovals in the south where its hotter'n Hells Gate!
