Is it possible to create an interesting 3'x10' 3lanes track

[demether]

Hi,

I was a HMW member of the old forum ("specialized" in h0 slot car racing, but with also a 1/43 and 1/32 background).


These last years I made a pause with slot car racing, for several reasons. One of them is the fact my tracks are in not isolated attic, above a bedroom. In winter, it's too cold, in summer, it's too hot, and at night, it's too loud. So finally, you guess right : I never race :lol:

This year I will move in a new appartment, and I should be able to create a new track. The room for it for it is pretty small, around 3 feet wide by 10 feet long.

I'd like to go for a routed track, since it theorically brings me some options to build a 3 lanes in such a small space. I'd like to build a "classic speedway" track in this style :

http://www.homeracingworld.com/buildingmidmo.htm

or this one :

http://www.homeracingworld.com/dixonhills.htm


In one word, I 'd like to build a fast and smooth track to run 1/43 nascar (scx), but also classic and modern 1/32 gts, formula1/indycars, and even magnetless h0 cars. 3 lanes (at least for 1/43 and h0) is the main feature.


SO the big question is...Is it possible ? I didn't found any example of such a track.


thank you for your help !

[dreinecke]

Welcome back! I had wondered where you'd gone!

It is possible to build a track as you've mentioned - routed makes it VERY easy. If you look at my track plans: http://rmsresins.com/track-design.html

I had several areas I only wanted 3 feet wide to allow me to touch every part of the track. If you have any room to "bump" it out to 4 for a scenic point, even better.

The Midmo that you link above is a great smaller track to race on. I've put a few thousand laps on it while visiting Harry and love it. Listerstorm built a similar track that is fairly narrow.

If you keep lane spacing just wide enough for 1/32 you should be ok.

Have you put anything on paper yet?

[demether]

Thanks for your answer !

I made a long pause in this hobby. I kept my complete cars collection securely protected downstair in a showcase furniture of course. But upstair in the attic, my h0 slot track is under a protection cloth, and the other one (4lanes 1/32 artin oval) just never had been built. Now I have to save a bit of space in the attic, so the oval will never happen.

Having these tracks in the attic, just above a bedroom, just made the already built H0 track almost not raceable. Sadly, this track is too big (4x15 I believe) to went in the future new appartment rooms.

I didn't made any plan for now. First will be the appartment work itself (long story short, half on an old house will be transformed in a 2 rooms + bathroom appartment), but I already thinking of the new track.

The size 3x10 will be definitive. Another thing is that the track support will have to be very well design, since it will be used as lockers for my vintage videogames and other stuff, and also for the TV set. It will be some kind of giant piece of furniture, with the slot car on top.

[Junior]

[demether]

[Junior]

My lane spacing is 3.5" on both of those tracks.
Tom

[demether]

Thanks,

Reducing it to scalextric or artin lane spacing, it would allow me to save another inch :mrgreen:

[demether]

[dreinecke]

Junior's examples are perfect. If you don't think you'll ever have more than 2 drivers, the 2 lane works. If you squeeze the middle lane one way or the other you can use it to harrass or block the other two. I've done it that way on my track and love it!

[demether]

[demether]

I think I found my layout :




:music-rockout: That's typically the kind of track I like. Fast, easy to marshall, and smooth. But I will scale it down :lol:

[WB2]

That's a nice track.
I contacted the Austin club a while back for dimensions.
Nice folk.

[demether]

Yes, this track layout should be easy for beginners on a low voltage, and hard to masterize on high voltage. Really interesting.

I definitly bookmarked this layout, and contact the club too, to see if they can help me with the layout. Then I'll scale it down to my measurements (I measured another time, I probably could strech it to 12'x40"), in a 1/43 version of it.


I'll keep searching for ideas (yours are welcome), since this project will not start before a few months at best, before the end of the year at worst. SO I have plenty of time to think.

I also have a lot of typical scale questions. What kind of controller for not magnetic wood track for H0 and 1/43, what kind of voltage, etc... And the big question I still have to think about is the copper tape spacing, so it can be compatible with the 3 scales.

THe only thing for sure is that I will probably use old fashion DOS program for lap timing and lapcounting, since I always used it on other tracks, and appreciate the accuracy and useability.

[Junior]

This is my main track, it is 4' X 16". The track design is a modified version of the Suzuka track from the Slot Car Bible.

[demether]

thanks,


Yes, it's this kind of track I'd like to build. I'll search for infos on how you make the bridge connection, it sounds a bit tricky.