What Size Is Your Oval

[Kemtronracer]

My current track's footprint is about 6'X18'; but I have a large pillar in the way and it interferes with the line of sight. I'm thinking about building a smaller track with a footprint of 6'X12' so that the pillar is not an issue. So my question is: what size is your oval? I'm looking for feedback to see if building a smaller track is a good idea or not.

[HomeRacingWorld]

I think so.

Mine is 5 x 16.

But I had a longer/larger track and tore it down to build this smaller one. The old one was more about motor. Now it's a balance of motor and handling. The action is in the corners and the smaller track keeps things a little tighter.

But it boils down to your taste. Some folks want big banks, high speeds.

[chris]

Mine is 6 x 16 with about 6 degree banking on one end and 4 degrees the other.

Chris.

[4424ever]

Mine is 3X11 ( smallest I've seen ) with 4 lanes too! Lane 1 is not used a lot unless the track is full, it's all about the corners since the track is dead flat although the bigger motor cars do shine on the straights. Even on a track this small we have a blast. Best night for the track was a couple of years ago 5 or 6 guys put 4000 laps on it in 3 hours ( ECR stayed to run off a few laps and even out the lanes at a 1000 each ) I say build it :music-rockout:

[Gentleman Norb]

6 X 16. One side is elevated and I have a squeeze on the other end. Lots of fun.

[The Old Jaybird]

Mine is 8x16, dead flat, elliptically routed corners, chalkboard paint, four lanes, fast lap on yellow, inside is 2.244 at 12 volts. Standard colors outside to inside are red, white, blue, yellow, lap lengths are 37.35.33.31 feet.

TOJ

[The Old Jaybird]

Back to OP......can you position the track so the pillar is in the "infield"?


TOJ

[btaylor]

Mine is 6x16, No banking flat {dirt} painted surface plastic artin r-4's on the outside, down to r-2,' 6-lane.best lap time with rear end hanging way out! was 3.21, NO magnets, My voltage starts at 12 on lane one,and goes to 15.5 on six. very even racing! don't think I would want it any longer than it is,and it was fun even before I added the extra 31 or so inches of straightaway.

[smithspeedway]

6 by 18 feet, 6 lanes, flat track. 2 inch tilt end to end to make the turns drive differently.

[RazorJon]

5X11

[Halfj-7]

6'x16' with 7 degree banking. 4 lanes. Just about right at 12v

[SLOTTING SINCE 1963]

21x5 4 lanes slightly banked shrink one end, fun but horse power mostly wins.
When I build another it will be 16x5 3 lanes and cock the shrink.

[chappy]

Well thats a good question Kemtron. Like someone above mentioned, is it possible to have the post in the middle , and maintain your current track.
My buddy in Pa. Has a 3 lane routed with braid, 16 x 5 with about 6 degree banks.
I bought one from a friend a couple of years ago, that can be used on Sunny days, outside. 32 x 4, 3 lane routed copper tape. But I dont think, thats what you were after in your OP.
other ways of making a smaller track fun are less power, or stock tires etc slow things down a bit or make the driver have to, work.
Is it possible for you to do a trioval with the post.
Bob

[slothead]

Mine is a 2 lane 4' x 14' flat oval with a surface made from the slickest surface I could find - Masonite (hardboard) to mimic racing on dirt. I built it in 6 wood sections like a large plastic track as a test track in 2005 but have been racing on it ever since. The plan was to replace it with a wider oval of the same design and connect the copper tape to a digital powerbase and splice in digital lane switches so 6 cars could race on the 2 lanes. I ended up spending my time building cars and my grandson and I have put a couple zillion laps on it over the years.

It's powered by two Scalextric 16V wall warts and Professor Motor controllers connected to a powerbase mounted under the track. Cars with silicone tires run lap times between 2.5 and 3.0 seconds, but others require a lot of skill to drive because of the lack of grip. Larger radius turns and an adjustable power supply would help.

Slothead

[Kemtronracer]

Thanks for all your replies. I think before I make a drastic move, I'm going to try to relocate the driver hookups. If that cures the line of sight issue, then there's no need for a different layout. We have a race planned in a few weeks so I've got enough time for that little change.