Home Racing World

Mike - that is looking great, and the battery idea is GENIUS!!! Nice work Sir!

That is a slick idea (the rechargeable battery) - looks like a fun little track to run! :D

I have thought of the tool batteries for this track before. I figured if they will run my drill motor so long, they would have to be pretty decent running three slot cars. The problem was how to build a plug in receptical for them. It was only when I was given the second charger that the reality became possible.

Mike,

Can you show a bottom view of the track?
My attempt at a lightweight track used 2" foam sandwiched between 5/32" mdf paneling with a 3/8" PVC wall wrapped around the whole shebang. Needless to say, it wasn't very light.

Dave

Looks good, great thinking sir.

Drat you Nor Cal Mike!!!!

I just had to wad up the paper I was getting close to finishing. That was going to be the finalized plans for my upcoming project of building a home raceway.

Since I do not have a spare A/C spot to build a track, my wife "graciously" consented to letting me build a "portable track" that MUST be put away at the end of a racing session. I was planning on MDF and using Bob Scott type of construction - which is very similar to that of a commercial raceway.

However your thread has just opened my mind to some new thinking and there is not a box surrounding it.

Thank you.

Marty, Do you have a table saw? You can rip all of your 3/4" by wood members in the framework down to 1/2" by, That will lose 33% off the framework weight over what I have in my track. The gutter guard makes good lightweight perimeter fencing that is strong and flexible. I was lucky to find a single sheet of 1/4" MDO. I haven't seen it anywhere since. When I asked my local lumber yard where I got it they couldn't find a listing for it and could only surmize that it had been a cover sheet for a unit of standard size MDO board. You can use any 1/4 plywood. Just make sure that you seal the edges well which is easy since once you cut the slots you will wind up with a series of independent plywood rings that you can paint at will. I even was able to cut a recess which allowed me to install braid. It might be a little tougher to do that with a lower grade board. Not to fret, my track originally used copper tape and it lasted for years stored in the unconditioned climate of my Northern California garage and 50 mph winds while riding on the roof of my SUV down the road.

I'll add to the chorus: Nice work with the plugin battery idea!

I'm a big fan of lightweight tracks. I built a couple from laminated Gatorfoam. The light redwood frames a good idea, but I suggest hollow core doors are even better: cheap, super light, stiff, multiple sizes available. Will span between supports. Has a 1-3/8" edge to screw a perimeter fence onto. Don't need a saw, or carpentry skills. Link together with door butt hinges that allow folding together as well. Laminate your 1/4" routable surface you are in business pretty quick.

JT

P.S. I also have a little bit of banking in my track. Not much but just enough to make it look better to my eyes. The banking is established in the framework. as the rings are glued and screwed down.