OVAL TRACK ADVICE NEEDED

[gonegonzo]

A few tears back I was going to build an oval to run 1/43rd scale cars on . As things happen , I never did . The 1/43rd lent itself well as giving me a track in a limited space ( 4'X12' ) give or take an inch or two .

I have quite a few 1/32nd cars also and a ton of WOMPS and SPRINT PLUS cars as well .

My question is : Do I have enough room in the 4'X12' area to build an oval track that will handle the 1/32nd cars as well ?

Will 4 lanes be crowding it or should I go with 3 lanes ?

Is the 4 foot width going to hurt me with the inside lanes making them too tight and useless ?

I hope I'm not breaking any rules posting this in this section . However , I thought who would know about an Oval better than Oval racers .

Thx
Gonzo

[hoganracing]

Gonzo,

I'll chime in though there are many with more experience and skill than I have. I have a 4x16 oval and have run on 4x12 ovals in the past. Both sizes provide enough racing room for fun racing. My track will accomodate 1/24th scale cars, so the lane spacing is larger than you would need for 1/32 scale. The inside lane is somewhat tight, but with the right set-up it is raceable. I think if you were going to build for 1/32nd and smaller you could fit the four lanes without any trouble.

Patrick

[padirtfan]

I run on an Artin oval on a 4' by 12' table and it's a blast. The inside lane is tight but very raceable. Each lane has it's own quirks but it's fun trying to set up a car that handles all lanes well.

[BRP32]

Hi Gonzo!

Wayne here.

We met years ago at John Warrens house racing Ho.

Here is a pic below of my scaley sport track.

It is a 4 laner on a 4 x 12 table.

Not a oval mind you but I had plenty of room for 4 lanes plus scenery so you should too with an oval in that area!

My club I run 1/32 and the club loves it especially the revell/monogram vintage stockers!

Go on slotcarillustrated.com and look up BRP32. Check out my photo gallery of all my pics in there.

I'm currently building a 4 lane ho road course also.

Talk to you,

Wayne (Bolton's Speed Shop) :D :D :D

[Wolseley Hornet]

My oval is 4 x 12, with three lanes.
It is lots of fun, but I can't help thinking it would have been better if I'd made it just a little wider - perhaps 6 feet.

David.

ps Sorry, forgot to mention it's 1/32.

[HomeRacingWorld]

[smithspeedway]

Our track is 6 feet wide, but 6 lanes. So, you can definitely race 4 lanes in that space. Most of our divisions are womps.

Steve

[gonegonzo]

Thank all of you for your replies .

There is a lot of information there as far as track size goes . It seems that 4 X12 will work . I'm locked into that area as I work on my 1=1 hotrod and other motorsport toys in there as well .

Since winter (slot car season) is setting in , I thought the track would be cool so as to race the other area gearheads that drop in .

Smitty , 6' would be great but just not possible .

Shot Gun , I could maybe go out another 5'' but that's the limit . I like your track however . It looks like a intense little action track .

Harry , That's what I had pictured mine as looking like . What is your lane spacing ? Do you find the inside lane restricted in any way to be a problem ?

Hornet , It's looking like I'm going to have a track like yours . Again , there isn't any room to move here .

Wayne , WOW , that was some time back . I thought you got away from slot cars shortly after I met you . I'm happy to see you back however . I'll look your pictures up . Keep in touch .

Padirtfan , ARTIN huh ? I haven't seen those touted for a while . I have two of the 1/32nd 4 lane sets in my archives somewhere . I've always wanted to try to route a track though . What else would a retired carpenter want to do huh ? Where are you from in Pa. ? I'm in the upper Ohio Valley in the tri state area . I'm about 35 miles west of Pittsburgh , Pa ., just across the Ohio line .

Hogan , you didn't say but I assume that your track must be a 3 lane to accommodate the 1/24th cars .

Again , I appreciate all the input . I'll probably have a lot more questions before this build's over with .

Gonzo

[HomeRacingWorld]

Lane spacing is about 4 inches. Made it a little wider than our larger oval so the open wheel cars could clear a little easier.

Inside lane is no problem. The radius is enough to get through it at a pretty good clip.

[hoganracing]

Gonzo,

My oval is four lane with four inch lane spacing. As I mentioned the inside lane is a bit tight, but with the car set up right it will navigate it fairly well. I know that the tight inside lane may not appeal to everyone. Likely if I were starting over I would probably go with three lanes since I seldom have enough folks around to fill all four.

Patrick

[cantstopnow]

Glad I found this. i really want to try an oval track, but wondered if 12' would be would be long enough. I think it will work. I have 2 4' X 8' tables but have to set up in a L shape. So with a simple change i can go from oval to road course. COOL :banana-dance: . When I can move to the garage I can then expand. Oh yea, I am using scally track, 4 lane.

[smithspeedway]

Oh.. I didn't mean that I was suggesting going to 6 feet. I meant that if you peeled off our outer two lanes, you'd pretty much have a 4 foot wide, 4 lane track.... and it works great. I've raced ovals with a tighter inside lane than ours. It is challenging, but that makes it fun. It's a place on the track where a good driver can make time.

[gonegonzo]

Harry ,

With the 4'' spacing , what did you have for the outside gutter area ?

Gonzo

[Lancaster Tornado!]

PM sent, hope this will help you.
Lee

[Nor Cal Mike]

I have a little portable 4X8 D shaped bullring with three lanes that is a blast to run on when it is full of cars. I suggest that you vary both ends so they aren't exactly the same by making one end a sharper radius or vary the banking. I do it by using the D since the corner at one ends is approached by a straight and the other is approached from the D section. They both drive very differently. That way you have to drive each end of the track differently. It makes driving less rhythmic which adds to the fun.

I'd leave plenty of room on the outer gutter. I would make it so what ever kinds of cars you are going to use touch it at such a great angle that there is no advantage to riding the rail.