26 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

Eventually I need to get more lanes in my raceway.

 

I'm 98% sure, I'll do the building.

 

I haven't thought these out much, so hit me with the obvious problems.

 

The first one, maybe not so good, because of sight lines.

 

A multi-tier parking garage style rental track to save space and make "even" casual races among renters.

 

8 levels of 1 lane, or probably more doable, 4 levels of 2 lanes.

 

"Everyone get's to run Blue and Orange".

 

Next idea might be more feasible for visibility, instead of an 8 lane tri-oval, 2 - 4 lane tri-ovals, stacked.

 

Still wheel to wheel racing, but with essentially running Yellow to Green, twice, no big lap swings.

 

I'm guessing easier to marshal and less horrific wrecks.

 

OK, so what if there are big lap swings, to give drivers, sort of 2 races in 1, the bottom tier banked and the top tier,

flat, or visa -versa.

 

Opinions?

 

You won't hurt my feelings. LOL

[Dennis David]

I find it hard to imagine either one. I know you did a lot of work on your raceway and you are looking to do more lanes but wouldn't 3 6-lane (18 lanes) tracks be more efficient than 2 8-lane (16 lanes) tracks plus one drag strip? Is an 8 lane track required to host a major race? Is that critical for your business?

[Jay Guard]

Mike how about this....

A "tight" (pinched?) 6 lane oval with medium full punch banking at both ends and an "indention" curve in the middle of the back straight, sort of an inside out tri-oval.  The indention curve would somewhat equalize the lane length and make only a single place that would have to be turn marshaled.  The curve would also teach a little bit of driving to the newbies.  For the more advanced drivers it would be a lot more interesting than a simple oval or tri-oval and would make a neat stock car track.  To conserve space the indentation could even go over the main straight-away.  The turn marshall could just stand in the indentation and turn marshall everything. Just a thought...

[George Blaha]

hey Mike,

 50 years ago in my school club, a fellow designed and we built a 4  lane fully banked oval with a moat (no water) around the whole track so the cars could not slide back onto the track surface. It was a novel idea, it worked and kept the racing going and stopped  the track calls. Real simple and harmless.

 

Shakey George

[Ricky Vegas]

Mike,

 

My humble 2 cents .. but just on the oval racing side of track construction projects  ~

 

I love racing the 8-lane wide plain ole' oval in South Bend. And; yes you have lap swings say between black and orange, but we have to race each lane so in the end it evens out. 

 

It's really cool to me when we race hardbodies on this track configuration because the field doesn't spread out and it's tight competitive pulse-pounding racing all the way. 

The more cars packed together at race speed the bigger the thrill.  

 

Everyone is lapping under 3 seconds in race traffic and crashes are typically coming out of the turns hitting the main or back straight; marshaling is "easy" per say with cars flying right into the marshals hands for a quick set back into the race.

 

Whatever you do it'll be cool and racing those new JK RTR Indy cars on any oval configuration you build is going to be a blast!

[Ricky Vegas]

I'm digging Jay's pinched 6-lane oval option. 

[Samiam]

How about an oval that has a quick change turn section on one end? Oval racers have their track on race night. Add a donut/bridge section for rentals and parties. Turns it into sort of an American Orange.

[tonyp]

In the old days we had a pinched oval at BIR. Was great as Jay said you really need 1 marshall most of the time. Lots of rentals and oval racing took place on that track. I think what ever you make you should be sure it will have racer appeal also.

[Uncle Fred]

Why do I get the feeling that Mike is putting us on...

[MSwiss]

Fred,

 

No, I'm not.

Just trying to think a bit out of the box.

[Bernie]

Maybe Mike needs a bit of a vacation....    

[Half Fast]

To better answer this question one would need to know what footprint you have to work with.

 

Cheers

[MSwiss]

Not looking for new track ideas on conventional tracks.

Just if my unconventional ideas would work.

[Half Fast]

OK then:

 

Nope

 

Cheers

[Courtney S]

So just looking at the numbers 1/32 "Scale Model Cars" are much more popular than commercial racing. So what about a 1/32 scale track, plastic or wood, 4-6 lanes takes up less space and appeals to a much larger audience.

You could also have different style of cars for the different customer base F1, vintage F1, Porsches, NASCAR, the options are numerous. As a  promotion you could go to the local Mustang club event set up a small track or just hand out fliers and when they show up to race its 6 lanes of Pony Power. I'm sure you have seen some of the "Model Car Racing" blogs they are great place to start promoting should you go this direction.
 
Just my thoughts... good or bad.

[MSwiss]

Good idea, but I already have a great track for 1/32, and that crowd isn't super-interested in running on it.

[Dennis David]

Mike, I think you need to lead these people by the nose but once you get them they'll stay. Do you have a plan for your 1/32 track? Are there 1/32 clubs that you can reach out to. Races geared to that crowd could involve Group C to national rules. You should talk to Alan Smith.

[Dennis David]

I have seen a lot of so called 1/32 scale commercial layouts that are nothing but dumbed down 1/24 scale layouts. A proper track would be wood, 6 lanes, flat with a number of different size corners and a straight that's not too long. You want a semi-technical course that will hold interest but not too fast that the cars will explode in a shower of plastic.

[MSwiss]

I ran events for 1/32 car in conjunction with iHobby two or three years in a row.

1/32 cars run great on my existing flat track, and it has 8 lanes, which guys raved about, because all the top dogs could race each other, wheel to wheel, at the same time.

The problems are my raceway can never be "the basement". Little or no fees to race, racing until the host kicks you out, privacy to swear and drink. That said, I've gone to basement events and to be honest, I think the alcohol element is minimal.

The other thing I'm fighting is the sheer volume of home tracks. There might be two dozen top notch home tracks within an hour of me.

[Dennis David]

That's what I thought so use that to your advantage and hold a series of inter-club races. But I only say this if you are interested in selling 1/32 scale cars and parts. You'll never make anything in rentals.

[tonyp]

It's just like HO was No matter how cool a commercial track you make people prefer to race at home in their underwear.

[Dennis David]

At the club i race at there is no alcohol until after the race. It's not needed.

Getting people out of their basements is always a challenge but what's not in doubt is these people spend a lot on slot cars. More than the 1/24 scale crowd except maybe for the most dedicated racers and I question whether you can rely on that crowd to maintain a business.

I've seen a lot of tracks open that think their main customers derive from a strict racing program. I just don't that as being your main driver. I see it as a factor but it shouldn't be your main focus. I think your informal races are the right idea.

[Dennis David]

Somehow the idea of a group of guys racing in their underwear does not quite appeal to me.

[MSwiss]

1/32 talk is over.

[Dennis David]

I mean I get the frustration but I race 1/32 at a commercial track and most days I'm wearing pants. Do I want to run my Slot.it or NSR next to a couple of tyros running wing cars in the next lanes? I think I'll wait till they leave.

I can't tell you how many places I've been to that had King tracks in perfect condition and the flat track that was last braided when they switched over from rails. Maybe a figure 8 if I was lucky.