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Big multi-track slot car facilities


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#76 Rotorranch

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Posted 10 February 2020 - 09:30 AM

It's only been a year now since this thread was started...

These things take time!

Rotor


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#77 Revtor

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 07:34 AM

Hey guys, I spoke with Josh yesterday and things are moving along. Still having some issues with his landlord over details and trying to work all that out. Something we talked about was having a soft opening for friends and one for the slot blog guys. Before opening the doors to the public. To let the workers and people work out some kinks. So that would be pretty awesome. No dates yet. Keep ya pants on!!

So, to move the thread on a bit... what parts etc should be behind the counter?? Id love to see a full stock of the Chicagoland stuff, Im jonesing to do a bit of chassis soldering though...
Thoughts?
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#78 mb4310

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 09:25 AM

Hey guys, I spoke with Josh yesterday and things are moving along. Still having some issues with his landlord over details and trying to work all that out. Something we talked about was having a soft opening for friends and one for the slot blog guys. Before opening the doors to the public. To let the workers and people work out some kinks. So that would be pretty awesome. No dates yet. Keep ya pants on!!

So, to move the thread on a bit... what parts etc should be behind the counter?? Id love to see a full stock of the Chicagoland stuff, Im jonesing to do a bit of chassis soldering though...
Thoughts?

 

 

Thanks for the update Revtor.

 

My thoughts/suggestions for the raceway:

 

 

1. Starting out, Stock only the parts for classes you intend to race, and starter kits. Specialty and high end items can be ordered from the Distributors and should normally be available for customer pickup within a week.  You do not want to tie up dollars to carry expensive  specialty inventory that may not sell in timely fashion. 

 

2. Carry an ample supply of wear parts, such as tires, axles, gears, axle spacers, guides and common tools such as tire wrench, soldering iron, solder etc........... Stock bodies for the race classes only, starting out.

 

3, I suggest you have a very simple beginners  class for newbie locals, possibly JK box stock cars with Parma controllers, survey  your customers / more experienced racers for other more advanced  classes.  Keep the classes / rules as simple and affordable as possible. Race these beginner classes on the oval and figure 8 tracks.

 

4  Assuming you will offer rental cars for ''walkins' / newbies / birthday parties , restrict the rental cars to the simple, smaller tracks, such as ovals and figure 8 tracks. Reserve the complex tracks for more experienced  slot  car racers with their own cars / equipment such as the hillclimb, englemann etc...........  These classes of customers / cars do not generally mix well on the same track. This policy also offers  incentive for newbies to buy and build their own cars and controllers, to use the larger tracks as they gain experience.

 

Good Luck and can't wait for the opening.  Revtor  & Josh please keep us posted on your progress.

 

MB4310


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#79 Revtor

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 11:22 AM

Good thoughts MB! Ill pass these ideas in to Josh, so anyone else please chime in!

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#80 Michael Jr.

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 11:33 AM

 

 

Thanks for the update Revtor.

 

My thoughts/suggestions for the raceway:

 

 

1. Starting out, Stock only the parts for classes you intend to race, and starter kits. Specialty and high end items can be ordered from the Distributors and should normally be available for customer pickup within a week.  You do not want to tie up dollars to carry expensive  specialty inventory that may not sell in timely fashion. 

 

2. Carry an ample supply of wear parts, such as tires, axles, gears, axle spacers, guides and common tools such as tire wrench, soldering iron, solder etc........... Stock bodies for the race classes only, starting out.

 

3, I suggest you have a very simple beginners  class for newbie locals, possibly JK box stock cars with Parma controllers, survey  your customers / more experienced racers for other more advanced  classes.  Keep the classes / rules as simple and affordable as possible. Race these beginner classes on the oval and figure 8 tracks.

 

4  Assuming you will offer rental cars for ''walkins' / newbies / birthday parties , restrict the rental cars to the simple, smaller tracks, such as ovals and figure 8 tracks. Reserve the complex tracks for more experienced  slot  car racers with their own cars / equipment such as the hillclimb, englemann etc...........  These classes of customers / cars do not generally mix well on the same track. This policy also offers  incentive for newbies to buy and build their own cars and controllers, to use the larger tracks as they gain experience.

 

Good Luck and can't wait for the opening.  Revtor  & Josh please keep us posted on your progress.

 

MB4310

 

These are good thoughts, especially if you're on a budget. I might caution against restricting the renters. They will look at the big tracks and will want to race them. Got to keep them enthusiastic, never feeling left out or second class. I would gear them down and maybe reserve times so the experienced racers could get on but I wouldn't do anything but help renters fall in love with cars and tracks. Just my two cents.


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#81 John Streisguth

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 12:14 PM

Also depends on if all the tracks can have the power turned down.  Rentals+normal power= lots of repairs


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#82 Jay Guard

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 03:18 PM

Provide very good handling rental cars, maybe something like a well armored TurboFlex or even some kind of cut steel GT-12 car with a 18K or 25K Hawk motor.  If you give them relatively poor handling ones like a FCR or Womp, or worse yet a Parma Whisper Jet, the newbies will be crashing all the time leading to instant frustration.  In addition if its kids running the cars Mom or Dad probably won't be too happy about having to turn marshal the cars at every turn.  Put the newbies on a simple track with a good handling car and either low power or low gearing and everyone will have a good time right from the start.   Once they get the hang of driving you can always promote them to the bigger track with faster cars.


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#83 Don Weaver

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 06:42 PM

Realistic cars for rentals such as NASCAR with appropriate decals, etc.   Definitely not wing door stop cars.

 

Don


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#84 MSwiss

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Posted 12 February 2020 - 07:33 PM

A lot of good suggestions.

 

I'll add a few quick thoughts.

 

The suggestion of staring newbies with Parma controllers isn't doable.

 

I don't think Parma has had complete controllers, in a few years.

 

Certainly not Turbo's.

 

If you want more rentals, have cars that won't fall off the track.

 

I'd say the majority of my rentals are 3,4,5, and 6 year olds, full speed, whooping it up,  making everyone in the raceway aware,  they are winning. LOL

 

The biggest problem then becomes with full pegged rentals, is you'll inevitably have one car that is faster, which really creates issues with 2  young competitive brothers, or friends.

 

I finally made the big effort, a few years back, to have the option for adjustable power on each lane.

 

While slowing the cars down is the most important feature, evening them out, lap time wise, is a close 2nd.


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#85 tonyp

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Posted 13 February 2020 - 06:54 AM

Keep the high end balls to the wall stuff on the low down for as long as,possible. Once your crowd starts running flat out, they stop buying track time and your race crowd diminishes. The lower end racing has to be the key.
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#86 Michael Jr.

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Posted 13 February 2020 - 10:12 AM

Keep the high end balls to the wall stuff on the low down for as long as,possible. Once your crowd starts running flat out, they stop buying track time and your race crowd diminishes. The lower end racing has to be the key.

I think the "high end" or faster racers will be willing to come out during off peak times. They are the regulars that provide a good stable base line and you/we certainly have to work to give them a good racing time and experience. But this sport/hobby requires an infusion and new racers have to be the focus of a track that wants to see more than 8 or 10 racers on a Thursday night. I never realized how important the $10 an hour rental was until they were gone. Saturdays were my rental days and when that revenue dropped off, it made a huge dent in overall viability. Next time around, if I have to put a moon walk in on Saturdays I'll do it. A dunk booth too if it will work!  Then a couple of days a week we have the big boys come out and play without distractions.


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#87 crazyphysicsteacher

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Posted 13 February 2020 - 11:17 AM

Tracks getting repainted and wired up. Rebraiding where necessary. Still waiting for the CO from the town..... may have a nice HO track going in too.

Been off in the big truck world, missed this. That blue track looks familiar, is that the old anaconda?

Anyway, if you are looking on the best way to run, stop by and talk to Jerry and Jackie at the race place in Farmingdale. That place has been open forever and gets traffic constantly, even being off the road.

And advice, ignore the experienced guys on how to change the rules. Run the rules and keep them or you chase away the new guys. Also, make the voltage adjustable for newbies or the rental cars. The experienced guys can get full voltage but they can also figure out how to drive around your rental crowds. If they can't, they should probably join in. Plus, the faster more expensive cars will show the rental crowd the different cars and drive sales toward those cars.

And remember, keep it fun and talk to everybody.

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#88 John Streisguth

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Posted 13 February 2020 - 11:55 AM

I believe that is the Anaconda Chris.  The Engleman was Lou Ciconni's, then was at the Slot Spot, and finally was in NC prior to this last move.


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#89 Phil Smith

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Posted 13 February 2020 - 02:50 PM

Keep the high end balls to the wall stuff on the low down for as long as,possible. Once your crowd starts running flat out, they stop buying track time and your race crowd diminishes. The lower end racing has to be the key.

 

Jim Honeycutt has been saying this for many years. I didn't initially agree with him, but I do now.


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#90 mb4310

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Posted 14 March 2020 - 10:14 AM

Hey guys, I spoke with Josh yesterday and things are moving along. Still having some issues with his landlord over details and trying to work all that out. Something we talked about was having a soft opening for friends and one for the slot blog guys. Before opening the doors to the public. To let the workers and people work out some kinks. So that would be pretty awesome. No dates yet. Keep ya pants on!!

So, to move the thread on a bit... what parts etc should be behind the counter?? Id love to see a full stock of the Chicagoland stuff, Im jonesing to do a bit of chassis soldering though...
Thoughts?

 

Hi Revtor and Josh,

 

Can you please update us on progress to open the raceway?

 

Thank you,

 

MB4310


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#91 Revtor

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Posted 16 March 2020 - 09:37 PM

No updates sorry!!!!
Will of course post here when i hear anything,

Thanks
-Steve
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#92 John Streisguth

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Posted 17 March 2020 - 02:16 AM

Won't matter for a few weeks anyway...


"Whatever..."

#93 nicky 65

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Posted 19 March 2020 - 03:07 PM

Hey Steve:

What seems to be the problem with the landlord?

You would think the problem is with the town or city not the landlord since the tracks are already in place and walls are  painted .


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#94 Michael Jr.

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Posted 02 July 2020 - 06:50 AM

Trolling the blog this morning and was just wondering if there was any update or change on the issues with the landlord, city, or general progress? Just curious.


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#95 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 12:06 PM

Posting today related to the general topic of Large Multi Track facilities.

I have three tracks....I don't think that is the mega track facility that comes to mind under this heading. Teaneck has a bunch of tracks and then you've got your Modelville and MidAmerica and others that are the tracks you think of. Nevertheless, the dynamics of having several tracks vs when I have had one track is different. So here is an anatomy of a start up track.  And things can change quick in this world of tracks.

 

I opened with a small group of racers committed to racing a custom built class.  I would say there were 5 guys that were faithful to appear one weekday a week.  Flexi wasn't around or racing.  The first two months saw us adding a racer a week to the Stock Car class, which is the custom build. That trend continues. The draw is the realistic look of the cars. The racers stand around talking about old NASCAR drivers that the cars are taken from. So nostalgia plus a slower race that keeps it seemingly within reach for most of the guys on the track. At least that's my assessment.

 

Flexi started coming along at the two month mark but surged fairly quickly then leveled off.  I have a little more than a full field of flexi drivers once a week and about a half track full on Saturdays.  I have about a 3/4 track full of Stock Cars on Saturdays.  Momentum is still on the side of growth at this point and I have at least 6 spectators to watch races each race.

 

Rentals are fairly non-existent. There are a few but a very few. Most want to buy an RTR and start racing.

 

I'm now getting and trying to find ways to wicker in the requested classes of the racers.  On the one end of the spectrum there are several that want a pure box stock with basic resistor controllers. This is for parity in racing but also they worry about the costs with some guys walking around with $300 controllers.  On the other end are some old school racers with wing cars idling in their pit boxes.  They want group 12 but are going to have to settle for Group F for now.  I've decided that if they want to race group 12 then one of them will manage that class and race at a time outside of normal business hours. Essentially they will become a group 12 club for now. I believe they are going to stay with Group F.

 

So what are the generic take aways....... I'm not sure. I can say that having more than one track helps to keep the business feeling more commercial. A few guys wanted to come and claim a place at the nicer pit tables. They wanted to leave their box and set up a light and even had mats with their names on them. I didn't allow for that and I think that has been important in the overall ethos of the shop. Rentals......I wish I had some and will start working that a little more.

 

The key to viability right now is really the Stock Car Group. They have consistently raced and the group has continued to grow. I'm blessed with a guy that likes to put the cars together and he is really good at creating the life like NASCAR look of the paint schemes. That has helped tremendously. And he is a promoter of the group. So quality cars that are desirable to have, a raceable class for newcomer as well as seasoned racers, and an advocate to talk others into coming and racing his favorite class has been huge.

 

So what do I do?  I am working overtime on my regular job to supplement and buy parts to make sure they have anything and everything they want.  I work on the aesthetics to give the place an atmosphere of racing and modernity instead of a garage or outbuilding.  I encourage, I don't worry about the nickles and dimes, and I try to greet and know every one of the racers. I put out fires and try to head those that want to skirt the rules off at the pass.  And I think it's pretty clear that I love my track and love them being there.  Communicate with the racers. Before the race last night I had a short driver meeting to discuss plans to grow the number of racing classes. I assured them they lose nothing they currently race and there is no expectation they buy into every class. Race what they want and let the rest go.  

 

This isn't a franchise model by any stretch. It's very local and personality based on the guys racing here and to a much lesser extent, me.  Not everything I try is working and I will adjust and keep on moving forward. 

 

So what has failed. So far, drag hasn't budged. The local drag racers are dormant and the few moving around have a place they've been racing for a couple of years and that's that. At least for now.

I have stumbled around with the track software several times. New programs take me some time. I think I'm good now but I haven't looked much like an expert at anything most of the time.

The current flexi program isn't going exactly as I planned, hence i have to reboot a box stock. The current flexi race was supposed to be box stock and it got away from me. What it has become is fine and very traditional flexi racing but i intended a box stock class and lost control quickly. And finally, pit space. I am in a great space and the tracks fit in there really well. But I have far less pit space than I would like. I have worked it out to have additional space for events so I'm fine....but it would be nice not to have to work at that and just assume I have the space every week.

 

Well that's my first half year round up and summary.


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#96 Revtor

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 01:30 PM

Mike great summary. Lots of good info from helpful track owners here in the blog!!!
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#97 Bill from NH

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 01:44 PM

Michael, it sounds like you've made great progress with your raceway. Do you yet have enough young racers to justify a "juniors" night or afternoon? There are a number of different avenues you can take with that, if the need arises. Have you thought about an occasional "parent & me" race?


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#98 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 01:46 PM

Michael, it sounds like you've made great progress with your raceway. Do you yet have enough young racers to justify a "juniors" night or afternoon? There are a number of different avenues you can take with that, if the need arises. Have you thought about an occasional "parent & me" race?

 I have a couple of father and son racing teams. Don't think I have enough to break those out just yet.


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#99 Jay Guard

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 03:19 PM

Michael:

What are the basic specs (i.e. chassis, motor, hard or soft body) of the NASCAR class?  Also, in what way did the Flexi class "get away from you"?  I think having a pure JK Boxstock Flexi class is a really good idea as it really keeps prep time down and does level the playing field.  Plus it makes it easy for you not having to keep a huge number of different parts in stock.  Another nice thing is that you can rotate between several types of bodies like Indy, GTP, and Stockcars to keep things interesting.  Finally I wouldn't worry too much about the guys with the expensive controllers.  A better controller does help some but a good driver with a inexpensive controller will beat a bad driver with a great controller everytime.


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#100 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 November 2020 - 03:39 PM

The current Flexi got away from my intent because I had not considered the electronic controllers, the higher quality chassis and the like. I had intended it to be an entry level class but it is more like a regular accomplished racer class turning some impressive times. The box LMP guys are backing off because they are being blown off the track.

 

I just asked and received a JK set of box stock rules. Kinda dated but I will probably build out from there.  I feel good about the planned expansions. The only uncertainty I have is with the Top Secret Intimidator motor getting into the mix with other 48K motors.


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