68 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

I started on this approximately 3 years ago, but it got derailed by a strong party business, along with expanding my product line and starting to sell to distributors, and the custom Red Fox guide flag business, first pinning them, and now weighting them.

Well, I dug a little deeper, and managed to make some big progress on finishing it.

Still a ways to go, but it's now at full length, the floating wall system is finished, it has 2 slots, and as of a few hours ago, has it's final coat of paint.

I have a busy February schedule, but I'm guessing in the next month, we'll finally see the padlock motor powered Willy's, of Manta Ray Price's, my late friend, who the track is named after, make a pass.


The view from the end of the approx. 45 ft. shutdown.

 

The threaded rods you see on the floor are attached to the inner wall, and are used to hold both sides of the "floating" wall, to each other.


The view from near the starting line.


The floating wall system had to be removed to paint both the track, and the wall, itself.


As well as the track stayed flat, as a long shelf , the last 3+ years, the 3/4" thick, tightly
dadoed walls, are probably overkill, but should at least do a good job, hiding the wiring.

[Tim Neja]

Very cool you're getting er done!!  Drag racing out here is BIG business!! Probably one of the things that keep BPR up and running!!  Looks good Mike,  Git r done!

[MSwiss]

A few tidbits.
 

The Manta Ray Willy's, slated to take the first pass.
 
With the cars running in a straight line, I went with a vertical bolt system, to join each section.
 
Using the seam in the bare MDF, as a visual reference, you can see the nice job it does.
 
Once finished, I'll cover those holes with painted, round or oval, stickers.

Along with normal 16V racing, I also plan to to have some LSR fun, with running cars on up to 30V.

 

Not sure on how much voltage he'll run it on, but Mark Mattei mentioned, wanting to take a pass or two, with his vintage magwinder.

[NY Nick]

Nice Willys .

[chasbeeman]

Looking good Mike, I've been working on my basement 1/8 mile recently too.

[Ramcatlarry]

My Florida Drag Proxy cars are still ready to go against the Willys.  The Kemtron '57 Vette wheel stands the whole 1/4 mile on 16 volts.

[Fitzy]

Nice Willy's!! Body from the AMT kit?

[Dave Crevie]

So, my old drag cars will finally come to life again. Many have been recently restored, and are chomping at the bit. (see posts elsewhere) 

[MSwiss]

Nice Willy's!! Body from the AMT kit?

Yes.

I built the model, and displayed it at our local hobby shop/slot car raceway, 50 + years ago.

It was yellow with a flat black nose.

[Dave Crevie]

These guys are anxiously waiting;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MSwiss]

Chuck Gambo came by and helped me route the oval braid slots.

It can be done by one person, in a pinch, but much easier and precise, with 2 people.

He also suggested while we are drilling through, and cleaning up the oval pattern,the jig creates, we add a little bevel, which will get the braid to lay down even nicer.

Before the braid will get glued, the inner sides get opened up, and flattened out a bit better, with a small file.

[Ramcatlarry]

The bevel edge eliminates a bump at that point.

[Geary Carrier]

[MSwiss]

I've been juggling a bunch of stuff, but I got a little more progress done on the strip, so my locals won't string me up.


Chuck Gambo lent me a small file that worked out perfectly to open and square up my routed, oval shaped, braid drops.


At the beginning and end of the strip, using a 1/16" router bit, I cut a narrower slot, since only 1 piece of braid, goes through it.

Between it being hard to get a file in a slot so narrow, and not being important parts of the track, I didn't bother to square off the ends of the hole.

[Ramcatlarry]

An Exacto knife edge trim is all you need on one side.  I will bring the  Corvette Sunday.

[MSwiss]

With the C19 closure, I've been able to get work done on the strip.

Still, more work to do, but last night, I was able to take the first pass, with the late Ray Price's, padlock Willys.

Along with the tribute run, in the video, on 2 volts, I also got in a number of passes, on the dry track, increasing the voltage each time, eventually getting up to 24 volts.

And despite the dry track, the small vintage guide, (that isn't locked down straight), and the light drop arm, the car went down smoothly, albeit, with some wheelspin.

[Dave Crevie]

A fitting first run, and video to record it.

[idare2bdul]

Wheelspin is vintage correct. 

[MSwiss]

While putting Ray's Willys back in the showcase, I came across this Dave Crevie beauty, I've been anxiously waiting to see go down the strip.

It's as cool as I hoped, even at 6V.

[Dave Crevie]

It does! Went to the right guy. Now, run it at 13.5. (might have to sand the tires a bit)

[MSwiss]

I had already quickly sanded the tires, while still on the car.
 
I was surprised at how well it ran, when I tried it on higher and higher, voltage.
 
So I went ahead and made a 16.2V pass.
 
A little bit of kick, a little bit down the track, but it ran awesome even without glue.
 
The secret is probably the low powered Falcon 2.

[Dave Crevie]

That's more like it! The low-end Falcons were probably a good choice, especially when we were running the cars on an oval. But it looks

like it could handle a Hawk 7 OK. (Pro-Slots won't fit).

[MSwiss]

That motor is definitely shoe-horned in there.

I may of posted a similar pic, a few years ago, but the below pic shows how well Dave engineered that chassis, to get everything in, including the lead, which contributes to how well the car runs.

[Dave Crevie]

The frame is brass rod. What might not be so obvious is the slight kick to the left on the frame behind the motor, for a bit more clearance for the crown gear.

It's why the push bar is at an angle to get it centered up again. It was all a tight fit, but I wanted to keep the dimensions of the tank true to scale. 

[MSwiss]

Fun with wire.