31 replies to this topic

[Michael Jr.]

Talking about Crossovers, Engleman, plastic track, whatever..... seems to result in different opinions depending on when we ask the question.  Coming to some hard conclusions about slot car tracks or classes of cars is like nailing jello to the wall.  What's popular transitions and changes over about 3 or 4 years time.  6 years ago it was all about speed.  And really that was it.  Now appearance is important and the plastic track guys have a voice.

King tracks used to be unquestionably the track you had to have if you wanted to be taken serious. King is still King but the gap between the King and the rest has become more narrow and can you believe some actually have plastic track in their commercial raceway.  All of that will change again and we who have bought tracks have to be agile and able to gently adjust to the undertoe and tides.  So Jim isn't a fan of the Engleman.  Probably not alone but it's a good day for Engleman overall right now.  That may fade but a track just north of me has only had a 220 ft Engleman all this time and is doing as good or better today than I have observed in years past.

 

So the only absolute is that there isn't going to be many when it comes to viewpoints in the world of slot car racing.  Prepare to change gears....everything I thought I knew yesterday will be invalid next week.

[Paul Lindewall]

Saw this thing years ago and it always irritated me.

 

Racing mentality design, disregarding the money to be made from playing.

 

It's an OK track but a poor design, a track where the most difficult part to drive is so far away from the drivers.

 

And that, my friends, is the flaw that kills the joy on any track for playing around..and why most AMCR type tracks tend to have footprints in front of the driver's panel. LOL

 

Well, we all know what people compare opinions to. Everyone has one, and thinks theirs doesn't stink.   
 

I have zero issues with that track. In fact, I'm heading there tonight to get some laps in. I just feel fortunate that I have a track within a reasonable driving distance of my house, although, I will admit, if all there were was a banked oval, I'd probably stay home. 

Just my opinion, and it doesn't stink. 

[jimht]

"So Jim isn't a fan of the Engleman."

  Jim's track: an actual Engleman...

 

Regardless, my comment was not addressed to the track itself, but its flaw in being a "copy" of an Engleman.

 

It's not hard to figure out what works...just look at what doesn't and hasn't.

You seem to think variety works in the commercial Raceway business but you haven't been around long enough to see what really works.

I could have bought or gotten free Kings and other such firewood candidates many times. I didn't bother because they are boring with slow cars and car killers at speed. Besides, customers that are only 3 or 4 feet tall don't have much fun on them.

 

If customers were always right and we all did what they wanted, we'd all be making megabucks in the slot car biz.

 

I've been around way longer than any of my customers...and they'll never catch up.

 

Michael, you're not doing anything wrong. Overthinking what the customers want in order to have a good time is a trap that we've all gotten into.

 

What I know about making this busness work is the same as what I knew decades ago...nothing has changed much. YOMV, but opinions don't pay the rent.

[John Streisguth]

I've driven Michael's track (when it was in PA).  It's a good racing track, and is challenging for a high-speed type of track.

 

Jim, yours look very similar to the Altech at Trains and Lanes in Easton PA...huge bank, flat turns.  That one doesn't have the esses though...and it's not in really good condition (although it has been improved).  

[jimht]

I've driven Michael's track (when it was in PA).  It's a good racing track, and is challenging for a high-speed type of track.

 

Jim, yours look very similar to the Altech at Trains and Lanes in Easton PA...huge bank, flat turns.  That one doesn't have the esses though...and it's not in really good condition (although it has been improved).  

Altech tracks were built by Stan Engleman. When he started his own company he added esses to the 180', 200' and 220' designs to make them more challenging.

[Michael Jr.]

Thanks Jim.  I might be overthinking but....I don't have much else to think about these days and I enjoy the challenge of figuring this out. 

[Tim Neja]

I LOVE those designs--- both Michaels and Jims  -- I wish they were in my neighborhood--but the nearest to me is Foster's Paper Clip which is a lot of fun.  But too swoopy for my true desires!  The flat track at Piranha is a LOT of fun and very challenging to drive fast! And NorCal is just too far -- I'd love to head up there but it's 250-300 miles and that's just out of comfortable one day drive distance. 

Maybe in two years when I retire--I'll do some overnights up there!!