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Malcolm's Home Track

Here is the layout. All the table pieces were cut from a single 4'x8' sheet of 3/8" plywood. All power, controllers and the lap counter are in the center section. There are two power connections that are physically adjacent, but occur about half-way around the track. Power wires are soldered to the bottom of normal 15" straights (see the Hints page for more info). This layout was drawn with Edwin's Tracker 2000.

Home Track - Layout

Turn 1 is an easy right turn that can usually be taken at full speed (15" outside)
Cars slow slightly into turn 2 (12" outside)
Turn 3 is another easy one (15" outside)
Hairpin 4 is the toughest turn on the track (9" outside for 180 degrees, 12" outside for 45 degrees)
Good drivers make up time in hairpin 5 with it's fast entrance and exit (15" outside for 45 degrees, 9" outside for 90 degrees, 12" outside for 90 degrees)
I like squeeze tracks because they duplicate the places on real tracks where you cannot pass
Turn 6 is another mixed radius turn (12" outside for 45 degrees, 9" outside for 45 degrees)
After the long back straight you slow down into turn 7 which is slightly off camber (12" outside for 90 degrees, 9" outside for 90 degrees)
Drivers that survive turn 7 have an easy time going through 8 (9" outside for 90 degrees, 12" outside for 45 degrees, 15" outside for 45 degrees)
Turn 9 catches folks by surprise just like the squeeze just before it (9" outside)
The turn 10 esses are tough for any driver too eager to get to the front straight (9" outside)
Coming onto the front straight everyone has a pretty equal shot through turn 11 where the inside and outside are both the same radius (9" outside)

Track Pieces Used	Quantity
15" Straight	26
9" Straight	4
9" Squeeze	6
6" Straight	4
3" Straight	2
15" radius 45 degree Curve	6
12" radius 45 degree Curve	15
9" radius 90 degree Curve	12
9" radius 45 degree Curve	6
6" radius 45 degree Curve	17

Home Track - Driver's Stations

Yes, it's portable. In this picture it's set up where my car is usually parked.

After the race it gets taken down and slammed up against the bins behind it so there are no plans for any scenery. The track is all Tomy. Power comes from a pair of 4Amp 13.8vDC Samlex power supplies. They are available from Marlin P. Jones & Associates as stock number 7722-PS. You can get the full specs from the SamlexAmerica site under part number RPS-1204CPBT.

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It's made from three sections. The left section is 3 feet wide and 5 feet deep. The driver's station in the middle is 4 feet long and 2 feet deep. The right table is 3 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The legs are screw-on legs that may not be strong enough for serious racing. We'll see when the season gets going.

Another shot of the whole track. The corner where the cars are proved to be a little too tough and was reworked (see the layout above). Mostly there's too much of a bump coming off the center section and the cars just don't wanna stay in. It's challenging, but maybe a bit too much. Fun is the most important part of HO racing to me! The only way to know if you've got a good layout is to drive it. If you find problems, fix 'em!

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Here's the loopback. All four radii of Tomy curves are used. Note the use of A/FX billboards and Aurora Speed Corners.

This is the inaugural race with the TrakMate timing and scoring. Racing (left-to-right) are Cameron, Kian, Martin and Chris. I was there, but I'm off marshaling a car. The desk lamp was used for the photosensors on the TrakMate. It's since been replaced with a much nicer aquarium hood.

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Here's the full track in operation over the summer of 1998. That's my brothers and me. I don't remember them being such fierce competitors!!!