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Post by johnbalich on Sept 1, 2008 16:19:59 GMT -7
Ok I know many of you guys are lone wolf racers, or maybe just you and a buddy or two. Tell us about your track and activities. Don't think your set up is too modest. We especially want to hear from the 'little guys' here. 5 foot drag strips, 12 volt drag strips, out of the box Life Like setups, old t jet set ups you name it. If your strip has a name.....then use that as the topic of your post. It can be a strip you now have or one you used to have.
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Post by johnbalich on Sept 1, 2008 16:29:33 GMT -7
My drag strips varied. The one we used the most and had the most fun with was about 12 feet plus shutdown area. We used dual Aurora power packs usually til i obtained a 12/24 volt pack.
The track spanned my bedroom and the shutdown area ran well into the walk in closet. We had no Christmas tree, so starts were 'dead stick.' We direct wired the power packs on one switch. When you hit the switch the cars took off! We had dozens of cars and grouped them by classes. Immediately after a 'meet' we would try to 'beef up' the slowest cars. There was enough variance in performance, that even with drivers out of the equation, the same cars did not win every meet. Our Stock class cars....(pure stock) would use the Aurora Starting track with the 'guide pin holder. The rear tires rested on rollers. You would rev the cars at max throttle and hit the 'starter' switch. The cars would merrily spin the tires hard and fight for bite the first foot or so. It was actually quite a show.
From a very basic set up we had untold hours of fun with just two buddies racing to our hearts desire.
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Post by gonegonzo on Oct 19, 2008 20:08:28 GMT -7
Your little 12'track sounds interesting John.
I once had a portable drag track and had some fun with it before moving south for sevaral years. Got rid on the track but kept the very early model Track Mate program for it. Last time I tried using it it wouldn't work. Haven't tried it in probably 10 yeras and have went ton racing road courses.
Now I've moved back to Ohio and I'm seeing the same old bunch drag racing and I'm getting interested again. There's a A+ track belonging to one of our club members that will handle even the most outragious drag car. However I'd still like to have a small track here at home to tinker with.
Problem!!!!!! I don't have space enough to set one up premanent. I have the lenght of the rec room ( 22 feet ) to play in. I'm thinking maybe a 12 foot run with shut down area. I know it's not to scale but the 7 ft run for 1/8th mile is too short.
I'm not running high tech cars either. Just stock stuff here at home would be good for me and the grandkids and a few friends. T-Jets , JL , AW , Magna traction , Stock Tycos. Wall arts for power.
As I said, my old timing system seems to be a duster so the start will have to be '' Heads Up '' and hit the switch / both cars going. It would be nice to have at least a win light to tell who won the run. Some are too close to call I know.
Are there any schematics on building a win light ?
I have box full of Life Like track that I'd like to use . No harsh magnets so i wouldn't be pulling the rails out. I even have enough for return lanes.
I haven't started dragracing as of yet but hope to here in a few weeks. Hope my ramblings didn't bore you.
Tom D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2008 21:00:45 GMT -7
Tom, Check out this www.slotcarsinc.comI just picked one up and it's awesome. I got it put together over the weekend and have been having a blast with it. mine's the 1/8th mile and I mounted it on a board so I can put it away anytime i need to. I can also throw it in the back of my truck and take it with me. I'll probably add to it and make it a 1000' or quarter mile once the budget allows. I can't think of an easier way to get started I took some pictures and will post them during the week. Good Luck! Tjet |
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Post by chima on Oct 20, 2008 1:42:38 GMT -7
Tom D It's cool you are getting interested in drag racing again. I know it's hard to set tracks up permanent. Putting it on a wood board and putting it away when not in use works great. I have even heard of guys who put it on a board and pulley system where they can lower the track for racing and pull it back up to the ceiling when not in use so that it doesn't take up needed space. I know that sounds pretty drastic. There are probably a lot of ways where you could set it up without it being permanent. I think as long as you're having fun racing it doesn't matter what the length your track is. Just have fun with it. I'm sure the grandchildren and friends will. It's great you have enough track for return lanes as well. We'd love to see pics of your track as your putting it together and when it's done. Below is a link for an easy way to post pictures on the forum. www.psychoslots.com/index.cgi?board=pp&action=display&thread=330Tjet, I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your track as well. |
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Post by johnbalich on Oct 20, 2008 9:31:58 GMT -7
ill do some looking around.....I think i have a schematic somewhere or have seen one.
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Post by gonegonzo on Oct 20, 2008 13:18:26 GMT -7
T-Jet racer, Chima, John
Thx for your inputs.
T-Jet, that's a nice track and I agree it's a good way to get into it. However, I'd really like to put this track to use. I look forward to seeing your pics.
John , a thank you in advance for the schematic. Appreciate the offer.
Tom D
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Post by SKR on Oct 20, 2008 19:40:54 GMT -7
Hello Tom, Go with what you are comfortable with as far as length. We went with what room we had to work with as well. That's why our track is not a scale 1/4 mile or 1/8th mile. We wanted the longest track we could build with adequate shut down area. Great to see you get back into HO Drag Racing.
Sam
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Post by Demon340 on Oct 20, 2008 20:49:44 GMT -7
Well things did not go well at Phils tonight. Richard and I got to Phils house he let us in and the first thing I saw was a roll of toilet paper on the stairs to the second floor where his track is so Iam thinking this is not good. OH was I right. He open the track for us to make runs but when he turn on the computer it would not turn on so he said we would have to wait for Bill to show up because he had been working on it for a problem. He said we could make runs but we would have no times just make passes. So we started making runs and our cars were not slowing down at the end of the track and hitting the foam flipping all over the place. I put my VIPER up side down three times and the driver got out shot me the bird and walked away. OH WELL I was going to fire him anyway he red lighted alot. Bill show up with PIZZA good thing BAD thing computer was broke NO RACE. SO bill and frank ran there cars down the track and would bounce their cars off the foam and see whos car would go back down the track the farthest. I couldnt do that to my cars then we found out they were using PHILS cars.  Well we still had fun-talk and PIZZA. ;D TOM |
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Post by chima on Oct 20, 2008 21:06:54 GMT -7
Sorry to hear the race didn't go well tonight. I hope the computer will be up and running again soon.  |
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Post by Demon340 on Oct 21, 2008 18:37:43 GMT -7
Hey thanks KIM just one of those things that happens sometimes.
Poor Richard he really want to race he is in second place in the
points now he has two races to get points to win track championship. Iam in fifth so now I need to try to take out the
points leader to help richard hey what can I say were R/T RACING
TEAM.
TOM
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Post by chima on Oct 22, 2008 5:15:04 GMT -7
Sounds like the points are running close. I'm sure the computer will be up and running again soon. Let us know how the championship turns out.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 18:05:47 GMT -7
Hi Everyone....my first post!
My track is in the planning stages. So far I've been in contact with the good folks over at slotcarsinc and pretty much have decided on a 1/4 track and with a trackmate timing system. I already have some grandstands and concession stands plus about 20 cars ( I ordered a '62 Bel-Air station wagon and a '64 Dodge 440 wagon today! ) I am super excited about the whole venture! I've been reading and reading and READING about slots and just how " in depth " it is! Up where I live, Winnipeg Canada, there is NOTHING as far as slots go, so I figure it's time to step up and do it myself!
Very glad to be apart of your board 
the chaosboy
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Post by Demon340 on Apr 16, 2009 18:46:37 GMT -7
Hey welcome CHAOSBOY to PSYCHO SLOTS and the fun you are
going to have now. Hope you can take some smack talk cause it
happions here. What brand cars do you like ford-chevy or KING
OF THE TRACK MOPARS. I see you like scary stuff after I saw your
avatar cool.
DEMON
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Post by SKR on Apr 16, 2009 19:03:11 GMT -7
Welcome to Psycho Slots Chaos! Great to see your building a strip. Keep us posted on your track build. Also check out the HO Drag Registry link at the bottom of our home page. You can list your track on there when you are up and running. I'm pretty sure you will be the first Canada track on HO Drag Registry.
Sam
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Well we still had fun-talk and 
