A Track for Charity

I'd like to see an up-close of that starting gate. Looks low profile and simple, me likey.

Best pic I could scrounge, bottoms up ;

The unit screws up under your plank, adjustable [bendable] pin shaft, add ballast to the horizontal bolt to keep the pins UP at steep angles...

I have a short video of the track that I'll upload tonight

Here's the video...

Charity track: https://youtu.be/AQNKQkSdyhQ

Thanks for posting the pics Chris. It's gonna be a nice little starter track for someone & the money will go to a worthy cause. I have to slap some paint on it and it's almost done. 

Here's a pic of the finish line...that I forgot to post yesterday...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/received_1108210429205066_zps...

Again, good going, DadVBall  and Smitty!

Here are the pics of the finished product...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950679_zpscnu0h5zd.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950684_zpsfsndpsv1.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950688_zpsuutmtey0.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950683_zpsftibbsf1.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950687_zpshlrsud0t.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950681_zpscrgisl6x.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950686_zpsb7gscxaz.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950685_zpsgfqegbqd.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG950680_zpsupmwufww.jpg

Good work Bill and Smitty...this will make someone a nice track...and it's for a great cause!

too bad we can't grant all the sick kid's wishes...

A little info on the track. I started with two 1" x 6" x 6 ft pine boards.  The hinged leg is 16" long with an 8" brace to steady it. The angle is 30" but I extended it another 3.5" for Smitty's upper track anchor. The first leg of the straight is the remaining 42" of the first 1 x 6. They are hinged on top so it folds up. Smitty's transition piece has two flat strips that he drilled on the ends to screw to the wood. But I drilled the board and glued in short 1/4" dowels that hold the transition and make it easier to attach and remove. 

I left the other 1" x 6" board the full 6 ft length. I thought about cutting it in  half but didn't. 

Trying to hinge it became a bit of a problem because of the blocks I added to raise the whole thing. The pivot part of the hinge was the issue either on the top or the bottom of the board. So the blocks at the separation of the boards were drilled to accept a 1/4" carriage bolt with a wing nut. This will lock the two boards and help keep them lined up. 

I also borrowed Brian's great idea of the craft sticks. I sand both edges to make them straight and glued them in place. They do a great job keeping the track in a straight line, which is very helpful as some of these pieces of segmented track have a slight curve in them. 

Bringing up the finish is Smitty's Bopper Stopper. This thing is awesome!  It absorbs the impact and slides back towards the end of the board with a rubber band keeping it from falling out. A little push and it's back where it belongs. Keeps the cars from bouncing off the track. Even the metal cars stayed on. Total start to finish is 11'-4". No official finish line but with the exception of a few very close races it's been easy to see which car hits the foam first.