Hot Wheels Launcher Drag Strip

This I like!!Got a set up kinda like it ,but no real working tree.

Tell us about your tree??

Rusty

I bought the tree as a kit off eBay. It's from nerdy kits and needs to be assembled. For the tree I just used some scrap metal that was laying around. The lights aren't lined up perfectly but it works. It's ran through a switch. Once its turned on it goes red for staging. Yellow, yellow, yellow green. Wish there was a red light for jumping the gun. But that can be a future project. The tree itself continually cycles. But flip the switch and it starts over or you can just wait for the cycle. You can also adjust the speed of the lights! There is a horn (didn't hook up annoying) and reset button. But really don't need it as the power switch does basically the same thing. Trying to upload a vid now

https://youtu.be/b5XY-mZWWJo

Here is the video

Nice track. Hot wheels launchers make for great racing; I used to include a shooter track round in our Hotwheels tournaments and it always produced close, competitive racing. We gave up on it though when I started entering a Matchbox R500 superlight, it was totally unbeatable due to its lack of weight. 

We also found it difficult to get two identical shooters, we found some cars consistently crashed or went faster with certain shooters, although it may be due to their old and battered condition. I assume being a kids birthday things weren't too competitive or serious, but did you think your track was fair and consistent?

Thanks Skux. Actually the track is still in testing. Party is this weekend. So far it seems to launch pretty fair and runs as straight as it can around the tree. Some cars just struggle with the launcher. (Both were purchased at Toys r us for 3.99 and are identical. Well at least model type anyways. Picked two of the finish gates for 4.99 online as well!!) Such as one of the trucks that is light in the ads end. Like to pop a wheelie and slide off the track. Which is kool and wrecks happen at the real race track. So to get around that. We are gonna test all the cars and the good ones go in a pile and here us go kiddos. Have fun. Lol

As for the mad traxxx finish gate. In testing I know 1 lane has beat the other and the other light tripped. Thinking it had to do with the height if the cars. The gate has a ton of lag in it before it trips. So I have it ripped apart now trying to play with the triggering mechanisms. So far putting foam behind the pcb board is moving the trigger closer to the highghest part of the arch on the paddle. Which seems to be taking a little lag out. Will keep you posted on the mod to the finish gate. As well as if it's a hit with the kids!

http://s650.photobucket.com/user/jjgargerii/media/Finished%20Track_zpsglrsy6po.jpg.html

Finished Product