TRE - The Racer's Edge Racetrack

Subscibed. 

Make sure to test with different car weights (40g, 50g, 60g, 70g) as well. That is one area I messed up on but it wasn't hard to fix.

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Today we finally finished clearing of the development area so that we can start building. There is room for tables now also so that I can work on cars too. I put up the 3 tables I had sitting out there and will start using them. If you have followed from the start of the clear out until now, here is how it looks now all set for fun!

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What a rough day it was yesterday. :-(

I made a video and was going to post it yesterday, but as I was in the middle of getting construction ready yesterday, I had the Gnome Sheriff at my door serving me papers.........

On Friday, MamaGnome and I went to the store and she bought me some new Hot Wheels, and we ran into some 'Karens'. There was some discussion on my new tracks that I am building and it got pretty heated right there in the Dollar General store.

For those that have been following, I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I went to the lumber mill for some wood and there was a village Elder Gnome giving me guff about my tracks. Lo' and Behold! One of the 'Karens' we ran into is the wife of said Elder Gnome.

Evidently we set them off because it wasn't even 10:00 AM this morning I was being served with a "Cease Construction" document from the local Gnome Council. That means the Elder Gnome and his 'Karens' had to have went to the Judge Gnome right when the office opened up, as I was being served these papers just before 10:00 AM all signed where I had no idea this was being done.

I of course called my lawyer to figure out how was this possible when I have all my permits in order and was granted full construction valid until 12/31/2025. That is still 3 months of construction I was given on my permits.

Turns out that since I have the permits under The Racer's Edge Racetrack, and the 'Karens' heard us saying multiple tracks, they found a loop-hole where I did not specify multiple tracks, only Racetrack meaning one single track.

We know that is baloney! Stupid wording like this and these people can get a stop order on me. The kicker is that I either have to file an appeal, for which my lawyer says they will drag it out past this year so that the court date would be after January 1st, 2026. If that should happen, I might not get my permits completely approved again if too many others joined in to stop me.

Instead of getting an appeal date, we decided to have an emergency grievance heard right away. With this, I will not be able to appeal any decisions they make as it is binding. But I would rather take my chances with the grievance committee for a final decision, instead of any lengthy court battle just to get my permits re-opened. The system really is rigged against us little guys who just want to do business.

So on my lawyer's advice, I chose to have a grievance heard at the next available slot. Unfortunately the committee only meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month, so I am forced to live with the injunction until it is lifted should I win at the hearing.

He has been working since yesterday trying to get on the docket, and there is only 20 minutes left until the end of closing day, so I don't think he was able to get it done. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

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<UPDATE: My lawyer just called, we did get put on the docket for this Thursday October 2nd>

My lawyer says all we have to do is to explain the issue, that we have always stated we were building a large complex with three main tracks and a bonus track. These tracks all have to be built and tested as a solo track before they can be modularized to move into place as one large complex 'track' that encompasses all of the interconnecting venues.

So as long as we can show them that I plan to build:

Drag Strip - 1/4 Mile Pro Stock Track (Pro & Stock Cars)
Super Strip - 1,000 Feet Super Pro Track (Dragsters & Funny Cars)
Road Course - 1/8 Mile Road Course (IMSA/GT Cars)
Fun Zone - 1/4 Mile Multi-Lane Open Track

Then we should be able to win, as the whole enterprise is constructed as time permits and operational stability has been completed. There is no physical way to accommodate the sprawl of these tracks into one single track from the start. The cost in planning, labor, components, overhead, and even reserving monies for overtures; is just too daunting to think about. This should be easily conveyed, as logic would dictate that to do this project, it 'MUST' be done in sections.

Wish me luck against these 'Karens'. I know every village out there has them, but they sure can be a nuisance.

Permits to build a Diecast track in your own garage??? I've never heard of such a thing.

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Now that everything has been determined, it is time to start doing some testing. I made a simple video just to show that construction can now begin on the tracks. My Start/Finish gate setup had a 10' cable, so I had to wait for a new 25' cable to arrive. And then I noticed my tripod was missing the top connector stud so I needed to order a new one for it. Now that those pieces are here, it is time to start building the test frame and working on angles and lengths of tracks.

I also picked up some back drops to hang down from the ceiling to hide the storage items in the backgrounds.  This way when I put them up, and walk around or the cameras are filmed going near any wall, the backgrounds will be of nice peaceful areas where the Gnomes want to keep in pristine condition., :-)

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Posted another video of the start to building the frame setup. I bought two 4' tall tables the other day for only $5 each. They will be perfect for the beginning of the track, and the other at the end of the track. Today I will build a support cage/frame to hold the 2x4's in the middle so they have support.

The goal is to have a table with the starting gear raised up a bit, and then come down the track with about 10' stretch before a frame to support the 2x4's is met, to connect to the other side that will extend to the other table at the end of the strip. Total distance should be right around 21' or so leaving a nice drag strip.

From this, I can run cars, check timings, cars taking the corner at the end and back down the strip, and verify the angle will be doable. If not, the support structure will be in place so that all I need to do is raise the start position height to check new angles and transitions.

I also found an old shelf in the garage that will gain me a solid base to attach the electronics from the start to it. Then that base can be set upon whatever position it needs to be on the table. I think this will be an important piece to be able to not only move heights when needed, but also the availability to move to other tracks that may not be attached in the future.

It's funny how in my garage, I am going to use an old shelf, an old thick cutting board, and some old hardwood flooring, as pieces in the track. When you get stuck or are trying to figure out how to tackle a problem, look around. Sometimes you might have something staring at you wanting to be used again. :-)

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If all goes well, the above link is the latest video on where we are at.  The tables have been put to use to bring the track higher where I can get to the cars, instead of having to take my 62 year old body to the floor to play. :-)

MamaGnome and I put together a small framing system to house the test track while we work on angles and how steep to come down, as well as making sure cars regardless of weight class can make the corners.  Once we figure out how I like these parts, we can add a section to bring in a road course at the middle and flow downward to the finish line.

I still need to add some velco strips to hold in place while I test so the track doesn't move, and I need to create/build a small housing to attach to the tripod with the starting gate attached to it, but it is coming along fine.  I am testing the tripod mount to hold start gate because it is adjustable.  My thought was that if I can come up with a standard way of moving the start gate and attach to another track, it would allow me to have my two permanent drag strips (1/4 mile stock and 1,000' funny car) where all I have to do is move the starting and finish gates to each track while allowing the stationary track to remain in place.

That is the update for now.  Need to get ready to spend the night with MamaGnome, we are celebrating our 40 year anniversary today!  To us, we still think we are 22 and 19 years old even after all these years. :-)

Asking for a bit of help here.  When I come down the strip and head into the corner, I have a 2 lane slighly banked 180 turn.  Some cars go too fast and fly off, not good.  I think my logic is flawed on this corner.

I have the 180 turn lean downward to start the downhill phase of the track, but as I look at other track designs and how they overcame the speed around a corner, I see their high bank looks to be tilted upwards?  IE: like to force the car up and into the bank so maybe centrifugal force is making the car hang on?

Should I have a 180 that pushes the cars up and into the turn so they ride the back wall of their lanes?  I am only guessing that the cars are coming down the track fast, hit the 180 turn going to their left and down, and the rail is too low for them and they run right over it.  So maybe if it was raised higher than the track they are leaving (the straight away), they are hitting the side rail at a different angle and follow through the corner instead of up and over it.

I am using a 2-lane 180 turn I picked up on Amazon made by K-Tomoto.  It is flat and not banked so I am trying to create the heighth needed for the turn.

Any suggestions?

Been a little slow, and very cold, around here.  Haven't worked on the track in weeks as I have had some IRL issues with family member still in the hospital after 2 months.  But even though the temperature is 29 degrees this morning, I did go out to take some measurements for the permanent build of the drag track.

Went to Home Depot last night to check on the items needed to make the permanent strip, and I have the basic idea of what I am trying to build and how to build it.  I just had an odd thought though......

As I have alluded to, I live in a very small coastal town so there are no big box store choices; we have single choice.  We have a Home Depot, Walmart, & Safeway; so all the basics are covered.  The rest is either pick up from the big city 50 miles away, or when visiting family 100 miles away as they live in a big city.  Other than that, online ordering for the most part.

But what about an underlayment for my Hot Wheels track?  I am trying to figure out what would give me the best bang for the buck. :-)

With that said, has anyone thought of using Cedar as an underlayment as opposed to pine or mdf that I see others have used.  Our town and the community around here has lumber.  If there are loggers, some have small mills.  This is how I got my test track supplies for building a stage to hold 2x4's to test a layout.  They are all like posts of 3/4" x 2" and worked just fine for bare strips of cedar to make a frame.  So for the test base of the drag strip, building a frame to hold 2x4's, and run the cars for testing; that all worked out just fine.

If I go back to this lumber mill for some cedar planks for my drag strip, I think it will be fine.  Just a few sticks of 1"x6"x12' and it will be more than enough wood to have a strip with side area for diaramas items.  I state 1" thick because he is actually having a special again to unload stock and he has some 1"x12"x12' sticks to get rid of and I was going to think about having him cut them into 6" strips and I would be interested.

But what about using this for a road course for the future?  My road course I imagine will be about 12' going straight and into a 90 degree right corner, then about 20' straight into a 180 degree return, and back about the same 20' into a 90 degree left corner for about 4' into another 90 degree left corner; then drift into crash racer style at that point going downward into the main area of the garage.

Would using 1" x 6" planks by about 8' long each be too thick at 1" to where building a support structure for it make it too heavy?

My concerns are weight over pine or mdf materials, and warpage on who will hold it's pattern/stiffness the best over time.  As mentioned above, it can get cold here as it was 29 degrees this morning. :-)

Any thoughts?

BTW, I ordered up a Slanman 180 degree 2-lane turn the other day and I will attach it to the end of the drag strip to bring the cars back to the start.  I think it will handle the grade I want at the start line and not allow the cars to jump the track like my little dual lane ones I had been working with.

As I start to work again on my track, I was doing some clean-up and preparation for next weekend's big push to settle the area.  Walls and racks have all been nicely laid out, so it is more open.  I can now get to my Tex Racks a bit more easier too.  For those that wanted to see what they look like installed, here are the three racks I got.  I bought one to review, and then when the sale was BuyOne/GetOne, I bought two more to hold all of my cars.

Other than getting ready to finally start work agaiin on my track, I got a new set to play with in the future.  About a month ago I made a deal with a gal on the Facebook Marketplace for a Crash Racers set for $20, new in the box.  She lives 60 miles away. :-(  With all my traveling and not home on the weekends, I was just not able to hook up with her.  Now here it is a month after we made our deal, and she was visiting relatives in my little town. :-)

I ended up getting a brand new in the box Crash Racers set for $20 delivered!  I am a happy camper.