Track Layout

I wanted a layout that represented a real racetrack and had an F1 history. After many attempts to fit tracks into my 13 x 9 ft room I settled on Tanaka International Circuit. TI Circuit looked interesting, fit in my room, and can be marshaled from one side of the track. While I would have loved to router my own track I decided to use Scalextric as my base layout just because of the ease of building and maintaining it.

Track Length: 38 ft 1 inch with equal length lanes thanks to 2 crossovers. While the technique for driving each lane is different, either lane can turn in the FTN (Fastest Time of the Night).

Typical Laps Times: 5.30 seconds 

Fastest Times are in the 4.6 second range. 

The Disappearing Lake !! 

To allow access to the inner reaches of the track and still catch cars going off after the front straight I built the lake bottom on a drawer mechanism. 

Wave your cursor over the lake to see it retract.

Design Features of TCI

The grass is felt from local fabric store. I used Elmers SPRAY glue to secure the felt to the table. Follow the directions and you will be able to remove or replace the felt if necessary in a few years.

Track extensions are SXC and Scalextric parts. I cut and painted them to all look a like.

Retracting Lake for Marshalling access to inner hairpin.

Wallpaper Boarder used for horizon scenery.

1/2 inch automotive heater hose used for tire walls. Use a Gates Hose cutter ( $7) purchased at your local automotive supply store. I used a  hot glue gun to assemble the walls into clumps 3 tires high in stacks of three. This seems to be the right weight to let the tires move when the cars hit them without having to mess with individual tires flying everywhere.

Gravel traps are made from kitchen counter laminate. Drive your track for a while, see where the cars fly off consistently and cut the laminate large enough to slide under your track. This keeps the fibers out of the cars and looks great !!

Figures made from MRRC, Scalextric and Military Model figures. You'll find your local hobby shop has a wide selection of 1/35 military models and figures or try my links page.

Timing and Scoring -  I have the complete suite of programs by Art McEwen and have everything running as advertised. COOL SOFTWARE !!! I was able to use an old Compudyne 486/66 loaded with DOS and Windows  3.1 that was sitting at my local repair shop being unused. While I tried a newer machine the 486 works the best and ended up being the cheapest !!

 Details on the software can be found at the Yarker Memorial Raceway site.  Timing is a MUST HAVE on any track. Drivers are more focused, tend to crash less, and get a good feel of how well they are doing when times are displayed for all to see. Dollar for dollar, this suite of programs is better than anything on the web. Be sure to give them a look.

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