Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Set Up After the Move (Page 1 of 4)

Clamping the track's framework underneath allowed me to get everything lined up before I screwed and bolted it together. I used multiple clamps at various points to get the job done.

I replaced the lag screws holding the two different sections of the track's framework together with bolts, nuts, and lock washers. I like this method a little better because it allows for some minor adjustments.

These are just some of my "minor adjustment" tools, the rubber mallet and wooden board.

I figured the reattachment of the 180 degree curve at the exit of the banked turn would be the easiest part.....uh, nope! Getting it aligned well along with the curve at the marshal's hole was frustrating. Jacking up the table, attaching legs, and a little light mallet work would get one of the two just right, but upset the other. I finally got it right but it was a battle!

This joint at the 180 degree curve where it connects to the short straight in front of the driver's station was probably the second most troublesome. I finally got it lined up after I realized that straight needs to go downhill just ever so slightly, and the table needs to slope down to the left front corner from the rear just a bit. And I mean just a bit! You don't even notice it unless you stand way back to look. It's probably less than 1/2 inch slope in 5 feet right to left, but until I got it right I had a bump in the track joint because the two surfaces were not level. One thing I soon realized, there is a reason they started building slot car tracks in modular type sections with adjustable legs!

Thanks Smooth!

My plan is to get it up and running so everyone interested can do some racing on it at its new location. After we get some run time on it I'd like to maybe do some maintenance work like rewiring the driver's stations, replacing some of the side boards, and maybe new braid. It doesn't really need anything, but I'd like to put some of my own touches into it at some point. I want it to retain its character and heritage, true to its original builder Kirk Smith, and its home clubs PASER & OSCAR it served for years. I don't want to change it into something else.

Awesome job Bill, Can't wait to throw down some laps, from the looks of it they will be silky smooth!

Zack

Does Diane come out every couple of days to make sure you're still okay? Or do you come in at night?

I am thoroughly enjoying my shop now! I have access to, and can find ALL of my tools!...Well except for some of the tools I use for building slot cars. Those are still packed.....somewhere....But I now have a track to work on, and in my shop I can crank up the music (yes, I have a stereo in my shop) and fritter away the hours. And, when I'm done working I can leave a mess if I want to, because I don't have to try and get a car inside at the end of the day! With the new track now in place I have gained 176 square feet that is good for nothing but....wait for it.......STORAGE! That means once I have the track operational I can start going through all the boxes in the attic! This is AWESOME!

Today I finished cleaning the track surface off.
Before:

After:

I measured the minimum clearance of the underpass at 2 3/4 inches. Although this is not much my tallest racing cars pass through just fine. Probably not so much for any Halloween cars!

1/24 NASTRUCK.

1/32 Slot.it Chaparral.

That's quite the difference on the track after cleaning.  What did you use?

Nice work Bill, keep the work going.

My original plan was to do a minimal amount of work to get the track up and running as quick as possible. Well...that was yesterday's plan. Today I started working on the track's running surface. I knew I had these countersunk screw holes to fill to meet even that minimum standard.

Since I felt I needed to at least fill the screw holes, I decided to go ahead and refinish all the track surface joints where it was taken apart. They were lined up really well, and I probably could have just relaid the braid and got it going, but I really do want the track good and smooth, just like it was before. The first thing I did was block sand the joints to eliminate any steps or drops where the pieces met.

Once the joints were block sanded they were good, flush, and ready for a skim coat of Bondo.

So I got quite a bit done today, more than I had hoped for. I got all the joints and screw heads Bondo'd and sanded. Next step will be some minor touch up painting of all the track surface joints.

Although I decided to do a little more work than I originally planned on, I don't think it will set me back much, and I believe it will be a better finished product for everyone to enjoy.