Topic: Track Design Contest

Martin Mull said it best:

Once I went crazy and boy did I go
fell for a girl who could only say no
why did I waste all my time on that dunce
I wish I could say that it only was once...
But again I went crazy
then again and again...

Meet my friend Bill.  He's an addict.  His problem is slot cars.  His biggest problem is they keep saying "Yes"!  So he now finds himself with a very large box of Scalextric Sport track featuring probably every type of track Scalextric offers - in fact much more track than will fit in his space.  That means it's time for a track design contest.  So grab your favorite track design program and have a go.

Here's the specs:

1.  The table area is 24' x 4'.
2.  Create your design using one of the track designer programs that are available and submit your entry prior to August 1, 2008.
3.  Only one entry per person however you can submit new entries to replace previous ones.
3.  All entries will be the property of NASTE.org.  (That's right, you can't sue us if we actually use your design.)
4.  Two winners will be selected.  One by popular vote on teh web site and the other by Mr. Bill himself.
5.  Bill is under no obligation to actually use one of the winning entries.
6.  There will be prizes.

Post the track design images to this thread.  If you don't have a place on the internet to store your images, contact me and we'll arrange to get them hosted and posted for you.

Contest entries must be submitted prior to 7pm PDT, July 31, 2008.  All decisions of the judge are final.

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

Ok, let's get this party started.  Here's my entry for the contest.  It's an 80-foot two lane track with a 20 foot long straight in the back against the wall where it's hard to reach the cars, a couple of short straights so Bill can make sure those cars are quick out of a tight turn and a wide variety of turn styles out front where the cars will be a little easier to reach.  Turns range from gentle sweepers to tight 90's.  The car that masters this track will be a mean machine.

http://naste.org/members/monte/bill-1.gif

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

Looks like you're still in the lead Monte! Not too hard to win with no competition! How many hairpin turns are in that design? I think I see at least 6?

Re: Track Design Contest

At least, maybe more.  Get's a little tricky with a 4 ft. width unless you like NASCAR.  In fact, there is quite a variety of curve pieces used on some of those turns.

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

I did notice that! 4 ft. wide is tough!!! I still can't get the hang of that track builder program. I can actually put the pieces of track together faster!!!!

Re: Track Design Contest

Looks like Monte is still in the lead....................NO CHALLENGERS??????  Am I going to have to announce the prizes to generate interest??????  --------------Bill

Re: Track Design Contest

LOL

So I am designing one and my track is down to 5 hairpins, but also has 6 sweepers.

Designing w/ scaley track is fun. Whil I genereally perfrer to drive the wider radius curves of a Carrera track, the varitey of Scaly in 4/ astounds me. I will post shortly once I am happy with my results...

Re: Track Design Contest

Looking forward to your entry Racer! I need some choices!!!! I'm with you regarding Carrera track. I really liked the Carrera track I had, but the room I have available was not well suited to Carrera's wider turns. I wish I had a nice basement like yours!!!  ------------------------Bill

9 (edited by 007jag July 28, 2008 9:51 am)

Re: Track Design Contest

Hello Mr. Quick -- oh no it's Mr. Smooth -- or was it Mr. Lucky???
I can't remember - you international spy types with all your secret identities keep me guessing??

Anyway I have a track to get up on this thing - but I can't remember how to post it?
I'll have to call Mr. I Spy!!
Jack

Alright - Go - Go Gadget image;
http://www.naste.org/members/jack/Jack-track-1.gif

We have lots of straights with the tight stuff & sweepers @ the ends.
L1 = 94.07 Ft & L2 = 95.67Ft

Booya!!

10 (edited by KuifjePDX July 31, 2008 9:28 pm)

Re: Track Design Contest

Here's my quick stab at it.

100.03 and 100.13 feet lane length

http://www.naste.org/members/george/george-track.gif

George

[update]
I'll elaborate a little on the design. I put the cross-over in to make the lane length more equal. Due to the many different radii used (after all Bill had limitless supply, right?) a simple cross-over didn't equalize the lanes completely, but 1/10 of 1 percent difference is pretty close....

As Monte hinted at the fact that the back side of the table was not accessible I kept with the general theme of a long straight of about 20 feet in the back. At the end of the long straight a progressively tighter turn brings you to a wide sweep into a hairpin followed by a widening turn into the second straight. A wide-narrow chicane brings you to the start/finish straight. Out of the starting gate you encounter a wide to narrow carousel followed by some tight turns climbing the cross-over. After the cross-over a parabolic turn followed by the left-right combination brings you to the wide (R4, outer-outer curve) turns crossing the width of the table. The inside of the double turn on the far left of the table is again a progressively tighter turn followed by the second carousel. Finally a progressively widening turn gets you up to speed for the long straight in the back.

George

--
"Get the shotgun, Martha. The herd needs a thinnin'." - Bucky Katt

Re: Track Design Contest

Here is my entry, in the nick of time... posting the image is a trick
It's 82 foot, equal lane lengths...

http://www.naste.org/members/glenn/glenn-track.jpg

Re: Track Design Contest

Ok, we've got all the entries.  You can vote for your favorite on the home page.  Here they are one more time:

TRACK DESIGN A:

http://naste.org/members/monte/bill-1.gif



TRACK DESIGN B: 

http://naste.org/members/jack/Jack-track-1.gif



TRACK DESIGN C: 

http://naste.org/members/george/george-track.gif



TRACK DESIGN D: 

http://naste.org/members/glenn/glenn-track.gif



Thanks to those that entered and good luck.  Let the judging begin!

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

Since I have a horse in the race, I'll abstain from voting....

George

PS. Clearly Track design C should win, though...;-)

George

--
"Get the shotgun, Martha. The herd needs a thinnin'." - Bucky Katt

Re: Track Design Contest

There's no reason not to vote for yourself.  I did.  Well, for me.  smile

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

hey everyone, i know the contest is over but i just started playing with the track designer and this is what i came up with.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f224/f250lusso/GVIR.jpg

tell me what you think

AJ

Re: Track Design Contest

AJ, What are the table dimensions for that layout? I like the looks of it. If I built it I would try to lengthen out the four straights so the shortest one was at least 5 foot. But I like your overall layout.  ---------------------Bill

Re: Track Design Contest

i'm not sure, the whole programs in metrics and i was too lazy to go and convert it so i just put some tack together! big_smile

my guess is that it would be around 6 x 10...

ok i just looked and its 3.55m x 1.81m
sooo that means 11.6ft x 5.9ft

wow i was actually pretty close just by guessing off the track pieces we have here

Re: Track Design Contest

Yes, good guess! On your track design I'd use four 4' x 8' sheets of plywood or mdf to make a 6' x 16' table. That would give the extra 5 foot on those straights! Now all I need is an addition to my garage!!! Nice job AJ!!!  -------------------Bill

Re: Track Design Contest

i guess i'll have to go measue and find a space then,

that is after i get all the track!!

Re: Track Design Contest

Yes, the contest is over and the winners were announced.  And they were generously awarded prizes by Bill in the following categories:

1st place popular vote = Monte

Track I'd most likely build = Jack

Most linear feet of track = George

Most equal lane length = Glenn

Thanks to all the entrants.  The people have spoken.  smile

"Big Smooth"

Re: Track Design Contest

Bill- Here is the link for the track design I was telling you about: http://ux5490.us/   You can go to tracks by either width or length and select what your dimension are and check out the layouts.  I liked several of them.
Rico

Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.

Re: Track Design Contest

Thanks Rico, I'll check it out! Hey, I think you need to buy AJ some more track. He's got some great track plan ideas!!!!  ---------------Bill

Re: Track Design Contest

wb0s wrote:

Thanks Rico, I'll check it out! Hey, I think you need to buy AJ some more track. He's got some great track plan ideas!!!!  ---------------Bill

yeah dad buy me some track!!!

Re: Track Design Contest

heres the big one!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f224/f250lusso/PIR.jpg

its PIR!!!!!!!

Re: Track Design Contest

Nice, I like that.  How big is the layout?

"Big Smooth"