Keeping your track straight

redlinederby Thursday, 9/9/2010
Site manager

Just posted an article in the blog about methods of keeping your race track straight:

Keeping your track straight
http://www.redlinederby.com/2010/09/kee ... -straight/

Gotta thank JDC and others that have been off-and-on discussing methods for keeping tracks in line over in this thread. I took cues from everyone's ideas and my own failures to find a method that works well and is easy to execute: popsicle sticks!


Discussion

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JDC442 9/9/10

Thanks for the nod Brian. My spacers are just a bit taller than the Popsicle sticks, but probably work the same. Now if you added the Pop sticks to the outsides you could run four lanes like me
I agree that the key is to space these guides perfectly so they fit between the tongues as you say. I first thought to add velcro to these tabs all the way down the track to keep it together, but when I layed down my track it fit so perfectly I didn't need the velcro. However, velcro did come in handy at the start as well as the transition to keep the track from slipping down.

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redlinederby 9/10/10
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A mix of techniques is a great idea, especially for the transition...I might play with that this weekend.

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Jobe 9/11/10

Nice, the Popsicle sticks work nicely! I've had great luck with a few places of velcro, works nicely with my roll up track.
Just finished my new Lexan starting gate and working on the new finish line tonight...finally one that works well.

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Preacher 5/7/12

This is a cheap way of keeping your track straight and it works like a charm...roofing nails ( the kind that have a 1 inch round head ). Just put a small washer under it before nailing it down, and presto slide your track onto the roofing nail and it will be straight. Just make sure to center you lines and make sure your nails will be placed where they will not interfere with track connecters.

Preacher

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model40fan 5/7/12

I.M.O. i would not put them near the lower end of the transfer... that is where the extra force of inertia is released... the cars lift slightly at that point... smoother the better in that area...
contact J. with the "lincoln johnny lightning race club" ... they used washers...cars came off the track, i think they went to a long strip of velcrow near the transfer [smoother]...H.I.H...

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Preacher 5/7/12

When it comes to the transition area I leave room for the track to make a smooth slope onto the flat straight. My boards are not connected with hinges, so my down hill board is spaced about 10 inches away from my straight, thus giving me more room to adjust my transition. The roofing nails will hold the track in place and keep the pieces from shifting or sagging. I personally think where the problem is at, when it comes to the transition, is that it is too steeply angled...this is where the extra 10 inches of space helps out a lot.

Preacher

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Preacher 9/17/12

I also added a small screw on the side of my board track at the beginning of the straightaway and attached a string to it. Once the track is all setup, I then attach the string to the screw, and pull a straight line. It immediately shows where the track is crooked and adjustments can be made. It is amazing how your eyes will fool you in thinking something is straight when it is not. My track is in pieces, not connected by hinges, so it is necessary to keep it alined...hope this helps.

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redlinederby 9/17/12
Site manager

That's a great idea. I need to add a plumb line to my track too since it's also in sections and goes up/down a lot each week.

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