Poker Run starts to take shape
Any in-person diecast racing group wouldn't be complete without a classic downhill track for members that want to find and/or build cars solely for straight line speed. Enter our latest build, Poker Run, a scale quarter-mile 4-lane straight track. As with our DragonFire road course this setup is designed for mobility and sits on three narrow 8ft banquet tables. The SpoolHeads carbon fiber infused track sections are nested within wood platforms so the lanes will stay straight and true no matter how many times it's assembled/disassembled. The 25 degree, 6ft ramp has a lightweight aluminum frame that's fully boxed for strength. A new style SpoolHeads start gate will trigger a Derby Magic timer. The 2in drop at the start should give the cars a nice kick right after the launch. Another SpoolHeads first will be a high-walled stop box after the lights. Once we finish making sure everything lines up & functions as it should we'll work on its appearance which will make the "Poker Run" moniker make sense. 
Discussion
It's nice to have a basic straight track back in the mix. Here's a video of the first test run on the Poker Run Raceway, quarter-mike, 4-lane drag strip. (It's a little promo video for our local group meets) This track has Spool Heads new style push-button start gate, a new high-walled stop box, and its printed with carbon reinforced filament. The finish timer is from Derby Magic. Everything worked as it should with cars running in the low to mid 2 second range. We're waiting on special ordered material to finish it off so for now we're calling it still under construction.
Suggestion: For your start lanes, instead of numbering them 1-2-3-4, get those mini playing cards and put one of those in each lane. Four lanes? Ace, 2, 3, 4. Glue those down at the top of the lanes.
Graphics on the side? Just decoupage with playing cards.
You can also use the cards at the end for first, second, third, fourth place.
Beautiful track. I especially like how the track is nested in the wood. Very inspiring.
Spy dude - funny you mention those things. The track will definitely have a playing card theme and we've planned to label the lanes with a diamond, heart, club and spade instead of numbers. Love your idea of using real playing cards so that now has us thinking of ways to work them in. Here's some of what we'll be using to dress it up. The card themed fabric is what they actually use on some tables in Vegas. (disregard the sign the stuff is sitting on) 
Since you have room to either side of the track, line up your cards there to border the track all the way down. You can generally pick up regular packs of cards at thrift stores or dollar stores (for the mini cards, you may have to resort to eBay).
For the decoupage, just get a jug of Elmer's White Glue, pour some onto the boards, smooth it out flat, then begin placing your cards down. If you get two packs with the same design on the back, you can use some face-up, some facedown.
Oh, and you can set up an announcers booth using the Jack, Queen, and King as the announcers!
- Love it! Gotta get a joker in the booth too! Maybe as the track owner/builder… — ChiefWopahoo
- Yes!! — SpyDude
I really dig how you used the base boards to make the track inset, good idea and you didn't have to worry about routing or anything. It is nice to see a classic drag strip in the mix. You've got quite the stable of tracks now - Wopahoo's Traveling Circus!
- That's a great description lol The boards work out really well for this track as it keeps the lanes aligned and repeatable when we move it from place to place. The track and boards are actually secured to another base and that is in turn attached to the 8'x18" folding banquet tables that everything sits on. Hopefully I'll get the backordered material soon I need to finish it out completely. — ChiefWopahoo
This looks fantastic. I'm so jealous of all your tools!