It's time to take a look at 2010's track setup. This year things evolved quite a bit details-wise and I'll drill into that a bit later, but for now here is an overview of the track from the driver's position. First the left hand side of the track:



Here's the right side of the track, more or less from the driver's perspective:



Here is a diagram of the actual track layout for 2010:



My approach to the hobby is centered around 1950s English racing venues, many of which were former RAF airstrips. I borrow elements from these tracks, layout and structures, to get a general look and feel...I am less a stickler about precise details. In this regard, the tree lined perimeter of a basically flat track area works fine.

I have also moved away from creating a full-on scenic treatment like I used to do. Why? Well, I like to change up the circuit each year and focus on interesting track design (using track design software). Because of this I prefer to simply use suggested scenery and to build a library of "assets." That is, painted sectional track, handmade sectional track borders, and modules for structures, figures and signs that all can be arranged and rearranged endlessly without having to toss any of my hard work. All of these pieces and modules simply screw down to the table surface, and when I am ready to change things up, I remove it all, fill in the holes, sand, do a bit of paint touch up, and start all over.

One last point here: I have tried to not lose completely the toy aspect of slot car racing nor the table-top approach of many old-school home tracks. I mean, the cars DO run on metal strips in the road and all the little plastic people DO have plastic bases at their feet. You will see that I have not worked towards complete realism. For me that level of realism, however awe-inspiring, is more meaningful in pictures or for slow-moving model railroads. To me, when the cars are zooming around the track at break-neck speeds, all the rest becomes a blur anyway...so suggested scenery works fine. This IS a personal prespective, and not meant to take away anything from the breathtaking scenery I love seeing on other enthusiast tracks.

In the next entries I'll touch on a few of the simple mounting tricks I've had to employ to get this track and all it's accessories to defy gravity and fold up against the wall without calamity.