I'm altering my plans for a two-tiered racing circuit, and I won't post this in the general forum because it probably goes against all that is considered sacred in slot car racing.

I have nothing but sketches yet, but here's the plan: imagine a 4.5' x 11' area. The inside of that area is open....a rectangular donut with a 2' aisle in the center. The cabinet unit is 18" in height, but the entire rectangle is supported off the floor on 48" high columns at each corner. This brings the cabinet up to a height where operation is pretty much at chest height to eye level.

Along one 11' side runs two distinct levels of track with a chicane here and there for fun...you would face this side. Along the 4' end pieces also run two seperate tiers of track with some twisty bits....you can navigate these simply by turning your head or body a bit. The other long side, only 12.5" deep but 11' long, is mainly to your back, especially the middle part which has a three-foot, blacked-out section of straight hidden track that criss-crosses between upper and lower levels. The criss-cross has a hatch opening (front and back) for easy cleaning. This is how one moves cars from upper to lower levels and visa versa, and because it is on a straight, it can be pretty much be run flat out if need be. Also, because of the 11' length of the entire section there is room to blast out of the hidden ramps and still set-up for the upcoming curves.

The two levels allow for full lighting and scenic effects. And, because the track base will be a 12" wooden shelf with extruded foam atop, the foam can protrude beyond the wooden shelf and can be cut in a contour to follow the flow of track lines. Wooden blocks, hot-glued to the underside of the foam, will allow a mat-board facia contour to be installed, both to hide track lighting and to stiffen the foam contours significantly.

Within this entire architectural framework, track can be easily rearranged, with some limits of course. And because the unit is 4' off the floor, small workbenches and seating areas can be accomodated underneath the track area.

I gave up on track spirals for moving between levels because they would require a 32" square cabinet to house the R2s I wanted for this. That gobbles up alot of room space. In any case, moving from spirals to a straight criss-cross is better for racing and more efficient...the two track levels are only 6-7" apart.

I haven't bought any lumber yet...I still need more planning time. My current experimental bi-level track (with r1 spirals at each end and 8' windy + straight sections in between) has taught me much. Time to go on to the next level (no pun intended).