Slot cars corner a lot faster than 1:1 cars, if you build a track to scale it would be much too big to fit in even a large home. If you were simply scale the track down you would probably end up with a track that you could mostly run flat out, even without magnets. To keep the feel the same would mean making some compromises in the appearence of the track. Another thing to keep in mind is that it is a good thing if you can reach any place on the track without having to use grabbers. Landscaping would help to make the track look right.

 

I don't think you can really do a replica. Elevation changes are one thing, geometry of the corners another, so to do it properly it has to be routed (or cut up lots of sectional track) and permanent. Even then I doubt it would be close to scale.

And once you have done all that, is there any guarantee what you end up with will make for a good slot car track?

Having said that, if a person decides to build a track based on something real, then why not? It is not carved in stone that it won't result in a good slot car track. I think the key there is to pick a track that appeals on the grounds of having the things a challenging slot car track also needs: non-constant radius turns, a good mixture of fast, flowy and technical bits and one long straight (for example).

The best HO track I have driven on is the Derby 24hr track, followed closely by Pinewood because of the faster cars used. One is a real track, a pretty good flat copy thanks to an American by the name of Brad Bowman (same chap who makes our BSTS in fact), although not to scale of course, the other totally fictitious. I doubt the fact the 24hr track is 'real' is what makes it so good, in fact for me (being a LeMans ignorati) I know it is not.

The other regular contenders one hears talked about as best HO track is the KSR (Bowman again), which is not a real track, rather inspired by several, and LeMonzaCo (made up of the best bits of real tracks as the name suggests, but not of itself 'real').

As I said to you at the time, what you have planned for August looks cracking on paper, only you can decide if you want to stick with that way of designing tracks. I think we both feel building real tracks scaled down is not automatically the be all and end all, right?

 

hi to all.
to build a proper scale version of a given track would need something like a small industrial unit or at least 3 double garages.

I worked it out once that just to re create the start finish straight at one famous track would of meant a 20ft long scalextric one.way to big for my front bedroom.

 

I built a 1 mile scale track, it took up the whole floor space of my local church. I have 100m+ of track and its no where near enough to do a 1/32 scale of a real track.

 

Scale is always scary stuff to get into, especially speeds, but I guess one could say that if a track is not to scale then it is not a replica anyway?

As Julian points out a tracked based on a real one won't 'drive' anything like it either.

I remember once building a scale HO version of a Kart track, in the biggest venue we ever hired, just so we could say we had built a true scale track. Within 20 mins of testing it, we starting modifying it a lot, and then skulked off to the pub muttering to ourselves and still wondering if we would get lynched the next day

 

I prefer to build tracks that are "inspired by" actual circuits. I usually attempt something that resonates with the basic layout, but freely take liberties to accomodate space availability and the driving dynamics of the wee little cars. The results have been very satisfying to me. I try to never forget that, after all is said and done, I am still playing with toys....but I do very much enjoy engaging in the history and vibe of actual circuits.

 

Hi to all.
if and its a very big if i ever win the lottery i am going to open a slot car shop and in the back of the unit will be a actual scale replica with replice scenery of the mighty nurburgring.And anyone purchasing a car will get full access to race there new purchased car.

This will really happen IF i win.no bs no jokes.

 

Bigbird.

Sounds cool and I hate to put a probem in your so so cool plan

The nurburgring is 22km long, this equates to just under 700m of track. This means that you would need a room at least 100m by 100m, scalextric etc only produce 4 sizes of curves which will never be enough for that track. I guess you would then be left with a wood track.

Of course if you do do, let me know and I will come and buy so many cars you will wish you had never let me on the track (I'll bring a sleeping bag)

 

QUOTE (bigbird @ 23 May 2010, 17:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi to all.
if and its a very big if i ever win the lottery i am going to open a slot car shop and in the back of the unit will be a actual scale replica with replice scenery of the mighty nurburgring.And anyone purchasing a car will get full access to race there new purchased car.

This will really happen IF i win.no bs no jokes.

Wow you can do a lot for a tenner then

 

QUOTE (Julian_Boolean @ 23 May 2010, 13:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Prompted by another thread, I was wondering what peoples feelings were about replicas of real tracks, should they look like the shape of the real track or try and replicate the driving experience, for instance Redgate at Donington if replicated to look like the real Redgate doesn't give the experience of being in the corner for ages like the real Redgate does.
IMHO the best computer simulations or radio control can replicate the 1:1 driving experience better than slot racing ever can. That's a non issue if you enjoy slot racing as slot racing, and don't think of it as a (rather poor) replication of the 1:1 racing experience.

The tracks I most enjoy racing on are designed as slot car tracks. I haven't found any of the replicas of full size tracks I've raced are particularly good for slot racing. The design of anything but the most trivial item involves compromise, its not possible to maximise everything. I guess the guys who think replicating a 1:1 layout is important are willing to compromise other aspects of slot track design to achieve it.

Of course everybody is entitled to their own opinion, enjoy your racing on whatever sort of track you enjoy most.

 

I always preferred to design a circuit so it resembled a real race track rather than it's characteristics. However, it is dependent on space, for example, building Monza or Monte Carlo in a small space can prove very challenging; mine usually ended up resembling a rally stage rather than an F1 circuit!

The track plans shown in Scalextric Catalogues of yesteryear were excellent including the 101 Circuit book. It always made me smile when you looked at the circuit plans (some of the tracks are huge!) however, to Scalextric, space was never an issue; it was always seen as something to aspire to. I always liked the fact Scalextric used to supply track plans based on 1:1 circuits bringing me on to my next point.

I'm getting all nostalgic now, but up to the early eighties, Hornby used to sell Scalextric as "minature motor racing" with great attention to detail, promoting the whole range from buildings to track and cars, all complete in illustrated catalogues and boxes. Sadly it's all changed now, I mean, do Hornby still produce a track guide?

 

hi to all.
james may lapped brooklands so a 700 meter track is no problem.with combinations of r1 r2 r3 and r4 should be able to recreate most corners i would of thought.using the old classic banked sections for the carasoule.

Just wait for the six to come up and bring your sleeping bag.

 

As someone who has built a few so-called "replicas", I would reiterate what others have said. Namely, you can't build real replicas because the scale required is too big. No way to have a 1/32 Targa Florio or Monte Carlo Rallye or even LeMans or Daytona. I prefer to create some of the feel of the track, including some aspects of the layout and scenic dioramas taken from the original, rather than just a rigid attempt at a 1/1 correspondence. Just my take on this. Call it impressionism rather than realism in creating "replicas."