[moonbiter]

I am in the process of designing a track and using the scorpius system. I think my max cars would be 6 at one time, so my question is weather I should design my track with 2 or 3 lanes.

Thanks

 

[injectorman]

That depends how long it is?

 

[moonbiter]

My layout area is 18'x12' and i figure about 60'+ of track depending on how wide I need to make the lane.

 

[GTR XU-1]

Definitely a number of factors and there has been a lot of threads along the lines of this sort of topic...

I had a four lane Ninco digital and we ran 8 cars with magnets. The track seemed very full and the track was around 19m long... About 50 - 60 ft.

I think one of the main factors that get over looked is how tight the corners are. Tight corners and hair pins wash off a lot of speed and people may have different brake markers etc. The field will thus spread out more on a track with tight corners and long straights. Driver skill will also play a huge factor.

I am using the same shape track as my plastic Ninco digital but am dropping a lane to make it a three lane track. This will smooth out the corners a bit more. The track length is the same as before... But as our driver skill has vastly improved.... I think we will be able to race relatively cleanly with 10 to 12 people.

For your six people... I would prob go two lanes

 

[injectorman]

Theres a few factors, the main ones being the skill of the drivers, voltage, mag or no mag and as Dave mentioned tight corners. I work 5m of two lane track per driver so 20m would fit 4 cars in 2 lanes or 6 cars if it's a 3 laner.

Rick

 

[Camber]

3 lanes is good for analogue racing as well, but takes up more space so you could possibly have a longer 2 lane track. My new track is 100 ft 3 lane analogue & digital. I'm only expecting to run 4 cars most of the time.

- Cam

 

[MrFlippant]

Wow. You guys like a lot of room between cars. 4 cars on a 3 lane digital track? If there's a really nice best line through those three lanes, then maybe, but still, at 100', the cars will still be really spread out.
I like it tight and challenging. 6 cars on a 55 foot 2 laner is good for me. Even smaller works for my group. One of our tracks is right at about 50 feet. TONS of fun! I'd feel like I was running on analog with 3 or 4 lanes on 100' laps...
But hey, to each their own.

The electronics can all be removed and used in the next track if you decide you don't like the first one.

 

[Camber]

Remember you need marshalls. Typical group numbers are 6 to 8, 3 to 4 marshalls would be ideal (I could get away with 2) and everyone gets a rotation after each race. If I get large numbers then sure I'll put more cars out there. If it gets too sparse I can always bring in ghost car or 2.

- Cam

 

[injectorman]

In theory you could fit 9 on Cambers track, maybe more. Thats huge!

 

[moonbiter]

Marshalling is going to be a problem for me as i anticipate only myself, step son and a few neighbors using the track. Thats why most the track layout will be bigger flowing curves with smaller technical curves by the drivers so they can marshall. I see 4 cars being run far more often then 6+, but i want the capability to run them if i need to. I would rather have extra space then not enough. I can fit more track in my area if i do a 2 lane, but would 2 lanes be to tight for 6 cars?

 

[injectorman]

.....just use the formula. 1 car per 5 metres (yards) of 2 lane track.

 

[moonbiter]

Ok, thanks. I'll post some layout ideas in this thread in a bit and get some opinions.

 

[moonbiter]

Lol, i just realized/remembered the controllers are wireless. That helps a lot with my table design. I can have the drivers spread out around the table. This will help me having to avoid a deep table in areas which would be hard to marshal. Need to go back to designing the table now, so it might be a day before I have a layout.

 

[ryk4racing]

After being forced to use one on the banked tri-oval when I started setting that up digital, I've become sold on the concept of a "re-slotting" lane. It lets the driver/marshall just plunk the car down without worrying about oncoming traffic- which on the tri-oval was always! It should be long enough to let a crashed car rejoin traffic at near-racing speed. There are obvious crash points (hairpin at end of long straight, etc) on any track, and it's nice to just slap a car down without thinking (also lowers crashes for driver-marshals).

 

[moonbiter]

Here is one design based on Sebring. I know its not a perfect match but its my first attempt. I dont think i can do it perfectly, but this version will let me see where I need to improve things

Drivers will be stationed around the track. Might have to have one in the center if there are no marshals. I'll work on some more versions tomorrow.

 

[injectorman]

Hi
These sorts of layouts make it impossible to use while people are marshalling deslots. Youre better off with the same track on a square table for vision.
Pits should also be put at the back on one extreme side to maximise vision also unless they are single storey.

Rick

 

[moonbiter]

Here is a custom design.

 

[moonbiter]

Here is road america

 

[Camber]

I like post #17. I would carefully plan the esses, they can make or break a track.

- Cam

 

[moonbiter]

I'm leaning towards the custom design also. I need to tweek it a bit but i'm not sure how the esses should be.