Interesting track features overlaps and pinch areas

[CBWho]

I'm exploring the world abroad of routed tracks.

This one looks interesting.

Wouldn't this cause a jam up eventually?

What I suspects happens... When the race is started, each car is put into there slot but spaces into the separate lanes. If no cars gets 3+ laps ahead then all is good but before then there can be planty of passing. If a car gets three laps ahead of another car then it will be perpetually stuck behind that car. Is that what happens?

[xltjet]

I think you are right about the eventual bottleneck. I have been kicking around a similar idea for a few years where 4 identical shape ovals are nested/overlapped/offset to allow passing on the straights with perhaps limited passing, depending on lanes involved, in the turns. haven't got a plan worked out outside my head yet, but it seems do-able. I think the above plan might work better with normal lane spacing, at least on one end and one straight, but it would of course take up more room.

[Wicker Bill]

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLxzYRmHpO4

[NicoRosberg.]

I have never understood the raison d'être behind wanting to limit passing when it comes to slot car racing.

[Backmarker]

Do they have dirt tracks in England Deane? When I have a jones for some 1/1 racing I head to the local dirt track - mashing it up is the norm. Obviously a track like this would not work for organized racing, but for a a fun evening with friends and beers in hand, it would be awesome.

EDIT: I've actually thought of building something like this - 4x8, 4 lanes with crossovers at each end - just to take it to the local dirt track. People would love it!

[CBWho]

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLxzYRmHpO4

That does look fun ????

How is it to race? Is there a drawback?

[Backmarker]

The drawback is that there would be a lot of crashing. The fun part is that there would be a lot of crashing.

[Wet Coast Racer]

It's worth visiting the Oldslotracer site to see the many tracks that Luf has built. Always thinking outside the box.

Squeeze - or even more challenging - Crossover sections demand a lot more strategy from the drivers, in order to stay ahead without getting wiped out!

Plus, that track fitted on a single 4x8 sheet of mdf. The wiring was impressive!

[Speedynh]

in the 60's we had a midget track that consisted of four identical ovals, each offset diagonally so there were crossovers at the end of the straightaways where you crossed three other lanes.
there was some crashing but it sure did race like a dirt track!
one of my drivers is still missing an arm.

[Backmarker]

in the 60's we had a midget track that consisted of four identical ovals, each offset diagonally so there were crossovers at the end of the straightaways where you crossed three other lanes.
there was some crashing but it sure did race like a dirt track!
one of my drivers is still missing an arm.

That's exactly the design I was thinking of. I don't know if I'll ever build it, but it's a fun idea.

[Wicker Bill]

This was hashed over recently somewhere else.
A comment was made the designer/builder would have the crossovers happening at the entrance to the corners instead of at the exit. Cars are slower entering than exiting, Lessing impact force (if there might be an impact…ahem).

[CBWho]

I'll be routing my own flat track with the red being 1:32 spaced and the blue jam lane being HO spaced. Thoughts on the two layouts. Thinking the blue would typically be a ghost car.

[CBWho]

Like you all mentioned identical ovals for the red. I have a link to try to have the cross overs closer to square. Like the afx track. Guide pins are less tolerant than flags. I plan to race :64 & :32 on this.

Option 1 is a bit silly with the jam car going the wrong way for a bit!

[CBWho]

This option has the blue only jamming at the pinches otherwise 1:32 lane spacing

[CBWho]

Making progress... Went with 2 lane oval which was made with a template screwed down, routed, then flipped, then routed again.

Need to pick up some paint...

Using templates seems easier, less risky than radial arm, connect the curves method.