Zip Zap Speedway

[keith20]

Hey guys, I need your input. I have an idea for a really nice Zip Zap, Bit, PORTABLE Speedway. I'm really into oval racing, and plan to do some nascar mods on my ZZ's. Tell me what you think, and I'll post pics once I build it.

[Go0ty]

cool, i'd be interested to see your nascar mods, also it'd be cool if you based the track off a real nascar track, like bristol or talledega somethin, with all the correct turn angles and stuff, that'd be great

[blacksabbath070]

seems like you have a plan going what materials are you using other then plywood?

[nbnby]

Looks good.

[keith20]

You know, I thought about Bristol or Martinsville, but the thing would be huge. I got this idea from running on slot car track. I set up a four lane track (6" wide) and put rails all the way around the inside and outside. My main goal with this one is portability. I'm planning on using balsa strips for the outside rails, and have even thought of using strip styrene plastic as a face for them so that the cars would slide easier on the rails. The rest is 1x3 dressed pine boards. I will paint the track surface, any suggestions on what type of paint gives the best traction? I've thought of adding a little sand to a latex paint to increase traction. I will either paint the infield and surrounding area, or use one of my slot car tricks and glue down green felt. I can get it in the fabric dept., I think 54" wide, so you can do it in one piece. It looks great, and I've never had any trouble with it on my slot car tables. I think I may even have room for some small trees outside the rails that won't get crushed when I fold up the track.

[john]

Check out my thread in the tracks forum. I posted unfinished pics of my unfinshed track, and something of an explanation of how I did it. Also be sure to check out Legion's track. He posted a link in that thread.

Both tracks are portable because the fold up.

I think 1x3 is overkill for your track. 3" is really, really thick, and it will just add extra weight (in consideration of portability). I ripped a 2x4 down to 1x1 for my frame, and though it's not bullet-proof, it's sturdy enough that I wouldn't be afraid to mail it.

[keith20]

Thanks John for the great ideas. I don't mind my track being a little heavy. Remember, compared to yours, it's really small. What I had in mind was kind of a "Backgammon Board" for micros. I will be using this in my living room. I wanted the extra height on the sides to be able to use scenery without having to remove it to fold the track. If you've ever seen the Marklin Z scale train set in a briefcase, you'd know what I was shooting for.

[nbnby]

I've heard that chalk board paint makes a good driving surface. I think that the green felt idea is great.

[john]

The wall height will definitely help with scenery! Good luck with the track building! I love doing it. It's fun and calming.

I really do recommend a $2 can of flat black spray paint for road surface, I love it. It's really grippy, but still lets you drift at high speed. (well at least on hard board) And for $2, it's worth a test if you're skeptical.

[Stridex]

Easy, light solution, that's also great for traction is foam board. Get black foam board slabs and then just paint in the green and white.

[Azimov]

Great idea! The backgammon case race track. My wife even liked this idea. I painted my track surface with exterior latex porch paint. Dark flat gray and nice and grippy. Fairly cheap too, but you don't need a gallon of the stuff for your track.

[DesertJedi]

My first thought when I looked at this pic was...Somebody took a colman folding table and made a portable track out of it! Seriously, this thing looks just like my camping table....or what used to be my camping table. If you rip out the legs and cut slots where the 2 inner edges come together...just enough so the lane fits inside, you're there. It already has a handle! btw, you can pick these up at garage sales for about $5 although it's getting a bit chilly for garage sales in the mountain states. Thanks for the great idea....