It appears to be official

[jbear]

very nicely said arch2. I agree, look at what works best for you be it diy, manufactured or whatever, make your own decision based on this. Just don't bash every track manufacture for their idea and the cost of their idea. I think they are only trying to bring the diy tracks to the next level and offer an alternative. At least some of the track manufacatures that I have seen arn't trying to sell junk. Most of the ones that I have seen look of very high quality. I would be pissed if someone was charging a high price for just junk. I do realize good quality does not come cheap.

What is up with the rcp track. First Kyosho and now RS. Man I agree something must be special about these tracks for them to be used by such big companies and their racing events. arch, you did say that RS is using them for there racing events also?

[lornecherry]

Jbear, there are many different grades of PVC. Porta-Trax uses a custom grade that is 70% softer than the PVC piping that is commonly sold in plumbing supply shops. Moreover, we cushion the rails with a layer of Velcro (which also adds air cushioning between the brace and the rail).

Corners are tension-fitted to provide a degree of absortion, while still preserving a realistic deflection from the wall. We are also able to coat the rails with a no-mar finish that further absorbs shock and will not mark the cars in anyway.

The engineering for the hobbyist rail system is handed down from our commercial rental tracks, which use a 3-piece rail and cost in the thousands and are scaled from famous race circuits. And believe you me, commercial operators are highly sensitive to cars marking or breaking wheh hitting a track wall. This was one of the first problems we addressed.

We have also tried to simulate a full-scale racing experience ...our corner markers allow you to ride just over the edge of the rail for the best racing line ...go to much over and you'll "lose it" just like in full scale racing. Straight-aways and corner deflect the car similar to a full-scale track wall.

Finally, on carpet or the new Ozite, our rails attach anywhere and hold securely. I'll take some more pictures of me standing on a corner rail (I'm on the wrong side of 200 lbs.). We have run a fully modded HPI 6-cell into a cornerwall. No damage to the car, and the rail springs back into place

The downside? This system is very expensive to manufacture as industrial Velcro is not cheap.

I will be sending samples of the Porta-Trax rail system (works on carpet or rubber) to the forum owners along with the new Ozite surface.

For now, I've attached another picture (this is actually a 6x8 Microsizer track built on our EVA foam base) to show the rail system, one of our corner marking systems, and the true-radius corners. -Lorne

[jbear]

Lorne, how much does that track cost? Can I change it around and make different track layouts.

[lornecherry]

....one more picture with some more detail of the rails, braces and storage box.

[jbear]

How much does that track cost?

Can I remove the green stuff to make more track area, to use more of the available space.

[lornecherry]

jbear ...that track was custom build for a hobby kiosk operator in New York. It is MicroSizer class (12" width on straight) and had the most expensive options including the green interior trim and cost about $299. In my view, the rail bracing was way overkill for Microsizers, but it was cost-no-object one-off...although it would be great for 1/43 scale Spec 2. It is only 6'x8' in size and is one of the smallest tracks we have built.

---

Let me know what type of cars you are running (different classes have different lane widths).

Before buying/making any track (ours, our competitors, or home-made) you need to think about the following:

How much space can you alot (any cars Mini-Z class or above in size need room to "unwind" especially if you plan on modding the car. The track should have a long straight to gain top speed (and test your abilities going into the first corner) .

Other points to consider: 1) too technical (too many corners) = less head-to-head racing and slower top speeds...the racing world is split on this point (i.e. Nascar vs. F1) ..both types have their merits. But if you want technical, then you do need the space, as driving a technical "short" track is not much fun. Finally, long & narrow is MUCH better than square or "short and fat". The reason? ...you want to be able to reach a diablabled or flipped car without walking on the track. Therefore, 10' wide is best for Mini-Z as you can reach cars from the perimeter of the track without walking on it.

Our most popular layout for small and medium size tracks (to 20' in lenght) is a single chicane with a long oval conversion option. This gives both an F1 and oval "middle ground" that really tests your ability to find the best racing line and will help you improve your setup and driving skills.

Larger tracks (28') can have multiple chicanes and hairpins.

So...let me know the class of car and the room you have available. I can then price and offer layout suggestions (yes, the Ozite surface allows for any layout if you add rails etc.). These suggestions will work for you if decide on our system, or even our competitors or home-made ...the suggestions are simply based on my experiece as a track designer and builder (400+ tracks). the feedback from our customers, and racing on full-scale tracks.

Sorry for such a long explanation ...but you really need to address the space issue before you decide on a track or design. --Lorne

[jbear]

I mostly run 1/24 scale cars. I'm more interested in a bigger track than the one shown. How much do you think it would be for a bigger track like this one using the rubber surface? Maybe about in the 20' range.

I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something I can't change around or make bigger later on. If I use this rubber surface can I move the rails to change the layout a little bit. I just think it would get boring if all I had was a oval with a little chicane on one side.

Also, I live hear in the US, how much is shipping for a large track to Arizona

Do you have a catalog or a price sheet to see some pricing on bigger tracks, perferably with the rubber type surface. Sorry for all the questions. Do you have a website with the pricing I could check out.

[lornecherry]

jbear, prelimary pricing will begin at about $179 US for a 12' x9'. Our prefabs will come in six to ten different sizes: starting from 12 x9 and going up to 30x12. For Mini-Z class, I recommend 20x10 if you've got the space. Everything is modular: add more base and rails to change/grow the layout.

There are also various options, including banked corners, starting and laser timing systems, etc. I will email you privately on Tuesday, as this is before our official product launches.

The new Ozite rubberized material will give you much more flexibility than our older rubber-based tracks, which needs Velcro attached to the rubber surface to receive the Velcro on the rails. We are actually phasing the rubber out because the new Ozite is far superior with respect to flexibility of layout, grip and ease of storage/setup/takedown. The ability to change lane widths, curve radii and overall layout in seconds is what makes the system work so well.

I'm going to shoot some more pictures in the factory tommorow, showing the new rail/base system and all the different configurations (the rails bend to any shape!). I'll post these by Tuesday, providing our patent lawyer gives me the OK.

Jbear, we've built a few tracks that have gone to Arizona, if you are near Quartzside, they have one of our older style commercial tracks installed in a youth centre.

Typically, shipping is about $75 from Canada for a 20x10, until we get an American distirbutor.

Sorry, I'm a bit loose on the sizes, layouts, etc., as we have not yet had the product released and we are still making decisions as to what will go on market. I'm just doing what I can to give blanket answers to the many emails we've revieved since posting the pictures. --Lorne

[HammerZ]

Originally posted by arch2b
pvc tracks, while cheap and easy to build are in my opinion on the way out due to the very resons mentioned in this thread, they will mark the car, the will move if hit hard unless mounted securly.

One other thing about PVC tracks. Square corners, and they look cheap. I know you can get 45 deg. elbows but the layout becomes more complex.