Construction Tip - Luf - 1-3-08

1) Having never raced on a track with squeeze sections, I don't really understand how they would work in real life. I can imagine they would be fun and could serve to equalize the lane times. But it would seem to be hard to predict what to do in advance (to equalize lane times).

You can try to equalize lap times, but you really won't know until you've driven and gotten used to the track.

It's easy enough to re-rout one lane in one corner to "tune" things, but usually they'll be pretty close. There will always be a favorite or fast lane, but we race 3 ten lap races in each lane, so things even out.

With well placed squeezes, you can make a faster guy work for every pass. Instead of just going as fast as possible, with squeezes you need to be aware of where the other cars are and you need to learn their driving style. Because we race crash and burn, you need to finish 10 laps to win, so you'll find out who will give way at the squeezes (most of the time). It can slow the pace a little, but it sure adds more fun.

2) Is there a link on the internet somewhere to the actual layouts of the above tracks? This would be helpful to study as Miles and I begin to plan our layouts.

Any plans I may have had when designing the tracks pretty much went out the window once the routing started. I build them to fit a space and hopefully leave access for maintenance. Think about flow and include elevations, don't try to fill the entire space with roadway and you'll end up with a better looking and more drivable track. Take a look at San Phoeno's track in Australia, it's a beaut.

3) We both have overpasses on our current tracks but I have noticed that you don't tend to have overpasses - is this just your preference?

Don't like overpasses, mostly because I've been trying to model existing tracks, and I think overpasses make it look more toy-like (we're not grown men playing with toys, of course). Also, a lot of overpasses I've seen block too much of the track

4) What tips could you give us as these will be our 1st routed tracks?

The biggest thing about routing is that there's no rules and very few limits, and it's more fun if you pick a theme. I like lots of elevations, but if you want to start with a flat track, Sebring would be a good theme.

Do lots of sketches, then draw it to scale, then draw it out full size on the MDF and place some cars on it before you start routing. You'll get a pretty good idea what will work for you. It doesn't hurt to build a small test track first...have a look at our Autocross...one sheet of MDF and 7 hrs to finish...it was portable, fun to build, fun to drive and I traded it for a bunch of slot cars