[JasonB]

What would you say were the most important basic requirements when you're designing your layout?

In other words, what are your "must have" elements for a track, and what are the important things to consider?

Personally, I have a few things that I would always try to include, and most of them are about encouraging drivers to make full use ot the throttle...

1. A long straight. I think there should be one place on every track where you can get up to full speed. If I'm designing for a small space, I'll start with the longest straight possible, and work from there.
   
   
2. Parabolic Corners. Well maybe not strictly speaking parabolic, but I always try to make corners which change radius. I usually try to soften the entry to any corner, because it makes things a little easier for inexperienced racers, whilst still being challenging for the experts. But I also like corners that open out on the exit, because it's more challenging if you are constantly increasing speed as you come out of the corner.
   
   
3. A wide range of corners. I like a tight and twisty section on my track, but I think that should also be balanced by a wide open corner where the cars are teetering on the edge of spinning out at high speed.  If those corners can also include some elements of #2, and lead onto or off #1, then I think you might well have a good track on your hands.
   

Well that's my simple recipe for keeping the trigger finger active, the laps interesting, and the mind working.

What's yours?

[munter]

I agree with all your points Jason.

I have built four routed tracks, each one to fit a new space as I have changed premises(house) The available space can dictate things somewhat.

Other thoughts could be in regard to elevation and flat or banked corners.
   
You would think that is a harsh corner with a little rise and a little banking and a change in radius but no, things flow....the worst corner on my track is where there is a sudden change in camber and some proxy cars with shallow guides rue their time here.

Another pet hate of mine is a short straight...better to have continuous curves. 

Please ignore the thingie plaster masters...I should put them away.

[JasonB]

Lovely lines there, and a perfect example of how tight, twisty corners can still flow.

Love the racing line, and if there's a straight heading out of picture to the bottom right, even better.

[CMOTD]

1) Longest straight you can fit in and preferably more than one. No point racing if you can't reach top speed.

2) No hairpins or chicanes/squeeze sections. Too much time spent falling over each other.

3) Corners must be geared to the proficiency of your drivers. Experienced racers will want challenging ones but the less experienced will appreciate something a bit simpler so they don't fall off all the time.

4) flyovers/bridges. Don't make them too long so cars get stuck in the middle if they come off and don't put a complex curve under one.

5) You must be able to reach all areas of the track to recover crashed cars without using a grabber or demolishing the scenery.

6) Sight lines: if you are going to fit scenic items then plan positions properly before you decide on a track layout so they don't block your view of tricky corners.

7) Same goes for driver stations: Make sure they are sited so drivers can see the whole track. Are you listening Fluff?

8) don't forget marshaling positions if you have a large or club track, don't let them block the drivers' view.

For routed tracks in particular but containing useful guidelines for all types check out the track building section of the BSCRA website

[dvd3500]

I "liked" two posts as they cover 96.53464% of what makes a nice track.

I would add to the comment about bridges/fly overs to not be afraid to go multi-level.
While you do have to take all the things such as linesight and marshalling into consideration a lot of places allow for multi-tiered layouts that are easy to see round and marshal.

For example, more often than not you will be up against a wall. Using the wall to have 2 straights on top of each other can add a LOT of space.

Also take levels into consideration when trying to get a long straight in: Running diagonally is more space them along an edge....

Digital racing adds more considerations...

[Johnno]

Just tinkering with my track with a simple change and thinking about space for buildings and other scenery items and it occurred to me that I really need to purchase some pitlane, media tower, buildings, gantry etc. and get them in place so that I can really get the track itself designed.

If I continue down the path of track layout itself I may not have enough space to place the scenery buildings between the track. So I guess the next two months will be saving $$$ to purchase the scenery and buildings that I will require before I continue with the track build further.

[UshCha]

YOU MUST HAVE HAIRPINS , even my 4 year old grandson can get round them.  Squeezes are no fun, you cant pass on them and in digital its critical.   R1,s are really a necessity in a small home track like mine even if they are less than 180 deg.   They work great on small tracks with pacers if you put a magnet in the pacer.

[Mr Modifier]

Longest possible straight.

Turns that tighten up off the end of the straight and open up into the start of the straight.

Hairpins - but not the squeeze ones as you need to be able to pass in digital.

Intelligently placed lane changers giving brave racers the opportunity to time a dive across to overtake.

Perfect visibility of all parts of the track from every driver station.

A pit lane that is long enough for inexperienced racers to actually stop in.

[munter]

[UshCha]

   
Small tracks need a pit lane and they should be as long as possible but as they can only take one car at a time, length to slow down accurately is not criitical.  Here's may track.  It can help if you use a Cureved Lane Changer, in Scalextric there are still a few avaiable but a bit of "butchery is required,  I saved cost and printed my own pit exit that saved money for me and  more space, The gold and copper braided bit of tarack.  The granson is getting the hang of this but ist is a bit harder than getting round the track.