29th-Apr-20, 11:27 AM
But does the Bexhill speed trial still run? Brighton isn't the oldest, but it has been going for the longest. I did consider the beach scene (there are very oblique views from the window), but decided on the American strip...
It was a good enough set-up to have some races, do some basic testing for proxy cars and be a nice backdrop for some photos...
The Auto World strip has proved itself great value, enormous fun and pretty robust. I wholeheartedly recommend it as an introduction to HO drag racing. This is what it does...
It's a video that both highlights the plus points and hints at the weaknesses of the system. Of course, there is no timing. That can be added as a direct upgrade to the AW strip using the stand-alone Dragon Racing System (here). However, all that stuff about cleaning the track until cars run down the strip without hesitation - that isn't ideal and it is hard to get a really smooth track using traditional HO sectional track pieces. You have a guaranteed clickety-clack and the occasional judder that can ruin a race. Soldering copper braid onto the cars' pick-ups does help - as does using the magical INOX MX3 (yes, it works on HO track too). Ultimately, nothing beats a routed, continuous rail strip with lots of amps and pro computer timing - like this portable strip built and used by Paul and Cheryl at MaxTrax (www.maxtraxracing.com/dragstrips)...
The thing was, I wasn't serious enough to invest over a thousand dollars on a routed strip and the gold-standard Track Mate DP3000 timing hardware and software (here). And with the wonky wall, it wouldn't be an easy fit! On the other hand, what I had wasn't getting a lot of use. The location of the strip - in a small room at the top of the house - was not conducive to having a bunch of guys round for an evening of racing. And the Auto World format is not ideal for racing on your own. As a result, the drag strip laid more-or-less dormant, the start and finish sections being ripped out regularly to be used at public events and at the club.
However, that is not the end of the story...
It was a good enough set-up to have some races, do some basic testing for proxy cars and be a nice backdrop for some photos...
The Auto World strip has proved itself great value, enormous fun and pretty robust. I wholeheartedly recommend it as an introduction to HO drag racing. This is what it does...
It's a video that both highlights the plus points and hints at the weaknesses of the system. Of course, there is no timing. That can be added as a direct upgrade to the AW strip using the stand-alone Dragon Racing System (here). However, all that stuff about cleaning the track until cars run down the strip without hesitation - that isn't ideal and it is hard to get a really smooth track using traditional HO sectional track pieces. You have a guaranteed clickety-clack and the occasional judder that can ruin a race. Soldering copper braid onto the cars' pick-ups does help - as does using the magical INOX MX3 (yes, it works on HO track too). Ultimately, nothing beats a routed, continuous rail strip with lots of amps and pro computer timing - like this portable strip built and used by Paul and Cheryl at MaxTrax (www.maxtraxracing.com/dragstrips)...
The thing was, I wasn't serious enough to invest over a thousand dollars on a routed strip and the gold-standard Track Mate DP3000 timing hardware and software (here). And with the wonky wall, it wouldn't be an easy fit! On the other hand, what I had wasn't getting a lot of use. The location of the strip - in a small room at the top of the house - was not conducive to having a bunch of guys round for an evening of racing. And the Auto World format is not ideal for racing on your own. As a result, the drag strip laid more-or-less dormant, the start and finish sections being ripped out regularly to be used at public events and at the club.
However, that is not the end of the story...
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