[JasonB]

Yes there are people who make bespoke tracks, but I wouldn't expect them to be cheap.

In the UK - https://www.thinkscalextricevents.co.uk/...yMenu.html
In France - https://sillage-racing.com/

But routers aren't too expensive, especially since a track only requires some slots to be cut, so you don't need anything approaching the top of the range. Also, routing isn't too difficult if you're reasonably handy as you would usually use a simple guide, ie a plank of wood for the straight sections, and a pinned curved material, or a compass arm for the corners. Small mistakes can easily be filled, and since MDF is reasonably cheap, any big mistakes aren't going to break the bank.

Mr Flippant sells a wood track routing kit which has some handy stuff https://www.ggaub.com/slots/wood.shtml

How a routed track might differ in design to a Scalextric track is obviously up to you. It could be very similar, but of course there are many more options available. You can choose the number of lanes you want, the lane widths, and the type of corners, and as you can see from the routed tracks you've picked out, you can have a much more "organic" looking layout. There is also a huge difference in smoothness when you're not clickety-clacking over a track joint every foot or so.

Since you've got a garage you could work in, I'd say it's definitely worth considering.

[BAracer]

I suppose it can't be said that there isn't sufficient information out there for me to be able to have a go at routing a track!

And I can see a benefit in starting with a single slot 8x4 test track to learn the basic routing technique and skills before attempting a masterpiece.

It would also then be possible to lay a temporary Scalextric track on top of it for race specific car set up session.

As if I didn't have enough slotting ambitions rattling around in my head.

[woodcote]

Hub wrote a excellent article about his first routed track - a little 3 x 1.5 ft layout where he learned lots of lessons...

   

The article is in this month's Slot Car Magazine (here). Hub also makes his tracks without using a router. He uses two mdf sheets, the top one cut with jigsaw (two blades soldered together) to create the slot. It might not be what everyone else does, but it's very effective.

I routed my first 1/32 scale track 20 years ago - a 4 x 2  rally stage experiment - and my second last year - the 6 x 2 ice rink. They are gradually getting bigger! There is a lot of great info out there. The kit Greg sells is excellent. I use the BSCRA Tech site - it's a fabulous reference for track building, wiring etc.

One issue with any track that isn't 100% permanently set up is weight. Lifting an 8 x 4 board - with or without a frame - is a two-person job. The thicker the board (you'd need at least 10-12mm to route an 8mm deep slot), the heavier it becomes. The weight of the Scalextric track on top will require strong arms and backs to wrestle from the vertical onto suitably strong trestles and back again.

Personally, I'd go for a lightweight framed board (using softwood PSE timber for the frame and 3.6mm ply / 3mm hardboard for the top) to fix the Scalextric track to and then plan separate - and much smaller - routed 'practice' projects.

[JasonB]

Weight is certainly an important issue if the track is going to be moved, but personally I would still recommend and an MDF top rather than ply, as ply will splinter, whereas MDF cuts more smoothly. You can get MDF in 6mm, 9mm or 12mm, but whatever you use, even with a softwood frame it's still going to be heavy.

To be honest though, I could never recommend mucking about with power tool blades in any way. Hub may have done it, and his tracks are obviously fantastic, but there are safety issues if you start to use anything other than the recommended blades, or bits, and home made or modified pieces are a big NO from me. I've seen too many nasty accidents back in the days when I was a furniture designer/maker, so I think you need to be very careful. Please use power tools as they were intended to be used.

[BAracer]

I'm beginning to think that an 8x4 set up perhaps isn't as portable as I am imagining it would be, so another idea...

There is space in the garage to fit an 8x4 table unit like this: -

   

on which I could set up a Scalextric track on an adhoc basis as required. Between those times, it could be the base unit for a separate MDF sheet that would be the learning exercise for a routed track.

There is a solution somewhere in all of this!

[JasonB]

You could just make the 8x4 as two 4x4 sheets which join together.

[rallyhub]

but there are safety issues if you start to use anything other than the recommended blades.

Safety first is always most important. I always use my soldered blade with the safety cover down when cutting.
The amount of chipped material remains the same, because I can use 50% thinner mdf/ plywood boards with this method.

Hub