[LastHobbyPromise]

Hey all, I am thinking about setting up a 1/32 1/8th mile drag strip. Where can I go to find out all the things I will need and the info to set everything up. Length, run off, lights, all of it.

Thanks

[KensRedZed]

Hello LHP.

Woodcote is the master of drag strips for HO here on this forum and runs a proxy race that many of us are participating in. Send him a PM. He should be able to get you started in the right direction.

Lights, track timing, and a DC variable power supply should be similar.

It's also possible to route a track on wooden planks and tape it instead of using plastic track. Depends on your skills.

Ken

[BAracer]

There is some information in this thread...

https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1198

[woodcote]

All my hands-on experience is with HO scale strips. As Ken said, there is a considerable amount of overlap with other scales. There's a lot of info about building my HO strip here: https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1253

   

Specifically for a 1/32 scale eighth mile, I reckon...

• The timed length for a scale eighth mile is 20 feet 7.5 inches - ie from start sensors to finish sensors. You may need to be flexible on that (as I was).
  
• The staging area needs only to be as long as the longest cars you plan to run (for my HO strip, the Auto World Top Fuelers)
  
• The shut down area is vital - and the length depends on the fastest cars you intend to run. See below.
  
• The surface needs to as flat as possible - best is routed, then hard sectional (Carrera, Policar, Scalextric START). Scalextric Sport, Classic, SCX or Ninco will need considerable work to be as flat as possible.
  
• Timing - Trackmate produce the best systems - if you're serious and can afford them. Drag Race Coordinator is a good, cheap DIY alternative. Slot Dragon have a great plug & play standalone system. The Scalextric ARC Air/Pro powerbases (using the drag race option of the ARC app) are okay for a bit of fun.
  
• Sensors - Start and Finish sensors are the minimum. Trackmate and Drag RC (using an Arduino Mega board) offer more sensors - 60ft, half distance, speed trap etc.
  
• Christmas Tree lights - The software timing systems offer these on screen or as a separate physical tree. Slot Dragon has a physical tree as part of the package.
  

What you go for does depend on your budget and the electronic skills you have. Slot Dragon is the simplest to set up and use. However, you'd still need to fit the sensors to the track - drilling four holes.

Shut down length - this will depend on the cars you are planning to use and the voltage you plan to run at. If you have an eye on serious trip into 1/32 (or 1/24) scale drag racing, you will be racing some fast cars that will need maybe eight to ten feet or more to slow down, even with dynamic breaking in the shut down area. And you'll still need a well-padded box at the end, just in case. With basic Scalextric or Carrera cars fitted with magnets, you'd get away with a shorter shutdown.

With my HO strip, I was constrained by the length of the wall. I made the shortest possible staging area (the length of a top fueler) and the short shutdown (with dynamic braking) limits the types of cars we run, the modifications that can be done and the voltage we run at (12 volts as opposed to the normal HO 18 or 20 volts). I still have cars hitting the end of the padded catch box at a few mph.

Leo - Scuderia Turini - has built 1/32 scale drag strips and used one recently for his EV Proxy event. He'd be able to give you dimensions. I'm pretty sure he used the rigid Scalextric START track.

I hope that helps.

[LastHobbyPromise]

All my hands-on experience is with HO scale strips. As Ken said, there is a considerable amount of overlap with other scales. There's a lot of info about building my HO strip here: https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1253

I have 15ft to work with.  :(  Is it bad to have a 1/32 road course in the house and 1/64 strip in the garage?     

[KensRedZed]

I have 15ft to work with.  :(  Is it bad to have a 1/32 road course in the house and 1/64 strip in the garage?     

Hello LHP,
Does that mean you need to install a 1/43 drag strip in the middle? 

[woodcote]

Certainly not bad at all! With 15ft available I think it's the difference of a drag strip and no drag strip! Personally, I think HO is the scale for home-based drag racing, especially a permanent strip.

Depending on your budget, you could look at a routed set up (check out MaxTrax and Viper Scale Racing) with any of the timing options mentioned above. Or pick up enough straights from AFX, Auto World, Tyco, Life Like, Micro Scalextric etc to build a strip as I did.

Or a great out-of-the-box intro kit is one the Auto World drag racing sets, like this one...



No timing - just start lights (and a foul start sensor) and finish line win lights. This is what you get for about $150...

• 2 x Auto World 4-Gear drag cars
  
• 1 x Electronic start gate / power track - featuring fully-functional LED Christmas tree, track sensors with red foul lights, Pro & Sportsman racing modes
  
• 1 x Electronic finish line - featuring win light indicators
  
• 2 x controllers
  
• 1 x power pack
  
• 9 x 15" straight pieces
  
• 1 x 3" deadstrip
  
• 2 x track end caps
  

That fills a 13.5 foot space. An extra Auto World (or AFX) 15" straight would take that up to nearly 15ft - space for some soft padding at the end.

The strip is great fun, is what I started with and have used at loads of public and club events. I updated the power supply on mine for variable voltage and more amps.

Auto World produce a range of fabulous-looking NHRA and 'Legends' drag cars on their 4-Gear, XTraction and Thunderjet500 chassis - all of the chassis are copies of the 1960s / 70s Aurora versions. There are videos on line to get them working better - and you have the option of some new 'modern' chassis with in-line motors from JAGS Hobbies.

There's certainly knowledge and expertise here on Slot Racer if you wanted to go down this HO drag strip route.

[LastHobbyPromise]

Certainly not bad at all! With 15ft available I think it's the difference of a drag strip and no drag strip! Personally, I think HO is the scale for home-based drag racing, especially a permanent strip.

Wife is gonna kill me. I am telling her it's your fault.

[LastHobbyPromise]

Certainly not bad at all! With 15ft available I think it's the difference of a drag strip and no drag strip! Personally, I think HO is the scale for home-based drag racing, especially a permanent strip.

Depending on your budget, you could look at a routed set up (check out MaxTrax and Viper Scale Racing) with any of the timing options mentioned above. Or pick up enough straights from AFX, Auto World, Tyco, Life Like, Micro Scalextric etc to build a strip as I did.

Or a great out-of-the-box intro kit is one the Auto World drag racing sets, like this one...



No timing - just start lights (and a foul start sensor) and finish line win lights. This is what you get for about $150...

• 2 x Auto World 4-Gear drag cars
  
• 1 x Electronic start gate / power track - featuring fully-functional LED Christmas tree, track sensors with red foul lights, Pro & Sportsman racing modes
  
• 1 x Electronic finish line - featuring win light indicators
  
• 2 x controllers
  
• 1 x power pack
  
• 9 x 15" straight pieces
  
• 1 x 3" deadstrip
  
• 2 x track end caps
  

That fills a 13.5 foot space. An extra Auto World (or AFX) 15" straight would take that up to nearly 15ft - space for some soft padding at the end.

The strip is great fun, is what I started with and have used at loads of public and club events. I updated the power supply on mine for variable voltage and more amps.

Auto World produce a range of fabulous-looking NHRA and 'Legends' drag cars on their 4-Gear, XTraction and Thunderjet500 chassis - all of the chassis are copies of the 1960s / 70s Aurora versions. There are videos on line to get them working better - and you have the option of some new 'modern' chassis with in-line motors from JAGS Hobbies.

There's certainly knowledge and expertise here on Slot Racer if you wanted to go down this HO drag strip route.

 Will all HO car mfg's work on this track?

[Scuderia_Turini]

Hello Last,
Most people slot-car start drag-racing simply by having the power switched off and holding the throttles fully on then switching the power on. First car across the finish line wins.
Probably best if you try that a few times before spending any $$$.
The full experience of staging, start Tree Lights, reaction time, elapsed time, terminal speed and such should be your ultimate goal - its not a simple sport.

Leo