Building a Digital Slot Car Track - Design Considerations

[@johnniehobby]

Let us know which of the design elements in the video you will find helpful for your layout. Also, if there are elements you like to use on your layouts that aren't listed here, let us know. BTW: 7:02 we are wrecking our cars on purpose solely for the benefit of our viewers. You're welcome. That isn't to say it wasn't fun, however. 0:15 - use of shoulders 2:02 - placement of sensored tracks 3:50 - dual pit lane 5:33 - left-to-right lane change before pit entrance 6:20 - right-to-left lane change before pit exit 7:43 - track power 8:55 - balanced lanes 10:27 - adjacent/nested tracks 11:03 - placement of high-risk elements and marshaling positions

[@sanatkumarasharma3627]

Johnnie, this was most useful for someone like me who has still to put together his very first Carrera track! To me it's not so clear how you built the double pit lanes and which Carrera parts did you use: are these from the Digital series? Could you please write their codes and some more details on how you put them together? TIA Cheers

[@johnniehobby]

@@sanatkumarasharma3627 The pit stop part number is 30356. You'll need two of those. As far as how the pieces are configured, look at the 6:15 mark in the following video, it is a track schematic with the dual pit lane: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXmugHRuorNsfqs Let me know if that helps.

[@sanatkumarasharma3627]

@@johnniehobby Hahaha it may be difficult to really understand what's going on in a time lapse video! 8D The screen grab track's image @ 6:15 is clear enough but since I have no experience at all with these "modern" slot cars I remain with some questions: from what I gather the latest pit lane has a sensor positioned where there are those white markers that makes the refuel working but if you're outside that space you will get naught. Is that so? Thanks for your answers! Cheerio

[@johnniehobby]

@@sanatkumarasharma3627 Our setup uses the old pit lane, so you'll fuel anywhere between the pit entrance and the pit exit. The new pit lane has a sensor track. You need to be on or beyond that sensor in order to take on fuel. You don't have to stop right on that track.

[@sanatkumarasharma3627]

@@johnniehobby I see! So with the new 30356 you need to pass over the sensor in the marked space (or even stop there?) to activate the refuel while with your setup you just enter that track: is this a proper Digital track piece? Or is it coming from another series and still can be used with the latest tracks? Eventually even using two 30356 marked tracks in parallel you can have two refuel tracks, but I still do not get how you can chose the inner or outer track: is it by a double click while crossing from the entrance to the next crossover? Thanks for the answers. Cheers

[@robbygee2539]

I have a bunch of huge slot cars from the 60's or 70's... They look like Coyote 67 Indy cars and a couple of Chaparrel's. They are much bigger than modern slot cars, and very brittle from age. I forgot we had them packed away until I saw this video... I may have to dig them out and display them as novelties! It looks like you all are having a ball. I was pleased to see this video.

[@lucasrem]

You should make the tracks digital, post a video first, what you found ! stop chatting please, LOL You Follow Rudy W. Giuliani, I'M OUT ! Post the Tracks please, why politics....

[@markcutbackdavis7367]

Man. I took two lane changers back because I thought they were defective. And my buddies thought I was cheating because some of their laps were not counting. Mine were not either but they still got tudes toward me. Crap. Thanks guys. You guys figured a lot of this out. I put this in my favs and subscribed. Good stuff, bros.

[@the5thmusketeer215]

Some excellent tips there, including some not so obvious ones... 👍 I particularly like the advice to use a SINGLE lane changer from the outside lane, towards the pit entrance and not a double lane changer, so as to prevent a driver intending to change from the inside lane into the pit lane from pressing too early and crossing AWAY from it... 🤦🏻‍♂️ Wouldn’t have thought of that... 🤔 MANY THANKS! 🖖😎

[@brianreed7959]

Another outstanding video with excellent narrative ,information and content.

[@Lews_SlotCarTesting]

The best! Someday we might get our track spruced up but nothing as nice as yours! 🏁

[@rickkentner1713]

Not to be a dick, but I probably have twice the track I see here. I’ve been carrying it around for over 20 years. I can now put it all together again ‘cause I retired. It took me another 15 years to collect it all. As you can imagine, I am very excited about it and i am going to save this video so I can apply some of your tips. Thanks, I’m glad I watched this, Cheers!

[@johnniehobby]

Excellent that you still have all that track. There's probably a lot of people out there that sold theirs in a garage sale years ago and wish they had it back now.

[@rickkentner1713]

johnnie hobby Boxes And boxes. Lott’s of original pkg. stuff. Cars are hard to find love your child that survived. Mean it.

[@rickkentner1713]

johnnie hobby Yup, and I’m probably the guy that bought it, lol. Found lots of great stuff at garage sales. Cars are still hard to find but with all kinds of pieces I’ve been able to build 2 so far.

[@murphyhayes4001]

Great tips thanks,I’m new to the hobby and love it but hate it when mirrors and spoilers fly off 😅

[@dennisazzopardi2089]

Love your show. Great sense of humor.....

[@tylerpearce2891]

These got so much cooler i remember them being so simple but even that would keep me happy for hours as a kid

[@johnniehobby]

We grew up playing with slot cars and had tons of fun. When digital came out we jumped on it right away. Even more funner!

[@crazytrain7114]

Still does!

[@saurobaietta1885]

Your video gives very useful hints to make a good track: thank you so much to share your experience :-)

[@danmclean7375]

4:25 *perfect handling* 😆👌 But seriously... Awesome video and I loved the MAS system..

[@frankolberts5937]

Very good tips. Make so much sense. Very very helpful!

[@brianreed7959]

Another outstanding video with excellent narrative information and content.

[@Gregzenegair]

Also prevent to put a switch lane right after a turn because often the guide will be twisted inside the rail, and if the twist is the same direciton of the switch rail tongue, the car can tap it really hard and cause damage / unwanted accidents

[@alfonzooliviera1121]

I love everything you said. You can tell you guys have experience with this. I also try to balance lane changes for equal numbers for both side. I keep the pit stop always in clear view no matter the layout and also will NOT put a lane change in certain very technical spots to force drivers to perform the maneuver rather than just skip tracks around it.

[@johnniehobby]

Good point about having the pit where it is in clear view. One of our layouts a couple years ago had a bridge across part of the pit and we found out very quickly that it was a bad idea.

[@Coasters3356]

I just got the carrera go slot car set. I love it. I’m thinking about asking for a digital 1/32 or just more cars for Christmas.

[@johnniehobby]

If you have the space, I'd recommend going for the 1/32 set.

[@sonykroket]

Love the onboard footage. Any tips on keeping the track clean, dust etc?

[@johnniehobby]

For cleaning just a damp cloth or a Swiffer pad for the dust. Don't use any solvents. WD-40 works great to clean the pickup rails to improve conductivity.

[@sonykroket]

@@johnniehobby thanks

[@tobybriggs7776]

i am a newbie again to this. just bought 1:24 scale set from Carrera. Thanks for the tips. I would love to duplicate your track. Thanks for the video.

[@johnniehobby]

You can't go wrong with a 1:24 set. Lots of fun.

[@jimmyjennings4089]

I love slot car's when I was a kid back in the 60's my brothers used to take me to the tracks in Phoenix az. Pay to race track's which have been gone a long time I'm 60 years old now but if someone would open up a slot car public race track I'd probably be one of the first to go race it used to be so much fun, the car's used to be a lot bigger though.

[@johnniehobby]

There are still hobby shops that have slot car tracks, and they are actually making a resurgence in the past few years. I'll bet if you do an internet search for your area something would come up.

[@epoweredrc]

wow that is a awesome track, very nice. I was wondering how i keep seeing home built tracks with 3 or 4 lanes, and i guess now i understand it better. its just lanes set next to each other then those pit lanes make it look like even more lanes. Really awesome..

[@SpaceFlightApparel]

Great track! And good advice thank you from Wales UK.

[@johnniehobby]

Our pleasure!

[@patrickcurley8951]

Magnificent track setup 10 out of 10

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks. We have plans for a new setup for this coming winter incorporating additional track plus some new features. Hopefully that gets a rating of 11. We'll be sure to put out a video of the construction and final configuration when complete.

[@the13th]

Love the video guys especially as someone new to the hobby and getting ready to build my own track. Ive made the decision to go Carrera digital myself. Eager to see more content :)

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks for watching, and good luck with your slot car track. Post a vid when you have it set up, we'd love to see it.

[@the13th]

@@johnniehobby definitely, I can do that

[@MyRadioNation]

Thank you guys so much. I am building my set now and your tips will go a long way. I love the Peavey cabinet in the background...lol. I use to have one of those. How can I contact you guys?

[@johnniehobby]

I wondered when someone would comment on the PA system. Carryovers from my band days, now used to power my home theater. If you need to contact us about something in a video, leave it in the comments section of that video. Other viewers may find some Q&A helpful. Or, for something more general, you can leave a message on my channel page under the Discussion tab.

[@kennethmaser1767]

For a beginner purchasing his first track can you give me some suggestions as to what starter kit to consider. Would wireless controllers be the way to go. Should there be any additional tracks or accessories to buy. Thanks for the great videos.

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks for the comment. As far as your questions, I got you covered: - track expansion sets are more economical than buying individual track pieces, especially the lane changers and we recommend Carerra part number 30367. - add a pit stop as it provides more fun, interest, and strategy. - get a starter set with the most amount of track. If possible get a set that comes with the wireless controllers as those are highly recommended and when your track gets larger they are basically a must. You can get the wireless controller set separately as well. Here is a URL for a wireless set on Amazon: amzn.to/3vfGlQT This is an affiliate link so if you order from there the channel will receive a small commission and we'd appreciate the support. We anticipated these questions so we put together a video to address those. It goes into more detail on the answers I provided above. Here's the link: "Expanding Your New Slot Car Set - Recommended Features to Add First kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIraf2Z6ic2pa6c Hope this helps, and thanks for watching.

[@JonMurray]

Just randomly came across one of your videos and now I want to spend every penny to my name on slot cars and track pieces! 😂 New subscriber! 👍🏻

[@johnniehobby]

Welcome aboard! BTW: Don't spend ALL your money on slot cars, save some for beer!

[@JonMurray]

@@johnniehobby haha! Of course!

[@robbygee2539]

@@johnniehobby LOL!!! This dude has gotta be single.

[@landsurfer66]

Thank you! Very helpful video!! I now know the exact number of shoulders I need.

[@johnniehobby]

Glad it will help. Now I'm curious, how many shoulders do you need?

[@landsurfer66]

4 packs of outside 60's plus the correct number straights. I wasn't going to get straights, but I see now they will definitely help with drifting.

[@EverythingRCnerd]

how did you keep your gto on the track with out it flipping over

[@charlesrobillard190]

Very Helpful Thank You and Happy New Year!

[@johnniehobby]

Good to hear. Thanks for the comment. Happy New Year to you as well.

[@rickschwartz2447]

nice track I tried to do it in fl. I had about 60 foot layout but I could not get people to do it

[@johnniehobby]

That's too bad. I don't want to give this comment a thumbs-up otherwise it looks like I think it's a good thing that nobody you know likes to have fun.

[@garymontgonery9821]

How did you put the 4 lane bank turn together? Been working on that for myself. ThankYou

[@johnniehobby]

You need to make the smaller and larger bank sections first. For example, connect a piece of 2-rad bank to 3-rad bank with the red track connectors. Then you'll have 30-degree sections of 4-lane track, then join them end-to-end like you would normally connect turns. If you build the two turns separately, for example build the entire 2-radius bank and entire 3-radius bank, you won't be able to join them with the connectors.

[@franktiessen3898]

Great video and superbly done. Thanks from everyone at Carrera of America!

[@johnniehobby]

Frank, you are president of Carrera - North America, correct? Maybe you can answer this question: Why is it so difficult to get tires for the 1/32 cars in the U.S.?

[@cliffcampbell8827]

Slot cars and tracks have come a long way since my Tyco Super Duper Double Looper back in the 1970's.

[@johnniehobby]

We had the double looper set, too probably around 1977. It was a Nite-Glow set with the Curve Hugger chassis and chrome Porsche 917 bodies I think.

[@filipposantoro8830]

Wonderful! What is the brand of the tracks?

[@johnniehobby]

The track featured in this video is Carrera 124/132 digital.

[@keithdevereux4046]

How fast are these going in MPH? The 25% speed playback looked like more realistic and , for me anyway, more fun. Can these cars be slowed down?

[@johnniehobby]

Actual average speed of the cars is about 7.5 mph. That's a scale speed of about 235 mph, so not too scale-like. However, nothing close to the ridiculous speeds of some of the HO scale slot cars. They can be slowed down, but then they aren't too fun as you don't have to lift the throttle at all. Removing the magnets helps as it forces you to slow for the turns and you can't accelerate as quickly without spinning the tires. The larger the scale, the closer you get to realistic scale speeds. The cars in this video are 1:32 scale, but we also run the 1:24 scale (larger cars). They aren't as fast and don't handle the turns as well so their scale speeds are a little more realistic. Here's a video of the 1:24 scale: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWnZY4B9oriSgrs

[@andrewfeds7282]

I would love to get back into slot cars agian where can I purchase the cars and track

[@johnniehobby]

If you live in USA or Canada, you can reference the following website for hobby shops that carry Carrera slot car sets, track, cars, and accessories in your area. carrera-toys.us/united-states-dealers-page/ There are also several online Carrera retailers that will ship to you. Here are two that I use: www.carreraslots.com/ www.lebhobbies.com/

[@rssb69]

Thanks for the video the information was very helpful.

[@johnniehobby]

Sure thing. Sorry for the late reply. Good luck with your next track layout.

[@RORRingENT]

Like to know a little bit more about Club rules, and how you run a club. Or where I might find more of that type of information.

[@johnniehobby]

That's our next video, actually. We've had the script ready for a while now just needed to get our track back up so we could start filming. The "Slot Car Club Considerations" video will include info like track design suggestions, ideal classes of cars to run, making a nightly race schedule to rotate drivers, recommendations on driver rules, using race management software to automatically announce the races and track driver points, etc. Should have lots of good info. Hopefully we'll have that ready to post in a couple weeks.

[@RORRingENT]

@@johnniehobby can't wait.

[@Nick_R_]

Could you share your track design. A still from UR3 is fine.

[@Nick_R_]

OK, I've now seen it at 0.40 in Part Two! Thanks.

[@johnniehobby]

@@Nick_R_ You can get the source UR3 source file from my website as well: subhumanracing.net/carrera-layouts/

[@murphyhayes4001]

Are those wood blocks under your track? 😎

[@johnniehobby]

Yes. We took a piece of 2x10 and cut it into various lengths (1/2-in, 1 -in, 1-1/2in, etc.) to use as track supports. Quick and easy but admittedly they do look a bit hokey. We've since designed custom supports that we 3d print.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Great intel here!👍👍😎🇺🇸

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks 👍

[@backroadsxplorer572]

Hey Johnnie new to the hobby could you tell me how to go about getting layouts of track like you have on this page between the the Left hand turn track and the right hand turn track..Thanks!

[@johnniehobby]

Not sure what you are asking, exactly. Are you asking about the lane change sections?

[@backroadsxplorer572]

@@johnniehobby Sorry just wanting to get ideas of track layouts. If you could recommend a place that I could look at for some ideas. Thanks for the response!

[@johnniehobby]

@@backroadsxplorer572 There's a KZbin video with a selection of layouts here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pobMmnSrmreFZ7c Also, this website has some: original.cincyslots.com/these_are_all_carrera_track_plan.htm Do an internet search for 'slot car layouts' or 'slot car track plans' and you should be able to find many more. In addition, you can download track planning software if you want to try to design your own. Carrera has their own called Streckenplaner. Info is here: www.slottrackpro.com/carrera-track-layout-planner/ We use a track planner called Ultimate Racer 3.0. Info on that track designer software is here: www.uracerweb.org/ Hope this helps.

[@backroadsxplorer572]

Thank you I appreciate it.

[@randynewton8478]

Hello I have been trying my darndest to get a straight answer I'm building with my grandson a Carrera Digital 132 track I want a Layout that would work on a 6'x12' or up to 14' feet Your videos look extremely helpful Would design a track and tell me what to buy Our start is the Digital 132 Speeder PLEASE!!!!!!!!

[@johnniehobby]

Hi Randy. Sorry about the late reply but I just found this comment stuck in my "held for review" queue where it shouldn't have been. I can help with a track design. Let me know what elements you'd like to include. Pit stop? Double pit stop? Banked turns? Track shoulders?

[@EdgySwordfish]

Love the motul autech GTR! Go Super GT!

[@justinmohan7103]

Thanks for the video. Do you think you could put a link to the track building software that was used. I didn't know it existed

[@johnniehobby]

The track planning software we use is titled Ultimate Racer 3.0. It has components for both race management and track design. We only use the track design component as we use HSSRMS for race management. Here's the link to Ultimate Racer 3.0 we use for design: www.uracerweb.org/

[@thomassanders2600]

Hello Mr. Hobby & Crew, I’ve watched all of your track consideration videos as well as all or most of your other ones. I just purchased a Carrera DIGITAL 132 GT Triple Power Set 2 days ago, my first slot car set in over 44 years. I haven’t put it together yet, the wife has me doing major yardwork (it’s warm enough here in Tampa for that kind of stuff). I don’t have any extra track or accessories yet, but plan on expanding to perhaps a 16x4 or 16x6 feet layout. Does the Carrera control unit section have an area to tap into for powering additional track? How is it done? Soldering or a mechanical means? Thanks, Thomas.

[@johnniehobby]

Every piece of track, including the CU, has access to the rails from underneath. If you buy the Carrera power tap wire set they include connectors that simply slide into the rails to provide a secure connection. No soldering necessary. Carrera item #20584 for the 5 meter set, and #20585 for the 10-meter set. Kinda spendy for what they are but if you have a bunch of wire already, and are comfortable soldering, you can get just the clips and make your own set (Carrera part #DRS1000).

[@whatiswe]

Nice track! Great explanation. Can all tape be the same color and or dressed? Track would look even better.

[@johnniehobby]

Are you talking about the tape holding down the power extensions?

[@OniMikeVision85]

I watched your starter set video do you have any links for a decent starter set with pit lanes and all really wanting to get into this looks like so much fun

[@johnniehobby]

All Carrera sets are essentially starter sets. I've never seen one that included the pit stop, lap counter, timing tower, or any other special accessories except guardrails.

[@RBXXXX]

Awesome looking track

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks!

[@randybodenner626]

Hello, I'm building a 6'x12' layout on a table. Any suggestions you feel are very important. I do have a Pit lane and 1 double lane change. I really enjoy your videos

[@yupcrazy...5465]

Fpv it!!!!!! I do quadcopters and have played around with the technology on my rc cars n trucks i came across these slot car vids and it took me back to when i was a kid so i clicked on a few more and watching this and the modern tracks features and technology built in i cant stop thinking why is there no micro fpv aio camera on top or built in that would be the ultimate experience for these guys and you can get them for less then 20 bucks small enough for these cars

[@johnniehobby]

VR racing would be cool. Couldn't have the cars programmed to run full speed though as you'd need Jedi-like reflexes (akin to pod racing). The POV at full speed seems so much faster than watching it from above.

[@yupcrazy...5465]

@@johnniehobby they make cameras that are super small less than an inch in diameter with built in vtx transmitter that would actually fit in the body and i get what ur saying but over time im sure u could run full speed just like me flying thru gates trees and around objects at over 100mph in my quadcopters....

[@richardsayers6361]

What scale is this? Haven't seen a slot car set for a long time. My brother and I had a Stromberg set in the 60's , then I bought my first set for $25. Aurora. Second was Tyco all were HO scale, cars back then cost about $3. a pop.Thanks I enjoyed watching this.

[@johnniehobby]

The cars in the video are 1/32. Carrera's track is actually 1/24 scale so you can run either scale. My brother and I grew up with AFX and Tyco HO tracks (still have them all too). I like the larger scale digital much better but it does takes up more space and definitely cost more than HO. 1/32 digital cars cost about $45 and the 1/24 cars are about $65.

[@elmalloc]

If you can, try to record in high speed mode (120-200FPS) so they will look very smooth in slow motion replay.

[@johnniehobby]

Yes, those slo-mo parts are a bit choppy. I didn't plan on putting it in slow motion until after reviewing the footage and realized it was too fast to see much. I'll be sure to plan ahead better and set my GoPro for 120 or 240 fps for next time. Thanks for the feedback.

[@elmalloc]

@@johnniehobby Awesome!

[@garagemakerguy1808]

A+ for the "Moron Avoidance System", adding an extra shoulder on a straight coming out of a turn, and don't place lane changers out of a turn. Great things to consider when building a layout. Nice job! Have a beer (or ten)...lol

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks for the feedbacl. I noticed you used the MAS on your layout. Cool! On another note, we thought we'd receive a bracket from you for our slot car drag race tournament. There's still time to enter. Maybe you didn't see the video. Check it out, you'll dig it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6CvhYWre8x4eas

[@MeGolf92]

Enjoy all your videos Johnnie. Im getting back into the slots with my Carrera Track. Where can I go to get the racing software that you use? Thanks

[@johnniehobby]

That software is called HSSRMS. Info for download and also how to hook the track to a PC can be found here: www.hrwforum.com/forum/hrw-all-scales/club-home-connection/carrera-digital-north-america/4472-hssrms-thread-home-for-faq-discussion-on-bruce-y-s-pc-based-carrera-digital-t-s There isn't too much documentation for the software so we're working on a video on how we use the various features. Lots of info, though, so it'll be a while before we get it finished and released.

[@MeGolf92]

Thanks for the info. About to start putting the track back up.

[@edteach3r]

Very useful tips, thank you. if I was to start over again, I would go with Carrera. I love the lane changers and digital features (such as pace cars pitting). I started with Scalextric in 1967 and it is far too late to switch now 😊. Thanks again for the video.

[@johnniehobby]

Were you at least able to make the conversion to digital with your Scalextric track. Or, not something that is feasible?

[@edteach3r]

@@johnniehobby : Yes, I have the old curved lane changes, as well as all the latest digital Scaley gadgets. I really enjoy the digital setup, but it has a few major shortcomings, particularly when playing on my own.

[@snaponjoe]

What is your set up worth? Ball park

[@johnniehobby]

Just the track and accessories if you were to buy them separately probably cost about $2,000 US. Don't know how much it cost me as I started out with a Daytona set and added track in different ways. Some from a track lot from Ebay, also an expansion pack, and others bought separately. That doesn't include the cars, though.

[@snaponjoe]

@@johnniehobby I bought my sons a lite hawk track for Christmas from toys R us. I don’t know nothing about slot cars, I space in the basement for a track close to your size, is Carrera the best tracks to buy?

[@johnniehobby]

​@@snaponjoe I couldn't say which is the best, but if you have the space and you are planning on having a large track with long straightaways then I would recommend Carrera. Plus, Carrera track is actually 1:24 scale which provides the option to run the larger 1:24 scale cars which are super cool. You can see a little bit of those in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIraf2Z6ic2pa6c Other manufacturers' tracks are 1:32 scale, which take up a little less space. I think Scalextric has a better selection of classic American race and muscle cars, Carrera more the exotic and european race cars.

[@joewilson7511]

What rms are you using? We have a pretty nice setup and we are using the Smartrace app on either a tablet or phone..we screen mirror it to a tv but it is very wonky and delayed a bit..gets very annoying. I love how you have a projector to display but I'm not going to get that elaborate

[@johnniehobby]

We are using HSSRMS for race management. It is connected to my HTPC running Windows 7 which ultimately displays on both the projector and a separate computer monitor. That program isn't very processor intensive, so if you had some old computer lying around you could use that and probably be able to get rid of the wonkiness and delay.

[@victoranzalone8417]

@@johnniehobby Having trouble finding a race management sys on the web . . . Any suggestions . . . ? What is needed to interface track with computer? Thanks - - - - Merry Christmas

[@johnniehobby]

@@victoranzalone8417 Try this page that has info on Bruce Yingling's HSSRMS: www.hrwforum.com/forum/hrw-all-scales/club-home-connection/carrera-digital-north-america/4472-hssrms-thread-home-for-faq-discussion-on-bruce-y-s-pc-based-carrera-digital-t-s It appears to have links where you can still download Bruce Yingling's RMS (the system I use). I set mine up many years ago so I'm not sure what (if any) updates there are to the software. Also, when I set mine up the only option to connect the track to a PC was to buy Carrera's PC cable for $100 (which I thought was ridiculous), so I made my own using a DIN 5 cable end spliced to an RS-232-to-USB converter. It looks like the there are now options for more reasonably priced cables on that page and also this page: www.carreraslots.com/slot-cars/132ACCTRAC.html Carrera now has a Bluetooth option for track-to-pc connection as well which is listed in the above URL. Hope this helps.

[@direfox9464]

You're voice sounds like a guy trying to hide his identity on unsolved mysteries😂 thx for the tips 👍

[@johnniehobby]

I'm not sure if I should thumbs-up this comment or not. LOL. Thanks for watching.

[@NomadicSociety]

@@johnniehobby lol

[@wholespeed]

On the banked turns that have double track which degree banking is the track 2/30?

[@johnniehobby]

The two inner lanes are 2/30. The two outer lanes are 3/30.

[@wholespeed]

Thank you. Awesome track!

[@danmclean7375]

Im pretty new to the hobby and run scalextric analog - does it require power boost on the same ratio of track as digital Carrera (approx. +10m of track?)...

[@johnniehobby]

Difficult to say for many reasons: Digital runs AC and analog runs DC for and voltage losses might not be the same between the two, the number of track pieces and how solid and/or clean the connections are between those pieces, and also I don't have experience with Scalextric digital so I can't give a definitive answer. You might not need one at all even if the track is 15 or 20 meters long. I would suggest the following to determine optimal ratio: Run cars without a power tap. If you notice the cars slowing down the further away they get from the power track, then you definitely need a power tap. Add one tap at the halfway point and run cars again. If speeds seem to remain constant, then you're good. If there still seems to be areas where they slow, move the first tap to 1/3 way around the track and add a 2nd tap 2/3 away around and try running cars again. If it turns out you need taps closer than any 10 meters then you probably want to take a look at your track connections to be sure they aren't corroded.

[@danmclean7375]

@@johnniehobby thanks for the response, and solid advice - I gave the track a good cleanup, light lube and wipedown and also spaced out tracks that had breaks in the rails (crossovers/racing curves); it made a HUGE difference - I'm at about 12m of track and growing.

[@snaponjoe]

How wide is your track?

[@johnniehobby]

At its widest the footprint is about 12-1/2 feet.

[@snaponjoe]

What’s the record lap time?

[@DRWFJ40]

Are you guys from Canada... the reason I ask is you obviously know slot cars... drifting and metric beers.. Ether way... I'd join your club in a heartbeat.

[@johnniehobby]

No, not from Canada. However, we have visited our fine neighbors to the north many a time, most notably when we were 19 and 20 years old and would cross the river to Windsor where we could drink legally. Maybe that's where we got our affinity for Canadian beer.

[@lordshankracing4724]

I used slot car track videos to start my motorised Hotwheels Nascar road course. The cars run great but sometimes not so clean because well they ain't slot cars.

[@johnniehobby]

Very cool! I loved those Hotwheels tracks. Still have a bunch, too.

[@ClayLis6565]

What track layout software do you use

[@johnniehobby]

It is called Ultimate Racer 3.0. It has a track layout editor and a race manager. We only use it for the track design however. You can find it here: www.uracerweb.org/

[@WIGSPLITTA]

Amazing track

[@johnniehobby]

TY

[@rosssmith8481]

So if there is digital tracks, does that mean there are also analog tracks?

[@johnniehobby]

Yes. Analog tracks don't have the ability to change lanes or use the pit stop feature. Each car runs in its own lane. Therefore, if you have a two-lane track you can only two drivers can race at one time. If you have four lanes then four drivers can run at one time. Same with six or eight lanes. With digital you can run up to six drivers at a time on a two-lane track, plus you can also add ghost cars (autonomous cars) on the track in addition to the live drivers.

[@ZeldaACFan17]

Is the track in this video a Carrera track? If it is, what scale?

[@johnniehobby]

Yes, it is Carrera track. Carrera markets it as 124/132 which is wider than other slot car manufacturer's track so that you can run 1/24 scale cars on it also (so basically it is 1/24 scale track). All cars used in this video are 1/32.

[@crazytrain7114]

Nice Pevey over there

[@NomadicSociety]

nice, quite a layout and great well thought ideas, quite a few thousand yes?

[@johnniehobby]

Yes, it can get expensive if you buy everything new. Standard track averages about $10/foot. Specialty track such as lane changers are and pit stops are significantly more.

[@NomadicSociety]

@@johnniehobby i have quite a few 1/43 sets but only one 1/24 scale set as you need to love the hobbie and spending $ to play in that class. lol

[@lexluthor3944]

Hi Johnnie, is this only valid for carrera, as I think you re using a carrera track ?

[@johnniehobby]

Your comment got me thinking, actually. As far as elements like extending the shoulders to the straights, keeping high-risk elements at the ends of the track for marshaling and visibility reasons, keeping lanes balanced would apply to any track, even analog. As far as some of the other info in the vid, I was assuming that the operation of lane changers worked similarly across all the other major manufacturers of digital slot car tracks. But that may be a bad assumption. I think the 1st generation Scalextric digital cars used a different system to change lanes that wouldn't be affected by how much a car was drifting and also older Carrera Pro-X digital cars had a sliding guide keel design that woudn't allow them to drift so far that they would miss a lane change, thus having lane changers directly after a turn would not be an issue. I believe Scalextric has changed their system, and also Pro-X is no longer a thing. I would welcome a viewer with knowledge of non-Carrera digital slot car track operation to comment on this b/c I would like to know as well.

[@cashmerefunk2136]

Woooow soo cool i had a track just like that lolo well almost..

[@wouldkflego3168]

This video really helped

[@johnniehobby]

Good to hear.

[@elmalloc]

Great video, helpful tips for a noob like me.

[@johnniehobby]

Glad it can be of help. Good luck with your track setup.

[@MarioScott]

What software were you using for track design?

[@johnniehobby]

The program is called Ultimate Racer 3.0.

[@Bricks56]

What size is this track?

[@johnniehobby]

The track is 1/24 scale although the cars we run are 1/32 scale. Overall length of track is about 100 feet. The footprint is about 12 feet x 18 feet.

[@Rich-yj4ub]

Hi, thanks for the great tips & your track is totally awesome. How much $ for the track set up that you have? If you do not mind me asking. Take care.

[@johnniehobby]

I've never added everything up (I'm not sure I want to know myself, actually). Typically you can assume that the basic track costs about $10/ft. Lane changers are maybe $55-$70 depending if it is a single or dual. Pit stops kits cost about $70. Control unit I think is around $130. Track shoulders $2-$4/foot. 2.4 ghz wireless controllers are about $40 each. Some of extras, such as guardrails and power tap lines I'm not sure about. So, if you were to buy everything separately probably about $2,500. That doesn't include all the cars which cost about $45 each. That's not what I spent, though as I started with the Daytona set, then later got lucky and got lots of goodies in an Ebay Carrera lot, plus we added other stuff along the way. Either way, still a significant expense. Don't tell my wife.

[@Rich-yj4ub]

@@johnniehobby LoL I won't tell. Thanks for the info. Take care.

[@Rich-yj4ub]

@@johnniehobby One more question, I feel like such a newbie asking this. If i purchase a 1/24 or 1/32 track... How many cars can I run myself using the same controller on the same line? Thanks, take care.

[@johnniehobby]

1/24 and 1/32 track is the same track (for Carrera). You can run both scales cars on the same track. As far as cars and controllers go, you can have up to six drivers (6 controllers). Each car is assigned to a single controller. All cars can run in either lane at any time. All six could be in the same lane at once but will still only respond to their assigned controller. You can assign more than one car to a controller as well so multiple cars at the same time with one controller but not sure why anyone would do that. I think Carrera states that any more than 9 cars on the track at once is the maximum the standard power supply will handle.

[@Rich-yj4ub]

@@johnniehobby Thanks for the quick response.

[@ovi311286]

In your experience guys, does the pace car really works? Do you use it? I've read some comments that is not very useful

[@johnniehobby]

Are you asking about a pace car or a ghost car? A pace car is a safety vehicle that comes out onto the track for cautions. A ghost car runs on the track the during the entire race.

[@ovi311286]

The pace car precisely! Have you ever used it?

[@johnniehobby]

@@ovi311286 We do not use the pace car feature. It might be cool to use just at the beginning of the race for a rolling start, but use it as a caution vehicle for crashes I think would be impractical.

[@ovi311286]

Thanks for the answer! Great channel, I'm planning to build a race track and every tip is useful

[@wordreet]

Yeap, good ideas there. Years ago, our cat used to love the Scalextric! She would lurk under one of the armchairs, then suddenly a paw would shoot out and "bomp" capture a car going by, then drag it under the chair to consume her prey!!! If the car struggled and buzzed as it tried to free itself, she would go nuts and both paws would join in the killing! 🦁🍖 😂

[@johnniehobby]

Ha ha. Great story. Did you name parts of the track to identify the high risk areas, like "dead man's curve," "widowmaker chicane," and "killer cat corner?"

[@wordreet]

@@johnniehobby LOL! I never thought of that!

[@ThaWolfStyle]

NICE TRACK, WOW

[@johnniehobby]

Thank you. For this season we'll be putting it up on a table and changing the layout quite a bit. We'll be sure to post a vid of the new track as soon as it's done.

[@ThaWolfStyle]

@@johnniehobby nice my friend, I do slot vids too, check it if u want, greetings:p

[@sheldonnorton9035]

Thanks for that!

[@johnniehobby]

You are welcome. Hopefully some of the information helps you out.

[@1etergen]

Subscribed!! Bitchen video, thank you.

[@Rendezvous70]

Need slot cars that have under steer

[@kennethljungberg642]

This is cool.

[@mht525]

Nissan Skyline GTR 🤘🇦🇺

[@johnniehobby]

That was one of my first 1/32 cars and still possibly my favorite.

[@wordreet]

Hmm I'd like to see some non magnet racing, it's my preferred type of driving anyway, since I started 54 years ago! 👴🏻👍

[@johnniehobby]

That's in the works. We have a couple pair of cars with Gen 4 chassis. Those allow for easy mag removal. As soon as we get the new layout built we'll have a no-mag showdown vid out. Thanks for watching.

[@wordreet]

@@johnniehobby Epic! Subbed. But can't you just run some classic cars anyway?

[@johnniehobby]

The classic 1/32 slot cars are analog and won't run on our digital track. That is unless we convert the track to analog, or put digital chips in the older cars. Most likely something we'll do one of these days.

[@wordreet]

@@johnniehobby OH? So your track doesn't work for REAL Scalextric cars then!!!??? 😜😜😜

[@wordreet]

@@johnniehobby Now THAT'S why I'm subbed! 😁 (that damned emoji has more teeth than me!!!)

[@JOMANBIKING]

Thanks

[@johnniehobby]

Sure thing. Good luck with your track setup.

[@gernottimm4549]

You should not put a lane switch right behind the curve like in the beginning of your video. In a drift you cannot operate the switch.

[@slater4041]

Correct. That is exactly what was stated.

[@ungurdani8346]

salut my friend super car super video subscribe subscribe ...

[@tyfon4429]

The only thing about all slot car tracks I have seen so far is that the cars go so crazy fast, it is not realistic... just saying.

[@carsonho9338]

Cuz slot cars have magnets, more downforce at the curves

[@Sonnyblack100]

Where do you find 4 grown men that are into this ?

[@johnniehobby]

From my RC club -- grown men that fly little model airplanes.

[@slater4041]

Post a flyer in the local hobby shop that sells Carrera and start a blog, maybe. Don't forget to put NO PUNKS on the flyer.

[@elmalloc]

you sound like my neihgbor

[@chipsandsalsa2520]

These guys must be non drinkers with that track sat on the floor and not up on a table

[@johnniehobby]

Since making this video we've put the track up on a table and now we drink too much.

[@vintagecarnews5899]

like

[@tonyromano6220]

LOL - toss the car!

[@tonyromano6220]

Full contact Slots.

[@tonyromano6220]

Blahahaha MAS

[@johnniehobby]

@@tonyromano6220 10,000 views and you are the first to comment on that part. Thanks for watching.

[@pete8163]

Awesome set up , but boring track ...

[@markcutbackdavis7367]

The track is not boring when it is loaded with club racers. Seven lane changers in this track make it a ton of fun. Yeah, I am a club member.

[@eduardofreiberger6207]

7:21 M.A.S (moron avoidance system) 🤣

[@annazfker2028]

HEY ! ... THE TRACK HAS NOT BEEN PAVED, THEY'RE RACING ON PLASTIC ! DRIFT ?

[@brianreed7959]

Another outstanding video with excellent narrative, information and content.

[@johnniehobby]

Thanks. Much appreciated.