Pelican Grand Prix Slot Car Track

[Schniedewind]

I've been working with Wayne on the idea of building a custom slot car track for the Pelican Parts showroom. I've built several other tracks that have been featured in magazines, are in collector's showrooms and were displayed at the Petersen Museum, but I want to do something unique for Pelican. The plan has been evolving over the past couple months, and we thought it would be good to share the progress (from start to finish) of this build. The inspiration for the plan and scenery of the "Pelican Grand Prix" will be the Italian Rivera, Monaco, and Disney's fictional "Porto Corsa" (from the movie Cars 2).


The track will be built in 1/32 slot car scale and will utilize digital technology so that six cars (or more) can be run on its two lanes. Here's the current sketch of the project:


Here are some images from the fictional Disney "Porto Corsa" that will serve as inspiration for the scenery:

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

This should be a fun thread! Your work is amazing - I can't wait to race on the finished track!!

[MFAFF]

Brilliant...
Looking forward to seeing this one progress...

[ckissick]

Awesome. You have a very cool job.

If it were me, I'd do an accurate re-creation of the Monaco course. It would be cool to see all the same turns, the tunnel, the same pit area, etc.

Would it fit, though?

[looneybin]

How about recreating the 'ring

[Schniedewind]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Awesome. You have a very cool job.

If it were me, I'd do an accurate re-creation of the Monaco course. It would be cool to see all the same turns, the tunnel, the same pit area, etc.

Would it fit, though?

Actually, not my job, just my hobby.

As you imply, doing re-creations in scale is nearly impossible as it requires a huge space (and even larger amounts of money). But there have been a variety of people who have done versions of scale models of Monaco. For me, it's more interesting to do "impressionism" than to do "realism". It also is a necessary accommodation to the problems of scale.

[Head416]

Since it's custom for Pelican it would be really cool if you customized some slot cars to look like well-known cars on this board.

[Schniedewind]

Originally Posted by Head416

Since it's custom for Pelican it would be really cool if you customized some slot cars to look like well-known cars on this board.

All things are possible, it's just time and money. But lots of famous race cars are available off the shelf in 1/32 scale. I have only scratch built a few cars, and it's not really my interest, but there are plenty of people out there who do this kind of thing. Maybe someone will volunteer to make a few 1/32 scale slot cars for the track.

[porsche4life]

No mark up on Porsche parts ehh?

[s_morrison57]

I have Scalectrix stuff at home, last time we, me and the son but really just me cause he's only 12, set up his track it was a 4 laner on a 22' x 12' table with around a 100ft. center line/lap. I've been doing slots all my life and I had a tough time beating him.
What brand of track are you going to use? Never tried the new tracks with the six cars on 2 lanes and I don't know if this idea will work on that 6 on 2 set up but consider 18 volts of high cranking amp car battery's, these cars love amps and go twice as fast when they have all the amps they want - the tires will spin coming out of the corners and the brakes work like a hot dam. Its tougher on the cars but hey, its racing.
I'm subscribed for sure and looking forward to the updates as it progresses.
Finn

[Schniedewind]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

What brand of track are you going to use? Never tried the new tracks with the six cars on 2 lanes and I don't know if this idea will work on that 6 on 2 set up but consider 18 volts of high cranking amp car battery's, these cars love amps and go twice as fast when they have all the amps they want - the tires will spin coming out of the corners and the brakes work like a hot dam. Its tougher on the cars but hey, its racing.
I'm subscribed for sure and looking forward to the updates as it progresses.
Finn

This will be custom with routed MDF, not plastic track. The plan is to use Scalextric digital components with a variable power supply.

[jyl]

I think you need, in 1/32 scale, a well set up 944 and a Bullit Mustang.

Oh, and a Subie Vanagon.

[bivenator]

This is gonna be good, a slot enthusiast myself.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by jyl

I think you need, in 1/32 scale, a well set up 944 and a Bullit Mustang.

Oh, and a Subie Vanagon.

Don't forget the black Audi wagon.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Don't forget the black Audi wagon.

I'm sure there will be a parking lot somewhere in the setup with a line of P-cars and the black Audi Wagon. It would almost be worth the trip from SF to see that.

[Heel n Toe]

Great layout design... I especially like that 14 foot straightaway you've got planned. Knowing how quick these cars are these days, it always seems like such a shame when someone goes to all the trouble to build a nice, large, landscaped layout and a huge part of it is twisty bits.

I saved these two photos of a guy's basement track that was posted on an internet forum a couple of years ago. The guy was actually asking for input on how to add more curves as he thought it had too much straightaway. I thought it was perfect.

[Schniedewind]

A short trip to Switzerland stalled the project for a week, but in the meantime I've gotten the first of the digital components for the two lane (up to six cars) track. This weekend I'll build the three interconnecting tables. I'll be using what Model RRers call "open benchwork". One question I've been pondering is exactly what kind of legs and wheels to put on the tables. Preferably light, but very sturdy. I'm thinking of just wood 2x3s for legs and 200lb casters.

[mikeesik]

My Son and I have a pretty good layout.
We first invested in SCX-Dig.C.C.
Fun as heck and quite reliable. We did have some problems with the gun speed controls which were exchanged at the hobby shop.

SCX-is fun and all BUT the cars are a very limited choice.

[Schniedewind]

The project continues. I'm working on two tracks -- first, building the scenery (particularly working on some of the many houses) and second, building the benchwork for the track.

Here's the beginning of the benchwork. It's three tables that will be bolted together. I'm curving the ends of the outside so that's something new for me. I'm creating the curved edged by gluing together strips of MDF; I'm amazed already at how strong they are.


And, I'm building a few houses. As in my previous work, I'm using individually molded blocks done with Hirst Arts molds. These type of houses should create the Mediterranean feel that we're going for in this track.

[K9Torro]

Not to hijack but for all you slot guys, I got a "bunch" o stuff that I need to sell / trade off, anyone interested drop me a email. Stuff = new cars / used cars and a new in box track set up.

Todd