Mostly doing research on power solutions and waiting on materials needed for the track elevations and banking. Not sure if you’ve noticed lately but FedEx and UPS really suck when you compare them to Amazon and USPS.
I try not to buy CCP products as much as possible but sadly there are simply too many things that are simply not made anywhere else these
days. That’s another subject entirely of course. But even products that are already in the States seem to take forever when shipped by the major players. And, no, it’s not related to the “supply-chain” hoax. In fact, these days you can expect at least three days where the item(s) just sit in some shipping hub location for a long, long time.
Anyway, waiting on spacers (standoffs), wire, wire sheathing, power components, and other items right now. The track is pretty much secure to the table just need to set the banking and overpass elevations but need the proper spacers and screws to do that. These pictures show the proposed overpass height and shape. I think it’ll be challenging for both L4 magnet cars and our other less stuck platforms.
The banking elevations and shapes will be different on each of the four corners. I’ll decide on that once I get the needed materials and start to shape the oval corners. The banking will likely be less than SR2’s banks but fairly close at the highest points. Of course, I’ll do my best to make each corner as different and challenging as possible.
Once I get this stage completed, it’ll be time to secure each track piece completely to the table and then start the basic track and power tap wiring. I’m planning a “Phase 1” power solution for the track opening, which will be at least the same power control setup we have on the SR2 VSR track. Phase 2 will be driver-selectable voltage levels for each lane, from 3v to ~28v, which will also be programmable from the track computer by the race director.
Two purposes for these features: one is so that we can test/practice different types of cars in the same practice/test session and not have to switch voltage levels; the second purpose is so the race director can reset each lane’s voltage to the proper levels prior to each race.
Don’t forget to register for Round 2 of the Formula “E” Series this coming Saturday, January 15, 2022!
Also, if you know somebody who you think would enjoy racing little cars with us, please invite them along. We always need new drivers to join the group and it’ll benefit all of us when we have a large enough “club” to always have more than enough racers to support our events.
Remember: SR3 is six-lanes! That means we’ll need at least eight (8) participants to have any hope of full utility of the track and enough turn marshals. Yea, we can run just four lanes, but that’s not cool!
Okay, shut up and drive!
With plenty of other tasks to do the rains have been keeping me indoors. When that happens, I usually play with slot car stuff or hack on computer stuff. This week has been all SR3 construction.
In the case of a convertible oval-to-road course track, you have to get the oval layout dialed first. Then you have a fixed starting point for the rest of the puzzle. I didn’t get the oval to align together perfectly but it was extremely close and I didn’t have time to start over and get it perfect. These shots show the track in various stages of placement completion and the complete placement of the entire course.
Just ordered a couple of these 2010 Dallara kits.
Race 1: Tyco-Jet IROC
This was our first-ever OS3 TFX “Builders” race, featuring some very cool T-Jet and Fray-style bodies and livery. We’ve raced the TFX plenty of times prior but only IROC sets. The G-Man (Greg Kondrek) even arrived on time and ready to start the 2022 season much stronger than he ended his 2021 season. Home Cook`n edged out Greg by just 10-seconds in total run-time break the tie.
Race 4: Jag Hobbies PR-5 “Indy/F1” (Feature Race)
Race 5: Jag Hobbies NC-2 “Lites” (15v)
Race 6: Viper-Jet Lexan (12.1v)