Hi All:
Given my tastes, past experiences with slots, etc, I have a come up with a "theory" that I hope will work for me. Perhaps some of you will see yourselves in this little mini-novel.
In the past, home racing "slot burnout" was achieved on my family and myself by repeatedly committing the following blunders:
1. I wanted to race too often. 
(Thus burning out the wife/daughter, who lived at home at the time.)
2. When we did plan a "Race Night", I would often build huge, sprawling, temporary sectional tracks with either Strombecker or (toward the last) Revell. Took WAAAAY too much time to set up. (I would literally use a two-wheeled dolly to cart the track boxes over to the exterior building for set up!) After all the work, the wife and daughter would be ready to quit racing long before I was. Bummer.
3. The sprawling tracks meant de-slotting was a ROYAL PAIN on account of having to walk so far around the tables to re-slot. More hassle for my racing partners. (And quickly aggrevating to me when I would de-slot, too.)
3. Short track ovals were a lot of fun, but given the "fastest lane" syndrome... too predictable.
The above and more made me ripe for the picking once computer auto sim racing began to sophistocate. Hello auto sim racing, goodbye slots.
Now, toward the end of my slot involvement, I learned that most of my enjoyment was found in "scratch-bashing" dirt cars and then racing with the girls on a simplistic 4 lane Revell oval w/aprons, which led to the above point #3. I also discovered I enjoyed assembling and detailing quickly-placeable/removable grandstands, spectators, and other stuff to enhance an oval setting. We ALL liked the way that we could place ourselves at each end of the short track oval, and thus re-slotting was much less hassle.
Okay, knowing the above, back to my "Theory": I am going to try doing a short track oval setting. Using Carrera D132 as my platform, I will get started racing and building cars as I can (once my set is received) using a temporary track as mood/time inclines.
Now, IF I can come up with dedicated space for a semi-permanent track, then I hope that I can accomplish the following:
* Using Carrera 2/30 curves, I'm hoping to fit a 1/4 mile flat oval facsimile onto an acceptably sized table. (4x8? May have to be 5x9? Input?) I intend to use outer aprons with some form of fencing. (Don't know if I'll go with Carrera's fencing at this point.)
* Given my model railroad history, I also intend to scenic it somewhat with some grandstands and such. I would like it to have a good short track "feel". In fact, I already have a name for it: Razorback Raceway. (The name is in homage to a demised 1/4 mile dirt track at which I watched a TON of racing back in '69-'72.)
* Since I'm going with digital, I will be able to use the "autonomous cars" feature and race by myself with other cars in action. Thus, it won't be as mandatory to involve someone else with my racing (i.e. my wife, or daughter and her feller).
* I also intend to stay with 2 lane. Seems to me that will emphasize digital's ability for close and bump-infested racing more so than a 4 lane digital, which is exactly what short track should be all about, right? Also, I hope digital will minimize the "fastest lane syndrome" by allowing one to also use the fastest lane to close the gap on the car ahead, and then figure out a way to pass if faster. Throw in some slower "autonomous" cars to act as lappers... and this ought to be fun!!
Like I said, this is all just "theory" for now. To start seeing if said theory will hold water, I will have to await the arrival of the D132 Nascar set, learn the ways of digital, and see how it pans out over the longer haul.
Now... why, oh WHY did I also have to sell off my "Goodies" and "Junk" boxes back when I liquidated some years ago????? I could get
started building cars TONIGHT if I still had those unbuilt static car kits and parts and... (sigh)... 
Andre Ming
Eastern Oklahoma
