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The local Hobbytown has a track, but it's.. well.. not very well cared for and the designers built it to impress and not really race on IMHO. Seams between the inner and outer lanes abound and they're awful, and they're using RMS for a lap timer. (AKA the devil- and I'm pretty serious when I say that.) it's also covered with product and models a lot. Can't use it for any testing. I think they may have finally gotten a decent 3-prong set-up.

Also- The semi-local commercial track in the area has evidently wondered what we're doing. I've suggested we do something with IHSR but the issues are these- the fact they want us to pay to race when we can go to member's beautiful tracks for *free*, and the fact that 1/32 cars are't really made for King tracks, and we have good routed layouts, not badly maintained sport track like at the Hobbytown...

So-- if you're going to build a track--- make sure the seams are well maintained and you can easily get to any power drops and shorts. Make sure there aren't cracks between lanes 2 and 3 of you're going 4 lane. Those are killers for sectional track and why most of us have gotten rid of ours in this neck of the woods. Make sure you have a good power supply so that you can run with new people and the cars are tamer. Make sure you have a set-up where decent controllers can be used. Nothing can turn someone off having to use a bad controller on a car. May as well give them a dooorbell. It can be very frustrating as it is let alone with some of the cheapo set controllers.

Personally, the Artin track would be my choice. Cost-effective, the depth of slot (do not have to shave deeper guides from my observations unless super-deep, my NSR Moslers run fine using their brand of deep guide...), halfway decent grip, and not overcooked with the magnetic downforce, and not abrasive like NINCO where when you wreck a car, you scrape the daylights out of the sides and roof.

If you're going to host races... Well, not sure what you need to charge to break even. Your call. Hard to recoup cost of track time by charging. Friends have studied that and think it's near impossible. My suggestion for racing- SCX NASCARS if you're looking for people to learn and have fun tossing the cars around. I really liked racing one in serious competition at the SCX regional. And I'm *very* picky. My suggestion, keep them stock, set about a 275-300 gram total downforce rule (including the weight of the car itself I think...) with a magnet marshall so you can tune the magnets up and down (a great SCX feature IMHO), make sure you use a good reliable dead strip style lap timer and software. Prizes? Door prizes, yeah. SCX did a marvelous job with that at the NE regional. I haev to credit them and Dave K. to the max for that. As for racing for moolah and product, we avoid it in IHSR. I guess we're old school gentleman racers like from the 50's and mid-60's. Not saying we don't give half an inch when we race and we go at it very hard, but we do it for the sheer love of the competition, friendship, and challenge, not the prizes.

So. do it right, use good quality reliable peripherals, don't go halfway in that area, go Artin track with SCX NASCAR... you should end up with one heck of a fun race series at your store that all ages can enjoy. Make sure the Dads and Sons race. I think at Hobby Town, I find it odd a lot of Dads won't put a car on the track with their son. That's how I got to love this activity, doing it with Dad. Encourage both young and old to play together. To me that's also what makes this a blast, racing with all ages from 3 to 70+ It crosses boundaries.

Oh and finally, goodonya for taking a proactive solution and buying the store. A man's solution, one I deeply respect. Wish I was you. Doing that has to beat UPS. Just *has* to!!!

Bob