Using Your Surroundings

 I have, what I would call, a pretty sweet table to build slot car tracks on. I made it myself, it came out great, and it really makes a difference when you race on it compared to the floor. I love it, and would do it all over again if I could. 

I'm going to miss having all this room.

But I'm lucky. I have a place to build a table. Or should I say had? Life changes, people change, things change, and change has to happen. I'll soon be moving out of this house with the sweet table, and I'm bummed about it. Sure, the attic has it's ups and downs: occasional wasps, bees, cold, heat, etc. But it's got my table in it. 

Well, that's changing. I'll be back in a small apartment soon, similar to the one where I got my start. And I'll be on the rug again soon. But this time I will be coming with loads of track and cars. Almost more than I need. 

If you're reading this, you're probably thinking I'm going to try to make this huge bummer seem like it's not so bad, and that's what I'm going to do. 

We all gotta start somewhere. Pictured is the box kit, painted, with the original Carrera cars, the R18 and the Safety car. Also pictured is furniture moved out of the way.

One thing I learned about having a table is that it gives you a lot of pressure to do something about it. Whether it's building an awesome track, trying out new things, or just racing all the time, there's a certain bit of pressure when you're staring at a monolith. I feel compelled sometimes to drive a car around, even if it's only for a few laps, then I won't pick it up for a couple of days. 

You have the space, you've built the table, now get to it.

When I was on the floor, time and space were both limited. I had to tear down the living room, clear the space, build and run the track, break that all down, clean up and reset everything before the wife came home. Well, I'll be living alone, so I'll have time and space. I plan on still doing things on the floor, no table. But I'm also thinking about what I'm going to do when I get down there. I did a lot of racing when I had not much to work with, but now that I have enough track to almost run the entire apartment, things should get interesting. 

Over times additions were made. Notably here some straights and some 1/30 curves. Also got my first batch of Slot.it cars.

It's likely most of the tracks will have a small footprint, but more overpasses and stuff. Hard to say at this point. I may be totally content to just make very basic tracks to do car tests and races with. Either way I'm going to be going back to that Saturday Morning thinking when I race. I'm referring to my childhood and how I only could race on weekends, usually early Saturday morning. So the sessions were bigger and more intense. I also know a couple of guys who would probably have fun racing while we're grilling, so I might be taking the track other places as well. 

So what's my point? My point is, if you look down in your living room and see some space, get your kit out and set it up. Make a day of it. Just do it. Sure, I always wanted a table, and I always will, but slot cars are fun, dammit. Even if you're on the floor. Just make the best of your surroundings.

I'm proud to be retaking my RugRacer status.