http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/Misc/SectionalBTadapters.jpg

Needless to say the next image will be more interesting :)

So there you have it...

http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/frank/sounds/alive.wav

:)

what?

:)

???

Is this the much-heralded Granite Archer System finally awakening?

maybe.

I have got shot down before for lauding that, so I am now more cagey, but if there is a next picture I think it will look a bit more exciting that this first one :)

C'mon 'toya, it's the perfect Frankentrack moment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmVhyHBRAM

Did you say GAR, or was it GARR?

The latter sounds like much more fun.

It's a USA joke. LOL

Ah c'mon Linus...er .... I mean Dean, just because some people have worn out a Max Trac or two while you've been waiting in the punkin' patch for the "GAR...ate pumpkin" is no reason to get cagey on us now.

We can appreciate loyalty no matter how mis-guided it may be. Just dont expect us instant gratification types to wait patiently with you when we can run right out and buy a similar product right off the rack.

I admire your tenacity....understand it....well.... not so much.

Everything improtant in life is clearly explained in "Peanuts" (Charlie Brown)

is it a bridge?

Ummm, on a lighter note...

GARR is American for "used to be one mega hot babe," as in the blonde in the clip shown above ... from one of the classic movie comedies of all time ... Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks ... for sure one of the top 10 (maybe top 5) quotable comedy "sound bite" movies of all time, with Monty Python's Holy Grail being #1 ... and Blazing Saddles not too far behind ... maybe tied with Rocky Horror ... but anyway ...

see the Frankentrack picture ... first time shown, think "It's Alive," think GAR, kinda like GARR, as in Teri, did I mention she used to be so hot?, and suddenly, the twisted brain with which I'm burdened (or blessed?) connects all the dots ... all the pieces fall into place, inspired by Deane's post.

There you have it.

wait patiently with you when we can run right out and buy a similar product right off the rack.


I always knew I was not going to be able to afford to convert in one go, way too expensive when talking about temporary room fillers. Hence 'waiting', as this product provides adapters, which none of the others will (and I have asked).

Ummm, on a lighter note...

GARR is American for "used to be one mega hot babe," as in the blonde in the clip shown above ... from one of the classic movie comedies of all time ... Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks ... for sure one of the top 10 (maybe top 5) quotable comedy "sound bite" movies of all time, with Monty Python's Holy Grail being #1 ... and Blazing Saddles not too far behind ... maybe tied with Rocky Horror ... but anyway ...

see the Frankentrack picture ... first time shown, think "It's Alive," think GAR, kinda like GARR, as in Teri, did I mention she used to be so hot?, and suddenly, the twisted brain with which I'm burdened (or blessed?) connects all the dots ... all the pieces fall into place, inspired by Deane's post.

There you have it.

Life of Brian at #2 I take it?

''I'm brian and so is my wife''

''All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?''

''She did! She did! He! He did! He!''

''I've had enough of this wowdy webel sniggewing behaviour. Silence! Call yourselves Pwaetowian guards? You're not - Seize him! Seize him! Blow your noses and seize him!''

And about 200 others :)

Oh yeah, Life of Brian is way, way up on the list too. "I can see my house from up here!" Then there's "The Meaning of Life." The Brit's have such an impeccably twisted sense of humor, which is one of the reasons why I like them so much. As to the Tomy/GAR transition piece: "Mind the Gap" and all should be well.

If you like the British SOH, you might like Scot comedy (if you can understand it).

Our top comic at that moment is this guy. (http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&q=frankie%20boyle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#)

Is that all the track you would have saved by switching to Tyco? nd

?????

''All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?''



LMAO!

I'd forgotten this classic quote.

If you remember it builds up to that quote too, somebody diluting the point being made more and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7HmhrgTuQ

Not many films make me cry with laughter, but there is one right there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7X2_V60YK8

To get back on topic, yes the wait has been long, but hopefully worth it.

Sectional pieces to routed quality is yummy enough but the ability to hook into our existing tracks and convert gradually sealed the deal, meant I had to patient where others did not need to be (a typical track on a few tables that does not get altered being their thing) or did not want to be.

If Bill Hall wants to compare apples and oranges, that is his right. If he could pursuade one of the other sectional track guys to sell adapters, that would be cool. Maxtrax (sp?) showed a bit of interest, but did not pursue the idea as far as I know....

If you like the British SOH


One of my favorite show is "Bottom" ! if you don't know that, it's just incredibly stupid, evil and fun :thumbsup:

Faulty Towers still rules.

So can I buy GAR track today? I'm not interested in melding it with plastic, but I am in the market for a new track and want to weigh all my options. Rail characteristics are very important to me, as are lane spacing, and smoothness. C'mon, please spill the beans for your HT buds!

So can I buy GAR track today?

Basically, no.

AFXToo,
Check out TKO tracks very, very, nice. If I didn't have my 2nd Maxx, I would have bought his.

Sorry,

try www.cnccustomcutting.com .

That is one the companies I asked (about doing adapters to Tomy) without reply.

If the track is not going to adapt to other makes, nor be altered in terms of layout, surely a Bowman fully routed is the best option?

I don't see how Bill is comparing apples to oranges..... at this point it's more like comparing apples to vapor. I remember this going around a couple of years ago and thinking how cool it would be. Seeing the pictures and all that then, and then trying to do it now, really isn't cutting it this time.

Given what happened the last time around, why doesn't it make sense to just actually wait until the product is ready to be released? Surely everyone remembers the joke this became after the first go around.

Looking at the picture, it looks like the lanes on the new track aren't even parallel, what is the reasoning for that?

Don't get me wrong.... If this actually comes out some day I would consider looking at it as well, but come on Deane, don't throw this one pic out there and expect people not to remember how it turned out last time.

I just want to race, man.

I don't see how Bill is comparing apples to oranges..... at this point it's more like comparing apples to vapor. I remember this going around a couple of years ago and thinking how cool it would be. Seeing the pictures and all that then, and then trying to do it now, really isn't cutting it this time.

Given what happened the last time around, why doesn't it make sense to just actually wait until the product is ready to be released? Surely everyone remembers the joke this became after the first go around.

Looking at the picture, it looks like the lanes on the new track aren't even parallel, what is the reasoning for that?

Don't get me wrong.... If this actually comes out some day I would consider looking at it as well, but come on Deane, don't throw this one pic out there and expect people not to remember how it turned out last time.

I am not doing any of the stuff that you mention. Somebody sent me a picture that shows Tomy track adapted to some other track system (and the angled lines are pretty easy to work out), and I posted it here.

When there are more pictures I will post those too, and you guys can infer and suppose etc all you like.

I am not doing any of the stuff that you mention. Somebody sent me a picture that shows Tomy track adapted to some other track system (and the angled lines are pretty easy to work out), and I posted it here.

When there are more pictures I will post those too, and you guys can infer and suppose etc all you like.

You aren't doing any of the stuff I mentioned?

So.... you didn't just post pictures at the beginning of this post? Pictures weren't posted a long while back about the system and they never came to fruition?

Right now, I am inferring that you did post these, and I suppose that will have to do.

I'd love it if your friend would post these instead of you and give us some actual meaningful numbers and dates as opposed to what happened the last go around.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/popcorn.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

If there were meaningful dates and numbers, I would post them. What I have is a picture, so I posted that.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/popcorn.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

Somebody is a bit too easily entertained :)

Somebody is a bit too easily entertained :)

Hey, ya'll were the only show on this afternoon!:)

Naw... no fruit comparisons... other than the great pumpkin analogy.

Quite honestly I'm still waiting on the great pumpkin myself and of course the backlog of toys owed to me for believing.

There might be a Plum Crazy Charger or an Orange Mako for me yet!

Just how well would those sell? I bet they're reasonably cheap and in big supply.

I can't imagine anyone wanting a routed track to connect to sectional plastic track.

I have never enjoyed racing on any track that incorporated adapters.
I know something for everyone.
Yeah, I know.

Tjettom Baker

[QUOTE=Montoya1;2915626]That is one the companies I asked (about doing adapters to Tomy) without reply.

Why would Todd (TKO Tracks) make adapters at all? He builds complete CNC routed tracks of his own and not sectionals. I'm almost sure he has plenty business building his tracks without having to try hooking Tomy track onto his track.

TJT

Fair enough, in which case an example of comparing apples and oranges.

I can't imagine anyone wanting a routed track to connect to sectional plastic track.

Tjettom Baker

Then you can't imagine the kinds of tracks we run here. Hopefully we will one day have enough sectional BT to throw the toy stuff away, but for now the adapters mean we can get started.

I don't normally trust adapters either, but these would be BT adapters. The ones on our large routed curve work a charm.

Even if you only have a typical small 'basement' track, Sestional BT would give you the higher quality but enable you to change the configuration when you wished. For those not looking for that the answer is simples, buy a fully routed BradTrack.

What are you speaking about, in this topic ? a new brand of high end sectionnal track, like Maxtrax ?

I could imagine a routed track with sectional add ons. I think it's a great idea. You can have the base track routed with all the electronics, and add on all kind of course changes. The thing from that keeps me from a routed terach, other than lack of space, is the lack of opportunity to make changes in the layout. I get bored silly running the same layout over and over again.

That is the end game for us, to be using big sections of routed track each time, such as the curve we have already purchased, attached to areas of track than can be reconfigured. The AFX track will also be used in the same way in the interim.

As far as I know only Brad allows people to do that.

As I said in the OP the next picture would be more interesting!

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/Misc/SectionalBTCurve.jpg

Also:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/Misc/sectionalBTcurvewithadapter.jpg

ready to be plugged into a Tomy Layout.

Given that Deane and his mates gather in a very large space and set up extremely large temporary tracks, I can see his desire for GAR to come to fruition. If memory serves, they set up layouts of several hunderd feet on a number of tables. I should imagine they are based on real circuits. So, the ablity to slowly convert from sectional to GAR as budget allowed would be a primary concern. As I recall, the HO 24 Hours of Le Mans track was replaced by routed sections over a period of a couple years.

I am not aware of anyone in the USA that puts up large temporay layouts. Look at the FRAY. They have a number of big tables for their unique 6 lane circuits. These thrack is permanently mounted to these tables. Regional and National events are run on permanent layouts as well. So, we really don't have the same requirement for a system like GAR that Montoya does.

We will be skeptical to the extreme of GAR considering the misfires this system has gone through to date. Pictures are shown. Web sites go up and down. There has been more drama than a whole season of any two soap operas. Since I don't truely need the system, I am really put off by the long gestation period.

I hope it finally comes out and that it is the answer to your somewhat unique requirements, Deane.

BTW, the UK produces some great Sci-Fi shows as well as the previously noted comedy. I really enjoy Torchwood and hope they come back for season 4.

torchwood is cool, BUT Drwho is GREAT ^^

to go on topic, the UK machine routed "pro" track should be interesting for us european people, because systems like maxtrax or wizzard are expensive on the shipping side.

But we have to wait for a complete range of GAR tracks, and price list, to see if the UK creation is a good alternative for european competition h0 tracks.

for now, the only budget realistic way to build such a track here in France and europe, is to route the track ourselves.

I am not aware of anyone in the USA that puts up large temporay layouts. Look at the FRAY. They have a number of big tables for their unique 6 lane circuits. These thrack is permanently mounted to these tables. Regional and National events are run on permanent layouts as well. So, we really don't have the same requirement for a system like GAR that Montoya does.

Just because that is how it is, does not mean that is how it has to be.

Just because that is how it is, does not mean that is how it has to be.

You have a good point, Deane. Clubs could start setting up large temporary circuits in public venues on our side of the pond. Actually, I recall seeing a video of a club in Canada that did set up and race in public to promote the hobby. However, the availability of permanent tracks in hobby shops, basements, garages, and dedicated rooms of homes make racing on said tracks most convenient. The owners of these tracks have invested a tidy sum in each one as well.

This is not to say that clubs or indivduals here never set up in public places. A number of shops and clubs have mobile permanent tracks that they take to fairs, malls, cars shows etc. Some of these are even mounted on trailers. Thus, the set up time is minimal and the track can be raced on straight away.

I am intrigued by your clubs "monster" tracks. I'm sure they are both fun and challenging to race on. As you say, it could be done here. Necessity is the mother of invention; IMHO, we lack that necessity here.

Please post some pictures of one of you recent gatherings. :)

Russ the Hutt

I broadly agree about the mother of invention point you make. I have always felt that the US Nats tracks should be something different, something to blow people's minds, rather than more of the same, but I accept that those that race on them seem happy to maintain the status quo.

We have cut back on the monster tracks, using smaller rooms that put us on proper financial footing (ie - not myself and the other hosts paying from our own funds) and finance improvements.

Here are some recent examples:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/EAHORC%20Jan%202009/DHORCJanuary200916.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/AFX%206%20hour%202009/2009AFX6hourbyAndy5.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj136/EAHORC/EAHORC%20June%202009%20LHORC/EdmontonJune20092.jpg

Thanks for posting the pictures, Deane. The one in the center certainly provides food for thought. That could be a way to get HO racing at a 1/32 or 1/24 shop on occasion without the shop having to invest money and space in a permanent HO track.

The bottom left most curve in the third phot looks like a custom section. Who fabricated that section for you?