Laser Level for Track Alignment

Mojo Racing

0
Pro Racer
Nov 17, 2014
981
536
93
10
Uniontown, OH
Hey guys,

What kind of laser do you use when you align your tracks?

Mine was bumped the other day, and while I wanted to throttle the guy, I kept my cool and decided I need a laser level. LOL
 
Mojo Racing said:
Hey guys,

What kind of laser do you use when you align your tracks?

Mine was bumped the other day, and while I wanted to throttle the guy, I kept my cool and decided I need a laser level. LOL

Now I think I understand your avatar
 
I bought a laser level for installing cabinets. I saw this one about 2 months after I bought mine and wished I would have tried it. I recommended it to a bud and he loves it! It works good and you won't be beating it up so i think it's a good deal. I use one just like it but 3 times the cost.

http://www.harborfreight.com/self-leveling-laser-level-kit-69243.html
 
BlewBYu said:
Mojo Racing said:
Hey guys,

What kind of laser do you use when you align your tracks?

Mine was bumped the other day, and while I wanted to throttle the guy, I kept my cool and decided I need a laser level. LOL

Now I think I understand your avatar

LOL... as cool as I was about it on the outside, the avatar should be blue and icy...

When in reality, I was more like --->
angry


He was freaking out all on his own, I didn't even have to react...
 
bracketracer said:
I bought a cross line laser but I really only use the plumb setting for the track. I have found, however, that it's a darn handy thing to have and I've used it for all sorts of jobs around the house and at work. I bought a reconditioned one from Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/CST-Berger-Reconditioned-Cross-Line-Laser-Level-58-ILM-XT-RT/203429307

It came in a nice hardshell case with a small combo tripod/mount and a strong magnet.

I was looking at something similar to that BR. The one I saw was the Bosch. I like it because it self levels and has the cross laser.

I want to set it on a jig or something that has a line at one end and I can set this at the top... moving sections as I need to, to make it straight all the way down the line.
 
Apparently my team is slouching. We have a Freedom and it goes together the same way every time. We run on the floor so there aren't leveling issues. I guess I need to build a platform for it so I have to do all of that extra work to get ready. Maybe I should start setting it up on tables? /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

Someone want to tell me why the Best became "the track?" I don't have enough room to store one and the one's I've helped people set up are a pain, the factory start gate is a nightmare. Not saying the Freedom is perfect, I've made some mods to it but it stores in a 14" x 8ft area and works well. Is it because it's more fun to have a steep vertical drop and coast across the floor for a longer distance? Dunno, Just asking.
 
xjarcher said:
Apparently my team is slouching. We have a Freedom and it goes together the same way every time. We run on the floor so there aren't leveling issues. I guess I need to build a platform for it so I have to do all of that extra work to get ready. Maybe I should start setting it up on tables? /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

Someone want to tell me why the Best became "the track?" I don't have enough room to store one and the one's I've helped people set up are a pain, the factory start gate is a nightmare. Not saying the Freedom is perfect, I've made some mods to it but it stores in a 14" x 8ft area and works well. Is it because it's more fun to have a steep vertical drop and coast across the floor for a longer distance? Dunno, Just asking.

I actually quite like the Microwizard/Freedom track, with its wider curve, as opposed to tight transition.

I suspect that Best Track has just become league standard over the years, and thus is the preferred track, since it gives racers a somewhat consistent idea of how their car will perform at a race in a different venue.

Running on the floor is fine, if you're not concerned about repeatability across races. If you were, then you'd need some kind of levelling system to make sure that the cars always ran the track at the same angles.
 
I have both tracks. They both have their pros and cons. And, yes, I built a platform to raise my Freedom track!
blah

I replaced the starting gates on both tracks. The stock gates suck on both the Freedom and Best Track.

I still use the laser to confirm both tracks are set straight. My Freedom track is anodized, so it is very easy on wheels. I use it for all car set up and testing. Then move to the best track to confirm the car does not wiggle.

I don't know of any leagues that use the Freedom track and only a few packs. I bought my Freedom before I got in to league racing. The curve between the two tracks is very different. The Best Track will require more steer and a better tuned car.
 
HurriCrane Racing said:
I have both tracks. They both have their pros and cons. And, yes, I built a platform to raise my Freedom track!
blah

I replaced the starting gates on both tracks. The stock gates suck on both the Freedom and Best Track.

I still use the laser to confirm both tracks are set straight. My Freedom track is anodized, so it is very easy on wheels. I use it for all car set up and testing. Then move to the best track to confirm the car does not wiggle.

I don't know of any leagues that use the Freedom track and only a few packs. I bought my Freedom before I got in to league racing. The curve between the two tracks is very different. The Best Track will require more steer and a better tuned car.

I am in the same situation at my place. I have a MicroWizard track that is anodized. I bought it because it is a track that was used in my area before I got into league.

The bend in the track is different, but it is a good setup track like you mentioned. I don't have room anymore, though, so I am actually thinking of selling it (If anyone is interested, let me know).
 
HurriCane, let's see said platform. Once set up I have checked it for side to side level but since it is on a stage that was built to be level in all dimensions I haven't done level from end of curve to finish. If I were to build a platform I could see the need. However the organizations that I run races for are nowhere near league level. We are only 32' long as well so there's much less "flat land" to ensure that it is level to the .001 that league requires.
 
I wouldn't stress over levelling as long as:

1) All racers race the same amount of times on each track.

and

2) It isn't a big deal whether or not the track runs faster or slower one day or another.