Experience the fun and excitement of head to head downhill drag racing with RaceGrooves Dual Lane Race Track! You've grown up. Has your track? It's time for downhill racing to enter the 21st century!

Each piece of extruded track contains two lanes and is cut to six foot lengths. Connectors are used to connect the track lengthwise. Not only does our patented track connect lengthwise to make the track as long as you want, the sides of the track were designed to slot into each other. That means that you can expand the length of the track as well as expand the number of lanes. The track will be totally interconnected.

Quality Races! Every feature designed into Race Grooves track is to make the downhill racing experience more enjoyable. Higher sidewalls help keep the diecast in their own lane. Lanes are spaced evenly even when connected side by side to another section of track. There is also space inbetween lanes if you want to permanently screw down your track. Six foot sections for minimal connection points. Six foot sections are also easy to keep flat when you store, transport, and set up.

Please take a few minutes and read the rest of the page for more detail.

Click on any link to jump right to your selected subject or scroll down.
Or you can skip them by clicking this link.

Who is using Race Grooves track?
Is the track patented?
What are the specifications of the track?
How do the track sections connect with each other?
Do you have connectors that are compatible with Hot Wheels® brand track?
How long is each section of track?
Why isn't the track sold in continuous lengths?
Will continuous lengths ever be available?
How easily is the track shipped, transported and stored?
Can Race Grooves track be used outdoors?
How long does it take to set up?
What do I have to do to keep the lanes straight and parallel?
Track Accessories:
What accessories are available for the track?
Are the accessories compatable with Hot Wheels® products?
So it is OK to use Hot Wheels® brand track?
Are Hot Wheels® brand accessories compatable with Race Grooves Track?
Start Gates
Electronic Finish Line Timers
Track Spacers/Base Mounting Plates
Track Connectors (Joiners, Tongues)
How are the Start Gate and Electronic Finish Line connected to the track?

Who is using Race Grooves Track?
Besides us using our track for Birthday Parties, many diecast clubs and stores, churches, Boy Scouts, and even individuals and families are satisfied customers. Find out what other people are saying and see how customers are using Race Grooves dual lane track on the Testimonials page. You can also see different types of ramp structures that people have built for their track.

Is the track patented?
Race Grooves Dual Lane Track is awarded a patent! We are very pleased to be issued Patent # 6601774. You can read the details at this link or go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website search page at www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html and do a patent search for 6601774.

How long is each section of track?
Track sections are provided in 6' lengths. This greatly reduces the number of connection seams. A four lane, 24' long track would only be eight pieces of track with merely three seams. From time to time, you can find 21" pieces of track at major toy stores. If you wanted to make the same four lane, 24' long track, you would need 56 pieces of track. That's 14 pieces of track per lane. Making a 24' downhill race with store bought track results in 13 connection seams per lane compared to only 3 with Race Grooves Dual Lane Track. Not only would it take a considerable amount of time to set up the track, all of those seams would result in less than ideal racing conditions. How smooth do you want your races and how much time do you want to take setting it up and taking it down?

6' lengths go from end to end as shown on this standard folding table.

Why isn't the track sold in continuous lengths?
At this time, Race Grooves track systems are only available in 6' sections. That is because we wanted to provide the best experience possible. If the track were to be made in continuous lengths, let's say 50', it would have to be rolled up to be stored. When they are unrolled, the track tends to have a twist, it doesn't want to lay flat, and it wants to curl back up. Another reason is that rolling up plastic track may cause cracks, bends and waves in the sidewalls of the track. That would create imperfections in the track which would lead to poor racing conditions. Manufacturing six foot lengths provides track that is easy to handle, easy to store, and less likely to be damaged.

Will Race Grooves ever provide continuous length track?
We did make 25' long pieces for the Mythbusters show but it is not available for sale.

How easy is the track shipped, transported and stored?
Shipping, transportation and storage is not difficult. We ship everything by USPS Priority Mail. Keeping the product laid flat will provide the best downhill racing experience possible. They also fit easily in most vehicles allowing the track to be taken to parks, parties, and outdoor events.

Can Race Grooves track be used outdoors?
Race Grooves track is extruded out of low density poly ethylene. Similar material to track that you can find at mass market toy stores. We do make our track just a tad more firm but it is still susceptible to warping if left in direct sunlight or during hot weather. The edges may curl up, especially near the ends of the track. We set up outdoors all of the time but we usually set up a few canopies or set up under a patio roof.

How long does it take to set up?
With our Dual Lane track, we can set up a 4-lane, 24' track in about fifteen minutes (not counting canopies for sun protection). Our simple setup is as follows: open a 4' ladder, prop up a 1" x 12" x 8' pine board for the ramp, set out 5' platform sections for the straightaway (to help minimize the amount of debris that wind blows onto the track), attach the start gate (the bolt will also hold the ramp on the ladder since most ladders have a recessed oval on top and the bolt will go through your ramp and sit in the recession), hook up the tracks, slide on an Electronic Finish Line, and set down the catch box. You can see an example of a simple setup on the Testimonials page.

What do I have to do to keep the lanes straight and parallel?
If you have used typical 21" pieces of track or rolls of track, you already know that the lanes tend to move and not stay parallel to each other. Race Grooves track systems interlock so lanes are always parallel!

If you want to use your own single lane track, we do have a product that will help you keep your lanes evenly spaced. We use these spacers to attach our track to our start gates so that we don't have to cut holes in the track. More information is will be added to the connector page as soon as possible.

Track Accessories:
What accessories are available for the track?
We have several accessories including Start Gates, Electronic Finish Lines, Spacers/Base Mounting Tracks, and Connectors. We have plans for even more accessories. We are having lots of fun with our track and we will be around for years to come.

Are the accessories compatable with Hot Wheels® products?
Most Hot Wheels® track can be used on our Start Gates and Electronic Finish Lines. Because of production variances, there may be different tolerances but we have not found any problems. We have found some Hot Wheels® track to have rather square connector slots under the track. That track may be a bit loose on our accessories but can still be used. You can see examples on the connector page.

So it is OK to use Hot Wheels® brand track?
Yes, it is OK if you are going to be having fun around the house. If you happen to have a roll of track, you'll be fine. But if you are going piece together 21" sections of track and expect competitive and clean races, you may be disappointed. You are going to have track that was manufactured at different times. Some pieces will have wider lanes so the cars will nick the next piece of track if it is more narrow. Some pieces will be thinner so if the next piece is thicker, there will be a bump.

Are Hot Wheels® brand accessories compatable with Race Grooves Track?
We all have Hot Wheels® brand jumps, curves, table clamps, etc. The connector system on Hot Wheels® Brand accessories are just a smidgen bigger than our connector system. If you want to use those accessories, you can sand down the edges of the connector so that they are not so tight when you slot them into the track. If you don't, Race Grooves track may bow because of the tension caused by a very tight connection.

Start Gates:
Our start gates are made out of red oak, 1/4" plexi, and durable hardware. They are built to last for many years. They are shipped fully assembled and come with a bolt and a wingnut for attachment to your ramp/incline. The track is attached to the start gate by utilizing our Base Mounting Plate/Spacer. You won't have to cut any of your track for the start gate!

Electronic Finish Line Timers:
For Hot Wheels and Race Grooves compatable Electronic Finish Lines, please contact NewDirections.WS.
Electronic Finish Line Timers (EFL) are the best way to determine race results. It only takes a few races to realize how close some races can be. Having an electronic finish line timer takes the human element out of determining the winner. It is independent and it can't be swayed by public opinion! If you are going to be using your track in an outdoor environment, make sure that you get an EFL with OUTDOOR sensors. This way the sun's rays won't interfere with the juding of the race. You should not use the track in direct sunlight but even if you are in the shade, the sun's rays will confuse the sensors. The EFL works by having a sensor above and below each lane. A hole will need to be cut so that the sensors have a line-of-sight with each other. When the signal is interrupted by a passing car, the EFL can determine the winner.

Track Spacers/Base Mounting Plates
We created this product so that we can slide the track onto our accessories. It is used in our start gates so that we don't have to cut a hole in the track to hold it in place. We used to cut a hole in the track and slide a bolt through to keep the track in place. You can see our old method on this webpage. While it did the job, it meant that the pieces of track that had the holes for the start gate would always be at the start gate. They couldn't be rotated into different places in the layout. However, the pieces of track that are at the finish line will need holes for the sensors. If you'd like, we can provide 12" pieces of track with pre-cut holes for $10 each. This way you won't ever have to cut any openings in your long pieces of track.

Track Connectors (Joiners, Tongues)
Each piece of Dual Lane Track comes with two connectors (second generation). The connectors are used to provide a smooth transition from one piece of track to the next one. They are not used to hold the track together. Our first generation connectors were tight and they caused the track to bow because of the tension. For pieces of track that are on your ramp, you will need to use connectors plus scotch tape underneath the track so that the track doesn't slide apart. We do sell the first generation connectors because they are compatable with Hot Wheels® brand track.

How are the Start Gate and Electronic Finish Line connected to the track?
You can see how they are utilized at this link - webpage. The images where there is a hole cut in the track is our old method. We now use the black spacer/base mount so that the track is slid right into place.

Is Race Grooves track intended for diecast clubs only?
Absolutely not! While most clubs surely enjoy the benefits of Race Grooves track because of its quick set up and superior racing qualities, the product is modular to accommodate everybody's needs. With as few as three pieces of track, a family can have fun 18' foot long, dual lane races in the house or outdoors. Add a few more pieces and you could have either a 36' long, dual lane track or an 18' foot long track with four lanes. Race Grooves track is modular to accommodate everybody's needs. And with the track being easy to set up, it won't seem like such a hassle for Dad (grin).

First product test:
Check out the products first test and debut at the Hot Wheels® Newsletter Nationals Collector's Convention on this page.

Product Debut:
Take a look at our flyer from the Nationals Convention in Reston, Virginia - download
It is a file that can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have that program, it's free here.