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Build Your Own Derby Track
Building your own Hot Wheels derby track is probably easier than you think. A few pieces of wood and simple hardware from your local home store are all you need. In just a weekend you can have your own derby track that can race up to 15-feet or more!
The guide here is for a simple two-lane derby track only. The track itself has been designed for convenient storage and setup. This is not a permanent track and uses "official" Hot Wheels race track. This guide does not include directions for building a start or finish gate. Those are separate projects that we will touch on but not outline specifically.
Parts
- (4) 6' x 5 1/2" x 1" wood planks
- (3) 3" door hinges
- (1) 6' x 4" x 3/4" wood planks
- Various wood screws
- (3) 3' x 3/4" x 3/4" wood edging (optional)
- (1) 3' x 1/4" wood dowel (optional)
Basically
Basically, you're connecting the planks together with door hinges so the track can fold up like an accordian. This keeps the track easy to store and also makes it flexible if you want to make the track longer or adjust the drop angle.
Building
First, take one of the 6' x 5 1/2 planks and cut it to be 4' long, leaving 2' left over. The 4' board will be the "leg" of your track that creates the drop hill. We've found 4' to be a good length, however if you want a steeeper drop you can try longer meeasurements.
Next, lay out your planks end to end, leaving about an inch of space between each one with the 4' board at one end.
Next, lay a hinge across each gap making sure the holes in the hinge have plenty of room on the plank itself. If you screw the hole too close to the end of the board it will split.
MAKE SURE you alternate sides when applying the hinges. In order for the whole track to fold up you have to screw the hinges on opposite sides, alterenating boards.
While the boards are still flat, take the 2' left over piece you cut in the first step and nail it across the bottom of the 4' leg board. Make sure the edges are flush. This cross board adds stability to the back leg when it's standing up. Without it the hill will wobble and fall over. (See the cross piece in the middle photo)
After you screw the planks together you're pretty much done building your fold-away derby track. You can now sand down your track edges and give it a coat of paint if you want. From this point on we're just going to add things that will help stabalize the track and make for more consistent racing conditions.
Of course, you also need some track! We've spotted official Hot Wheels track at Walmart and Toys R Us. However, the track is not listed or sold on-line, they seem to be in-store only. We've found a combination of the Walmart track (more flexible) and the TRU track (tougher) to be ideal. A 5' pack of track at Walmart cost $2.50, and a 1' 1/2 straight away piece at TRU was $0.89 - both well worth it if you get them. Just buy a bunch when you can, you never know when you'll need more track! And you can also typically find track for sale on eBay, but try to find lots that have the same type of track in a lot. Mixing track types can lead to unreliable track conditions.
Optional Additions
Track Walls and Barriers
One addition we recommend for the base track are track walls. These are 3/4" x 3/4" square wood pieces that we place along the end of the base board and in the middle, keeping the lanes separated about from each other. But if you're looking for side-by-side racing, then you can just lay your track and start racing!
Since the track needs to fold up, we've made track walls that are removable. Cut the 3' piece of wood into about eight, 2" lengths.
We then use a spacing template to drill two 1/4" holes into the 2" length, but don't drill too close to the edge or the wood will split. Drill down about 1/4" - 1/2" or so, but try not to drill all the way through.
Next take the 1/4" dowel and cut off 1/2" lengths. Then take each 1/4" rod and hammer it into each wall length - wooden pegs! You may want to put a few drops of wood glue into the holes to help the pegs stay.
Now take your base board and use the same template you used to drill holes in each wall. But instead of using the 1/4" bit, use a 5/16" bit so you drill just a slighty bigger hole. This will tight enough to keep the walls in place but loose enough to take them out when you need to pack it up.
You'll want to put walls at the edge of the board and in the middle. The edge is easy, but you'll have to lay your track lanes down and measure where you want the middle wall barrier.
The number of track walls you need is up to you and depends on how your track sits (and behaves) when it's laid out. If your track stays put and maintains lane distance, then you may not need any. We've found the outer edge walls more important than the inner walls.
Tunnels/Overpass
Another option you can easily make that can not only look good but offer a method to help keep track in line, is with a cardboard overpass. All you need is some cardboard, like a cereal box, and a hobby knife.
Just use the box's existing folds and then measure the height, width, and track spacing. Cut it out and then set it up. It's really easy, really cheap, and can add a little environment to your track. Paint it, add stickers...whatever you like!
Start and Finish Lines
The start and finish gates for your track are entirely separate projects that can go many different ways.
Our current start gate is manual and built from a single 2" wide board and a piece of Plexiglass. See the photos below for more details, but essentially we used a cabinet magnet to keep the plexiglass locked in while cars are loaded. Then we just flip up the glass and the cars drop. The gate is kept in place using the same wooden peg method described for track walls.
Currently, our track's finish gate comes from the Hot Wheels V-Drop playset. It is entirely mechanical, raising a flag to denote the winning lane. However, there are a few electronic finish gates out there that have lights and other fancy things. If you're searching, look for "pinewood derby finish line".
Have Fun Racing
You're now ready to start racing! Your derby track should be stable, about 15' long and be easily folded up when you're done. You can even travel with it (birthday parties!). Next you just have to find (or create) the best racecar possible!
Learn how to customize your Hot Wheels
More Track!
If you want to see more race track ideas, photos, and video, stop by the Redline Racinng Community. Join and share your own Hot Wheels tracks, cars, and creations.