Joe's Track

**Slapshot** · 03-03-2008, 12:23 AM

Try your handy home improvement store. In the paint section there is a two part latex epoxy garage floor cement paint that works great. You want to follow the instructions and they recommend methods of prior cleaning and the products. Rolls on with large roller on a stick (don't paint your self into a corner). Usually two coats or maybe one depending on the traffic. Let dry a day or two about $40.00 to 50.00 plus roller or in that range. Many colors to choose from.

Raymond

**oldweirdherald** · 03-03-2008, 02:22 AM

I like the idea of the logos around the sides of the track walls - a great way to remember and acknowledge the generosity and help of those who have contributed to this project.

The garage floor paint Slapshot recommended should be perfect for this application.

Go to your local Lowe's or Home Depot and talk to the manager. Tell them the story of Joe's Track, and ask if they would like to have their logo on the side wall along side the other sponsors, in exchange for the floor paint. I'm sure this track will at least get local news media attention (I'm working on a media info pkg). I have a feeling the local manager would be proud to be involved as well. For the small amount needed, he shouldn't need corporate approval.

Gary - how many lanes is the track going to be?

Also - I remember someone posting about a rotating switch that was wired for wheelchair access controller station at a track somewhere. This would be perfect, if not too much trouble to wire. Is this something you have considered? Otherwise, the long controller cord and having to unhook and hook up for lane changes can be a real hassle, rather then Joe's pit crew simply rotating the dial to the next lane.

Keep the pics coming - I still get all choked up with every step of progress I read about or see posted...
I can't begin to tell how proud I am to be a part of a project like this.

PK

**GaryG** · 03-03-2008, 06:54 AM

Vic,
Home Depot has a basement floor 2 part epoxy and a 2 part garage floor
epoxy. The garage floor version is much better, buty more expensive. Be
sure to give it plenty of cure time before I putting anything on it. But my
favorite paint is Sherman Williams Tile Clad 2 part oil based epoxy. And
on a per gallon basis it is less expensive.

Paul,
Joe's track has 4 lanes. I had not thought about a wheelchair drivers station.
I was going to have the driver's panel around the lead-on that's high enough
to have the wheelchair arms go under the panel.

**oldweirdherald** · 03-03-2008, 01:36 PM

I think it was Phil (?) that posted about the track with the rotary switch for the wheelchair driver's station... I'll have to look through all the posts later.

It would require an extra set of wires from each lane control panel, and hooked into the 4 position rotary switch - but it would save having somebody having to squeeze between the other drivers to unhook and hook up alligator clips for Joe every time he changes lanes. Since Joe will be the primary user of the track, and will be racing on all 4 lanes, it would be well worth the extra wiring in the long run.

I believe whoever posted about it said they could provide a wiring diagram.

**Phil I.** · 03-03-2008, 03:01 PM

Paul it was not me that came up with that idea but it is a good one!

Gary G. Sit in a regular chair and measure how hi your eyes are off the ground and then think as to how close they might be to the track surface. My eyes are 46 inches of the ground. The same as a 7-9 year old. Think how hard a time they have learning how the car reacts cause they are so close to track level. Especialy the further away the angle gets so much less. I have a hell of a time with the KING's that are swoopy. when I am all ther way down at the end of the panel, black lane, I have a hard time seeing the 90 and the doughnut. When I am up where red hooks up, I am driving the 1st turn off the bank blind. I remember a kid who had a milk crate he hauled from station to station till he got tall enough to really see.......Then he out did MOST of us....little..(excuse me) 6 FT tall...

..fart............driver panel hight..Might put him too close to the track, not track level, and turning his head might be a problem..dont know..Joe what about it?

TRIED TALKING HIM OUT AF A FOOT OR SO....

...
PHIL I.

**GaryG** · 03-03-2008, 07:19 PM

Vic already told me that Joe's eyes are 48" from the floor when
he's in his wheelchair. I have been sitting in a chair with my eyes at that height and from the lead-on the whole track can be viewed without moving my head. I was planning on having all the driver's drive from there.

**GaryG** · 03-03-2008, 07:24 PM

Vic,

Does Joe have any medical equipment on his wheelchair that could be damaged by a flying car? How high are Joe's wheel chair arms and is there anything else that would keep him a distance from the track?

**trickyvic3** · 03-03-2008, 07:48 PM

Hi all, Thanks for all the input. First ,as far as the floor paint goes, Im going to run over to home depot tomorrow and talk with them. I like Pauls idea of sponsership. Hey its only 40 or 50 bucks but what the heck.

Second, as far as placement for Joe, He seems to like garys idea of the lead on. Only because he should have a pretty good view of the whole track. He,s thinking he will just stay in the one spot, and we will switch lanes for him. To me it seems to be the best spot to have the best view. I could be wrong. Remember, Joe cant turn his head. It may also depend on how gary needs to position the track in our garage. Might be a little tight. The good news is I have the garage pretty much empty in order to give gary as much room as possible. That way, we can angle it, or whatever gary needs to do to make it work. Joe said to tell you, He,s so happy to be getting the track, he dosent care if we have to hang him from the walls

Phil, Joe said to tell you, you should know what color floor he wants.

BLACK+WHITE-CHECKERD

Me, I think a nice grey will be just fine

**trickyvic3** · 03-03-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by GaryG

Vic,

Does Joe have any medical equipment on his wheelchair that could be damaged by a flying car? How high are Joe's wheel chair arms and is there anything else that would keep him a distance from the track?

Gary, Joe has nothing on his chair that an airborn car can hurt. [ execpt his head ]

He said to tell you,he has a pretty hard head!! The arms of his chair are about 40in from the floor.
Vic

**Phil I.** · 03-03-2008, 10:04 PM

I WALKED INTO THAT ONE....JOES 1 UP NOW

LIMPIN ALONG,
PHIL I.

hehehehe

**JayGee** · 03-04-2008, 10:05 PM

Gary,

I'm about to order some controller components and was going to order a 10ft USB cable for Joes controller at the same time. based on where you're putting the driver's panel, do you think that will be long enough?

Jeff

**ratfink** · 03-04-2008, 10:35 PM

Just a thought....what if there was room to mount a "Tommy Lift" type of device at the desired vantage point for Joe so he could be elevated high enough to really see the whole track?
I'm talking about one off those lift gate type of units that they put on the back of trucks, maybe on a smaller scale, where he could just park on it and be lifted to a height that would be best for him....just tossing in my two cents' worth.
Can't begin to say how amazing it is to see what has happened with this, you guys rock!!
Don

**Phil I.** · 03-05-2008, 06:07 PM

How about a portable 'Tommy lift' for us other wheelers to drag around??? Good idea RATFINK....

GOD... I just thought about it.......7 OF US ON LIFTS.And 1 non SCI in the middle