Hi, this is Adam Harnois, the creator of the original Harnois Race Park and harnoishobby.com.
I'm sorry I do not know Portuguese, but I have used a translator website to get the basic meaning of your posts.
http://dictionary.reference.com/translate?
My track is the same size and configuration as the XPB track.
I see that there is some concern that the track is too small for 1/18th scale. I've seen this comment often. But actually, the size of these tracks are very fun for 1/18th scale! This opinion is based on 6 years of racing and experimentation trying to create the most realistic style of RC racing.
1/18th scale cars are very flexible in how they can be configured. You can use fast cars on a big track or slower cars on a smaller track, either way it works great, as long as the cars have equal performance. But in my opinion the smaller track with slower cars leads to more realistic racing and more fun battles. And even in their slowest configuration, 1/18th scale cars still have a scale speed of 300kph.
Racing on a smaller tighter track is a different style of RC racing. Our goal is to create a style of racing that is more realistic. The width of the track is actually realistic for 1/18th scale. I am not sure how the XPB cars are setup, but our cars are setup to have a realistic speed for 1/18th scale. The track has other realistic features such as rough run-off areas instead of walls. The result is that the racing action is more realistic. As you can see in the video previously posted, the cars have very smooth and accurate handling, very realistic racing lines, and they are able to race very close together. Compare this to any other form of RC racing. Have you ever seen another video with RC cars racing that close? That video only shows 3 cars but we usually have 6 or 7 racing simultaneously.
The slower speed makes it possible for the cars to nudge and battle without spinning out and crashing out of the race, because there is not so much speed difference between the cars. And the slower speed gives the drivers more time to react to the cars around them which enables more realistic interaction between the cars. You may think that it is too difficult to avoid the other cars, but it is quite possible with practice.
In order to have fun on the smaller tighter track, you have to accept the idea that your car must be tuned down considerably. Otherwise the racing will be just crazy and silly. If your car is too fast you will think the track is too small, but when you run a car that has a speed appropriate for the size of the track, it begins to make a lot of sense. It's more controllable and more realistic. I'm not sure how the XPB cars are configured, but we use stock 180 motors and 4-cell AA batteries. The cars are still very fast relative to the small track. Their scale speed is still 300kph. You will have to master the use of the brakes to do well, especially if the traction level is not too high. The best drivers are using the brakes several times per lap on our track, depending on the route. The sharp turn at the end of the straight may require 2 meters of braking.
Since the cars do not need to be so fast, you can use a battery and motor configuration that enables enormous run times. 1 or even 2 hours on one set of batteries is possible. The cars are also very difficult to damage at these lower speeds. All of this means more time racing and less time working on your car. But remember, the cars are not slow, they still go 300kph scale speed and are very fast relative to the size of the track.
I also see there is some concern about the grip. I do not know how much grip there is on the XPB track, but our track in the USA is intentionally medium grip, not high grip. Once again this is to add to the realism. The cars must slow down more for the turns which once again gives more time for drivers to react to the cars around them like in real racing. Lower traction also increases braking distances for additional realism. Some people assume that lower traction will be more difficult. But as long as the car is setup to have mild understeer instead of oversteer, it is actually not so difficult. It can be easier because it is less hyperactive, more time to think and react.
The smaller race track also makes for better on-board video. If the track is too big, with small cars, everything is too far away from the camera, you will only see a camera moving through empty space. Here is an example of our on-board video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LEHqlFU ... annel_pageEven drifting is possible on a small track with practice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1cIBFVx ... annel_pageYou could use smaller vehicles like mini-z or i-waver, but in my personal experience, these vehicles do not have the same level of accuracy, smoothness, and general driving quality of properly configured 1/18th scale vehicles. When you get a lot of cars on this small track, you will need a lot of accuracy and predictability to avoid crashing into each other. As the drivers get more practice and skill, the racing will get closer, and the accuracy and predictability will become very important. The smaller cars are more hyperactive and less predictable. They also tend to bounce off of each other too violently rather than absorbing the impacts which tends to knock the cars out of the race rather than allowing them to continue to nudge and push and battle. By reducing the speed capability of the 1/18th scale vehicle, you are basically making them the same speed as the smaller vehicles, but keeping the better handling of the larger vehicle.
It's all about the battles! Our racing is so close with so many cars that sometimes it looks like a swarm of bees! All drivers must make a strong effort to make room for the cars near them otherwise they will crash out of the race. It is very intense! In our racing, it's not just a matter of driving skill, but about strategy, knowing when to go for the pass and when to hold back. And sometimes it is just about surviving the traffic. You must look ahead and drive around the pile-ups. And also watch for what is coming up behind you. You must plan ahead to make a good pass, just like in real racing.
We use a 3-lap sprint racing format that does not require turn marshals. The cars are regrouped on the grid every 3 laps with the slower drivers ahead of the faster drivers, leading to lots of battles! Info about that is here:
http://harnoishobby.com/results.htmlSorry for long post! We have so much fun with our RC racing and are thrilled to see XPB in Brasil build an identical track in a commercial environment. There's also a couple guys in Germany who built a similar track:
http://picasaweb.google.com/harnoishobb ... rkGermany#