Modernista Racing - Tyco Race Track from the 80's

[Jimmi]

So I decided to spruce up my desk at work a little. Actually, I took over 3 of my co-workers desks next to mine, too. I purchased some 80's Tyco track pieces and cars off of eBay, spent a few hours cleaning them so they run better, and set out to build one of the coolest work desks that I have ever seen.

I present to you Modernista Racing.






Here is my desk and monitors, and you can see the track winds in and out of my 2 LCD's




"You've built a time machine... out of a slot car?"
This car is the fucking shit. Coolest car on the track. Not the best handling, and wont win any races, but it is so sweet to look at; The DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future. Other employees have already begun to purchase their own cars, and dig through their parent's basements to find their old 80's toys.




Here I am driving a few laps. With my wine and itchy trigger finger, it's hard to stay on the track. But as soon as we begin the official Modernista races next week, I plan on unleashing my skills.




Here are my friends Boris and Ellen racing on the track.




Here you can see it wrapping around my friend Jude's large mac screen.




This is a blurry shot, but it shows my boss placing a crashed car back on the track in the heat of competition.




This is Christine greedily double fisting the triggers. You can get a good view of the banked track in the background. This part of the track is made up of curved pieces, for maxxing out the triggers going into it. The cars really whip around the track at this point.




A nice long shot, showing off some contenders in action, and the main hairpin curves that loop through mine and Boris's LCD's




A somewhat pulled back shot. Race in progress.




This is the track from the other angle. It shows the sprawl of it away from the window perspective.




This shot shows most of the track in one shot. It spans 4 desks in a 2 by 2 formation and loops in and out of 5 monitors so far (one empty desk for contractors).


So yeah, now I officially have the coolest "office desk" in the company.






UPDATE: May, 17th, 2008
We added some more track pieces to our Modernista racing track.
I would like to now introduce the curvy, sexy, 5 Tier Spiral.



This is Kate and Sarah, Modernista Racing sweat shop girls, using emery boards to file clean the old track rails. Under my close supervision of course.




Here is a close up under-construction shot.




Here is Deb, co-worker of mine in the interactive department at Modernista, and guitarist in The Information along with Brad the drummer (middle), and Jude on the right. We are adding structural supports to the 5 tier spiral ramp.




Brad, me, and Jude, completed track, testing the durability and power current.




Happy Quadradius Developers, working hard.

[Rhox]

Oh man, I used to race these things against my brothers back when I was a kid. I remember one car went so fast that anytime it would take a turn it would fly right off the tracks.

Nice background on your monitor. I remember that picture.

[OncoByte]

That is so cool! I used to have the AJ Foyt racing series. Ahhh, the smell of ozone emanating from those little sparky cars and controllers, how I missed you.

Your "job" seems very awesome. Besides the open office layout and the frickin' racetrack on your desk, I spotted a beer and no one in ties - and your co-workers clearly share your sense of fun.

[Moose]

"Uh, what is it exactly that you'd uhhh ... say you do here?"

[e2]

We had nearly the same track when I was a kid, I remember the two yellow/one red plugs. I think ours came with some 'pursuit' vehicles which whipped u-turns instead of falling off the track.

[Rydash]

...Say, jimmi, can I get an application?

I'll be your, um, RC Director. Yes, that's it.

For those of you who didn't get it, RC=Remote or Radio Control

[The Learned Pig]

Yeah, I need a more laid back office. People here are always giving me shit for walking around with my pants off.

[OncoByte]

Speaking of racing - I've just discovered a *FREE* racing game:

http://www.trackmania.com/en/index.php?lang=en&rub=news_info&id=94

It is absolutely amazing - and free, thus combining my love of games and free things.

Live action screen shots -

[driven2sin]

pure win jimmi - i think we threw all our old tracks out but i remember rebuilding the little motors and stripping the weight down on the frame to add more magnets so they didn't fly off.. we were in that shit non stop being pre internetz and all

that and the vibrating football field games...

[Coppelia]

Jimmi. That is magnificent.

[Handi]

I wish I ever tried that stuff .

[Jimmi]

I will def check out that racing game link when i get a chance. looks beautiful.

I updated the first post of this article with new pics. Check them out.

[The Learned Pig]

Is the off-ramp of the spiral being suported by a bottle of Jagermeister? Fucking shit.

[Rhox]

Modernista Racing will be the downfall to Qrimson development.

[OncoByte]

My thoughts exactly!