need help with track

[CharliesTheMan]

I'm really wanting to start building my track, but I just have not been able to find much reading material on building a track. I was thinking maybe you guys could help me out based on your experiences. I've heard mention of a thread at rctech but I never could find it. I have a T-Maxx and my primary driver will be a savage x ss, and I'm wanting to build a track here on my property. It's just going to be for fun, so it doesn't have to meet olymipc specs or be so many mm from each turn, that kinda thing. Just something that I can have fun bashing around yet still be in a lap formation. How high should I make the jumps to be fun but not tear up the truck every time, that kinda stuff. If any of you know where I can find some information on the subject or want to share experiences or send pics or links please I NEED HELP! I'm ready to get started, but I don't want to start till I at least kinda know what I'm doing. I'm thinking of staking out a layout and trying out different stuff, but I like to here layout ideas from people with experience.

Oh yea, I dont have a dozer but I have a pretty big tractor with box blades and a disk, and I also have a grizzly 700 4-wheeler.

 

[ohmygahitscoby]

I was planning on making a track too. I know the basics things that you need are pipe for the boundaries, dirt, sand, etc.(Of course), a planned layout, roofing if it's going to be outside (unless you want your jump hills to wash away and end up with mud). Yeah, well it's pretty much anything you can find at your local track. Maybe you can ask your local track for any tips on making one.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Well I don't have a lot of tracks in my area. I have one kinda close but I was hoping to here about things people like and dont like with layout for MTs so i don't go by the only track I've been to and be disapointed. I can't roof it cuz it's going to be too big for me to roof, but it's going to be on top of a hill that stays dry even after a rain, I'll just have to wait a day after it rains before I can run on it. Do you have any dimensions for yours yet?

 

[SuperMaxx83]

the trouble you have building a track on your land is everyone will want to erace on it and the next thing you know your looking for sponsors and your wife is complaining because everyone is using your bathroom.....LOL.....i thought of the same thing and i found out its much more fun if you just build a few ramps and place them throughout your property in kinda like a race track that way you can move them if you have to. Anyways i you want to build a track ours is 90ft by 160ft and thed other track is 3 times the size of ours.Hope this helps
Thanx John

 

[CharliesTheMan]

lmao super that sounds about right. I'll keep that stuff in mind, and I defintiely think that I'm gonna spread some jumps out even I build the track, but I wanna cut some laps too.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Well I came up with a drawing of a track design that I think would be simple enough yet still be a fun design. I never got much response from anyone so I finally just drew up what was on my mind. I approached my mother and step-dad to show them what I was thinking and let them know what I would be building on their land. There response was even better than I expected. They were like "Lets clear off a few acres of our highway frontage and build the track and get the local hobby shop to sign a sponsor contract and let them set up a trackside shop, get the official specs and timing equipment, and start holding sanctioned races." I was like WOW, I wont be doing all that but now I know I have their support with tearing up some land and bringing the dirt in. I also drew up a design for the drivers stand but I'm not sure how tall I should build it. I'm going to scan the sketch I did for the track and hopefully you guys can help out with dimensions and stuff. My step-dad has asked me twice in the last few days when were going to travel to the nearest track we have so he can see one in person. He's been to on-road races once but never off-road.

Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still working on it and I could really use some help. Is 6 feet high good for the drivers stand? I got on an 8 foot high platform and it was way up there, so I was thinking maybe 5 or 6 feet would be good for a home track.

 

[ohmygahitscoby]

Woah, you have some awesome parents. Your parents are probably ready to make their own race track for 1:1 cars ! Haha.

 

[HeartBreak]

5 to 6 feet is acceptable. The key thing, however, is the orientation to the sun. Make sure you align it so the sun isn't in your eyes. The easiest way to do this, without a compass, is to mark a circle, about 3 foot in diameter. Doesn't have to be real big. Next, at sun-up, put a stick in the point in the circle closest the sun. Repeat for sundown, and that gives you your alignment.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

5 to 6 feet is acceptable. The key thing, however, is the orientation to the sun. Make sure you align it so the sun isn't in your eyes. The easiest way to do this, without a compass, is to mark a circle, about 3 foot in diameter. Doesn't have to be real big. Next, at sun-up, put a stick in the point in the circle closest the sun. Repeat for sundown, and that gives you your alignment.

OK I understand what to do with the circle and putting the two sticks, but what do I do with the alignment once I've got the sticks in place?


Well I've been trying to talk them into a drag strip for years, but with that the insurance is a big issue, plus it takes a lot more money to keep one of those going and stay out of the red zone than it would an RC track.

 

[NitroNewb]

Here's a link I found with some nice tracks pictured. I like the Brisbane Dirt Racing track.Nice layout.http://www.towerhobbies.com/rcwcarclub.html

 

[itsalifeworthliving]

hey it sounds like your set to go. i met a guy that built a small track on his farm. he used all scrap stuff he found layin round the property. for a guy that never evan been to a track it was suprisingly good!! this is what he used. for woopty's he threw some old corigated drain pipe and pvc pipe down, with some top soil over the top, for jumps and table tops, he used old plywood and 2by4's and just made ramps, they were slightly under the surface by about maybe 3 inches but the rest of it was exposed, i asked him how he got the burm so perfect, he said him and his boy took turns with the quad just runnin around the corner and by the end of the day it was good. i thought the wooden jumps and table tops looked weird but they never washed away in the rain or snow and ya never had to fix'I'm or buildem up after not using it all winter. for the track perimiter, he dug down bot 2" with a pic(i know, must have takin him all day!) and layed corigated pipe all the way around inside and out. he told me how he got rid or the grass. he put 2 gallons of deisal fuel in a pump sprayer and sprayed the hole track!! so it was still hard packed, but looked like manicured track!! he said the whole thing cost $50!! we raced that track all summer!

 

[CharliesTheMan]

nitronewb, thanks a lot for that link, its awesome!! That's exaclty the kind of stuff I was looking for. What's really weird is that my plans that I drew up almost match the Brisbane layout turn for turn, it's like a sign from above!! The main difference is with the drivers stand, mine will be made out of steel. We own a structural steel fabrication and erection (not that kind you perverts) company, so I'll have the guys in the shop fab up something sweet, and I'm going to have it so that if things take off and I can find some guys around here to run with, we can easliy add on to the drivers stand.

Itsalifeworthliving, thanks a lot for that piece of info. That gives me some good ideas. I've seen some tracks that had wooden ramps, but I think I'm going to start with dirt. For what I have in mind, it will be a lot cheaper to make them out of dirt anyway (down here in LA we can get a lot of dirt for cheap) and we have tractors and I have a grizzly 700 quad, and I think I'm going to rent a bobcat for about 3 days. My brother in law is a heavy equipment operator so he can build wonders with a bobcat (mini-excavator)

Thanks again guys!! It seemed like for a few weeks no one was interested in my ideas or cared to give input, but you guys have been helping out a lot and I appreciate every bit of it.

 

[HeartBreak]

OK I understand what to do with the circle and putting the two sticks, but what do I do with the alignment once I've got the sticks in place?


Well I've been trying to talk them into a drag strip for years, but with that the insurance is a big issue, plus it takes a lot more money to keep one of those going and stay out of the red zone than it would an RC track.

It tells you the line the sun travels in the day; draw a line across the circle from stick to stick, and that's the line you want to parallel your stand to.