90x60 track layout ideas?
 

I am finishing up a dirt track in my back yard - hopefully this weekend if the weather permits. The track is set back in the woods, so pretty much surrounded by trees on 3 sides and is about 90ft long by around 60 ft deep. I would love some ideas for a track layout if anyone is up to the challange.
Ideally, it would have a crossover jump somewhere, a small jump series(double, double, double for example) and a table top/corner table top somewhere perhaps. It would be great also if the track was designed in such a way that moving a few pipes could yield a different course or two as well. I should have the track surface done soon and will be on to the layout, which may very well change a few times before I am happy, but hopefully some folks here can submit some ideas that can be implemented!
:yipi:

Hey Mike,
we (newly founded rc-club) built a improvisational track till we get all the permits for our permanent track.
Took a few photos, maybe there's some inspiration in there for you.
http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...A/strecke2.jpg
http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...w/strecke3.jpg
http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...g/strecke5.jpg

That crossover jump is pretty nice, might want to watch how you build your ramp though. The way we did it, with my B4 I sometimes over-jump by 3-4 times what would be required to clear the gap "by accident".

Well, I was bored.....so here's my idea. :smile:

The track area is 900x600 pixels, so it's to scale. I figured for ~12' wide tracks for the most part. I have no idea what typical dimensions are for things as I've never even been to a track before. :oops:

Thanks for the input so far. The pictures are indeed inspirational, as is the track layout sketch(great little layout...expecially for someone ho hasn't seen a track).
I think most 1/8 type tracks have 8-10ft lanes for the most part - I was thinking to use 6-7ft for my track, as i don't anticipate 10 trucks at once like a club race or big event - more like just a few guys, so smaller lanes effectively yields a longer track.
:)

That track would probably be 30-40 sec. per lap. If the lanes were skinnier you could easily get over a minute, even for good drivers. I agree if there aren't too many people racing then smaller lanes would make for better competition.

another addition to your idea would be on the front straight have it slowly incline to a peak ( about 2 to 3' high ) where there is a straight drop 2/3 to 3/4 down the straight so essentially you are flying over the jump at full speed. I have seen it done before and it is cool to hit the apex at WOT and have to control the landing right before a corner. It just makes the front straight a little more interesting

ACtually thatd be more like a 20-25 second lap layout. trust me i build ALOT of tracks :yes:


Mike try to shoot for 8 foot lanes every where, no less, 8 foot should be the width for the lanes and have atleast 6 feet in your corners. the track will get one lined very very fast with narrow lanes so if you keep them 8 feet wide youll have enough room to practice different entries and exits into the corners. Which is what you need for a practice track. btw the harder you make it the better it is.

SLOW DOWN! This is a neighborhood! :lol:

The 1/8 track I race on is roughly 150'x70' and we are doing laps in about 30-35 seconds, even under 40 with 2wd SC. When the pro series comes in we see guys doing sub 30 sec laps

I agree, the layout nitro proposed will yield low to mid 20 second laps - it is a nice little sketch for sure, though. My goal is to make it very challenging and as "big" as possible given the dimensions available.

I had a tube from an aluminum delivery that was 6.5ft that i used to sketch out the lanes....this is a bit too narrow for most of the track as Ross mentioned. I may have a tight chicane area that is around this width but the straight and any decent sized jumps will be best served with 8ft lanes based on my initial walk around. There are also a couple areas that can be "stretched' in between some trees to gain some track area. I will take a few pictures of the track area and post them later today - the area is smoothed off pretty well now and I hope to get some kind of a layout finalized this week, weather permitting.

Ross....I am looking forward to any sketch or proposed layout you can come up with - I will try to call you some time later today as well to talk about the track surface and layout, as i know you have done a lot of track work. thanks for popping in on this thread, too. :)

pictures
 

One elevated picture and one from ground level. The track surface is a mix of sand, topsoil and stone dust, along with the clay/dirt that was there previously. The area was initially trees just like the area all around it, so there are some stumps, etc. buried in the ground, along with car-sized rocks! I have been working on it all spring, actually - getting so close I can almost taste it now!

Man, I wish I lived closer. Your personal track will be better than anything in minnesota!:yes:

The nature of r/c
 

THE NATURE OF R/C would lead one to believe that once you invite a few friends and acquaintences over to play about on your new track that it would quickly become a great hangout for people of our hobby to come on over and do a little R/C mixing. So thinking that this track would only be running a few vehicles will more than likely not sit for too long. Mike its good to see you engaging in such an investment after being in the shop for so long producing all of the great R/C products that your store has to offer. I myself spend most of our time working and living overseas, so the chances that I would be able to visit is pretty scaress. Still if the opportunity came about I would jump on it and enjoy spending a little time racing on your track. I have seen a few tracks traveling about the globe and many of them are built in such a hurry that faults are inevitable. Still for the most part no matter what or how you build it things will work out. The thing that has made some tracks stand out from others as being better besides the track layout are more so the drivers stand setup and location, pit road, and a garage area for people to work on their toys with electircal outlets, and maybe even a low PSI air bank for cleaning assistance. Even having a small seating area for spectators to watch and learn about just what it is that we do in this hobby. I have seen more people get involved just because of the experience they had watching a race. Some of the best features I have seen are track guide systems that keep vehicles from spending too much time corssing over into other lanes, along with bridges, and at least one very high bank turn that quicly becomes a favorite of racers. I saw one that measured ten feet high on the back side and it was a blast to race on.

Actually I am kind of surprized that you had not come up with a track nearby your shop so visitors and customers would be able to stop in and test out new gear after making purchases from your shop. Some of the best R/C shops that I have had the pleasure of seeing have tracks out back or right next store. I have seen people purchase RTR's and race them right out of the box on the shop track. At any rate I am happy to see you embark on such an endevour, and hope you have some fun with it Mike. Good luck getting your setup just right. I look forward to seeing the finished product Sir, and maybe visiting some day.

Respectfully, Jerry Hill US Embassy Prauge, Czech Republic, Europe.

I like the cross over jump from nitros drawing. Also though Mike lived in NY. Anyways

you only need make a fun track ;)

in youtube you have many indoor circuits....... with the same dimensions ......... one nice example with a smaller dimensions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shVBflj7K-M

I used to be in NY, but moved to PA late last year. :)

Any track will be fun - anything RC is fun come to think of it! My goal is a small, pro-level track with as many challenging features as possible.

Agh bugger guess that rules me out.

How about a track that has multiple surfaces? i.e. hard pack in one section, loose loamy type dirt in another section, and maybe some dime size round pebbles for another? Basically a track that will have a difficult section no matter what tires you are running. Also maybe a sweeping corner that is banked the wrong way so you have to go slow around it, a jump that is tilted to the side with a landing ramp that is tilted in the opposite direction. I dunno, just some ideas off the top of my head :yes:

No worries, Chris - IMO, the mark of a good track is one that a rookie can get around, but a fast guy can get around much faster(reward the fast drivers without penalizing the less talented). Besides, you have gotten better every time I have seen you so you won't have any troubles getting around I'm sure!

Not feeling the "multiple surfaces" thing, Josh. For one, it sounds expensive(not just material, but probably tires, too). It sounds like a great plan for a bashing area, but not so much for a race track. Besides, the surface dirt is already here, so it is what it is now - just the layout left to do now. :)

Mike just remember July 10th you are rock crawling.

Lookin good Mike!!!

90x60 is a pretty tight track for 1/8. A few recommendations I have:

1)Try not to pack to much into it otherwise it wont flow.
2)Pick a couple key "bigger" elements that you will build and leave put for some time and the rest of the smaller features can be more easily flattened or moved to get the layout changes you are looking for.
3)Any combo jumps or tabletops you build you should pay attention to try to make them so they "work" in both directions. Making them work both ways will really hep make your track flexible for easy changes. Heck, just driving the same track backwards really changes things.

I like your idea of an easily changeable layout. One thing that I can say is a layout does start to get boring once you have it mastered. Change is good especially if you want to keep the skillz sharp.

BTW: did I mention I am really jealous? :grrrrrr: I wish I had room for something like that in my yard. :yes:

Watching closely
 

Well I will be watching closely, because I hope to have a track in the backyard of our retirement settlement when that day comes in 2017. Look & learn is the way I see it. Joe over on the US forum has been working on his backyard track for a few months now, but the rains keep knocking him back. Before, during and after pictures help to get the full story to share with everyone though. Good luck with your project Mike.

YES! You have to get Mike addicted so he starts making crawler parts and carrying crawler merchandise in the store. :intello:

layout
 

The rain has been keeping me at bay somewhat, but I slopped around the mud this morning and placed the pipes onto the track area to show the layout I have worked out. There are no bumps or jumps yet, but you can see the double lane crossover(behind the tree with the clothes line) and the general layout - it will be pretty technical when the planned bumps and jumps get done. I am getting excited!

Thanks for the tips, Jeff - you will get to play on my track when you come out for the bash this year - it should be running like a well-oiled machine by then.
The track will be pretty feature-rich, but I think it will flow pretty well, too. I do want to make it doable in either direction as well - just for the occasional change of pace to keep things interesting. 90x60 is a bit tight, though the actual dimensions will feel a little larger(straight is 100+ and there are 2 areas that swing out to 70-75 ft wide between the trees). I spent a few hours laying the pipes, looking, shuffling things around...repeat, review, etc. this morning after working late last night on the layout. I can almost taste it and can hardly wait to get it finished!

25x18 meters ....... perfect for a 1/8tt :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uze8fsIa2LY

Extension
 

Yea I was going to say you could always take the track out into the trees and actually use them as part of the scheme, which would allow you to add a little more track and perspective to the experience. Looking good so far Mike.

track progress
 

Got a few bumps and jumps done over the last few days. :yipi:
Excuse the phone camera picture - doesn't do it justice, really. The plastic pipe is all strewn about during construction, but the same layout as before will be utilized - added a corner table top, rythm section, big bermed corner and 1/2 of the crossover jump.

Looks good so far. I can't wait to see a high shot from the driver's stand... :wink:

more progress
 

Got a few more bumps done and some refinement on the initial bumps. The track is shaping up nicely!

Wow, very nice! Looks like a good time.

i like it mike, get started on the most important part, the drivers stand!

He has a drivers stand already!!! You dont see those cinder blocks stacked up in the picture... Of course its only good for one driver. LOL.

This track will be BYOB (bring your own blocks)(or beer):drunk: If you bring him beer Mike might let you his cinder blocks.:lol:



Lookin sweet Mike!!!! If you are looking for low dollar drivers stand option you could always grab a couple of those collapsible scaffolding things like Dom has in his van at the parking lot.

Drivers stands- they mock me. The only track in MN with a handicapped accessible drivers stand closed several years ago. It was a sweet indoor offroad track. R.I.P. Twin Cities Hobby and Raceway:no:

drivers stand
 

I am still contemplating driver's stand ideas. The problem is that the stand location ideally is in the middle of the yard, so a portable stand would be best, though it also needs to be steady. In my mind, the stand would have a drive-up ramp to a driver accessible pit area for battery swaps, etc. from the driver stand(driver does his own pit stops). Shade from the sun(sun will be behind the driver) would be ideal as well.
So, making a steady, shaded, driver-pittable, and movable stand is the goal - not so easy, unfortunately. I will keep mulling it over while i build out the track.
And Harold - I won't allow the stand to mock you if you ever roll into my neighborhood and use the track - maybe we can make up/fabricate some kind of a wheelchair stand that you can anchor to - we can put it in the bucket of the tractor and lift you to your desired height! Just be nice and don't yell at the marshalls while you are up there or it may be a long night!

Expectations.
 

Man Mike that is a huge list of expectations for a drivers stand, and portable too. From your list it would seem that the best way to start out is by using a mobile trailer to build on. Maybe one of those two ton dual wheeled type haulers. That way once it is all done you can move it anywhere you want with a toe hitch. Maybe put some outriggers on it for stability no matter where you park it.

That would be funny to see Harold up on his own stand yelling at everyone:whistle:. If he acts up too much you could just leave him up there when the sun goes down:lol:. Or if he is driving really well just lower his stand. :rofl:ha ha ha ha.

I invisage Harold wanting to change his stand location on a regular basis. While he's still in it of course :rofl:

Jerry had a good idea Mike in regards to making it with a hitch so it can be easily moved around. If you are thinking of say 5-6 people...something like a 6 x 12 trailer with a drive up ramp that each end folds into the middle and then the middle folds into the trailer for easy storage/mobility. The stand itself can be built and bolted to the trailer. The trailer would then need 4 stability supports...one on each end.

I can picture it in my head...hope I explained it well enough. Being a welder, I can visualize it, but have a hard time explaining it sometimes. Hope this helps

How about modding a caravan(Trailervan or whatever they are called over there)? Find one at a wrecking yard maybe. It'll have stands on each corner for stability, mobile, shade. Just need to make one side so it folds out to form the ramp/pit.

Buy a crappy old cargo van and put a rail around the top and a ladder off the back. You can just start it up and drive it to wherever you want it.

Then paint a giant blue monster on the side!!!!!!!:yipi: