Making a backyard track
 

Hello! I am new to the off-road scene, if you don't count the couple years I raced off-road in the late 80's. I want to build a backyard track that I can run anything from 1/10 2wd buggy to 1/8 eBuggy. I have yet to race at a current outdoor off-road track, and there is nothing really close, so it isn't easy to go get specs and layouts from them. And youtube videos usually don't give you track size or a good reference for sizing things.

I have currently killed off a section of grass that is about 100 x 60. I can go bigger if absolutely necessary, but I don't want to go a lot bigger. The dirt will have a fair amount of clay in it, but it isn't the nice red clay.

What I need is some guidance on size and type of jump - how tall, launch /landing angle, how far apart, etc... I have access to a small tractor with a loader and rototiller, so moving dirt isn't a big deal, but I don't want to have to continually move jumps because I got the spacing wrong.

Any suggestions on layout would be welcome as well. Would love to see pics and descriptions of tracks you like.

Thanks in advance.

That is enough space for a decent size 1/8th scale track. I would make a dual purpose layout where 1/10th scale cars can cut the parts of the track with the large 1/8th scale jumps.

As for jump size, start out with making the take off jumps. Hit the jumps to see where you need to build the landings.

With 60' of depth you could have 4 lanes 15' wide if you so choose. or 12' with some spacing in between.

don't overdo it with so many jumps that it does not flow. keep it simple. better to build a few really nice prepped jumps vs 10 crappy ones that throw your car into a different direction each time you hit them.

some other tips:
*draw up a design then drive it in your mind, i do this but as i am building i usually change some things on the fly because i know they wont work.
*use alot of water to pack them real well.
* watch some of drakes running videos on line (youtube), will give you an idea of spacing, size, flow, etc.
* to make it dual purpose, provide a landing/takeoff for the 1/10 within the takeoff landing of 1/8 jump. iow, build a jump inside of a jump.

Go to facebook and do a search for Thornhill Racing Circuit to see more closeup pics of the current track layout which is being hosted for the 2019 ROAR 1/8 Nats this week. Most jumps are roughly 2-3' high and the narrowest lane is 10' but most average 12' wide lanes with the front straight at 15' wide. The "Thornhill" step up jump in the back of the track is about 7' high with the covered track roughly 180' x 90', the smaller turf track at the same facility is designed for 1/10 cars and that track is 100' x 60'

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...0c51ee0859.jpg

Plan for water drainage and build up the track so water does not sit on it after a storm.

Have you checked out YouTube? What kind of soil you going to run? Obviously you're posting the question because your new and wondering. Overall what I have found, clay will be in nice after soil. Holds up to the rain really well. I also have used plywood ramp to build the big jumps first, and then put dirt on top of that.

Thanks for all of the replies! I have looked at YouTube and while I can see several videos of people building tracks, I haven't found anything on dimensions or spacing of jumps.

I currently race on-road but the track is about an hour away, and I can only get there once a week at best. I wanted to build a track to get my rc fix and just get more practice driving. I just finished building a B6.1D to start racing dirt and running in the yard. There are a couple of outdoor tracks just over an hour drive away(sense a pattern here?), but neither track races every week, so my track will be the one that I get to run on the most, by far.

I have already planned for drainage. The area is on a slight slope with natural drainage, so I will just make sure that I don't do anything to trap water. The soil there has a fair amount of clay in it - not much grows there now. I'm hoping that it will make for a good track soil. If I do get dirt delivered, I will try to get some with high clay content.

I have a ton of old bricks and retaining wall stones plus some old plywood that I can use to build some temp jumps, so I will start putting some stuff on there to see what works.

Thanks guys! Keep the ideas coming!

If you have the land, and most offroad tracks are too far away, you could always start a club like Controlled Chaos Raceway in Palmdale. Eddie built the track on the adjoining lot next to his house and it has a solid club.

A bit on the small side for 1/10, but I like the tricky and technical bits, and if it can give some ideas like the table top with tracks path going under, so here is mine, currently being reworked (top left especially) :
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...751c8be3ce.jpg
The wood-house has nothing related to the track, that's only for childrens... :P

First post here. Long time reader. I've been working on a track in my yard since February this year. I have a tractor with a loader and box blade. I also use my walk behind tiller in areas. Plus lots of hand raking on the jumps and landings. Few things I've learned.


Before you start building jumps, make sure the entire track surface is how you want it. Once the jumps are installed, it's hard to get in with equipment. I would rototill the whole track then pack it down. I use a golf cart to pack the soil.


There will be trial and error with the jumps. Despite my overthinking every jump, I've still ended up moving landing or changing jump sizes to make the track flow. I'm still working on jumps. The track surface leading to the jump makes a huge difference. You will never get the spacing just right because of this. When the track dries out and starts getting dusty the jumps become harder to clear. When the track is watered and traction is present, you over jump the landings. Throttle control is needed based on track conditions.


After running the track, inspect your jump faces. If you notice that your vehicle is taking chunks out of it with the bumper then the jump may be too steep.


You've already gotten good advice on the widths. My jumps always ended up too wide because of raking the jump faves to the side, so keep that in mind.


Having a track has made the hobby so much more fun. I can make tuning changes and test immediately. It's really helpful with getting a good feel for what different setup changes do.


I'll probably think of more, I'll post when I do. Below is a video link of my a few laps on my track. Ask questions if I didn't cover something.

https://youtu.be/tLlW4G1urrw

Another point to consider before finalizing construction is lights. You can bury electrical conduit once you have the basic layout determined. Nothing better then having a cool summers night to rc in the backyard.

Thanks Volition, that was exactly what I needed! And no worries on the metric, I keep a handy app on my phone for that!

Great first post! Very useful info, and thanks for the video!

Lights would be cool, but at least for now, that is probably not going to happen. The nearest electricity is over 300 ft away. I'm not quite ready to bury that much cable! Plus, my neighbor's house is actually closer to the track then my house is, so I will need to be respectful of them as well.

Thanks for the suggestion though!