1210LikesBackyard off-road track
06-28-2021, 09:35 PM
#841
Tech Regular
iTrader: (10)
J.D., I've used a sod cutter before and it works good. You've got to wrestle it a little to keep it straight, kind of like a roto-tiller. If you have a big enough space it's worth it. You can't use it in tight spaces. Also, depending on the soil underneath, sometimes it's better to keep the mat of roots to give the soil structure.
RC10Nick, Have you tried drifting? You could really maximize your space with a drift car layout and your floor is perfect.
codycrawler, I'm Googling Auburn, CA. Your track looks so fun to drive. I'm curious how much total air time you get in one lap. If an average lap is 50 seconds how many of those seconds are floating in the air? Well done!
RC10Nick, Have you tried drifting? You could really maximize your space with a drift car layout and your floor is perfect.
codycrawler, I'm Googling Auburn, CA. Your track looks so fun to drive. I'm curious how much total air time you get in one lap. If an average lap is 50 seconds how many of those seconds are floating in the air? Well done!
THANK YOU!
Sorry I just noticed this. When you asked if I expected this many responses to my original post, probably not. But did I expect a huge boom in people building their own tracks with all of the covid lockdowns and such? Absolutely! As far as what qualifies as a backyard track? IMHO if it's on the same piece of land as your residence I say it is. As far as my own track goes, I have my lanes at 5 ft wide and wish I could go wider. I can only do that if I shorten the track and I just can't bring myself to do it. I can get at least 5 1/2 ft and maybe 6 ft. That's going to have to be it. If it's still feels a little narrow I'll just race smaller cars on it like my Mini-T 2.0 truck. As of now it feels like the turns are too tight for stadium truck, borderline for two wheel drive buggy but just fine for four wheel drive buggy which can make the tight turns easy. And by the way milkdudd has two D's at the end. Don't worry I forgive you. Word
This track looks pretty awesome! Looking at your Facebook page, I'm just across the canyon from you over in Foresthill. Your whole track and setup looks like a pretty fun track with the elevation changes.
I've got a track going in my backyard too, but I've gotta ask, how did you get your dirt so hardpacked, and no loose dirt coming off the buggies as they drive? My yard is red dirt, and I've got it pretty smooth, and is nice and hardpack when I blow the track, but it still breaks up and won't keep that hard pack. Your area looks pretty shaded which may help, but what kind of dirt are you working with over there? Any tips for getting the track hardened.
I'll have to come check your track out soon. Looks like you've got a couple Saturday races coming up.
I've got a track going in my backyard too, but I've gotta ask, how did you get your dirt so hardpacked, and no loose dirt coming off the buggies as they drive? My yard is red dirt, and I've got it pretty smooth, and is nice and hardpack when I blow the track, but it still breaks up and won't keep that hard pack. Your area looks pretty shaded which may help, but what kind of dirt are you working with over there? Any tips for getting the track hardened.
I'll have to come check your track out soon. Looks like you've got a couple Saturday races coming up.
Come check it out. Bbq 4th of july weekend. King of consistancey july 17. Rubicon classis 8/22.
Thank you!
07-04-2021, 05:08 PM
#842
Progress.
07-09-2021, 04:46 AM
#843
Washout
Hey guys. Still around. Your tracks are looking good.
No track activity in my back yard. Zippo. Washout. Rain and more Rain. Six weeks now ground stays wet with more often than not standing water on the track. Having to cut the grass wet and heavy to maintain track definition and prevent extreme overgrowth. Cut the track in the rain too. Water running out of the grass collector bag and lawn mower straining under the load its toting.
Got a coat of weatherproofing on the driver stand between showers, but even it got soaked in before it could fully dry. Water is beading up on it though, so it is at least offering some protection. So far this summer, track's been all about on-going preventative maintenance.
As with dirt, a back yard grass track takes a commitment. Hanging in there. Cheers, guys. 'AC'
No track activity in my back yard. Zippo. Washout. Rain and more Rain. Six weeks now ground stays wet with more often than not standing water on the track. Having to cut the grass wet and heavy to maintain track definition and prevent extreme overgrowth. Cut the track in the rain too. Water running out of the grass collector bag and lawn mower straining under the load its toting.
Got a coat of weatherproofing on the driver stand between showers, but even it got soaked in before it could fully dry. Water is beading up on it though, so it is at least offering some protection. So far this summer, track's been all about on-going preventative maintenance.
As with dirt, a back yard grass track takes a commitment. Hanging in there. Cheers, guys. 'AC'
07-09-2021, 06:04 PM
#844
Hey guys. Still around. Your tracks are looking good.
No track activity in my back yard. Zippo. Washout. Rain and more Rain. Six weeks now ground stays wet with more often than not standing water on the track. Having to cut the grass wet and heavy to maintain track definition and prevent extreme overgrowth. Cut the track in the rain too. Water running out of the grass collector bag and lawn mower straining under the load its toting.
No track activity in my back yard. Zippo. Washout. Rain and more Rain. Six weeks now ground stays wet with more often than not standing water on the track. Having to cut the grass wet and heavy to maintain track definition and prevent extreme overgrowth. Cut the track in the rain too. Water running out of the grass collector bag and lawn mower straining under the load its toting.
07-09-2021, 08:25 PM
#845
Yeah, my mom still lives in Houston and she's been telling me about all the rain. I really wish you all could send some of that rain here to Northern California. It's 107 right now and supposed to be hotter tomorrow. We haven't had rain in many, many months. I sprayed water on my track yesterday to try to improve traction, and it was all dried up and dusty again in less than 10 minutes. But I guess I shouldn't complain since I can still use it (in the mornings when it's cool).
07-12-2021, 01:30 AM
#846
I bet we are flying for a solid 3 sec of a 20 sec lap. Good ratio to me lol
THANK YOU!
Absolutely, Im doing a wall ride next.
Thanks for the reply, Milkdudd!
I scrapped down to the natural hard pan in most of track. You have to separate the top soil fodder and deadfall and get down to the red hardpan. Dont mix them. The upper flat area is basically naturally packed. I have really good dirt in my opinion. It packs very well if you till it up, break down the chunks into fines, finer the better. I step on the dirt clods and grind em into the dirt. Then remoce small rocks and roots by just kicking em to the side till later. Get as much of the mini rocks out of the top surface as your packing it. Slow water. More water. I usually foot pack my jumps then water again. More foot packing to find low and high compaction areas of the jump. Add more dirt to low spots and foot pack till it feels evenly packed under the pressure of the stomp. Your heel is more concetrated force the a tamper so im abke to fine the less compacted areas of the jumps and pack just that area.
Come check it out. Bbq 4th of july weekend. King of consistancey july 17. Rubicon classis 8/22.
Thank you!
THANK YOU!
Absolutely, Im doing a wall ride next.
Thanks for the reply, Milkdudd!
I scrapped down to the natural hard pan in most of track. You have to separate the top soil fodder and deadfall and get down to the red hardpan. Dont mix them. The upper flat area is basically naturally packed. I have really good dirt in my opinion. It packs very well if you till it up, break down the chunks into fines, finer the better. I step on the dirt clods and grind em into the dirt. Then remoce small rocks and roots by just kicking em to the side till later. Get as much of the mini rocks out of the top surface as your packing it. Slow water. More water. I usually foot pack my jumps then water again. More foot packing to find low and high compaction areas of the jump. Add more dirt to low spots and foot pack till it feels evenly packed under the pressure of the stomp. Your heel is more concetrated force the a tamper so im abke to fine the less compacted areas of the jumps and pack just that area.
Come check it out. Bbq 4th of july weekend. King of consistancey july 17. Rubicon classis 8/22.
Thank you!
07-12-2021, 06:46 AM
#847
Here's my backyard track circa 1999 or so
07-13-2021, 03:43 AM
#848
I'm surprised after all these years there isn't a real challenger to Mylaps. What are you guys using for timing in your backyard tracks? I interested in building one, but I know I'd really want some sort of transponder based timing, even though the purpose of the track is just practice and fun.
07-13-2021, 04:28 AM
#849
I'm surprised after all these years there isn't a real challenger to Mylaps. What are you guys using for timing in your backyard tracks? I interested in building one, but I know I'd really want some sort of transponder based timing, even though the purpose of the track is just practice and fun.
Manual Stop Watch back yard timing
07-13-2021, 04:38 AM
#850
Tech Prophet
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Far south suburbs of Chicago area
Posts: 17,227
Trader Rating: 9 (100%+)
I'm surprised after all these years there isn't a real challenger to Mylaps. What are you guys using for timing in your backyard tracks? I interested in building one, but I know I'd really want some sort of transponder based timing, even though the purpose of the track is just practice and fun.
07-13-2021, 06:20 AM
#851
+1 for LapMonitor. It works great for my needs. Only issue for some people is that the system uses IR, so the transponder has to have line of sight to the monitor. You can mount the transponder on the top of your car or you can mount it inside the body like I do, but your windows have to be clear. This means I can't use any of the stock bodies on my rtr's, but I don't have a problem with that at all. Overall it's an awesome system for the money. I got an extra transponder so I can race with my son. Unfortunately he's lost interest in rc but occasionally I can pull him away from his video games and race with him.
07-13-2021, 04:12 PM
#852
Tech Apprentice
Furadi played around with abit of a mash up from some drone racing equipment here:
07-14-2021, 03:30 PM
#853
I'm surprised after all these years there isn't a real challenger to Mylaps. What are you guys using for timing in your backyard tracks? I interested in building one, but I know I'd really want some sort of transponder based timing, even though the purpose of the track is just practice and fun.
07-14-2021, 05:05 PM
#854
Tech Prophet
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Far south suburbs of Chicago area
Posts: 17,227
Trader Rating: 9 (100%+)
+1 for LapMonitor. It works great for my needs. Only issue for some people is that the system uses IR, so the transponder has to have line of sight to the monitor. You can mount the transponder on the top of your car or you can mount it inside the body like I do, but your windows have to be clear. This means I can't use any of the stock bodies on my rtr's, but I don't have a problem with that at all. Overall it's an awesome system for the money. I got an extra transponder so I can race with my son. Unfortunately he's lost interest in rc but occasionally I can pull him away from his video games and race with him.
Give him time. Might come back. The revolving interest in things is part of being a kid. I’ve got 4 transponder even though I knew it was going to be just me. Makes taking multiple vehicles out simpler.
The new ghost race feature is addicting
07-14-2021, 05:39 PM
#855
