New Track Help

[jmart1013]

Hey Guys,

I've been following your progress for some time, and you all have really made RC Excitement a successful R/C facility!  I own Carolinas R/C in Charlotte, NC, and we have just signed a lease on a large indoor facility...we are upfitting it to house a large hobby shop, concession stand, and indoor Off-Road track (for electrics), with the possibility of a carpet track in the future.

I think you guys have done a great job of organizing, executing, and supporting your facility...in fact, I may make a trip and come check it out in the next few weeks for a race..     Anyhoo, I was hoping you guys could give me some tips, lessons learned, etc. that you have experienced and could share with us...especially around the selection of the dirt for the track, how you obtained it, the composition, lessons learned in tilling/compacting/watering, etc.

Thanks in advance for your help! 

Regards,
Jon Martin
www.CarolinasRC.com

[Basher]

Are you going to have one computer to run all tracks or seperate like we have.
In OKC Enid racing has 3 tracks inside the facility dirt,cement and dirt oval.  they run one computer that is inbetween all three tracks. And tthey run all three on a race night.

For P.A. recommend tying all tracks together with disable switches if wanted.  Makes it better for racers is they don't want to sit a bench waiting to start.

Talk to Todd the owner and he can tell you the tricks we use on inside dirt to get a smooth blue grooved type of traction.

For the computer area make a booth (small room [door and windows]}to keep as much dirt out of comp and printer as possiable.  It was a killer for us until we did this.  Killed a bunch of printers and a comp harddrive.

Most important have fun and remember a bad day of racing is better than a great day at work.

Send som pix as you progress  we might see somthing we could use here as we are always trying to improve.

Basher

[nickp]

you might want to set it up for some nitro. who knows if you want to go nitro in the future.

my uncle owns a cigar shop and he made a small humidor planning not to have too much bisness(spelling) and once his store became popular he needed a bigger humidor. it was a hard hit in the bank.

its cheaper if you set up for everything before its too late.

shameless plug Holy Smokes south willow street manchester NH

[jmart1013]

Thanks, guys.. 

Nitro is king in the Carolinas, so we will be making the track plenty big, and leaving a pit road area incase we later decide to add Nitro (perhaps next season)...however, there are a good amount of electric guys looking for a place to run in the area, and electric seems to be more beginner friendly, and we're hoping to get some new blood in the sport..  We already have an established Nitro online hobby shop and local hobby shop, so we're really just building on what we have, white continuing to support the 8 (yes, EIGHT) Nitro outdoor tracks within 2 hours of here.

The information I really could use right now is in regards to dirt..  Selection, how you got it, how you've treated it, what kind of surface it provides, lessons learned, etc. 

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[RCExcitement]

Jon,

Call me at the shop 978-342-3374 and I can give you the rundown of what we have done that has worked and what hasn't worked.

Thanks,
Todd
R/C Excitement

[Losi Motor Man]

I too am starting a new Off-road indoor track here in Northeast Ohio ( ashtabula area ) and to tell you the truth I have asked for help and all I have gotten is lets just say not so nice comments. I do not wanna shut down the other race way down all i wanna do is give the people thatthink its far out to go and race a chance to come to my place and race. I have tryed to get in touch with the other local Rc track owner but have benn met with nothing but attitude and arogance. I have been nothing but nice and honest with this guy. All i wanted in return is a lil bit of information on things i need to get set up with. Its not a hard just simple questions like where is the best place to get dirt and what is the best mixture  to get a blue groove track. I have gotten answers like why would i tell you ? I mean WTF ? well enough about the negative things i have encountered with the other Rc track owner. What i have to focus on is zoning laws here in this city. I have put in for the permits and all that I even have an insurance company ready willing and able to insure the place i have set up. .

I will tell you a little bit about the place i have set up:

Indoor warehouse of 40,000 + Sqft. of open warehouse flooring. Its has a large Roller door on one side and a small sore front like area that I wanna convert into an onsite hobby/tech shop.

I have looked at the area and have been in talks with the owner of the warehouse. I have done a walk thru and it has a heating system (3 large radiant heat heaters ) that i have been told that are in working condition.

what i would have to do is extend the electricity into the pit area. What i was planning was to get long industrial power strips and bolt them to the floor in a patter of 3 rows and bild tables for pit space. Now what I am wondering is would it be hetter to putthe power stips on the tables rather than on the floor ?
 
Next is the big item Dirt. I do not know what the best type nor where to get it . I knwo its not regular dirt its a clay mix. I have been told that there is sand in it for draining purpose. Is this true ?

I have already Purchased a lap counter.  Similar to this one . http://cgi.ebay.com/AMB-20-Timing-System-transponders-software-incl_W0QQitemZ260185573067QQihZ016QQcategoryZ34063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I just need info on where is the best place to place the loop and all.

I have lots more questions but I do not wanna overload this thread with questions i could pose directly to you via e mail or phone . I hope you can give me the help i am so desperatly looking for and need.

thanks for reading this I will keep you posted on the sites progress

[Mikey]

I have gotten answers like why would i tell you ? I mean WTF ? well enough about the negative things i have encountered with the other Rc track owner.

Im confused who's the other rc track Owner?? Im positive it's not RCE the owner of this web site, because Tod would do nothing but try to help...

[Mikey]

As for "the Dirt", I know the dirt inside At RCE Is a mixture of clay and loom.

[Losi Motor Man]

I have gotten answers like why would i tell you ? I mean WTF ? well enough about the negative things i have encountered with the other Rc track owner.

Im confused who's the other rc track Owner?? Im positive it's not RCE the owner of this web site, because Tod would do nothing but try to help...

It was no one on this site Nor was it Todd . I have never been to this track but I really want to. I just am so busy . I travel alot coast to coast . I travel beleive it or not with One of my Rc Cars and stuff to keep it going you never know when you will have time to go Play LOL

[Randy D.]

The biggest thing with dirt is just to work with it.  Make sure you keep it compacted and moisture content consistent.  there's a fine line between blue groove and dusty and sticky and Muddy.  Once you've got a good mixture, just mess with it a little.  It took us a couple years and about two dozen track changes to get it just right, and we're still tweaking it for the change in seasons. 

I have heard of guys further down your way using a clay-sand mix, more clay than sand, sand just for grip.  We opted for a mix of loam and clay and its good in an indoor venue.  outside, it just doesent drain so it puddles. 

[.]

just chucking a couple pennies in here.....


Down at r/c madness, they have 'I believe' one of the nicest setups around.  Basically, the only real difference is that they have a sub-level built of rock under the dirt they use.

The track sits on top of large rock which allows it to drain easily no matter how much water there is.  And as it gets REALLY wet and dries out, it gives a wonderful surface to run on.

I think that the next time a bunch of rce guys decide to pull a bunch of machines down to re-work the outdoor track, they could REALLY improve the track by puting down a sub-level.  Yes, there is cost to this, but done correctly, it would be a one time cost (and not for nothing, but broken concrete is super cheap and would work just as well) and it would solve water issues...


there, those are my 2 pennies.