My new side-yard track - Snake Hollow RC Raceway

[markbt73]

Now that I finally have some space to play with, I decided it was time to set up a dedicated, permanent place to play. My wife allocated me a spot in the side yard, alongside our secondary driveway, with plenty of room for a decent little track. I can't dig down very far because of tree roots, but that's OK. Got some work done clearing the ground and adding temporary edges made from whatever was lying around on the property:

I'll need to do some better, more permanent edging, but I'm not sure what yet. I don't really like the look of the typical black PVC drain pipe. Maybe bricks, if I can get them cheap?

Anyway, I only had time for one quick run yesterday, with a Grasshopper II, but it seems to be a pretty good layout:

 

[Verskis]

Looking really nice!

Seems like it would be a blast with a rally car as well.

[Rinskie]

That's a Grasshopper 2 under there? Pretty cool. 

[skinned]

Got me a track in the yard also...I do use the drain thing cause when I smack into it it's not like hitting a brick...I need a cool name for my track...

[Shergar]

Fantastic playground in walking distance 😉 Have you tried 2” hose filled with sand or water for a barrier? Like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metre-Layflat-Delivery-Discharge-Irrigation/dp/B08SMJCXFJ?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=AVM8HAT7DQBNS

[markbt73]

Did a little more "testing" today. First up was the Turbo Optima, which as you would expect went around with no drama whatsoever, and simply went where I pointed it - and looked fantastic doing it. Man, I love this car.

(The airborne shot is clearer because it's after I remembered to put my camera in high-speed mode)

Then, for a little more challenge, I switched to my newly-built "Junkyard Frog." It ran better than anything built from worn-out spares and leftovers has any right to. But nearly-bald Grasshopper rear tires aren't exactly the hot ticket for traction; it was almost impossible to keep this thing pointed in a straight line. Maybe I'll actually spring for some good rear spike tires for it.

I might give up on the jump; all it seems to do is cause bad landings. Maybe I'll just make some dirt moguls in that area instead. Once I finalize the layout, I'm going to go ahead and get the black corrugated pipe for the edges. Nothing else is as easily obtainable or any cheaper, so I guess I'll just go with what works.

[TurnipJF]

Ambassador Noodle approves of the track name. 

 

[Andreas W]

Your track looks lovely and it looks like you have some good space in that garden area. Do you need edging at all? If you make sure that the grass does not grow into the track I personally think that I would just let a sharp transition between grass and track be good enough. Then it's easier to change the track if wanted and it's also far easier to remove it completely without having to fill a trailer with garbage. It's also easier on the cars. If my wife at some point would give me green light for a track I know it would be a precondition that I built it without any ugly fencing - and before that I would probably also have to build a greenhouse with fenced garden around and a waterfall. All summed up: There's not gonna be a track in our garden.

 

[markbt73]

3 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Ambassador Noodle approves of the track name. 

 

When I was moving the sticks around, I uncovered a teeny-tiny brown snake, maybe eight inches long, with a head no bigger than a pencil eraser. I don't know if he was a baby, or just really small, but the thought that immediately came to mind was "holy cr*p, a 1/10 scale snake!" He reared up and bared his fangs at me, just like a big snake. It was adorable, and I named the track on the spot.

[markbt73]

Got in a good session yesterday with a couple of cars. First up, the Raider, which has acquired full bearings and gold shocks since it arrived.

It did great, though it needs a set of "runner" tires. These are the originals, and they're rock-hard, and impossible to find, so I'll save them for the shelf. Sadly, it fell victim to the Raider's one Achilles heel - a broken dogbone. Found a pair of old Optima dogbones in my parts stash; problem solved.

I wanted to try something else with big wheels, so out came the Monster Hornet. Basically a stock Hornet built from leftovers and powered by a Trinity Green Machine stock motor with a Lunchbox pinion. This car is mostly a way to beat the stuffing out of a set of 3D-printed wheels to see if they'll break; so far they have not.

It's fun, but man is it hard work to keep this thing pointed in a straight line. It's looking like I will have "track" cars and "the rest of the yard" cars. This will be one of the latter.