Any ideas for new track???

Ideas For Track

I've got some pics of my backyard track on my website: http://my.voyager.net/aaronsmith. Follow the link to "Backyard MX." The files are huge, so go grab a Red Bull while they download.

In Michigan, the biggest deal is setting up your track so it drains after the rains. Othewise you've got big puddles, and by the time they dry up, the rest of the track is bone dry and rock hard. This may not be a problem in your locale, however.

Set up your track so it won't be a one-liner. This will keep you from getting bored so easily and will make you a better rider. Ideally, you can set-up your track so it can be run both directions (Jeff Stanton has a good one). The only problem is that the jumps will be do-or-die, and you will need a way to groom the turns when you change directions (the same corner taken as a lefty vs a righty develops vastly different lines). I set my track up to run mainly one direction, but I can run it backwards for fun sometimes. I also set up the jumps on adjacent straights so I could play ride and hit them sideways, diagonal, etc.

Most of all, make it challenging yet safe. If you get hurt practicing on a peaked 8 foot high double, you won't even make it to the racetrack. Save the heroics for the races!

Have fun!

My best advice is to get the land measurements, pick up a pencil, and start sketching.

Here are a few tips:

*Keep in mind how wide you want the track (I recommend 10-20 feet).

*When planning on where the jumps will be - make sure that it is an easy place to get the dirt. Like if you are going to dig a pond for dirt - put your jump sections kinds close to your pond. It will just make less hauling time for ya.

*Like MXFastGuy said - keep it challenging but safe - like have rounded landings (we have a lot of table top landing for like triples - double onto the table top and triple to clear the table).

*Optional-type sections can keep things fun. For example - we will have a big table top if you take the inside line, but an optional pre-jump to clear the whole table top if you take the outside line.

*Keep in mind low spots and drainage. On table tops - we tried to put a drain line off of the sides so water won't sit on top of the jump.

Hope these few ideas help - and I think maybe making a combo MX/SX track would be cool. Like a few SX-style sections but a few wide open sections, too.

Here's a sketch of our practice track (it's on 5 acres): There are more pix of the track if you go in my photo link too.

I don't think that you have enough space. An acre is 43560 sqft. 5500 sqft is pretty small for a full blown track.:(

So it's about 442'x442=196,172 or about 4.5 acres. Have to convert things to a useful measuring system. ;) :scream:

Should be plenty of room for a nice track.

I think you could make a nice private track in that size of an area. Is there any natural terrrain or is it basically flat?

justql's ideas on track design consist of what location and what variety of trees to plant.

Hey, I resemble that remark.:cool:

No in all seriousness I plan on taking the tractor out to our place and adding some more to our track. This will include removing the trees that are kinda close.:eek: