New Club North Devon indoor carpet + Astro tracks
 

Well its time we bit the bullet and really tried to get propper Off road RC club/scene going in the area as currently north devon does not have a single one:mad::thumbdown:.

But here were are B.B.R.C - Bideford Bay Rc Club

Here's a brief background to who we are.

We are currently a small group of Rc enthusiasts who simply have a fun enthusaistic do it your self attitude to most things. We're all in our 30's and all got back into Rc and Rc racing together over the last few years after not having been invloved in the hobby since our youth. Me, Matt V (Scattyv on here) and Matt B (Brimmerz soon to be on here) are the backbone of the group and are all quite obsessive people who all take doing things propperly quite seriously. Our aim/mission is to develop a fun and competative comunity of racers in our part of the South West.

The Tracks (as they are currently:D)

We both race indoors in the winter on carpet/wooden floor tracks and on our own private astro track based at my parents property near by.

First the Astro track

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps56e6e9f7.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps75fc8d45.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps76aadafc.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...psab676393.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps6470f4d6.jpg

Venue location is between Bradworthy and Woolsery, postcode EX22 7XH. 11 miles from Bideford, 12 from torrington, 13 from Bude and 20 from Barnstaple so no more than 25-30mins (slow driving) from any of the local towns. Dates to be confirmed.

We have alot of plans for this next year including a full flattening/ re-levelling, better features/ jumps, full size rostrum and an extra lane's worth of track making the size roughly 30mx14m (30mx11.5m at the moment). Also we are gonig to be covering the features with outdoor carpet rather than astro so that we can vary the layout more easily and quickly. There is parking and pitting (and possibly camping) area available for at least 50-60 people very comfortably.

Next is the new Indoor venue

Weve used pretty much every hall in about a 15 mile radius and this seems to be the best we have found and we think it has potential.
We tried this one briefly a while ago but didn't really make use of the space. This time we really could see the potential for it to grow into a proper club. The main part of the track we made here is about 21mx8.5m but the total track area including the little side area of around 190sqm but we think it could be made to be over 200sqm which is minimum micro national level track size (not that were thinking of nationals, just a good size track) and I've certainly seen 10th being run on smaller tracks. Track width was at least 2m and i think the selection of features and corners worked really well for clean yet intersting racing for all abilities.


http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps1d95be6b.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...pscb870890.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps1d95be6b.jpg

We can even make a decent height rostrum easily and that makes such a difference from the stages and even chairs we've been used to at other halls.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps0b79e32d.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps01b985dc.jpg

This time we had the pit area next to the track, but next time we will use one of the many un-used rooms in the building. It has enough tables and chairs for around 300 people so pits shouldn't be an issue:thumbsup:.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps8524ea8f.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...psfd90f925.jpg
It even has excellent car cooling stands :thumbsup:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps049db2c7.jpg


Here is one of the smaller side rooms that could be used for pitting.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps179683e5.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps88273b9d.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...pscbddf298.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps17285c70.jpg
For the first time we even took a printer to prin the results:blush:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps17285c70.jpg

The venue location is:-
Langtree Parish Hall
Southlands Dr
Torrington, Devon EX38 8RH

Time from about 11am-6pm Most if not every Saturday.
Again there is ample parking and pitting area for at least 100 people.

Were thinking about running an open day of free racing at some point in the next 4-5 weeks at the indoor venue and then again at the astro track in april sometime when we've done some more work on it. hopefully we will draw a some of the local (and hopefully not so local) racers out of the wood work to come and have a good day and give us some feedback/advise on the tracks, venues etc. this would be open to both micro racers and 10th off road. We have been racing 8th scale electric on the astro track for the last couple of years but have decided to make the move to 10th as it just suites both our track and the other local tracks better. Initially we will just be running 4wd our selves (as thats all we have so far and money is always tight) but 2wd will also be welcome to all events and we'll end up getting them our sleves at some point :D.

We do intend to be BRCA affiliated as soon as possible and will advise of this as it happens.

Any queries, suggestions and advise please put them in here so that we can record them for all to see.

We would like to get a club section on Oople if possible (any help on how to do this from a mod would be great). Then we need to work on a website for us:rolleyes:.

looking good guys

Thanks Mr May,

I think we now have enough experience in both track design and race control that we can start to manage things a bit more "professionally".

Really hoping we can give the local race scene a bit of a kick start.:)

When is the next indoor or out door meeting

Good work guys:thumbsup: If you have any questions please feel free to contact me as im your 1/10 off road BRCA rep for the area.

Martin Owen

Should be Saturday. But just waiting to confirm the same hall now.

Hi Martin,

Thank you, been a slow (yet rewarding and fun) process getting to where we are now and i feel like we haven't even really started yet.

I'm sure we will have lots more questions.
But one that is in my mind now concerns process of BRCA club affiliation (slow day at work:)). I have downloaded the Club affiliation pack but i am unsure of the fees process now. When I last looked you paid a fee and you got I think it was 3-4 brca memberships for the officials. but now it states that affiliation is free for eligible clubs?

My take on it, is that now aslong as all the officials are BRCA registered the club affiliation process is free. Is this correct?

Also may I ask what roles you take on as the SW 1/10 rep for BRCA?

Jon - Regarding outdoor racing at the Astro track I "predicting/working toward" having it ready for club racing by around mid April.
We have a lot we want to do to it to make it a better more suitable facility for club racing.

The start of the list being:-

Proper rostrum,
lifting the astro and re-leveling underneath (Bloody moles:mad:)
Then is adding a new lane and sorting the new track marking (filling the
fire hose with gravel).

Other local track Race dates?
 

I've just been looking at the local clubs to us to check that we don't clash with any of them and this is what I can find (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Mendip - Sundays

Worm - Tuesdays

Tiverton - Sundays

Torbay micros - Friday Nights

Tobay auto club - Sunday

So Saturday seems to be a good day for anybody not available in the evenings or Sundays in the South West:)

I'm sure a few of us from West cornwall will make a trip up in the summer

I get to deal with any enquires you have about the Brca and if I can not answer them I can contact the correct person on your behalf to get a answer! I also over see our regional series and make sure that is is run to BRCA rules which means upsetting everyone from time to time but I have got use to that now:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Hi Martin,

Seeing as your thew man to ask.

Any joy with this one?

Just noticed I missed your post gixxer.

Great stuff we'll confirm dates for open days at both tracks as soon as possible.
And post them both here and on our updated websites new club section that Matt is working on.

Firstly I have a question for any track owner/operators out there.
How do you all deal with disabled access to the rostrum?

Also i should say the new website with club section and race calender will be live on the 1st of March. This will have all information for upcoming events including the open days at both indoor and outdoor tracks (obviously I'll put them up here as well;)).

I'm also hoping one of the mods will turn up sooner or later so that we can find out about getting a club section on the forum.

Martin - Chris Hardisty and Dianne Hope with clarification on the club affiliation process, so i think we are sorted there and will have that in soon.

Ah thats great unfortunately the real job got in the way today before I could fined out for you but glad they sorted it for you. Good luck with it all and hopefully will have a free weekend in summer to come and have a look and race!

Hi Martin,

No problem at all. I'd actually already sent an email to the brca asking the same question.
Either way got a quick response so all good.

You might be able to answer my other question though.
It's regarding the wheelchair access that is stipulated for
bra events. Now were certainly not considering getting involved
in brca sanctioned events at the moment but are we would like to
know how most clubs deal with wheelchair access to the rostrum?

I've looked at pictures of many rostrum and most only seem to have steps
rather than a ramp.

This is great news. Saturdays are even ideal for me. Just need work to slow a bit and i will be along.
New model shop in barnstaple now too. Get some advertising in there and you both do each other a lot of good

Hi Tony. Thank you:) We thought that if we really want racing round here to grow were going to have to be the people to make it happen!

Yes Truly great news about a new model shop opening up in Barnstaple:thumbsup:. Brimmerz Told me just earlier this evening and we have already arranged to both finish work a bit early tomorrow so that we can go over and meet them/discuss them getting involved. If we get time we'll get some posters/flyers printed up to give them.

I don't suppose you know the name of the shop and if they have a website yet? He didn't have a Jounal to hand.

Cheers Tony.

The shop close at 4pm today normal hours tomorrow 10am- 5pm!!

Well we went and had a very pleasant and productive meeting with the guys (Chris and David) at the new local model shop this afternoon to dicuss how we might be able to help each othe out in creating more of an rc scene in the area. They both seemed like really nice guys and were extremely positive about it all .

We have left a couple of big posters in the shop and Chris has agreed to be the last of the 4 BRCA registered officials for the club. We have all his BRCA license details already so that should all be in the post next week;)

At the moment they don't have many race spec kits or parts, but they were extremely open to help in picking a good selection of the top race kits to get in stock so hopefully they will have them available soon.

Astro Track (2013 version) Sooon to be enlarged.
 

Almost forgot that Brimmerz had a half decent panoramic of the track as we ran it for most of last summer. A lot of work to do this year to really bring the level up a bit. may have to throw a track building party at some point;):woot:

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps0975962b.jpg

Some photos from yesterdays racing.
 

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...ps24f02e92.jpg
Track Layout.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8cd75a4a.jpg
Airborne Mini 8ight

Update time!
 

Right I thought it time I gave an update on proceedings.

This weekend we cancelled indoor racing as we felt we should take advantage of the fantastic weather and start the work required to get the Astro track prepared for the coming season.:)

We managed to make a good start, getting all the ramps taken down and all the astro De-weeded and taken up. Upon lifting it we could see the extensive mole city that appears to have grown up underneath:mad:
It think we are going to have to rotovate the whole track before leveling in the hope that that this will get rid of them.

Were hoping that the weather holds out for next weekend so that we can make some more good headway as I think we need another 3-4 days work on site to get what we want done.

If anybody is available to come and help on any of the upcoming work days (which I will post up here) it would be much appreciated as when it comes to astro many hands makes light(er) work.;)

Astro track update
 

Here is the track as it is after a hard days work on Saturday!

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6c2214bb.jpg

Finally time for an update!!!!
 

Well after many delays (new son being born, the weather, raising funds etc ;)) we have now pretty much finished a complete overhaul of the Astro track.

http://sos-mmrc.com/_photos/Myrthwoo.../dsc_0103.htmlPics in link - http://sos-mmrc.com/_photos/MyrthwoodRCTrack/index.html (photo buckets not working for some reason?)http://sos-mmrc.com/_photos/Myrthwoo.../dsc_0103.html

After much discussion with my parents who own the land it was decided that if we were going to build up the venue as a club it would need to be moved to a different part of the field and a proper hard standing car park needed to be laid so as that the ground did not get churned up.

In doing this we have been able to expand the track a bit to about 450sqm (I know its still not big but hey better than nowt:D). It also enabled us to build up the banks and use them to add some natural features.

We've just finished cutting a load of modular ramp formers that we will assemble tomorrow , this will allow us to quickly change layouts and feature selection in the future.

Then pretty much the "only" things required are a new bigger rostrum as the aluminium scaffold we currently use will only hold 6 at a time (and they are split over to levels) and to fill all the hose with chippings.

Were looking at having a free open day 19th of July with events fortnightly from then on.

Link to the location on bing maps
 

Here is a link to the location on Bing maps.

http://binged.it/1ohMSR3 :)

looking good guys :thumbsup:

Cheers Jon,

Been lots of issues, hard work and money spent by 4-5 of us way but we're pleased with how it's looking now. But i'm sure that you can understand those issues ;)

Looking forward to finally getting racing again:thumbsup:

guys give me a ring on 07791011037, i may have something you might want for your track.

Tom.

So we got out to the track both Saturday and Sunday this weekend to get more done :o:)

We assembled 4 of the 8 modular ramps / features, got a load of the hose filled with gravel (finally!!) and even got a bit of racing in :thumbsup:

Really pleased to say the ramps are perfect for both 10th and micro scales.
In fact in general we are really pleased with how well the micros are handling the track! Its still off-roading but that's how it should be with these cars. It was one of our major goals was to make the surface smooth enough that micro's could run successfully (last track ended up a bit to bumpy after the mole attacks) and from our little testing they definitely do my times in my custom GTB were less than 2 second of the 10th times (22 sec as apposed to 20). I would love to say that's just my driving but in the same car were all within a few 10ths of each other.

I'm just uploading a couple of quick vids i took of a couple of laps on my phone (I'm no camera man I must warn you), as soon as they're done I'll put up a link.


So I would like to gauge interest in running a free open day? Are there any people on here who would be interested in coming along? We'll obviously be advertising in the local area as well but would be good to get some local oopler's down:thumbsup:

I did manage to take 1 single photo (as I said no camera man).
One thing it does show is the need to get a leaf blower :D

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...pse784d446.jpg

quick Videos
 

Here a the couple of quick vids i took yesterday. Again sorry bout the quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmvY...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ViF...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPK8...ature=youtu.be

Once we get the rest of the features built it should make the lap more exciting and slow the lap times down a bit.

Looks awsome im in for a open day

Do you have or going to setup a facebook page quite a few racers dont go on oople and would help spread the word

Hiya. Good stuff were getting there SLooowly but surely. Each year we've taken big steps in the right direction. Never intended to spend so much money (that we don't really have:() on it but we really do want people to race against :thumbsup:

Matt has set up a face book group for us - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bidefordbayrc/

Great to see some progress with this project this is how good things start as long as everyone is patient! as rome wasnt built in a day :thumbsup: Again good luck and any questions please ask away and good to see the local shop and track supporting each other it is the way forward:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers Martin,

As is often the case life commitments and money get in the way sometimes;)

We have most things covered now - our biggest hurdle to overcome is getting a rostrum sorted.

Regarding the rc shop they are really nice guys in there and i'm happy we can help each other out.:)