Pond Size for Heat Racing

[Blackout]

I'm trying to decide what would be a suitable pond size for heat racing. What would be the minimum width for the lanes? I was thinking 50 feet.

Also, does anyone race on the smaller 1/4 mile IMPBA oval course? Any comments on running this course instead of the larger 1/3 mile course?

Thanks for any input,

Craig

 

[jetpack]

Hi Craig,

Would something like this help you? I pulled it from the NAMBA rule book.

It might help give you an idea how you can be flexable on a 1/6th mile course (if your looking to stay regulation size). IMPBA rulebook also has theirs.

Welcome, I see it's your first post. B)

 

[Blackout]

Hi Craig,
Would something like this help you? I pulled it from the NAMBA rule book.

It might help give you an idea how you can be flexable on a 1/6th mile course (if your looking to stay regulation size). IMPBA rulebook also has theirs.

Welcome, I see it's your first post. B)

Jetpack,

Thanks for the info, but it doesn't address the lane width which would dictate the required pond size. The IMPBA rules suggest atleast 50 feet for front straight safety. The corners may need more, but I'm not sure.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[Terry Keeley]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.

I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

 

[Blackout]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

Terry,

Thanks for the input.

It looks like the max pond size than I can dig on my farm would be 550 x 200 feet, so I may have to settle for using the 1/4 mile course. I wanted to use an approved IMPBA course so that I could compare my times to the records. But, I do see that the faster, larger boats do not have record times on the smaller course, so that must not be used as much.

I understand the importance of having extra water space for safety, but I race my car quite close to obstacles that would cause excessive damage if I was to spin.

Craig

 

[Tom Kelly]

Craig

Can we come over? I'll bring a shovel!! Make it and they will come.

Tom

 

[Blackout]

CraigCan we come over? I'll bring a shovel!! Make it and they will come.

Tom

All would be welcome, but first I need to find someone with a big bull dozer and desperate for some work.

I'll post pictures if the project goes through. I am lucky enough to have a low spot on my property that is perfect for a pond. The removed dirt can be used to raise other low spots on my farm. I already have one pond, but it is only 240 ft x 175 ft. It also has a small island, which is cool, but a problem when running boats. At first I was thinking of enlarging the existing pond, but it seems easier to just start from scratch. The island is a real problem and would be expensive to remove.

Craig

 

[Norm Doerr]

Five Acre Rectangle

 

[Blackout]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

I tried Google Earth and it works great, but my farm is not visible for some reason. When I go to it, it is all blurry. Yet, a couple miles down the road, everything is clear. Are there certain areas that are not covered with Google Earth?

Thanks.

 

[piper_chuck]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

I tried Google Earth and it works great, but my farm is not visible for some reason. When I go to it, it is all blurry. Yet, a couple miles down the road, everything is clear. Are there certain areas that are not covered with Google Earth?

Thanks.

In a word, yes. It's a government plot to hide things they don't want people to know about. Most likely your farm is in close proximity to some kind of secret, but well known to the bad guys, government installation that will be in the first wave of targets should another country decide to nuke us. :wacko:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I too have found some places blurry. I assume it's due to a lask of better satellite imagery for that area.

 

[TCHedOff]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

I tried Google Earth and it works great, but my farm is not visible for some reason. When I go to it, it is all blurry. Yet, a couple miles down the road, everything is clear. Are there certain areas that are not covered with Google Earth?

Thanks.

In a word, yes. It's a government plot to hide things they don't want people to know about. Most likely your farm is in close proximity to some kind of secret, but well known to the bad guys, government installation that will be in the first wave of targets should another country decide to nuke us. :wacko:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I too have found some places blurry. I assume it's due to a lask of better satellite imagery for that area.

Ironically Piper, shortly AFTER 9-11, I got curious about a military base on the north side of the Twin Cities (I had moved to a place @ 2 mi away - and while it is huge, you NEVER see any people or activity - looks empty/run down... so I was curious.... area 51 and all that! ). Anyhow, Microsoft TerraServer gave me detailed Satellite views of the entire base (still no people/activity/goings on!!!! B) ) Guess they are must be underground.... but TerraServer will often give ya Sat images where Google Earth wont. Just and FYI

todd

 

[piper_chuck]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

I tried Google Earth and it works great, but my farm is not visible for some reason. When I go to it, it is all blurry. Yet, a couple miles down the road, everything is clear. Are there certain areas that are not covered with Google Earth?

Thanks.

In a word, yes. It's a government plot to hide things they don't want people to know about. Most likely your farm is in close proximity to some kind of secret, but well known to the bad guys, government installation that will be in the first wave of targets should another country decide to nuke us. :wacko:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I too have found some places blurry. I assume it's due to a lask of better satellite imagery for that area.

Ironically Piper, shortly AFTER 9-11, I got curious about a military base on the north side of the Twin Cities (I had moved to a place @ 2 mi away - and while it is huge, you NEVER see any people or activity - looks empty/run down... so I was curious.... area 51 and all that! ). Anyhow, Microsoft TerraServer gave me detailed Satellite views of the entire base (still no people/activity/goings on!!!! B) ) Guess they are must be underground.... but TerraServer will often give ya Sat images where Google Earth wont. Just and FYI

todd

You shouldn't have shared that info. Now you're going to get a visit from the men in suits.

 

[Blackout]

I've spent a lot of time lately looking for water in our area, Google Earth is great to search with, you can use the ruler function and tell right away if something is big enough or not.
I'd consider 1000' x 500' to be an ideal heat racing pond but doable down to about 800 x 400. A 1/3rd mile course is 400' between 2 & 5 so this leaves 200' on the ends, most courses are 50-80' from shore so that's about 150' to the back straight plus another 250' or so to the rocks.

I tried Google Earth and it works great, but my farm is not visible for some reason. When I go to it, it is all blurry. Yet, a couple miles down the road, everything is clear. Are there certain areas that are not covered with Google Earth?

Thanks.

In a word, yes. It's a government plot to hide things they don't want people to know about. Most likely your farm is in close proximity to some kind of secret, but well known to the bad guys, government installation that will be in the first wave of targets should another country decide to nuke us. :wacko:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I too have found some places blurry. I assume it's due to a lask of better satellite imagery for that area.

Ironically Piper, shortly AFTER 9-11, I got curious about a military base on the north side of the Twin Cities (I had moved to a place @ 2 mi away - and while it is huge, you NEVER see any people or activity - looks empty/run down... so I was curious.... area 51 and all that! ). Anyhow, Microsoft TerraServer gave me detailed Satellite views of the entire base (still no people/activity/goings on!!!! B) ) Guess they are must be underground.... but TerraServer will often give ya Sat images where Google Earth wont. Just and FYI

todd

I tried Microsoft TerraServer and I found my farm, but there is no ruler unless I pay $30 a month. Is there a 3rd option out there?

Thanks.

 

[TomMoorehouse]

mapquest will work I think?

 

[Boatshop]

NASA Has one called worldwind, I don't recall the full url, but last time I used it.

I could see my pick-up parked at my house.

Dave

 

[Blackout]

NASA Has one called worldwind, I don't recall the full url, but last time I used it.I could see my pick-up parked at my house.

Dave

I down loaded the NASA software and it looks impressive, but when I zoomed in it was always blurry. Not sure what I am doing wrong. The software does seem less user friendly, so it could be my problem.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.