I'm looking for interest to race Clods in MN.

I am hoping to host some racing events this summer. The racing would most likely be done on dirt and would be tighter courses. (Maybe 4ws?) I'm working on a timing system for it as well. The idea is in early stages and I am really just trying to put together a contact list if anyone is interested.

Thanks,
Adam Radiske

Sounds like a great idea! You're welcome to use our rules package that we've come out with specifically for elimination-style racing as a baseline to work off of. Sounds like it would be a perfect match for the type of racing you outlined.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bwj ... NzEz&hl=en

Thanks. Right now I'm working on getting the needed supplies to host an event. Rules might be a little vague at first to try and draw racers. If I can get a good count of trucks, then we'll start trimming the rules.

One thing that I am struggling with a little is a timing system. I am funding this out of pocket so I don't want to go all out on a system. I've even been looking into modifying the zipzaps lap timers. Or maybe making my own somehow. Any ideas? What are you guys using?

The rules as written should allow just about anyone to show up and race. If I were to pick a single class, just run a modified class as that covers any kind of Clod.

As far as timing/scoring, most series use at a minimum a christmas tree, and many use computerized timing lights as well.

Initially, simply having two people watching the finish line should suffice. Can't get much more low-budget than that. A simple green-red light setup will also work as a starting tree.

Cool Adam! Did you ever get anything going?

Jeff

Not this year. I barely got my clod built to the point where I could race it. Then real racing went sour and I spent WAY too much time working on that. This winter my garage is too full to try and do anything indoors but there is a chance I'll be putting a small dirt oval in my backyard. If I do that, I'll probably try to do some MT racing as well.

There was a group that used to race Clods in MN a couple years ago. They got a little burnt out and stopped for a while. A couple of them were at the NR/CTPA worlds last weekend so they are still around. They also build and sell the Berzerker Clod chassis.
Contact them to hook up with other racers in your area.

http://www.teamprpracing.com/clodbuster.html

Thats good info! Thanks!

Well good news! Last weekend when the weather was nice, I started building a dirt oval in my back yard. Walls are up to build banking and we started moving dirt in. The oval track will fit 1/18 scale best but it should be big enough to have some fun with Clods in as well. I'll post pictures once the track starts looking more like a track. And the will be tight enough that full out brushless modded clods wouldn't be needed.

I've been playing a little with my first clod. It's an RC GUY Gecko crawling chassis that I added some home made chassis plates to so I have better link mounting options. Now I have better upper link angles and can adjust axle caster. The main thing that I want to add to make it more of a race truck is sway bars. Anyone know of a good place to buy swaybars that I could try and mount? I don't think touring car bars would work, I looked at a couple of them. Is there any kind of rod that would work to make some?

I have a 2nd set of axles and just picked up a CPE Evolution chassis. I'm excited to get it so I can start assembling my 2nd clod. Just having 2 running trucks is a small step towards getting something going here in MN.

I would think you could get some thin rod and bend it to shape to make some custom ones. If you have an ACE by you they have metal bins that have wire you could check out. Fleet Farm has stuff too as well as other stores. You could get different thicknesses to experiment with.

That's what I was thinking. I might make some up out of wire coat hangers (don't laugh) to figure out the best mounting options. Then once it's in, I will find a better material and use the coat hanger as a template.

Now we just need this winter to fly by and hope for a dry spring.

Good idea!

I think this winter is going to be here for a while...