Building My Track

Markee
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Suffolk, VA, USA
Markee 1/14/2019 1:02pm
1/14/2019 1:02pm
Harry I'll come down and ride with ya when you get those crooked ass berms in order, I'll bring a stray cat as a token of my appreciation
1
mattyhamz2 1/14/2019 1:04pm
1/14/2019 1:04pm
mattyhamz2 wrote:
That dirt!!!! Woohoo Woohoo Woohoo Woohoo Woohoo
Harry Backmon wrote:
Come anytime, Matty. As always, any Vital member is always welcome to shoot me PM and set up a visit.
Thanks HarryBro! If I get to make it out that way I will definitely let you know
1
Black Diesel Bomber 1/14/2019 1:14pm
1/14/2019 1:14pm
Looks very fun, you're stoked. Will you be able to pump water from that pond and put some sprinklers on it when it's done?
1
kijen
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kijen 1/14/2019 1:29pm
1/14/2019 1:29pm
HB, good for you! I expect you will be soon be a sandbagger at nfmx with amazing corner speedSmile

Looking fwd to see you sooner then later!
2

The Shop

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Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 1/14/2019 1:44pm
1/14/2019 1:44pm Edited Date/Time 1/14/2019 1:50pm
I use my tractor for finish work only. They are too damn slow to build real berms and jumps. You need a dozer for that. Takes me a day with a dozer what it would take 4 weekends to do with my tractor. I don't have any huge berms or booters on my track, but all that I do have I built with a dozer. I can do it with a tractor but it takes forever.

If that's all you can use, buy a Jake Rake (https://www.jakesimplements.com/) and rip your entire track to get the outline. Then rent a tiller and till that bad boy as deep as you can. Add sawdust/sand depending on your soil. Till it again. Then ride it to find the lines you want to work. You can add jumps later.







5
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 1/14/2019 2:16pm
1/14/2019 2:16pm
Wish I lived closer to you. Be glad to help you!!
1
Fresh
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Fresh 1/14/2019 2:27pm
1/14/2019 2:27pm
If your soil is soft enough you can shape with a bike!
1
Racerxx
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Racerxx 1/14/2019 2:39pm
1/14/2019 2:39pm
My buddy Dino built a nice track with his John deer in Palmdale CA. Sandy base so it's really easy to push around the dirt. Heres a picture of my friend Mike shaping the turns with his AF500. Looks like you have a nice start there keep us posted with the progress.


3
motomojo
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Kingman, AZ, USA
motomojo 1/14/2019 3:34pm
1/14/2019 3:34pm
809 wrote:
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a...
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a shovel. Not as bad as it sounds
Harry Backmon wrote:
Yep, I can see some shovel, rake, hoe work in my future.
Indeed you will have a heap o hand work to do to get it nice.
I built mine with a little 30 HP tractor with a front loader attachment and a few three point hitch attachments a dozen hand rakes and a few shovels.so far.
Took a long time but worth every minute.


40
Racerxx
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Racerxx 1/14/2019 3:39pm
1/14/2019 3:39pm
809 wrote:
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a...
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a shovel. Not as bad as it sounds
Harry Backmon wrote:
Yep, I can see some shovel, rake, hoe work in my future.
motomojo wrote:
Indeed you will have a heap o hand work to do to get it nice. I built mine with a little 30 HP tractor with a...
Indeed you will have a heap o hand work to do to get it nice.
I built mine with a little 30 HP tractor with a front loader attachment and a few three point hitch attachments a dozen hand rakes and a few shovels.so far.
Took a long time but worth every minute.


Like the elevation change track looks incredible. How do you water?
1
brody
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brody 1/14/2019 3:52pm
1/14/2019 3:52pm
i think i can get your 4 loads of clean clay and a wheel loader or dozer
1
Harry Backmon 1/14/2019 4:08pm
1/14/2019 4:08pm
809 wrote:
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a...
It is tough with a tractor, I have be there. I would get the berm built up and roughly shaped then finish with a rake a shovel. Not as bad as it sounds
Harry Backmon wrote:
Yep, I can see some shovel, rake, hoe work in my future.
motomojo wrote:
Indeed you will have a heap o hand work to do to get it nice. I built mine with a little 30 HP tractor with a...
Indeed you will have a heap o hand work to do to get it nice.
I built mine with a little 30 HP tractor with a front loader attachment and a few three point hitch attachments a dozen hand rakes and a few shovels.so far.
Took a long time but worth every minute.


That's beautiful and way better than anything I'll ever have in south Georgia. As some of you know, I grew up in California's high desert, so a post like yours just tickles my homesick bone. Yep, that's right...40 years later still miss my little high desert hometown. California was still sane when I left. Not sure what y'all got going now.
1
motomojo
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motomojo 1/14/2019 4:10pm
1/14/2019 4:10pm
Racerxx wrote:
Like the elevation change track looks incredible. How do you water?
At the moment i pray for rain though i am about 1/2 way thru building a reservoir that will serve as water for the track and a fishing /swimming lake for after the ride.
Fire hose system for the hills like Mammoth and probably a truck for the lower sections.

Was hoping to get some help from folks who want a cool place to ride but you mention work or money to folks they just get that deer in the headlights look and head off to the nearest public track and pay their 25.
4
motomojo
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motomojo 1/14/2019 4:34pm
1/14/2019 4:34pm
Harry Backmon wrote:
That's beautiful and way better than anything I'll ever have in south Georgia. As some of you know, I grew up in California's high desert, so...
That's beautiful and way better than anything I'll ever have in south Georgia. As some of you know, I grew up in California's high desert, so a post like yours just tickles my homesick bone. Yep, that's right...40 years later still miss my little high desert hometown. California was still sane when I left. Not sure what y'all got going now.
Thanks lots of hard work and passion went into this track. Working the hills was a bitch but wow is it a fun track.
You will have such a good time building. The better it starts looking the more effort you will put in and when you ride that grin will be from ear to ear. Quite a task to build a track way more work than i ever expected but very rewarding.

Here's a go pro lap a friend shot a couple years ago lot's of hills and a couple nice big hits.

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Harry Backmon 1/14/2019 4:47pm
1/14/2019 4:47pm
Hammer 663s wrote:
I use my tractor for finish work only. They are too damn slow to build real berms and jumps. You need a dozer for that. Takes...
I use my tractor for finish work only. They are too damn slow to build real berms and jumps. You need a dozer for that. Takes me a day with a dozer what it would take 4 weekends to do with my tractor. I don't have any huge berms or booters on my track, but all that I do have I built with a dozer. I can do it with a tractor but it takes forever.

If that's all you can use, buy a Jake Rake (https://www.jakesimplements.com/) and rip your entire track to get the outline. Then rent a tiller and till that bad boy as deep as you can. Add sawdust/sand depending on your soil. Till it again. Then ride it to find the lines you want to work. You can add jumps later.







Hammer, that's really cool. Thank you for the tip.
Falcon
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Menifee, CA, USA
Falcon 1/14/2019 5:17pm
1/14/2019 5:17pm
sandman768 wrote:
Bikes make good lines ......just lay it out & start riding it.... Enhance track as you go....some of my favorite practice tracks started out with no...
Bikes make good lines ......just lay it out & start riding it.... Enhance track as you go....some of my favorite practice tracks started out with no equipment at all, just lay out a nice course & start riding it...
x2. You would be surprised how much differently a track would lay if you never rode it first. You may find that your lines were all wrong.
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 1/14/2019 6:40pm
1/14/2019 6:40pm
Harry Backmon wrote:
That's beautiful and way better than anything I'll ever have in south Georgia. As some of you know, I grew up in California's high desert, so...
That's beautiful and way better than anything I'll ever have in south Georgia. As some of you know, I grew up in California's high desert, so a post like yours just tickles my homesick bone. Yep, that's right...40 years later still miss my little high desert hometown. California was still sane when I left. Not sure what y'all got going now.
motomojo wrote:
Thanks lots of hard work and passion went into this track. Working the hills was a bitch but wow is it a fun track. You will...
Thanks lots of hard work and passion went into this track. Working the hills was a bitch but wow is it a fun track.
You will have such a good time building. The better it starts looking the more effort you will put in and when you ride that grin will be from ear to ear. Quite a task to build a track way more work than i ever expected but very rewarding.

Here's a go pro lap a friend shot a couple years ago lot's of hills and a couple nice big hits.

Your track looks awesome!! Nice work!!
zippytech
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zippytech 1/15/2019 5:03am
1/15/2019 5:03am
The dirt looks good, I would just disc it up and get some friends over to make the berms with bikes
2

Pit Row

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Harry Backmon 1/15/2019 5:53am
1/15/2019 5:53am
Markee wrote:
Harry I'll come down and ride with ya when you get those crooked ass berms in order, I'll bring a stray cat as a token of...
Harry I'll come down and ride with ya when you get those crooked ass berms in order, I'll bring a stray cat as a token of my appreciation
Markee, you have no idea how hard that made me laugh! Anyway, come anytime, but I don't need a cat. My neighbor has enough for all of us.
1
Harry Backmon 1/15/2019 6:00am
1/15/2019 6:00am
Black Diesel Bomber wrote:
Looks very fun, you're stoked. Will you be able to pump water from that pond and put some sprinklers on it when it's done?
BDB, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. That pond is fully stocked so I don't want to mess with it too much. I was thinking a shallow well, but then I'd have to run power out to the track, and it's a good 200 yards from our house to the edge of the track.
slipdog
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Nor Cal, CA, USA
slipdog 1/15/2019 6:08am
1/15/2019 6:08am
Looking good Harry Trackmon!
3
ChainChatter 1/15/2019 6:55am
1/15/2019 6:55am
You have plenty of dirt there to play with.
You shouldnt need to be hauling/paying for dirt.
Channels down the sides for drainage,crown the track for water run off and that will give you all the dirt you need.
‘Storage’ pools between lanes or wider areas of the track to catch rain water will also give you massive amounts of dirt.
Trash pumps in those pools will give you a water source for either irrigation or a tow behind sprayer for your tractor.
Drainage is key.

Track life ✊?
Your work is never done.
‘Its rideable’..
4
Harry Backmon 1/15/2019 7:12am
1/15/2019 7:12am
ChainChatter wrote:
You have plenty of dirt there to play with. You shouldnt need to be hauling/paying for dirt. Channels down the sides for drainage,crown the track for...
You have plenty of dirt there to play with.
You shouldnt need to be hauling/paying for dirt.
Channels down the sides for drainage,crown the track for water run off and that will give you all the dirt you need.
‘Storage’ pools between lanes or wider areas of the track to catch rain water will also give you massive amounts of dirt.
Trash pumps in those pools will give you a water source for either irrigation or a tow behind sprayer for your tractor.
Drainage is key.

Track life ✊?
Your work is never done.
‘Its rideable’..
CC, I appreciate your input, but unless you've ever been to south Georgia, I don't think you can understand the soil here. Additionally, the track is being built towards the back of my property and that area is LOW. Unless we go two to three weeks without rain, it does not dry up. And going two to three weeks without rain here is very rare. Throw into the mix that the soil back there is gumbo clay which holds water like you would not believe, and you can see why I want to bring in Georgia red clay to raise the track somewhat - not to mention it is my absolute favorite riding surface. I do have red clay on my property, but it is typically six or seven inches below the surface. Lastly, and maybe this is the part you're not really getting, my tractor has a tough time digging into the soil with the bucket loader. It's a small tractor and the surface of gumbo clay is harder than woodpecker lips. At $125 for a delivered dumptruck full of Georgia red, I'm not complaining. Again, thanks for commenting. Your tips on drainage are good ones.
1
1
mikec265
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Edinboro, PA, USA
mikec265 1/15/2019 7:43am
1/15/2019 7:43am
Find a used bottom plow to turn the ground over. The loader on your tractor will thank you. Or pay a local farmer to turn it over for you. It's worth it.
A 2 bottom plow is probably ok for a 30 hp tractor.
Should be able to find on Craigslist for about $200.
Does your tractor have remotes on the back?
Harry Backmon 1/15/2019 7:56am
1/15/2019 7:56am
Thanks man! I do have a box blade. That could help too.
Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 1/15/2019 9:04am
1/15/2019 9:04am
Harry Backmon wrote:
CC, I appreciate your input, but unless you've ever been to south Georgia, I don't think you can understand the soil here. Additionally, the track is...
CC, I appreciate your input, but unless you've ever been to south Georgia, I don't think you can understand the soil here. Additionally, the track is being built towards the back of my property and that area is LOW. Unless we go two to three weeks without rain, it does not dry up. And going two to three weeks without rain here is very rare. Throw into the mix that the soil back there is gumbo clay which holds water like you would not believe, and you can see why I want to bring in Georgia red clay to raise the track somewhat - not to mention it is my absolute favorite riding surface. I do have red clay on my property, but it is typically six or seven inches below the surface. Lastly, and maybe this is the part you're not really getting, my tractor has a tough time digging into the soil with the bucket loader. It's a small tractor and the surface of gumbo clay is harder than woodpecker lips. At $125 for a delivered dumptruck full of Georgia red, I'm not complaining. Again, thanks for commenting. Your tips on drainage are good ones.
Our dirt is bottomless clay too - totally holds water. But dude, once you till in some sawdust/wood chips you have loam that is to die for. I rip mine as deep as I can (10-12"), then bucket sawdust over everything, then use a tiller to work it in. It is simply amazing once that's done.

If you can raise the track that always a good idea. It's a lot of work but worth it. Use all the dirt between your lanes and then you'll also have places for drainage to go, as someone else mentioned.

Look at this dirt - clay, woodchips, and sawdust. Traction forever....



3
Harry Backmon 1/15/2019 9:15am
1/15/2019 9:15am
Hammer 663s wrote:
Our dirt is bottomless clay too - totally holds water. But dude, once you till in some sawdust/wood chips you have loam that is to die...
Our dirt is bottomless clay too - totally holds water. But dude, once you till in some sawdust/wood chips you have loam that is to die for. I rip mine as deep as I can (10-12"), then bucket sawdust over everything, then use a tiller to work it in. It is simply amazing once that's done.

If you can raise the track that always a good idea. It's a lot of work but worth it. Use all the dirt between your lanes and then you'll also have places for drainage to go, as someone else mentioned.

Look at this dirt - clay, woodchips, and sawdust. Traction forever....



Wow, that is gorgeous!

Thank you to each of you for the great advice. Y'all have given me some really good ideas to work with.
1
brody
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brody 1/18/2019 9:48am
1/18/2019 9:48am
any updates
Harry Backmon 1/18/2019 8:06pm
1/18/2019 8:06pm
brody wrote:
any updates
Brody, more clay arriving in about nine hours. I think he's going to be able to run at least six dump truck loads tomorrow. That might do it. Thanks for asking.
brody
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brody 1/18/2019 8:15pm
1/18/2019 8:15pm
cool
i could have got you about 6 clean loads of fill clay mix today, and a skid steer or loader, i posted eariler
we stopped hauling dirt today
1

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