Finding Soap Box Derby Tracks

[Parallel Man]

The All American Soap Box Derby Race has a website:

http://www.aasbd.com

Go there and you'll find a race locator for different areas of the USA. Some of these races have websites with lots of info where they have an event, INCLUDING THE LOCATION. Using this as a lead I've found three new possible sites, one in Huntersville North Carolina (between Charlotte and Statesville,) Columbia, South Carolina and Marietta, Jaw Ja. I passed along the leads to Ron O, Marion and Tom Edenton to followup and see if these spots are good for racing (Outlaw, sanctioned, practice sessions, whatever.) I know SBDs need good hills but the surface could be another matter entirely. Plus, SBDs can close major thoroughfares we might not want to bother with for a little local session.

Anyway, check out the site for your state and see if there are any nearby good locations. Even if the local race doesn't have a designated track like Columbus or Hobby Park, you still might find a good hill in an industrial park or at a school never before considered.

[mangels]

That is so cool! I'm fer sure gonna go check out the location near me.

[Parallel Man]

Tom,

I see three street courses in Wisconsin at Racine, Green Bay and Madison. Be sure, though, to check out the dedicated SBD track in Des Moines. What is that, about 250 miles west of you?

[Brian Holden]

Awesome, just found a track in Littleton! Maybe a new slide hill?

[fineout]

is there somewhere on that site with pics? i looked but couldnt find it

[Parallel Man]

Many of the local races have their own website. Use the State Locator map to find races then use the located races to to go their website. Most have one, some don't.

[grafgulch]

is there somewhere on that site with pics? i looked but couldnt find it

I ran across this list of Soapbox derby tracks a few months ago
.
http://207.242.75.40/derbtech/derbytech_track_guide.htm

Now if only I can convince my city planners to build a Soap Box Derby track I would be set. It would prolly be easier then getting a nice concrete park.

PG

[scabus maximus]

Tom,

I see three street courses in Wisconsin at Racine, Green Bay and Madison. Be sure, though, to check out the dedicated SBD track in Des Moines. What is that, about 250 miles west of you?

WT, I skated over to Green Bay this afternoon (boy, are my legs tired!) I was about to check out the course when I spotted a guy on the side of the road selling those large cheese hats so, I bought one of those instead.
Juggy, eat your heart out. I gots a big cheese hat.

Anyway, expect a REAL course report Saturday.

[Parallel Man]

Anyway, expect a REAL course report Saturday.

I gather you are getting over to Pine Ridge? And that spot in Irmo near the house?

[scabus maximus]

Ok, so here's the scoop on the SBD track in W. Columbia.
The track is about 350' long before it flattens out. Elevation change is constant sloping 5" over 8' (pretty shallow).
The surface, well... not so good. Prettymuch paved like every public road in South Carolina; big chunks of granite imbedded in gray asphalt. Oh well.

There is a positve note to this location, however. Following this road around the back revealed a nice little jem. Two spots about 300' long with a steeper slope and paved in beautiful fine-grained black asphalt.

WT, the pics below are from the spot indicated on the arial photo you sent.

[Parallel Man]

Yeah. That's older than I thought it would be. You can tell by the way the asphalt recedes and the stone comes up. It it's smooth, though, it could be doable with 80a.

As far as the other access roads, I'm glad you checked them out. Looking at the Google Earth photo I could see the school was covered in asphalt with all kinds of lanes. The only question would be slope and surface. Maybe we can do something there this fall or winter?

Also, what about all those softball/baseball fields on a Saturday? Was the place active or were you there alone?

And don't forget about the spot in Irmo you mentioned.

[scabus maximus]

I was there at around 1:30 and there were only three people there - teenagers hanging out at a swing set. The access roads in the back are definately worth a shot. I'll get some pics and a slope measure.

The Irmo spot is not as good as I had hoped (slow with an "oily" feeling asphalt) and Coyote Ct. was a total bust - good for dirt bikes, though.

It rained frogs here last night and the access roads were still wet so, I plan to go back with a deck when Mr. Sun comes out and see how they skate.
Heard anything from RonO or Marion?

[Parallel Man]

I talked to Ron last winter about the Marietta SBD. It's over farther west from where he lives in Alpharetta, so I don't know that he ever got to check it out. It's like Pine Ridge, though, with the SBD course on the grounds of Marietta High School. It's also like Pine Ridge from Google Earth: lots of possibilities but no way to tell withouth seeing it up close.

The other spot in North Carolina is in Huntersville right outside of Charlotte. I e-mailed Karr about it last week and just said to remember it was there the next time he heads to Charlotte. With his work there's no telling when he'll travel somewhere. The spot, though, is litterally just a couple of miles off the interstate.

Ron is having an Outlaw next Sunday (8/5). Let me know if you're going. I doubt I do. Same ol' story this summer.

[MrFuji]

Today and tomorrow, there are soapbox derby races at the Des Moines track. I'm thinking that as part of the race set-up, the track will be swept.

I plan on riding the track Sundy. Let me know if you would like to join me.

[Lenny]

Today and tomorrow, there are soapbox derby races at the Des Moines track. I'm thinking that as part of the race set-up, the track will be swept.

I plan on riding the track Sundy. Let me know if you would like to join me.

There's a GREAT derby track in our neck of the woods, but we have to hit it on Sundays. The Derby folks say that the skateboard wheels tear up the track. (????)