obstacle course input

Hey guys,

As you hopefully know I'm putting on an 8 hr team race in January. It's a 12 mile typical harescramble loop and part of the course will have a WEC style obstacle course. We've looked at all the pictures from their website and have about 9 from them that we're going to use. So, does anyone have any original ideas for unique obstacles?

We don't want really difficult obstacles (not romaniacs) but we do want obstacles most B racers could do. And every obstacle will have a longer grass track bypass. fyi, Lowe's is on board as a sponsor so we have all the lumber, steel, rebar, lag bolts and so forth coming.

It's going to be a great spectator area and we want to put on a good show. Here's a picture looking from the pit row side of the lake over to the obstacle course side.



ANY INPUT IS APPRECIATED

We picked up a dozen power poles yesterday. They were huge! 30+ ft long. So, yes we're planning on stuff like that. Log crossings are pretty much the easiest to make. We'll also have a firewood pit, an "over and under" bridge thingy, a "walk the plank" thing, tires....and more.

Someone suggested the decreasing radius circle that was done out west somewhere. Unfortunately we don't have bridge to get out of it and I don't like the idea of no barrier between the circles. So, not doing that. But, looking for original ideas like that. Maybe someone has seen unique stuff from a different discipline - like mtn biking???

One of the more challenging obstacles I remember seeing in Last Man Standing was two utility poles stacked one on top of the other, without any "pyramid" stacking. In other words, it was one pole laid directly on top of the other, braced, I assume, with long lag bolts or some such. It made for a very vertical approach and departure, requiring serious commitment and momentum to get over. Of course, I can't find a picture of what I'm thinking of.

I'm also remembering a photo sequence of someone riding over a concrete Jersey barrier--you know, one of the "cattle chutes" they put up in road construction zones. Now, riding over a lone-standing barrier would be tough as hell, but if there were lots of dirt fill on the other side, it might make for a decent step-up obstacle.

Decreasing radius or snails are cool especially if you build a bridge up and over at the center. The bridge up and over can be a cool obstacle in and of itself.

Make sure your firewood pit the logs are split. Round logs you will have a lot of B riders going OTB.

take look here

http://www.12heureslatuque.com/pages/enduro/francais/photos.php

This a 12 hour race we have every year. Very nice endurcross section.

An old car makes a nice show and its not too hard to get over.

you can do the snail without a bridge, its been done, (I saw at Rynoland and I think they did it at the 24 hr Glen Helen race as well) you just run parallel runs in and out and at the center its quick ess turn spin into the other direction and out. Its a safe and fun obstacle to watch. slow enough to just use haybales and cones. and dizzying for the riders. R

PS remember your riders, so as to not over challenge your guys (the ones that pay, like you and I), no need for over the top stuff, leave that for the E-Cross pros.
Sounds like you guys are planning a good one, wish I could join the adventure!!

Yes Every obstacle will have a grass track bypass for those that don't want to do it. We're going to try to time it so going on the bypass is 3x longer than a good run through the obstacle. That way anyone that tries the obstacle and wrecks isn't automatically punished.

Good one's all Keep 'em coming. We're doing some of the ones suggested. I like the idea of the snail but I think safety could be an issue unless we did a bridge or had a whole bunch of barriers. I wouldn't want to just use haybales for that especially if every other line is going the opposite direction.

We already have four GNCC pro teams confirmed. No one has turned us down yet, just waiting on answers. The Ironman purse has grown from $150 to $500 cash plus $250 in gift certificates. Who from The Cafe is coming?

Oh, and I've spoke with Gerald at upstate (runs the Husky GNCC team). He said Glenn Kearny will likely not be back in the US at that date but won't know for sure for a few more weeks. He also elaborated on Glenn's plans for next year but I don't want to go putting that out there on the 'net since it isn't my career and so forth. But I say expect to see him at many races.

Funny you say that. Someone already suggested having arrows on stakes going across the lake.....just to mess with the racers.....You can count on it.

Just make sure Pastrana doesn't sign up, because that guy will a find a way across the lake!!!

And doin it with a gold half face helmet, shorts and sandals.

make a see saw. this can be somewhat tough as the plank will have to be pretty stout cause it will see a lot of abuse. Bed the ends in sand so when they bang down they are cushioned. You need a turn immediately after it. If it is on a straight riders will just use the ramp up as a jump and air out the back side. You need to put a 90 degree turn about a bike length after the end downside ramp. the turn should be more like a lane. say something two feet wide lined with telephone poles so if they screw up they will have to dab or maybe tip over. Too make it more technical put the turn less than a bike length so they will be into the turn but the rear tire will still be on the ramp a bit. this will make sure they go slow over the see saw which will be a good test of nerves and balance and then they will get rattled some more by the tight turn and tel pole lane. This would be a slow speed test designed to really test bike skills not speed. very trials bike like. the pivot point on the see saw does not need to be too high somewhere around 2 feet i bet would work. you can also make a very short see saw. total plank length not much more than the bike maybe a foot and a half two feet longer. Something where the rider would have to use body english to help initiate the flop over. ideally maybe even a little front brake while still pointing up!! Again you need a 90 degree turn w/something big soft and immovable on the other side like a big round bale to penalize the throttle jockies. Put some though into it ... you can have a lot of fun with see saws!! and they don't have to be deadly ... just tough enough to give a good time penalty if the screw up. aluminum ladders make freaky looking planks but I doubt they would hold up well!!