Backyard Tracks and Strangers

[Dangeruss]

So... you've got a track in your yard... if you don't, lets pretend you do... Someone you don't know knocks on your door, or approaches you while you're running your car and asks, "Would you mind if I or some of my friends use your track whenever we have some free time?

What would you say to this complete stranger?

[RC10th]

Is it close to the house or on a bit of open land? Is this stranger younger or older and does he seem like a decent guy?


If it was right next to the house or in the backyard no.

If it was away from the house a bit I'd probably say yes as long as the main guy knows that you hold him responsible for damages caused by them.

[Dangeruss]

Is it close to the house or on a bit of open land? Is this stranger younger or older and does he seem like a decent guy?

Mmm... let's say the track is right next to your house and the stranger is our age and seems like a decent guy.

[Lowgear]

This certainly is a loaded question...

I know I'd be quite leery of allowing it in this day and age. If nothing else because it would likely lead to having a snowball effect which greatly increase the odds of something bad eventually happening. Then if someone gets hurt on your property, you're held liable I believe, at least here anyway. You can of course have them sign a waiver but I feel it would be a good idea to consult with a local lawyer for one. I don't think I'd trust printing something out I found online holding up in court due to reginal law variances.

There's any number of different scenarios but I think ultimately I'd have to politely tell them they can't due to legal reasons or make up some excuse. I can't fathom blindly going to someone's house, and doing that as I'm the opposite type of person, so I'd be really standoffish if someone did that to me.

[TRX-1-3]

Ask him if he has a swimming pool.

[Frankentruck]

Hypothetically, do I think they are faster than me and might beat me on my home track?

[badhoopty]

would be a big no with the whenever time thing. if they sent a text asking beforehand and they seemed cool, maybe?

[RC10th]

Right next to the house I'd be cautious, it's too easy for them to snoop around and if people are used to seeing strangers near the house they won't alert you to any suspicious behaviour.

The guys might be cool, but without knowing them I'd be leary. I'd probably start with inviting them for a run with you a few times to judge their character, or like badhoopty says a text or something letting you know they're coming around is a great idea.

Of course if your you/wife/kids were uncomfortable with the idea it would be a big no.


As a kid a guy up the road was renovating his house and said I could do whatever I wanted in his front yard until he was ready to do something with it, so I built an RC track and spent many days and hours in his front yard

Personally I'd love to set a track up far enough away from the house and have like minded people interested in it. If someone was say a builder they could help build a driver's stand and build other infrastructure, or if they had a bobcat the track could grow into something better than I could do on my own.

[Dangeruss]

Ask him if he has a swimming pool.

Well done. #1 question every pool owner gets asked... "Can I swim in it?". So I thought why not the same question about an RC track.

Hypothetically, do I think they are faster than me and might beat me on my home track?

I like it... "You have a 380 Grasshopper? Sure, have a blast" ... "You have a 12,000 KV brushless your B7? Get off my lawn".

As a kid a guy up the road was renovating his house and said I could do whatever I wanted in his front yard until he was ready to do something with it, so I built an RC track and spent many days and hours in his front yard

Awesome