ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

Mark McCree announced today that Radikal Racing Trucks will fund the construction of a start ramp trailer. The unit will consist of two full-size starting ramps, elevated timer and announcer stand and a swing-out starter's platform. It will be a fully self contained rig, with plenty of storage space for timing equipment, PA system, cones and other gear.

Construction will begin within the next week or so. The Radikal Racing Trucks Start Ramp Trailer was designed by Jack Smith, Adrian Pina and Bill Boothby, the same crew will also construct the unit.

The Radikal Racing Trucks Start Ramp Trailer will be used at major slalom races throughout the summer and fall.

that's pretty cool...

Questions:

1. How high are the ramps?
2. (dare I ask) Will there be gates?

Q

All of us need to give it up to Mark for all he has done and for what he will do.

Thanks Mark, see you soon.

Nice design. Wish I'd thought of it.

You know, Kevin, I wasn't going to say anything

Very nice concept guys. How nice would that be to pull up and drop it at the top of the hill, unfold it and go. Things are all lined up and sturdy.

Will it be wood construction bolted into the steel frame of the trailer? Add some type of leveling legs to the corners of the trailer for uneven surfaces (crowns in the road). Have the starter platform supported by a speaker box (PA System) which fits under the timer stand when traveling.

If I can do some CAD drawings or design work for you let me know.

Way to go Mark!

This is so cool. Reminds me of the Swiss skate van they used in the early 1990's. Then the platform was on the roof of the van. It was a huge startramp.

Ahh! I found it in the ramp section of this forum. Have a look.

This ramp is really cool. I'm glad to see Kevin's ideas becoming reality and someone coming up with the cash and time to make it happen.

One question, though: is McCree going to build TWO ramp/trailers? Will there be one for the East Coast and one for the West Coast? If not, who is volunteering or being paid to provide a hitch and drive this set up back and forth across the Mississippi? A race in Breck, a race in Georgia, a race in California, a race in New York, a race in Oregon, a race in Mississippi, another race in Colorado, another race in California, a race in West Virginia . . . after a while you're looking at 30,000 miles in just one season of getting this thing around to all the events. And I doubt you can put this thing on a plane and ship it air freight (Although I'm sure an overland carrier could give you a quote. That, however, is just more money someone will have to provide.)

I understand Radikal is sponsoring this and can do as it pleases. If Marc has the time and money to transport it everywhere that would be great. If he decided to park it in his driveway and take it out once a year for a race, that's cool too. When something like this, though, is announced with great fanfare, I just wonder about the logistics of making it practical.

Does anyone know the plans for how this set up will be stored, scheduled and moved around?

Just hook it to Madden's Bus.

Q

I volunteer to pull it.
No charge other than fuel and lodging.
Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel.
I would need some advance notice to get off work, though.

Wesley Tucker wrote:This ramp is really cool. I'm glad to see Kevin's ideas becoming reality and someone coming up with the cash and time to make it happen.

Wesley, can you go into more detail about this?

We are all pulling hard to promote skateboard slalom. I like it when people are noticed for what they do even though they may not be able to "make it happen" I enjoy saying thanks to the person(s) with the creative.

Patents and copyrights are all good things, but I have a problem with it when it comes to things like "seat belts" in cars or "cures" for disease. You know? Sure, that person or agency should be rewarded blah blah blah...

Anyway, is there a story here?

I would like to know.

This will not take anything away from Radikal or Jack Smith or the idea coming to reality. This is all good, all of it. I just want to know what's behind the story. Did Kevin draw it out on a cocktail napkin a long time ago?

I'm glad to see this happen, just want to know.

Thanks,

adam

Adam,

Last year at 'da Farm it rained Saturday morning. Since the skating was delayed, we were all hanging out at Tway's house, drinking coffer, shooting the breeze and hoping the skies would clear.

A group of slalom skaters were standing in Tway's driveway making jokes about JG's Mercedes when Kevin Gamble piped up and said, "would anyone like to see an idea I've come up with for a portable start ramp?" Well, the answer was a unanimous "Yes!"

What Kevin produced were no scribblings on a napkin. They were very detailed, scaled high resolution CADs of a very clever dual ramp design. From what I can see the only difference between McCree and Jack's proposal this week and what Kevin produced in 2003 is KMG didn't have "RADIKAL" all over his design.

I can remember the roll call of most who were there when Kevin came back from his car: Me, Geezer-X, that bastard 66, Mark McCree, Brian Parsons, Tway, Conner Abec, and maybe a few others. I honestly cannot remember if the rest of the Florida crew (Damnarino and Hollien,) or the Northeast crowd (ur13, Noah, Joe I,) paid attention to the drawings or not. I do know that Geezer, Kevin and McCree got into a lengthy discussion about what it would take to fabricate Kevin's design. Geezer was doing an inventory in his head of how much scrap steel channel was in his shop and if he'd have to shell out any cash for this thing or if he could get it done with stuff he already had. Also, there seemed to be a general concensus that finding just the right type of trailer "chassis" for this project would be difficult and probably the most expensive part.

Oh, and at the time I also asked the question, "well, if you build it, how's it going to get around to the races? Will this be something that only the DC Outlaws will enjoy?" Again, working from a bleary-eyed memory on a wet Saturday morning 1000 miles form home, I think the answer was pretty much what was suggested here: PADan volunteered to hitch it to his truck.

And that, Adam, is the story of how Kevin Gamble described to us a fabulous portable start ramp on a trailer.

By the way, Adam, I really don't care who builds it and I'm pretty certain Kevin doesn't either. It's not a question of "intellectual property." It's just that we all saw this trailer last year and think it's pretty cool we'll see it for real in a few weeks. All I can is hats off to Mark and Jack for taking the plunge to make it happen! I really wish I had the cash flow to do stuff like this. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd much rather build a skate ramp than buy a fishing boat. I've got 12 skateboards and not a golf club to my name. If it came between buying a new Trak Mate or an X-Box, Tway would have my checque tomorrow. So I'm not complaining or trying to start an argument. I do hope, though, that when all the back slapping and high fives get started when this project is completed that someone remembers to thank KMG for making the concept more than scribblings on a napkin.

After re-reading what I wrote in response to Adam, I recalled another aspect of our conversation last August that is as pertinent today as it was then. I've looked as closely as possible at Jack's rendering of the Ramp/Trailer and I can't find anywhere a dimension for the TRAILER LENGTH?

Why is this important? Well, these are FIXED RAMPS. They don't move "left to right" in relation to one another. This means that dual courses will have to be set up in front of the ramps to MATCH THE CENTERLINES DICTATED BY THE RAMPS. If not, then one course would be dead on while another is farther out or possibly both courses would be set up off the centerline of the ramps (You would come off the ramp and go left to the left course and right to the right course.) So in order for the course to be set up on the centerlines of the ramps, there has to be adequate spacing between the ramps to keep the courses seperated. Otherwise, you're looking as a lot of straight slalom with little or no offsets. There just wouldn't be enough room.

We did discuss this last summer. I believe it was either Geezer, KMG or maybe PADan who said they had an 8-foot utility trailer to donate (or could get one cheap, I done remember.) Some quick math, though revealed this wasn't "long" enough. If courses were set up in front of this trailer, the distance between the centerlines would be something like 5 feet or maybe less. That's too close for comfort with two slalom racers going down a hill side by side.

Again, I feel it's imperative I reiterate the following: I AM NOT BITCHING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT RADIKAL's RAMP. I think it's cool. What I am asking, though, is if the builders are planning on a ten-foot length, 12-foot, or more? Has any calculation been made as to the "average" width of the American two-lane road, the distance between the centerlines on such a road and the necessary length a trailer needs to be to span this distance?

to be honest, i don't even remember being at da'farm

a quick search of ncdsa's archive reveals the following:

On 11/7/2002 MARK MCCREE wrote in from 209.26.xxx.xxx:

FTR. Andy's phone bill is paid- I was just joking.

FYI. I have a launch ramp (DBL) under construction for use on the east coast. On a trailer- w/ scaffolding Roll it up to the event - flop it down and race.

On 11/30/2001 Chris Chaput wrote in from 63.168.xxx.xxx:

What may sound to some like a big "post season" bummer, I see as an opportunity. I may have to go it alone, but at least I'll be able to say that I went for it. I may not have a new idea here and I may fall flat on my face, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Here's the basic idea.

A Portable Slalom Event Kit

It seems to me that several well intentioned and hard working people have pioneered what I hope is the beginning of a slalom explosion. They have taken their ideas of how they'd like to see a race run and they put their money where their mouth was. My hats are off to all of them. They have created history. From this, we have been able to see what works and what doesn't work, what we like and what we don't like. Let me make that more personal. I have have seen what I like and what I don't like. Only from the efforts of others, am I able to make decisions on what I would do in a similar situation.

I am going to take what I've learned and put together the best, simplified and most cost effective system that I am capable of, and put it all out there for people to try. I have my own theories, my own pet peeves and my own ideals about racing and so it only makes sense that if I want to see things done my way, I've got to stick my neck way out and put them to the test. Perhaps the first test can be at an event like GBJ's "Gathering". Even though it wouldn't be a "real" race, I know what would happen if racers showed up where a timed course was in place. It's on.

I'm hoping that I would be able to consolidate the following items into an enclosed trailer and take it on the road this coming year.

-Course drawing tools
-Hundreds of cones (white, yellow, orange, red)
-Starting Ramps with smooth pumpable transitions
-A Christmas tree with audible tones
-Starting mechanisms and/or gates
-A redundant (wired) timing system
-Programming to allow for common starts or independently timed starts
-A "chase vehicle"
-A small computer network
-Large Whiteboards for bracketing and results
-Two Large Leaderboards, one for the top N riders, the other scrolls all riders/times
-A decent PA System
-A first aid kit
-Power supply, tables, chairs, tape, chalk, stopwatches, clipboards, rulebooks, cashbox, etc.
-Porta-potties not included.

What I propose is to have the fastest, most aggressive style of racing done under the most liberal set of rules as possible. Fewer violations, fewer DQ's, fewer mishaps and fewer re-runs and more racing. Easier said than done, I know. I am open to all comments and suggestions but I reserve the right to be stubborn, unreasonable and uncompromising. No blue cones, for example

My goal is to have a race where the course is explicitly predefined and publically announced well in advance. Each cone and circle will be numbered using two alternating colors in each lane (odd/even, white/red, yellow/orange). A "chase vehicle" with a cone god will follow shortly behind the racers and account for all displaced cones so that the coneheads can start resetting them as soon as possible. I want to have zero false starts and zero re-runs due to timer related issues. No foot fouls, no judgement calls, you either made the course or you didn't. No maximum number of cones hit resulting in a DQ. If you blow out of the course (DQ) on your first run and your opponent doesn't, you're history. There is an assumption that both lanes are makable and so if you don't make it, goodnight Irene. The course(s) will be easy at low speed and tricky at high speed.

We have it so good when compared to trying to put 4 downhillers or 6 lugers on a 2 mile course. This is made for prime-time-venue racing and I'm inspired to do what I can to help it along. My ultimate goal is to put as many smiles on as many faces as possible. I gotta get started now. Ciao.

On 6/14/2001 GBJ wrote in from 24.18.xxx.xxx:

I think starting ramps unnecessarily complicate slalom racing, and perpetually leave racers facing something at races that they cannot practice on at home. I think there's a general sense that they look better, or more professional, or something like that, but as I've said any number of times, I'm not racing for the audience, and am only secondarily concrned about how our racing looks to the general public. Besides, I worked for Ramptech, that didn't make me "ramp-guy extraordinaire", that means I worked for the "ramp-guy extraordinaire". Besides, I think if you're going to do it, do it right, which means I'm all for a trailer-mounted, self-contained, tow-into-place ramp system.

Great reading.

...I knew there was a story in there, thanks for posting it.

It's great to read about the history, the evolution of the sport. I like researching because when you get down to it, most things in skateboarding have already been done.

Tangent: When I watch my kids play THUG (video game) and the video of Burnquest (sp?) make the loop, it made me think about Hawk, then Peters, then K.Sentator (sp?) on the capsule tilted ramp, it makes you go back and remember, I like that, I enjoy the history.

I don't like it when people get overlooked for things they do.

In a Scientific setting, sometimes the lab assistants figure things out, the scientist get's the credit, surgeons make the surgery, the assistants make it easy for them, the surgeons get the credit, in Acedemia, Deans get the credit for the colleges they run, blah blah blah and no one told me life is fair.

You can't get to work if the guy at the gas station doesn't do his job.

We are all important and you stand up for what you believe in and you live your life. I hope the ramp idea becomes reality. It will benefit many and the way it came to life is good.

Thanks for the reads.

adam

That is an excellent concept!!

is anyone going to get it transferred to CAD, with more detail so we could get something similar built in the UK

Jack is going to get them done for La Costa. Originally, Fluitt was going to haul our COSS ramps to La Costa, but now we are going to drive out and bring them back for Breck. Then we will haul them back out for Worlds. Don't know what will happen with them after that. If everything works well, maybe they will build another set. We could always bring them back to Colorado and haul them to Mark in Mississippi next spring for use on the East Coast if there is a plan to build a 2nd set. We don't have to figure that out until Worlds.

Hello All,

Adrian Pina, Bill Boothby and myself spent Saturday beginning the construction of the Radikal Racing Trucks start ramp trailer. Below is a photo of our first day's effort.

We will continue work on Monday. Up next is sheeting the platform. There will be a timer/announcer table that slots into the middle section of the platform. Bill has also came up with a way to have the down ramps slide closer or further apart. (8' to 14' centers) The down ramps will store underneath the platform.

We will also be wiring the trailer with 110 outlets, and are thinking of installing a deep cycle RV battery with inverter, so we won't need a generator in locations where electricty is not nearby.

More photos on Monday.

Radikal Racing Trucks Start Ramp Update - Day 2

Today we were able to get the framing sheeted.

The framed upright you see in the middle of the platform will be covered with ply. There will a built in folding desk panel about 6" down from the top. This area will accomodate the timing and PA systems. This whole structure slides into a slot on the platform for easy assembly, no tools required. The officials will be seated in bar stool height "director" chairs. The entire middle section of the platform is covered in indoor/outdoor carpet. The area just to the rear of the of the officials area is hinged to allow access to a storage area. There is also indoor/outdoor carpet on both on-deck platforms.

The down ramps are being fabricated this week, both the down ramps and racer platforms will be covered with the SkateLite.

Up next, an awning for the officials area.

I would like to give a big thanks to Bill Boothby of Cambria for his role in building this rig. Bill is new to slalom skating and has an incedible stoke! He is also a master craftsman. Simply put, the Radikal Racing Trucks Start Ramp would not exist if Bill had not gotten involved.

Radikal Racing Trucks Start Ramp Trailer Update

Down ramps are almost done, upright pulls will be added soon. Note the mounting system that allows for adjustablilty.

The timer/announcer area is now wired for electricity.

Here's a photo of some end of the day silliness.

Dateline - On the beach in Kauai.

My wife Maurine has done it once again, scoring us a cool beachfront home, and I do mean mean beachfront. As I sit typing this all the windows and doors are open, the breeze and sound of the ocean are so nice.

I just got off the phone with Adrian, he and "Monster Garage Billy" have the Radikal start ramp trailer 99% complete. Billy says the awning looks like something off Fred Flintsones car. Adrian reports the whole rig is solid, he and Billy have been conducting numerous test launches.

Best of luck to all the racers!

PS - Please note my new email address: jack@justpushplay.com