Barnstormers Off-Road RC Raceways: Premier Outdoor Off-Road Racing in Chester, NY

Barnstormers Off-Road RC Raceways is located at 205 Greycourt Road, Chester, NY 10918, United States. It’s a well-known outdoor facility in New York, highly regarded for its off-road racing and a history of hosting significant events, including the “Big Apple Challenge.”

Contact Info: You can reach them at (347) 231-2375 or (845) 725-7715. They also have an active Facebook group, which is often the best source for the most up-to-date information, schedules, and community interaction.

What You Can Do at Barnstormers Off-Road RC Raceways:

1. Outdoor Off-Road Racing:

   • Track Surface: Barnstormers features an outdoor dirt off-road track. As with all outdoor dirt tracks, the conditions will vary with weather and maintenance (e.g., dry and dusty, grooved, loamy, wet and sticky). They aim to provide a consistent and well-prepared surface for racing.
   • Scale: The track caters to a wide range of off-road scales, notably 1/8th scale electric and nitro buggies and truggies, as well as 1/10th scale vehicles (2WD and 4WD buggies, short course trucks). They even host Fifth Scale club races.
   • Classes: Barnstormers has a diverse racing program, including:
     • 1/8th Nitro Buggy (often with 40+ age categories)
     • 1/8th Electric Buggy (often with 40+ age categories)
     • 1/8th Truggy / E-Truggy
     • 1/10th 2WD Stock Buggy / 10th Sportman 2WD Stock Buggy
     • 1/10th 4WD Stock / 4 Wheel Drive Stock 13.5
     • Pro-4 Short Course
     • Fifth Scale (for larger vehicles)
     • “Fun Day” categories are often offered for less competitive, more casual running.
   • Race Schedule: They host regular club races (e.g., Saturday Club Races, Sunday Fun Days) and significant trophy events throughout the outdoor racing season. Past events include “Ness Round” series, “Mr B Day Trophy Race,” and the “Sparko Big Apple Challenge.” It’s crucial to check their official Facebook group or an RC racing calendar site (like RC Garage or RCTracks.io) for their most current race schedule.

2. Practice Sessions:

   • Outside of scheduled race events, the track is typically open for practice. This allows drivers to get acquainted with the track layout, test car setups, and simply enjoy driving their RC vehicles.

3. Community and Events:

   • Barnstormers is known for hosting large, well-attended events, drawing racers from across the Northeast. Events like the “Big Apple Challenge” are significant fixtures in the RC racing calendar.
   • The track aims to foster a strong and welcoming RC community.

Amenities and Facilities:

• Outdoor Off-Road Track: The core feature.
• Covered Pit Tables: Essential for providing shade and a workspace.
• Electricity: Available in the pit area for charging batteries and powering tools.
• Lap Counting System: For accurate race timing.
• Transponders Available: Essential for lap counting; often personal transponders are required, but rentals might be available.
• Lighted Track: Allows for racing and practice into the evening.
• Concession Stand: Likely available during race events for food and drinks.
• Bathrooms: On-site for convenience.
• Wi-Fi: A valuable amenity for connectivity.
• Pets Allowed: Often on a leash.
• Trailers Allowed: Permitted for those bringing extensive pit setups.
• Camping Allowed: Some larger events might allow overnight camping on-site.

Important Topics for RC Car Owners at Barnstormers Off-Road RC Raceways:

Given its identity as an outdoor off-road dirt track in New York, these points are highly relevant:

1. Rigorous Maintenance (Especially for Outdoor Dirt):

   • Thorough Cleaning: After every run, meticulously clean your RC car. Dirt, dust, and fine grit are inevitable. Use compressed air, brushes, and RC-safe cleaning solutions. Focus on pivot points, bearings, and areas where debris accumulates.
   • Bearing Care: Dirt is highly abrasive to bearings. Regularly inspect, clean, and re-lubricate or replace bearings. Wheel bearings are particularly susceptible.
   • Drivetrain Health: Inspect spur and pinion gears for wear. For off-road, routinely rebuild and refill your differentials with fresh silicone fluid. The chosen viscosity of these fluids is a major tuning adjustment and impacts performance.
   • Shock & Suspension Overhaul: Inspect shock shafts for nicks, ensure smooth shock action, and check suspension arms for cracks. Rebuilding shocks with fresh oil is a common maintenance task, crucial for consistent handling over jumps and bumps.
   • Fastener Security: Vibrations from racing will loosen screws. Go over your entire car with appropriate hex drivers, tightening all fasteners. Use blue (medium strength) threadlocker on metal-to-metal connections (e.g., motor mounts, shock towers).
   • Air Filter Maintenance (if running Nitro): If running nitro vehicles, cleaning and re-oiling your air filter after every run is absolutely critical to protect your engine from dirt ingestion. Use after-run oil for engine preservation.

2. Tuning for Outdoor Dirt/Clay:

   • Tire Selection: This is the most critical tuning aspect for a dirt track. The optimal tire compound and tread pattern will depend on the track’s current condition (e.g., dry and dusty, loamy, wet, or grooved). Talk to experienced local racers or check recent race reports/social media for tire recommendations specific to Barnstormers’ current surface.
   • Shock Tuning (Oil, Springs, Pistons): Adjust these to suit the track’s jumps, landings, and rough sections. Softer setups may be better for very bumpy tracks, while stiffer might suit smoother, higher-grip sections.
   • Differential Tuning: Varying the viscosity of diff oils affects how the car puts power down and turns. For instance, thicker center diff fluid might provide more forward bite, while thinner might free up the car in corners.
   • Camber, Toe, Ride Height, Caster: These fundamental alignment settings significantly impact grip, steering response, and stability. Fine-tune them to optimize your car’s handling for the current track layout.
   • Anti-Roll Bars: Used to fine-tune chassis roll and overall balance. They can be particularly useful on high-grip or very technical sections.
   • Gearing: Proper gearing for your motor/ESC combination is essential to maximize speed on straights and torque out of corners while preventing overheating.
   • Consult Setup Sheets: Look for setup sheets from fast drivers who race at Barnstormers or similar outdoor dirt tracks.

3. Essential Tools & Supplies for Your Pit Bag:

   • High-Quality Hex Drivers: A complete set of metric hex drivers (e.g., 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm are common sizes).
   • Nut Drivers/Wrenches: For wheel nuts and other fasteners.
   • Shock Pliers & Turnbuckle Wrench: For suspension adjustments.
   • Body Reamer & Scissors: For precise body cutting.
   • LiPo Safe Charging Equipment: A reputable balance charger, a fire-resistant LiPo charging bag, and a voltage checker are absolutely mandatory for LiPo battery safety.
   • Tire Gluing Station: For mounting and re-gluing tires. Good quality CA glue and accelerators.
   • Pit Mat & Car Stand: Keeps your workspace clean and makes working on your car much easier.
   • Cleaning Supplies: Compressed air duster, brushes, RC-safe cleaning solutions, rags.
   • Lubricants & Fluids: Various weights of silicone shock oil and diff oil, bearing oil, blue (medium strength) threadlocker.
   • Spare Parts: A well-stocked bin with common breakables like suspension arms, shock shafts, hinge pins, spur gears, and body mounts. Having an extra set of tires suited for the track is often a good idea.
   • Power Strip & Extension Cord: For multiple chargers and tools.
   • Sun Protection: As it’s an outdoor track, bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water, especially on hot days.

Barnstormers Off-Road RC Raceways is a well-established and active outdoor RC track in New York, offering a challenging and competitive environment for off-road enthusiasts.