Weights for the track

Had a great time last weekend running at Thunderhill for the first time during an SCCA Majors Tour race. The track was amazing and I learned a lot, not the least of which was that portable canopies have incredible aerodynamic lift such that a gentle breeze will send them flying into your neighbors' paddock space while you are racing. Fortunately, the same neighbors were kind and neatly folded my canopies and stacked them near my trailer. I did, however, get many gentle suggestions to make weights heavy enough to keep the canopies pinned down to prevent further, uh, incursions.

One guy suggested filling kart tires with concrete but do any of you have any good ideas/recipes for DIY weights for canopies? Thanks!

/Rich

Coffee cans filled with concrete and an eyebolt placed in the middle? My Dad used them as anchors for years.

Got any used rotors?

Do you bring spare wheels to the track with you? I use my rains as ballast. Just use some small ratchet straps to hook onto the canopy frame at all 4 corners and the other end hook through the wheels. If you don't bring spare wheels look at other heavy things you might already bring with you. I hate bringing stuff to the track that I don't need to, just more stuff to move and remember. The other thing to remember is that when it gets really windy it is best to take the canopy down, even when tied down they will try to get away. This usually results in a mangled frame and torn fabric.

5 gallon buckets. Fill them with water when you get to the track.

Fill some large jugs with water. You can empty them so you're not carrying extra weight when you travel.

I used stakes made from 18" lengths of rebar with large washers welded to them. Ratchet straps from the canopy frame to the washers held it down. At night I would anchor the canopy to the race car. One night in a storm I watched the back of my ITB VW lift two feet off the ground.

those are fine for dirt paddocks … but places like VIR get a bit butthurt if you drive re-bar through their new pavement

I use my rain tires on a rolling steel rack on one end and the side of my trailer on the other.

In a big storm it's still a good idea to remove the sail so it doesn't tear itself apart.

nicksta43 wrote: Coffee cans filled with concrete and an eyebolt placed in the middle? My Dad used them as anchors for years.

In the karting world we did this, but used old kart tires filled with concrete with bolts cast into the concrete so just the thread was sticking through. Then place the canopy over the studs and wing nut it down.

^Yup^ My wets weigh a ton so I use them w/ 2ea at diagonal corners. I strap it to the car's roll bar for overnight retention.

I have some weights made with large diameter PVC pipe about 6 or 7 inches deep filled with concrete with eye bolts cast into the concrete. Although weights that can be filled with water make for less weight that has to carried. Not Grassroots cheap but these would work;

http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Springs-fillable-weighted-gazebo/dp/B003V2FYKU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1397949243&sr=8-6&keywords=canopy+weights

http://www.amazon.com/Quik-Shade-Accessory-Weight-plates/dp/B000YPQPShttp://www.amazon.com/Qu

Basil Exposition wrote: 5 gallon buckets. Fill them with water when you get to the track.

This. Remember your MPG while towing.

Use black buckets this way at the end of the day you've got warm water to wash up the car or other dust covered stuff (tow rig windshield) before you leave the track.

Thanks for the helpful replies!