110' runway starts right at the sidewalk. Yeah, tree and basketball hoop gotta go.
Another angle of where the runway starts at the sidewalk.
The runway corridor. Tight for lefties, but I tested it and clearance is good to go. Just can't have one of those ridiculous sideways pole carries.
Trampoline and hot tub for soothing those sore muscles. Gonna have some sweet club barbeques. High bar will also be installed.
Packing up the equipment at the Edge.
We got the entire 104' runway, Gear Box, Rings mat and UCS 1900 Pit with top pad and standard base pads in this one load to my house. BIG thanks to the Hunter family for their truck and trailer!
I can't thank the Hunter family enough for their help moving the entire club pit AND 104' runway to my house in one load!
You saw the previous pic. The weight of the trailer and truck fully loaded with the PV stuff was no match for that damn tree stump. Ha. Look at Simon thinking he's gonna dig it out. I gotta nice ass eh?
The runway corridor.
Yard got mangled when the contractors fixed our drop off in the back. It's a nice safe downward slope now instead of a 4 foot drop off.
Runway install finally started Saturday, Sept. 8th, 2012.
You can see the tree and basketball goal gone in the background. That string line is the runway path. Plenty of clearance between the house and cedars : ).
They call me the human backhoe. And it only gets worse as I get to the driveway, the highest point.
I'd say that's within the 0.1% downhill allowance for a certified runway to allow records.
You can see my coaching spot next to the runway there.
Those damn roots took me 2 hours to dig and cut out. Wanted to kill myself.
32 feet of runway installed. Though it took me 8 hours on Sunday to install 24 feet.
Yeah, the runway will probably be level with my driveway when I get there. Gonna have to cut the driveway and install a fing 6x6 retaining wall. The fun just keeps coming.
Yeah, the runway will probably be level with my driveway when I get there. Gonna have to cut the driveway and install a fing 6x6 retaining wall. The fun just keeps coming.
Another shot showing the driveway is the highest point.
Seriously, the human backhoe. 4 hours to get the one section in and finish that digging you see left. Driveway will halt runway work until a I rent a giant Dry Saw to cut the driveway. All worth it!
56' in and we're now officially below ground at the driveway. Next up, cutting the driveway tomorrow. Forgot that residential driveways are paper thin. Got a masonary blade for the circular saw and I'm ready to rock.
Below ground. We'll rise back up past the driveway.
Driveway thought it could get in the way of my runway. Nope!
The new driveway.
Driveway didn't have a chance.
And the digging continues.
64' installed and 72' dug. Good enough for my 5-Left anyway : ).
Gettin there, slowly, but surely.
80' in and 90' dug. In the home stretch.
DONE!!!!! Well, the worst part of the runway anyway. After the beach vault, I will re-set it to a perfect, within "legal" 0.1% downhill inclination and then backfill the sides with crushed rock and get grass planted around it.
104' runway. It's 110' to the sidewalk. I'll build that last 6' section next year : ).
If we need a runway longer than 110' for an event, no problem. I will build some extra custom sections to extend into the street. We could get as a much as 130'. Ha.
Finally got the runway back in since removing it for the beach vault weeks ago. Back-filled around it with crushed rock. It's permanent now. It's solid, lightening fast and springy, every vaulter's dream.
Cleaned the yard sections I tore up and got grass planted. Final product has to look as great as it is.
Started getting deck blocks set and leveled Saturday, October 27th.
Looks like more work for the human backhoe.
Gods gift for leveling anything up to 40' and seeing the laser line. Worth every penny.
More manual excavation for the pit deck. Back yards are overrated.
Big man helping me sight the laser line.
Big man protecting my rock pile.
First row of 17 deck blocks set and leveled to perfection. 5 more rows of this to go before building the deck itself.
Good view of how big the deck will be. PV pit is no joke.
2nd row of 17 deck blocks done. 4 more rows to go. Shoot me. Takes a full 1/2 day to get one row in. Yes, each block must be positioned perfectly and leveled in both directions to be acceptable for my OCD : ). Can't wait to actually start building the deck.
Just over 3 rows done. 2 3/4 more to do. Endless job.
2 rows Left!
Down to the last row!
Done! No more digging in the project. Thank God.
Laid 102 40lbs. deck blocks, each one perfectly aligned and leveled in both directions.
All 4x4's cut. Ready to layout the deck frame joists.
Pit deck frame is finally finished! Took some time to install 150 hurricane ties with 600 screws. Ready for deck treads.
She's a monster and rock solid. I don't mess around. I installed the first 2 deck treads just as it got dark. Only 104 left to go. Helps to have the best tools like my 12" Bosch miter saw. It's money.
Took an entire day of work to install those treads. Not even 25% of the deck. Forgot I need to add some additional framing around the plant box since I need to change the tread direction around the plant box to make cutting those treads easier.
The snow has started in VT. I love snow, but I need more time.
The extra framing I had to do to change the direction of the treads around the plant box. Takes more time than you realize.
Yeah, I cleaned off the snow to make the pic look pretty.
Had 2 1/2 yards of crushed rock left in the driveway I had to get rid of. Just made the deck even more sturdy. My wife is psyched since the driveway is now clear. I had wood and crushed rock in the driveway since mid August. Ha.
It took 1 1/2 hours to get all of the crushed rock out of the driveway and back here.
Crushed rock I dumped in the middle to cover grass I never dug out.
Coming together. Runway is money. This setup will be money.
Gas Leaf Blower worked well to clear the 1" of snow.
Takes alot more time than you think to install the treads. I still have over 1,000 screws to install in the decking that's left.
Yeah, perfectly cut the 2x6 treads around the plant box. It's gotta look good even if it will be covered up by the pit. 1/8" gaps between the treads won't allow any critter to get into the pit.
80% of the decking installed. in the home stretch : )
Deck is DONE man! What a relief.
Deck is DONE man! What a relief.
Deck is DONE man! What a relief.
Detailed cutting around the plant box.
I declare VICTORY! Our club's UCS 1900 pit. Just short of 4 months of work to make this happen. Still have to bolt the standards in and close in the deck to keep animals out, but the main work is finally complete.
Vaulter's view from 104' approach.
I have 5' of deck past the back of the pit for the weather cover to sit on when the pit is open.
Custom UCS weather cover that bridges the gap between the front buns and extensions to keep water out of the plant box. I'll have to build some support under the weather cover there so snow doesn't collapse it and stretch it.
