Cicero Chicago 1999 Oval Build

[Pavel 69]

Useful link with good view on main grandstand
http://www.kalracing.com/autoracing/Chic...apbook.htm

[checkpoint10]

It looks like if you go to the desktop version of Google Earth and go back in time, you can get a pretty detailed aerial to measure the building. Unfortunately they didn't model the grandstand in 3D so you'd still have to estimate. When I had a similar situation in Detroit, to find the height of certain older buildings, I was able to measure the length of shadows and compare to the shadows of buildings of known heights.

[samsepi0l]

I started making the hawthorne building tonight that is between the horse track and the CART track. Pavel - thank you for the pictures you found! It sure helped me!

I don't think it's that hard to make the buildings reasonably accurate even if we don't have all of the GPS measurements. I find its very helpful to draw them in CAD quickly. It only takes me about 30 minutes and this gives me all of the coordinates when I define my points. I also can see exactly to scale how the building will look when it's done.

I didn't realize how much I missed making 3DOs. It's been a while since I did one. Very satisfying when I saw myself exit turn 1 in OPE and there was the hawthorne building!!!!

[checkpoint10]

I started making the hawthorne building tonight that is between the horse track and the CART track. Pavel - thank you for the pictures you found! It sure helped me!

I don't think it's that hard to make the buildings reasonably accurate even if we don't have all of the GPS measurements. I find its very helpful to draw them in CAD quickly. It only takes me about 30 minutes and this gives me all of the coordinates when I define my points. I also can see exactly to scale how the building will look when it's done.

I didn't realize how much I missed making 3DOs. It's been a while since I did one. Very satisfying when I saw myself exit turn 1 in OPE and there was the hawthorne building!!!!

I haven't used CAD to make any of my objects, so it's been a very manual process for me. Is there a particular program you would recommend for that?

Looking forward to the progress on Chicago.

[samsepi0l]

I haven't used CAD to make any of my objects, so it's been a very manual process for me. Is there a particular program you would recommend for that?

Looking forward to the progress on Chicago.

Well the value in drawing it in CAD is that you will be able to click on a point and get the XYZ instantly. This way you don't have to do a bunch of math and make mistakes wondering why your 3do looks funny in 3doED. It's not something I do for simple square buildings that are basically blocky rectangles, but stuff that's more busy and strangely shaped.

I like to draw things in FreeCAD for several reasons:

- FreeCAD is Free (open source free, and money free)
- FreeCAD was how I learned to design things when I bought my 3D printer.  (I've been printing custom parts for my cars for about 5 years now)
- It's available for Linux (which I use at home) and Windows (which I use at work- where I do most of my track editing)

FreeCad It is a bit of a pain to learn.  I originally started using AutoCAD 2000 (which I still use when I make my printed circuit boards)  I'm stubborn though, Mostly I like to use it because I see a value in it being open-source and community owned.  So I don't mind struggling a bit to give it a little love.

For simple ICR2 sketches AutoCAD 2000 might be easier for someone new to CAD.  If you want it LMK and I will get you a copy.

[samsepi0l]

It's been a month since I've given an update.... and I have been working hard...

[Pavel 69]

Oh, it' looking promising! I never noticed there was grass along inside wall, I thought there was asphalt all around. But I know there was small hill around t3-4 with trucks and cars parked on it.

[samsepi0l]

Oh, it' looking promising!   I never noticed there was grass along inside wall, I thought there was asphalt all around. But I know there was small hill around t3-4 with trucks and cars parked on it.

Yes if you watch the 99 youtube video you can see a little grass on the inside of the back. Thank you for your compliment! I am building everything to look like the 99 race. I don't really know how long they raced here for. The best overhead images are from 2002 on historic aerials. Your grandstand photos you linked me were also super helpful. I am building the pillars that hold up the upper section with LIST and DYNAMIC

[checkpoint10]

Really awesome work. Finally we are getting the real Chicago track after so many years of pretending that Loudon is Chicago.

[samsepi0l]

triple decker grandstand with DYNAMIC made posts...I made a bunch of them in a LIST and then posted them evenly with DYNAMIC.

(ignore the pink fence for now)