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Forest Raceway · Off-Road Racing

Outdoor Racing at Forest Raceway

We love our off-road racing, from buggies to trucks and vintage machines. Our outdoor racing has traditionally taken place at Steam Mills Recreation Ground in Cinderford.

While work is taking place at Steam Mills, we're looking at ways to bring outdoor racing back and develop something even bigger for the future.

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Outdoor Racing — Current Status

Steam Mills Recreation Ground is currently undergoing works to create the cycle dirt jumps alongside our track. The outdoor track remains closed while these works are carried out. Once the works are complete, plans are in place for a basic off-road track to reappear at Steam Mills. There is no confirmed reopening date yet, so please keep an eye on club announcements for updates.

The Longer-Term Vision

A National-Sized Off-Road Venue at Forest Oak Farm

Alongside the plans for Steam Mills, we're also looking at creating a national-sized off-road racing venue at Forest Oak Farm, alongside our indoor racing facility.

This would be a major step forward for Forest Raceway, with the ambition to develop a dedicated off-road venue capable of hosting racing on a much bigger scale. There is plenty of work involved, and the plans will take time to develop, but it's an exciting prospect for the club and the wider RC racing community.

We'll share updates as things progress. For now, outdoor racing remains on hold while the works at Steam Mills are carried out.

Our Outdoor Racing Classes

These are the classes traditionally raced at our outdoor meetings.

🏎️2WD Buggies

🚙4WD Buggies

🚚Stadium Trucks

🏁Vintage Buggies

What to Expect When Racing Returns

Keep this guide handy for when outdoor meetings resume.

Race Night

Thursday Evening Racing

Former venue: Steam Mills Recreation Ground, Cinderford.

Usual gate opening: 17:30.

First heat: Approximately 18:30.

Racing traditionally continued until dark, weather permitting. These are the previous race-night times, not confirmation of current meetings.

Before You Visit

Power & Equipment

The former Steam Mills track was off-grid, so racers needed a generator or leisure batteries for charging.

A gazebo or tent was recommended for shade and shelter, and outdoor conditions could change quickly.

Qualifying Heats

Qualifying heats were 4–5 minutes long, with drivers racing against the clock rather than directly against other cars.
Cars started in the order shown on the heat listings.
The timing system beeped as cars crossed the loop: a high-pitched beep indicated an improved time, while a lower-pitched beep indicated a slower time than the driver's previous best heat time.

Marshalling & Safety

Wear a high-visibility vest when marshalling.
Stay alert, keep phones away and watch the track in front of you.
Only enter the track when there is a clear gap, and return crashed cars to the area where they came off.
Remember: a crash isn't your fault as a marshal. Help safely and let the racing continue.

Finals

Finals were 5 minutes long and seeded by Fastest Time of the Day (FTD).
Cars lined up on the grid. A 10-second countdown was followed by a fast warble to signal the start.
Give way to faster cars when being lapped. Moving wide at a corner is generally the best way to let them through safely.

Weather & Track Etiquette

The previous track could handle some rain, but extreme weather could lead to a meeting being cancelled.
Arrive early when meetings resume, and ask committee members for advice if you're new to off-road racing.
Keep your equipment organised and be prepared for changing weather.

Useful Outdoor Racing Links

Resources for racers and anyone preparing for future meetings.

Race Booking Form

The booking form used to reserve a place and help organise race heat lists when meetings are running.

Open booking form ↗

Cars & Club Rules

Read the outdoor class and car regulations before preparing a car for competition.

View outdoor rules ↗

RC Results & Timing

Access the club's race results and live timing when a meeting is taking place.

View RC Results ↗

Thanks for supporting Forest Raceway. We're working towards bringing outdoor racing back at Steam Mills and exploring the longer-term possibility of a national-sized off-road venue at Forest Oak Farm. We'll share more information as plans develop.

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