Yes, two feet from the wall is fine when the car is moving at walking speed. At 20mph or more as would be appropriate in a hockey rink I think the car needs more maneuvering room.

The model level cars have rubber tires that can be studded. Since 'indoor' hockey rinks have good enough ventilation to run the Zamboni ice scrapping machine it might be possible to race gas (nitro) driven models in them.

The issue seems to be speed of sensing and accuracy of sensing and using PBP to do the math. I have no idea how to attach a speed measuring device to the wheels of a model car.

Ken