Track Covers, Can Someone Describe The Scenario Of What Weather Is Required To Trigger Their Successful Use (in The Uk)!

[skthecat]

Ok, what weather scenario is required for the track covers to actually be used????

[Ray Stadia]

Ok, what weather scenario is required for the track covers to actually be used????

Perhaps, when it starts raining?

[skthecat]

Well, I am trying to recall the last time they were used in the UK successfully?

[StevePark]

Well, I am trying to recall the last time they were used in the UK successfully?

 

Berwick's FIM Meeting last year?

[Reliant Robin]

They were used successfully at Birmingham for meeting on 16th September

[Fromafar]

Covers are a waste of time as the riders probably won't ride anyway if the track is not perfect these days,If it has stopped raining before a meeting is due to start what is wrong with giving each rider afew laps on his own to turn over the dirt and then see if a track grading would make the meeting go ahead.Years ago at Glasgow Jimmy Beaton prepared the the same every week whether rain or shine his philosophy was if its rained off at start so be it.which IMO Is the right way.Health and Safety aspect is what it is all about these days

 

 

 

[ghcooke]

We store the covers at Swindon and have used them once at Blunsdon this year as a try out. They fill a container and a box lorry is used to transport them to Sky meetings if the weather looks poor. The ones we have are very, very heavy and difficult to manage - one hint of a breeze and they turn into enormous sails, lifting us off our feet. It took 6 of us 4 hours to lay them out at Blunsdon and then another 3 to get them back in again when it became clear that the rain wouldn't stop and the referee called the meeting off. Then you have the problem of anchoring them down - at some tracks this is easier than at others. The material is not a breathable one so you can't lay the sheets on a damp or even a prepared track - the surface needs to be dry or else moisture is pulled up from the base of the track and will turn the top into a "mush". This means that when the covers are removed the track should be bone dry and not in the type of condition for a speedway meeting, where moisture is essential. This will give the track curator a small window before the meeting gets underway to try to prepare the track - not ideal by any manner. Then there is the question of adequate drainage - where will all the water from the covers go? Under normal conditions the track will absorb most of the moisture but the covers simply allow it to rush away to the lowest point in the circuit. If the drains can't handle the rush of water and some gets under the covers then all is lost.

 

Is there a solution? Well, yes, but it would cost a great deal. All tracks would have to have more than adequate drainage on all corners - so that water doesn't rush to one end - and suitable fixing points on the inside and outside of the track, all the way round. You would need to usea breathable fabric to stop the track from sweating. This would allow the track curator to prepare the track well in advance and then have it covered in the knowledge that when it was uncovered just before heat 1 the surface would be in prime condition. Preferably each track would need its own bespoke set of covers - the ones we have are a classic compromise - they can cover everything from Lakeside's track to Swindon's much larger surface but that involves all manner of overlapping etc just make them fit. Factor in the man hours required to set them out and take them back in again and you've got a massive undertaking.

 

My back goes into spasm just thinking back to the time we put them out and took them back in again.

 

Must add that this is just my own view of the matter.

[MrB]

They fill a container and a box lorry is used to transport them to Sky meetings if the weather looks poor.

Unless of course it's Belle Vue and Poole need 4 points!

[theflyingkiwi]

Seem to remember that track covers were used at the Berlin Grand Prix in 2001? Made no difference at all because they were placed over the track once it had already begun raining.

[foamfence]

I remember when Glynn Taylor was at Redcar he was toying with the idea of one of those machines that they use to melt the tarmac during road repairs, or something based on that idea, to rapidly dry the track.

[OGT]

Thing is, with new rules regarding the amount of heats to register a result, if the weather looks dodgy people will think twice about attending a meeting anyway.

Except the die-hards of course.

[Ray Stadia]

Thing is, with new rules regarding the amount of heats to register a result, if the weather looks dodgy people will think twice about attending a meeting anyway.

Except the die-hard s of course.

That is my personal ambition!

[Al Stewart]

I think GHCooke's post is the single best post I have ever seen on the BSF, thank you very much - intelligent and informative, and surely the definitive description of where we stand on track covers at this moment. The article should be reproduced wherever track covers are discussed (usually from positions of total ignorance).

[The White Knight]

That is my personal ambition!

 

It might just happen Ray - with some of the Posts you put on here. :rofl:

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

From the description of the workings of these covers it seems they would actually work better keeping the moisture IN a track during hot/dry weather!!

 

Prep it and cover it and they sweat and stop a dust bowl!!

[skthecat]

We store the covers at Swindon and have used them once at Blunsdon this year as a try out. They fill a container and a box lorry is used to transport them to Sky meetings if the weather looks poor. The ones we have are very, very heavy and difficult to manage - one hint of a breeze and they turn into enormous sails, lifting us off our feet. It took 6 of us 4 hours to lay them out at Blunsdon and then another 3 to get them back in again when it became clear that the rain wouldn't stop and the referee called the meeting off. Then you have the problem of anchoring them down - at some tracks this is easier than at others. The material is not a breathable one so you can't lay the sheets on a damp or even a prepared track - the surface needs to be dry or else moisture is pulled up from the base of the track and will turn the top into a "mush". This means that when the covers are removed the track should be bone dry and not in the type of condition for a speedway meeting, where moisture is essential. This will give the track curator a small window before the meeting gets underway to try to prepare the track - not ideal by any manner. Then there is the question of adequate drainage - where will all the water from the covers go? Under normal conditions the track will absorb most of the moisture but the covers simply allow it to rush away to the lowest point in the circuit. If the drains can't handle the rush of water and some gets under the covers then all is lost.

 

Is there a solution? Well, yes, but it would cost a great deal. All tracks would have to have more than adequate drainage on all corners - so that water doesn't rush to one end - and suitable fixing points on the inside and outside of the track, all the way round. You would need to usea breathable fabric to stop the track from sweating. This would allow the track curator to prepare the track well in advance and then have it covered in the knowledge that when it was uncovered just before heat 1 the surface would be in prime condition. Preferably each track would need its own bespoke set of covers - the ones we have are a classic compromise - they can cover everything from Lakeside's track to Swindon's much larger surface but that involves all manner of overlapping etc just make them fit. Factor in the man hours required to set them out and take them back in again and you've got a massive undertaking.

 

My back goes into spasm just thinking back to the time we put them out and took them back in again.

 

Must add that this is just my own view of the matter.

 

Great, fantastic answer ro my question, definitely the most inteligent answer to the question I wanted info on.

Thanks very much, I won't now need to ask the question again!!!

 

Never to Old.

[The White Knight]

From the description of the workings of these covers it seems they would actually work better keeping the moisture IN a track during hot/dry weather!!

 

Prep it and cover it and they sweat and stop a dust bowl!!

 

There is a certain logic to your suggestion, but, would in work in practice? I don't know.

 

It would need perhaps one of our more scientific Posters to comment methinks.

[Stokielee]

Why didn't they buy covers made from a breathable material in the first place?

[Ray Stadia]

Great, fantastic answer ro my question, definitely the most inteligent answer to the question I wanted info on.

Thanks very much, I won't now need to ask the question again!!!

 

Never to Old.

What are you planning to do with this new information, Never too old? This question about track covering has been discussed before and the problems associated have been discussed before. The chances are, as we have had a good summer, the promoters will not be concerned until we get another 'wash out' summer, which could be next year. So it is worth discussion, but there does not appear to be a cheap solution, which is what the promoters will be looking for, understandably. I am going to ask a question too, which may sound silly, but could there be a wet speedway tyre or tyres, for wet conditions? Speedway tyres are geared for relatively dry conditions, but could there be a tyre, geared for wet conditions? This may have been discussed before too.

[Great Central]

Great, fantastic answer ro my question, definitely the most inteligent answer to the question I wanted info on.

Thanks very much, I won't now need to ask the question again!!!

 

Never to Old.

I agree that the response was extremely informative and gives a very good insight into what seems like a very simple solution to avoiding wet tracks/rain offs.