Track Covers

[The White Knight]

I fail to see how you could lift so much tarpaulin, even in lengths, if it is WET - it would weigh a TON. For this and for all other reasons mentioned I think it is impractical. I don't know what the answer is but it certainly isn't that.

[Tsunami]

Multi quoting takes too to sort through on my phone, so in reference to the previous replies:

 

I've used tarpaulin for plenty of things over the past few years so know at least two things about it - 1) it's waterproof (take note Starman) and 2) it's light weight and is not heavy in the slightest (take not tsunami).

 

With regards to the track sweating (take note Starman) then refer back to some of my earlier postings on a solution so this isn't an issue. And even if it was, surely a track 'sweating' is better than a track flooded?

 

I know very well that track staff don't turn an hour before a meeting (hence my earlier post which also said that - which tsunami has read incorrectly clearly) and know how many hours gets pumped into it. I can't speak for every track across the country but I'm well aware of the time Ez, and the others put in at Somerset thank you very much.

 

I wish you had mentioned Tsunami you were a member of the track staff at Newcastle - I've never heard you mention it before

 

I appreciate as I said previously the issue with some tracks having to remove and reinstall the fence etc etc - but still doesn't the question why clubs where this isn't an issue haven't used or don't use covers upto now?

That's your ignorance, rather than my fault for not mentioning. If you say something on here it's taken as boasting but here goes. I have worked for years helping putting down and lifting the sheets that cover the dog track at Brough, and that usually starts at 10.30am. I organise all the labour and now i am in charge of and put up and take down the air fence every race day. I organise all the work and labour during the Winter, closing down the track, removing all the kick boards and, after Xmas, the painting, repairing and reaffixing all the kick boards replacing also all fenceposts that need replacing. I think with my experience I am well fitted to know what goes on and what works and what doesn't. I am a doer and organiser, not a critic.

Now apart from at one time writing a column in the proggie, what's your experience.

[A ORLOV]

At Swindon they have used the sheets available for sky meetings and it took hours, and when taken up they have to be removed from the track because of the dog racing. The only practical method is to have covers on wheels like they have at cricket matches which can be wheeled into place by a couple of people, but the problem then is where do you store them as you cannot leave them on the centre green, also at most tracks you have a narrow gate leading out to the track. This method would enable fewer people to deal with the covers, but they are expensive, difficult to move about and store. You still need to find and call in volunteers, possibly on a non race day to put them out.

[The White Knight]

Multi quoting takes too to sort through on my phone, so in reference to the previous replies:

 

I've used tarpaulin for plenty of things over the past few years so know at least two things about it - 1) it's waterproof (take note Starman) and 2) it's light weight and is not heavy in the slightest (take not tsunami).

 

With regards to the track sweating (take note Starman) then refer back to some of my earlier postings on a solution so this isn't an issue. And even if it was, surely a track 'sweating' is better than a track flooded?

 

I know very well that track staff don't turn an hour before a meeting (hence my earlier post which also said that - which tsunami has read incorrectly clearly) and know how many hours gets pumped into it. I can't speak for every track across the country but I'm well aware of the time Ez, and the others put in at Somerset thank you very much.

 

I wish you had mentioned Tsunami you were a member of the track staff at Newcastle - I've never heard you mention it before

 

I appreciate as I said previously the issue with some tracks having to remove and reinstall the fence etc etc - but still doesn't the question why clubs where this isn't an issue haven't used or don't use covers upto now?

 

 

That's your ignorance, rather than my fault for not mentioning. If you say something on here it's taken as boasting but here goes. I have worked for years helping putting down and lifting the sheets that cover the dog track at Brough, and that usually starts at 10.30am. I organise all the labour and now i am in charge of and put up and take down the air fence every race day. I organise all the work and labour during the Winter, closing down the track, removing all the kick boards and, after Xmas, the painting, repairing and reaffixing all the kick boards replacing also all fenceposts that need replacing. I think with my experience I am well fitted to know what goes on and what works and what doesn't. I am a doer and organiser, not a critic.

Now apart from at one time writing a column in the proggie, what's your experience.

.............. and I can vouch for the above. We have our differences now and again on here - but there is nobody who works harder to get the work done at Newcastle than Tsunami.

 

I might add that he also finds time (somehow) to run a Training School.

 

So I would advise you do your research Najjer before trying to be funny.

 

Anyway, as Tsunami says - what do YOU do. Here's your chance - I haven't done any research on you.

[Starman2006]

I fail to see how you could lift so much tarpaulin, even in lengths, if it is WET - it would weigh a TON. For this and for all other reasons mentioned I think it is impractical. I don't know what the answer is but it certainly isn't that.

You lift them inwards, from the fence down to the centre Green..

[The White Knight]

You lift them inwards, from the fence down to the centre Green..

Still very heavy when wet - and after the Meeting - what do you do with them then? It may even be problematical if you leave them on the Centre Green during the Meeting with Rider safety paramount. It might also interfere with vision for the Spectators.

 

How long to you think it would take to get soaking wet Tarpaulin lifted and stored away before the commencement of Racing? In the case of Dog Tracks - how many of those do you think would be happy with loads of Tarpaulin lying about?

 

As I said earlier - too impractical I am afraid.

[topsoil]

Clearly there is no easy solution to this, but what frustrates me is that clubs don't seem to be even putting much effort into looking at developing a solution.

 

Lets face it, waterlogged tracks are one of the biggest problems facing promotions these days. You only need to look at the Speedway Star during the season or in the season reviews and you see promoters bemoaning the problems caused by rain affected meetings and the financial effect thereof.

 

The advantages to be gained when an effective solution is found are massive so it would be great to at least see clubs putting some thought into it.

 

But as with most things, promoters and the sport in general seem to be missing the fundamental things, like improving safety, creating training facilities, getting tracks into their own facilities, increasing the number of riders in the country, finding sponsorship for the league and major events and instead give more priority to small things which have no effect on the sport.

[bruno]

got to agree ,stopping riders getting off there bike to garden altho helpful is really a minor problem but meetings being needlessly cancelled must be a priority. unfortunately in most cases major changes are expensive

[Najjer]

You lift them inwards, from the fence down to the centre Green..

This is where I've just about lost the plot with this thread, which was always going to happen once Starman got involved with the debate which has killed the whole thing - as that's what I've already suggested and you told me I was wrong... Give me strength.

 

The tarpaulin would NOT be heavy as the majority of the rain will have ran onto the centre green already.

That's your ignorance, rather than my fault for not mentioning. If you say something on here it's taken as boasting but here goes. I have worked for years helping putting down and lifting the sheets that cover the dog track at Brough, and that usually starts at 10.30am. I organise all the labour and now i am in charge of and put up and take down the air fence every race day. I organise all the work and labour during the Winter, closing down the track, removing all the kick boards and, after Xmas, the painting, repairing and reaffixing all the kick boards replacing also all fenceposts that need replacing. I think with my experience I am well fitted to know what goes on and what works and what doesn't. I am a doer and organiser, not a critic.

Now apart from at one time writing a column in the proggie, what's your experience.

I'll have you know twice writing in the programme, but lets not get bogged down on your errors ;-)

 

Frankly, you organising removing and slapping some paint on kick boards in the winter or whenever is of no interest to me what you get upto what so ever. Again, it's completely irrelevant how this gives you any experience of coming up with solutions to waterproof the track but hey ho.

 

However - If I had more time on my hands I would consider volunteering to help out at my home track - however with my heavy involvement in my first choice hobby with another group which raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, hence why I very rarely get to any away meetings nowadays and also traditionally now miss any meetings from the end of September onwards, that offer can't even be considered.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Najjer

[Ray Stadia]

I wonder if there is a market for a machine that can go round a wet track and blow hot air onto the surface and evaporate the water, while a grader follows behind? Perhaps the grader and hot air blower could be battery powered to save diesel/petrol? I accept it might only work, if the track has time to get the machinery out. This subject is very much an old chestnut and is still to be resolved, if ever!

[Tsunami]

I wonder if there is a market for a machine that can go round a wet track and blow hot air onto the surface and evaporate the water, while a grader follows behind? Perhaps the grader and hot air blower could be battery powered to save diesel/petrol? I accept it might only work, if the track has time to get the machinery out. This subject is very much an old chestnut and is still to be resolved, if ever!

Been tried a few years ago using some jet engine and quickly dropped. So THEY have tried it.

This is where I've just about lost the plot with this thread, which was always going to happen once Starman got involved with the debate which has killed the whole thing - as that's what I've already suggested and you told me I was wrong... Give me strength.

 

The tarpaulin would NOT be heavy as the majority of the rain will have ran onto the centre green already.

I'll have you know twice writing in the programme, but lets not get bogged down on your errors ;-)

 

Frankly, you organising removing and slapping some paint on kick boards in the winter or whenever is of no interest to me what you get upto what so ever. Again, it's completely irrelevant how this gives you any experience of coming up with solutions to waterproof the track but hey ho.

 

However - If I had more time on my hands I would consider volunteering to help out at my home track - however with my heavy involvement in my first choice hobby with another group which raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, hence why I very rarely get to any away meetings nowadays and also traditionally now miss any meetings from the end of September onwards, that offer can't even be considered.

So once your thoughts are looking non practical it's take the p**s and bring out the usual avoidance things. Yea right.

 

Are you and UK Martin the new gurus of speedways.

[Najjer]

Been tried a few years ago using some jet engine and quickly dropped. So THEY have tried it.

 

So once your thoughts are looking non practical it's take the p**s and bring out the usual avoidance things. Yea right.

 

Are you and UK Martin the new gurus of speedways.

That last line is abit hypocritical don't you think after your first one? Anyone would think your thoughts are non practical after taking the pi$$ Edited January 20, 2015 by Najjer

[Tsunami]

That last line is abit hypocritical don't you think after your first one? Anyone would think your thoughts are non practical after taking the pi$$

Really.

[Ray Stadia]

Been tried a few years ago using some jet engine and quickly dropped. So THEY have tried it.

 

Fair enough. Why didn't it work? When you say a jet engine, was it directed along the track or on the track? And surely running up a jet engine is expensive? Not the same idea I had in mind, even though mine is probably hare brained!

 

Anything can be achieved with money. I imagine, over the years, the promoters have decided that the cost to put on otherwise rained off meetings, using special equipment, is more expensive than taking the hit on a rained off meeting.

[SCB]

Been tried a few years ago using some jet engine and quickly dropped. So THEY have tried it.

 

Fair enough. Why didn't it work? When you say a jet engine, was it directed along the track or on the track? And surely running up a jet engine is expensive? Not the same idea I had in mind, even though mine is probably hare brained!

 

Anything can be achieved with money. I imagine, over the years, the promoters have decided that the cost to put on otherwise rained off meetings, using special equipment, is more expensive than taking the hit on a rained off meeting.

I'm guessing the biggest issues is getting enough heat out evenly over the full width of the track.

 

i'm guessing it was more like a load of these, http://www.masterheaters.co.uk/gas-heaters,92.html than an actual jet.

[Vince]

The covers you found on Ebay are nowhere near up to the job and for something that would be you are looking at nearer £10k then you need to add in the cost of finding a way to fix it sensibly.

 

I can say this with some confidence as a friend of mine who is an amateur rider owns a company that deals in materials used for yachts. Therefore he understands about UV resistance and the damage caused by repeatedly rolling sheets etc and he spent some time coming up with a way to cover a Speedway track. His idea was similar to that described by SCB with the outside permanently fixed to the top of the fence and a fixing system on the centre green. It would be a time consuming job putting the covers on and off as they would need a considerable amount of tension applied in order for the water to run off what would be a relatively shallow angle. That would also require that the outer fixing point be very strong. His idea was that the track would be prepared and watered heavily as soon as possible following a meeting and the cover put on only to be removed on the day of the meeting for final track prep. The thinking being that this would allow consistent track conditions no matter the weather, the track wouldn't sweat so much because there would be air flow from both sides under the cover.

 

All great but you're probably talking a £14k investment with the material needing replacing every 5 to 7 years depending on location and the sport doesn't have that money spare especially on a system that is theoretically sound but unproven.

[Bagpuss]

Fair enough but surely a speedway promotion could easily lose £14k over 5-7 years through rain offs?

[foamfence]

I wonder if there is a market for a machine that can go round a wet track and blow hot air onto the surface and evaporate the water, while a grader follows behind? Perhaps the grader and hot air blower could be battery powered to save diesel/petrol? I accept it might only work, if the track has time to get the machinery out. This subject is very much an old chestnut and is still to be resolved, if ever!

I remember Glyn Taylor was considering something on the lines of those machines that melt the tarmac but I don't think it ever actually happened.

[Najjer]

The covers you found on Ebay are nowhere near up to the job and for something that would be you are looking at nearer £10k then you need to add in the cost of finding a way to fix it sensibly.

 

I can say this with some confidence as a friend of mine who is an amateur rider owns a company that deals in materials used for yachts. Therefore he understands about UV resistance and the damage caused by repeatedly rolling sheets etc and he spent some time coming up with a way to cover a Speedway track. His idea was similar to that described by SCB with the outside permanently fixed to the top of the fence and a fixing system on the centre green. It would be a time consuming job putting the covers on and off as they would need a considerable amount of tension applied in order for the water to run off what would be a relatively shallow angle. That would also require that the outer fixing point be very strong. His idea was that the track would be prepared and watered heavily as soon as possible following a meeting and the cover put on only to be removed on the day of the meeting for final track prep. The thinking being that this would allow consistent track conditions no matter the weather, the track wouldn't sweat so much because there would be air flow from both sides under the cover.

 

All great but you're probably talking a £14k investment with the material needing replacing every 5 to 7 years depending on location and the sport doesn't have that money spare especially on a system that is theoretically sound but unproven.

 

If you go back to the first page, you will see it was actually me who suggested that method and not SCB

Fair enough but surely a speedway promotion could easily lose £14k over 5-7 years through rain offs?

 

My point exactly - Clubs have just stumped up £30,000 (or so) for air fences a couple of years ago, so it goes to show how much money can be raised if fundraising is done down the correct channels. That's without even mentioning the thousands of pounds of saving that will be realised over the years ahead.

Edited January 21, 2015 by Najjer

[customhouseregular]

Get Sir James Dyson on the case...I'm sure he could invent a track dryer!.