The Black Art Of Speedway Track Curation, What Makes The Perfect Track?

[Shale Searcher]

A subject that crops up all the time.. Best material, track Shape, how much water, to rake back or not to rake back during meetings, the tractor racing myth, kerb or no kerb, adding clay, losing clay, shale depth, track wear and tear, holes, ruts, slick, to grippy, fairy liquid, best track type for fans, best track for riders...

Most fans take on the role at meetings, at least in their heads, so let's have a debate on all things track, and hopefully get some input and info from fans, track staff, curators...

[Gemini]

Over to Fat Tractor Man and Speedflash. As someone who has no idea but moans about more laps by the tractor than riders I'd say the track the riders prefer is completely different to what the majority of supporters would like.

[Shale Searcher]

I agree Gemini, a rider would surely like the smoothest, safest fastest surface available, assuming they are reasonably good haters.. Get out in front, pick and choose your own lines, and ride just fast enough to stay at the front for 4 laps. Cannot imagine why any rider would not want the above scenario, unless you just cannot put 4/5 good starts together..

[baba]

The weather plays a huge part in this art and rider attitude . Could blobby get doc to shed some light on track prep? This guy battles a mini climate each week and can still give a track riders like cookie lap up and smash track records on. His insight would be awesome.

[billybikespeedway]

When the Malletts re opened Newport they spent a fortune on Colin Meredith to work on the track , what he produced was so smooth and grippy every race win time was close to the track record, but passing was nigh impossible to go from 2nd to 1st you needed to break the track record, great for most riders terrible for spectators

[steve roberts]

Perhaps somebody should invite 'Trackman' (aka Phil Cain) to discuss track maintenance and/or preparation?

[Shale Searcher]

So no insights yet from the shale alchemists... So I'll ask another question.

 

How many different race surfaces are there available? You know, red shale, grey shale etc, etc... And which one is the best for UK tracks? And why?

[steve roberts]

So no insights yet from the shale alchemists... So I'll ask another question.

 

How many different race surfaces are there available? You know, red shale, grey shale etc, etc... And which one is the best for UK tracks? And why?

I recall back in 1989 when Oxford were experiencing problems with the clay shale that granite chippings were mixed in which proved advantageous...trouble is the granite caused problems for the dogs!

[Tsunami]

So no insights yet from the shale alchemists... So I'll ask another question.

 

How many different race surfaces are there available? You know, red shale, grey shale etc, etc... And which one is the best for UK tracks? And why?

You can also get black shale, but it can be confused with chippings as mentioned by Steve Roberts above. I believe Scunthorpe use chippings from a local small quarry. Last time I was there, i was told that the massive pile of chippings in the car park, was the last contents of that quarry and Rob had stored it for his future use. Chippings of course are inert and depend on compaction, hence the reason to include clay in the mix. Shale on the other hand is alive and chemically active. It responds to pressure(tyre packing) and water to create a chemical reaction. I am told that if you leave shale down long enough, it tries to return to stone through the effect of the elements. Unlike chippings, shale can be picked up by hand and compressed to see how sticky the mix is. This was the purpose of old engine oil that used to be dropped on the track from the original loss oil systems, and later on poured onto the track to make the top shale sticky and tacky. Using oil of course is not allowed legally, for environment reasons, to be used to bind the shale as used above.

 

I have never prepared a track in my life, but I do ask a lot of questions of those who do.

[Shale Searcher]

You can also get black shale, but it can be confused with chippings as mentioned by Steve Roberts above. I believe Scunthorpe use chippings from a local small quarry. Last time I was there, i was told that the massive pile of chippings in the car park, was the last contents of that quarry and Rob had stored it for his future use. Chippings of course are inert and depend on compaction, hence the reason to include clay in the mix. Shale on the other hand is alive and chemically active. It responds to pressure(tyre packing) and water to create a chemical reaction. I am told that if you leave shale down long enough, it tries to return to stone through the effect of the elements. Unlike chippings, shale can be picked up by hand and compressed to see how sticky the mix is. This was the purpose of old engine oil that used to be dropped on the track from the original loss oil systems, and later on poured onto the track to make the top shale sticky and tacky. Using oil of course is not allowed legally, for environment reasons, to be used to bind the shale as used above.

 

I have never prepared a track in my life, but I do ask a lot of questions of those who do.

You'd think that clean castor based oil wouldn't do any damage to the environment.... But obviously, 2 year old, dirty black superlube out the tractor would be a different kettle of fish altogether though!!

[steve roberts]

You can also get black shale, but it can be confused with chippings as mentioned by Steve Roberts above. I believe Scunthorpe use chippings from a local small quarry. Last time I was there, i was told that the massive pile of chippings in the car park, was the last contents of that quarry and Rob had stored it for his future use. Chippings of course are inert and depend on compaction, hence the reason to include clay in the mix. Shale on the other hand is alive and chemically active. It responds to pressure(tyre packing) and water to create a chemical reaction. I am told that if you leave shale down long enough, it tries to return to stone through the effect of the elements. Unlike chippings, shale can be picked up by hand and compressed to see how sticky the mix is. This was the purpose of old engine oil that used to be dropped on the track from the original loss oil systems, and later on poured onto the track to make the top shale sticky and tacky. Using oil of course is not allowed legally, for environment reasons, to be used to bind the shale as used above.

 

I have never prepared a track in my life, but I do ask a lot of questions of those who do.

Towards the back end of 1989 Oxford's track surface was beginning to become unreliable to which stadium owner, David Hawkins, called a meeting with the riders. The riders claimed that granite could provide a solution and the track was prepared accordingly...providing a superb surface!

[Tsunami]

You'd think that clean castor based oil wouldn't do any damage to the environment.... But obviously, 2 year old, dirty black superlube out the tractor would be a different kettle of fish altogether though!!

You would also think that working on a concrete base under a bike would be a secure and environmental solution. Not so, and mats must be used everywhere. In saying that, it is better to work and lie on an environment mat than on rough ground or manky concrete. It looks more professional, but nowt to do with the environment.

Edited February 26, 2016 by Tsunami

[Shale Searcher]

You would also think that working on a concrete base under a bike would be a secure and environmental solution. Not so, and mats must be used everywhere. In saying that, it is better to work and lie on an environment mat than on rough ground or manky concrete. It looks more professional, but nowt to do with the environment.

Sawdust seems out of favour these days as well. Remember when I first started watching speedway, if it rained all day but was ok by start time, bags and bags of the stuff was spread out on the wet racing surface, and I do mean bags of the stuff.. Can't remember the last time I saw it being used (pardon the pun!!)

 

Think I seem to remember a Sky meeting from Eastbourne yonks ago, Bob covered the track and graded it in and it looked ok, but if I remember correctly, it was postponed because Nicki Pedersen said it was dangerous... Early 2000's I think..

 

So what is the reason for not using sawdust in the here and now on wet tracks??

Edited February 26, 2016 by Shale Searcher

[steve roberts]

Sawdust seems out of favour these days as well. Remember when I first started watching speedway, if it rained all day but was ok by start time, bags and bags of the stuff was spread out on the wet racing surface, and I do mean bags of the stuff.. Can't remember the last time I saw it being used (pardon the pun!!)

 

Think I seem to remember a Sky meeting from Eastbourne yonks ago, Bob covered the track and graded it in and it looked ok, but if I remember correctly, it was postponed because Nicki Pedersen said it was dangerous... Early 2000's I think..

 

So what is the reason for not using sawdust in the here and now on wet tracks??

Remember the story when John Davis and Neil Middleditch poured, I believe, petrol on areas of a very wet Weymouth track before lighting it so as to help dry it out before attempting to put in a few practice laps!

[Tsunami]

Sawdust seems out of favour these days as well. Remember when I first started watching speedway, if it rained all day but was ok by start time, bags and bags of the stuff was spread out on the wet racing surface, and I do mean bags of the stuff.. Can't remember the last time I saw it being used (pardon the pun!!)

 

Think I seem to remember a Sky meeting from Eastbourne yonks ago, Bob covered the track and graded it in and it looked ok, but if I remember correctly, it was postponed because Nicki Pedersen said it was dangerous... Early 2000's I think..

 

So what is the reason for not using sawdust in the here and now on wet tracks??

I really don't know that. Probably they use dry shale instead now. i have seen a few meetings when they used sawdust on TV, but not lately.

Remember the story when John Davis and Neil Middleditch poured, I believe, petrol on areas of a very wet Weymouth track before lighting it so as to help dry it out before attempting to put in a few practice laps!

Not heard that one. I have heard of riders pouring methanol on the ground, lighting it to keep warm before a meeting. Risky !!!

[StevePark]

I really don't know that. Probably they use dry shale instead now. i have seen a few meetings when they used sawdust on TV, but not lately.

Not heard that one. I have heard of riders pouring methanol on the ground, lighting it to keep warm before a meeting. Risky !!!

 

On a soaking wet track at Ipswich (KOC Final 2012) they used sawdust. Once a few races were run, it was fine.

Edited February 27, 2016 by Steve Park

[Tsunami]

 

On a soaking wet track at Ipswich (KOC Final 2012) they used sawdust. Once a few races were run, it was fine.

Agree, I was there as well. Great night.

[Shale Searcher]

Agree, I was there as well. Great night.

So, why no sawdust.....? Well, I seem to remember over hearing a conversation between a couple of bods I couldn't see, only hear in A pits area in the UK. What they were saying if I remember, was that sawdust changes the structure of shale and how it binds together (in the long term) May get you out of a pickle, but creates all sorts of track issues further down the line.....

Edited February 28, 2016 by Shale Searcher

[speedibee]

Over to Fat Tractor Man and Speedflash. As someone who has no idea but moans about more laps by the tractor than riders I'd say the track the riders prefer is completely different to what the majority of supporters would like.

depends what nationality the rider is , danes like em slick . poles like them deep and grippy and swedes like em wide flat and sandy

So, why no sawdust.....? Well, I seem to remember over hearing a conversation between a couple of bods I couldn't see, only here in A pits area in the UK. What they were saying if I remember, was that sawdust changes the structure of shale and how it binds together (in the long term) May get you out of a pickle, but creates all sorts of track issues further down the line.....

they have used sawdust succesfully many times at kings lynn , and the track curators worth their salt , have no longterm problems with it ,

[Gemini]

.....speedibee......depends what nationality the rider is , danes like em slick . poles like them deep and grippy and swedes like em wide flat and sandy.

 

And the English? Presume Bomber would like the same as the Poles but what about Garrity, Sarjeant, Bates and King? Aren't we lucky ~ 5 English riders in the Bees team.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Gemini