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

[speedibee]

 

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.

I think Most of the english lads like a bit of dirt ,something to race on .since poor starting seems to be a brtish disease ,they need a decent track to catch up

[Gemini]

So deep and grippy it is then as that should suit the whole team. Thank you Mr Trackman.

[Shale Searcher]

Slick entering the corners, and maybe slick on the inside line in the corners, with a gradual increase in dirt as you move wider, to provide more grip, as you are then going a longer route round the corners, also grip evenly spread coming out the corners, so you provide lines like (Karlssons Corridor) at Wolverhampton. A reasonably sticky/grippy across the start line area, stretching around 5 to 6 metres away from the start line..

Edited February 28, 2016 by Shale Searcher

[steve roberts]

Dave Morton's book gave a good example of how to prepare a track with dirt (I discussed it in detail on another thread!)

[Shale Searcher]

Dave Morton's book gave a good example of how to prepare a track with dirt (I discussed it in detail on another thread!)

What was the thread called and which section....?

[steve roberts]

What was the thread called and which section....?

Crumbs! It was some time ago that I posted it! Can't remember where now bit I'll have a look see!

[marko]

I too have heard or read tales that sawdust does not do a track much good in the long term, maybe it's a good soaker upper but then reverts to a lump of wet mess which is tricky to work back out of the track?

Trouble is though when a track gets so bad that you need that stuff your probably at best going to make the track rideable rather than race able so then it becomes a question of is it really worth it? It's akin to having a wet football pitch and deciding rather than play 90 mins on it to just have a penalty shoot out and decide the winner that way, it's a lottery.

[Shale Searcher]

I too have heard or read tales that sawdust does not do a track much good in the long term, maybe it's a good soaker upper but then reverts to a lump of wet mess which is tricky to work back out of the track?

Trouble is though when a track gets so bad that you need that stuff your probably at best going to make the track rideable rather than race able so then it becomes a question of is it really worth it? It's akin to having a wet football pitch and deciding rather than play 90 mins on it to just have a penalty shoot out and decide the winner that way, it's a lottery.

Or, cover it in sand, then pack it down with scaffolding planks!! Problem then is, you have to keep painting the penalty spot!!

[steve roberts]

Worth reading the article on Colin Meredith entitled 'Shale Tales' in the 'Backtrack' magazine (issue 44) dated May-June 2011.

[Gresham]

This thread is making me feel nostalgic...standard engines...and a grippy track...that's all the fans ask for surely?

[Fourentee]

I recall interviewing Doc Bridgett at length some years ago about track preparation and one remark that really stuck in my memory was that he puts different amounts of water on the assorted sections of the track at varying times. The reason is that the shadow cast by the big grandstand affects the drying times as the sun moves over. A small point, but one perhaps indicative of his attention to detail.

Also interviewed Chris Harris about a particularly stunning pass at Monmore and he said there were three elements: You had to have belief in your own ability, trust in the riders around you not to do anything stupid and faith in the track. Quite a compliment to Doc.

[Shale Searcher]

We were beaten by the weather on Saturday night against Coventry. 3 hours of rain, maybe 40 minutes of torrential rain, and then at 6.15pm it stopped, just as I predicted, but we just could not get rid of all the water... This is the sort of meeting that SHOULD beat the weather, where track covers would definately work.

The rain was forecast, and arrived duly on time, and finished on time.

 

Would it be in the realms of fantasy to invent/develop a track sealant, that could be sprayed onto a well tyre packed surface? You'd prepare for the rain, pack the track down well and hard, then using your track crop sprayer, over spray the track with this sealant... It would not have to be removed like covers, could be quickly graded in to the track surface with a wonder wheel, then ridden on straight away!!

I don't know, a bit like what they spray into cricket wickets, a Glued" pitch..

 

There's got to be something out there, surely?

[Starman2006]

 

Would it be in the realms of fantasy to invent/develop a track sealant, that could be sprayed onto a well tyre packed surface? You'd prepare for the rain, pack the track down well and hard, then using your track crop sprayer, over spray the track with this sealant... It would not have to be removed like covers, could be quickly graded in to the track surface with a wonder wheel, then ridden on straight away!!

I don't know, a bit like what they spray into cricket wickets, a Glued" pitch..

 

There's got to be something out there, surely?

Have to agree with that. But the best and only deterant is to do just that, pack it down hard so the water runs off, and give's you half a chance..