Track Drying Methods

[SCB]

Didn't Colin Meredith have some kind of jet engine? or was that an April fool?

It was parked up at Coventry a few years ago on one of the hangers there. No idea if it ever actually saw any action.

 

Best way is banked track son the rain/water runs off it!

[Gresham]

Why allow the track to get wet in the first place?

 

I've never understood why covers haven't been used more often.

 

Surely sections could be sold as advertising?

 

On the outside of the fence and air fence, you could have sections ( say 10m each section ) of plastic sheeting that's in a roller. Printed with sponsors name or advert. The roll on a roller, being at the bottom. Pulled up say 4 foot and hooked on to show advertising when not in use. But when needed, the whole roll pulled out and over the fence, across the track and hooked onto the centre green. Released before the meeting or before track management. Not rocket science.

[iris123]

Why allow the track to get wet in the first place?

 

I've never understood why covers haven't been used more often.

 

Surely sections could be sold as advertising?

 

On the outside of the fence and air fence, you could have sections ( say 10m each section ) of plastic sheeting that's in a roller. Printed with sponsors name or advert. The roll on a roller, being at the bottom. Pulled up say 4 foot and hooked on to show advertising when not in use. But when needed, the whole roll pulled out and over the fence, across the track and hooked onto the centre green. Released before the meeting or before track management. Not rocket science.

As a track owner posted on another thread....

 

 

A detail that has struck me in the face during an EXTREMELY wet summer regarding our track: drainage! Covers or no covers, good track or not, if the drainage is not up to the job, covers dont matter.

Extreme example is Munkebo in Denmark, which I believe to be close to sea level. I read that somewhere, during a season when their track was deemed crap all summer. What can you do if the ground water is looming only 0,5 meters under??? Even the best possible drainage on-site dont matter either, if the pipes are crashed 50 meters away... That example is from real life as well...

[Gresham]

As a track owner posted on another thread....

 

Do the majority of tracks have poor drainage?

 

Tbh...I'm at a loss as to why we have got to 2017, and this sport still hasn't found a way of running a meeting with some rain or a wet track.

 

Especially in Britain where it rains just as much as not.

[Tsunami]

Do the majority of tracks have poor drainage?

 

Tbh...I'm at a loss as to why we have got to 2017, and this sport still hasn't found a way of running a meeting with some rain or a wet track.

 

Especially in Britain where it rains just as much as not.

It it rains at the wrong time say just before or during the meeting, covers will count for nothing.As well as a stop away crowd you have a sodden unraceable track or have riders with vision problems unable to see(last years Playoffs at BV and Kyle Newman).

Covers are a big undertaking in not just capital but the additional workers to lay them at short notice, and the same extra workers to remove them in time for the track curator with sufficent time and decent conditions to try and put water into the track evenly and still raceable. Most tracks could not get those extra sheeters, as you normally have difficulties to recruit and replace the ones you have for dog track sheeting, airforce, pits gate, red flaggers. It is hard and getting harder.

 

For them to work you need more workers, access to the track, and predictable rain patterns. No way covers on rollers can work given the dirt around and, if a dog stadium, probably not get permission to have the rollers which would then be in the gap between the wire fence and the inside dog rail.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Tsunami

[Gresham]

It it rains at the wrong time say just before or during the meeting, covers will count for nothing.As well as a stop away crowd you have a sodden untraceable track or have riders with vision problems unable to see(last years Playoffs at BV and Kyle Newman).

Covers are a big undertaking in not just capital but the additional workers to lay them at short notice, and the same extra workers to remove them in time for the track curator with sufficent time and decent conditions to try and put water into the track evenly and still raceable. Most tracks could not get those extra sheeters, as you normally have difficulties to recruit and replace the ones you have for dog track sheeting, airforce, pits gate, red flaggers. It is hard and getting harder.

 

For them to work you need more workers, access to the track, and predictable rain patterns. No way covers on rollers can work given the dirt around and, if a dog stadium, probably not get permission to have the rollers which would then be in the gap between the wire fence and the inside dog rail.

I'm sure I've read on here this season, that one of the Championship sides oop norf, has been using covers successfully this season, and it's saved a lot of meetings. Redcar maybe?

 

If they can do it....why not others?

 

You do have to ask yourself, how a sport has developed over the years, that's open to the elements, hasn't found a surface or covering arrangement, that would lead to less meetings being cancelled.

 

Imo....it's one of the reasons why crowds are less and less. No one wants to risk going if their is a chance of rain. Once you've travelled a few times and got caught out....enough's enough....you don't bother.

[The White Knight]

I'm sure I've read on here this season, that one of the Championship sides oop norf, has been using covers successfully this season, and it's saved a lot of meetings. Redcar maybe?

 

If they can do it....why not others?

 

You do have to ask yourself, how a sport has developed over the years, that's open to the elements, hasn't found a surface or covering arrangement, that would lead to less meetings being cancelled.

 

Imo....it's one of the reasons why crowds are less and less. No one wants to risk going if their is a chance of rain. Once you've travelled a few times and got caught out....enough's enough....you don't bother.

One of the absolute major barriers to covers, apart from those raised by Tsunami, is Cost. There is not a lot of money in Speedway, there used to be, but not now.

 

I would have imagined that the SKY money might have been spent on finding an answer for all Tracks to weather problems - instead it was spent on huge wages for Riders we really couldn't afford.

 

Then again, I suppose it could be that there isn't an answer. It rains a fair bit in this Country.

[Tsunami]

I'm sure I've read on here this season, that one of the Championship sides oop norf, has been using covers successfully this season, and it's saved a lot of meetings. Redcar maybe?

 

If they can do it....why not others?

 

You do have to ask yourself, how a sport has developed over the years, that's open to the elements, hasn't found a surface or covering arrangement, that would lead to less meetings being cancelled.

 

Imo....it's one of the reasons why crowds are less and less. No one wants to risk going if their is a chance of rain. Once you've travelled a few times and got caught out....enough's enough....you don't bother.

It's Berwick and they say that using the covers has saved a vast number of home meetings and rescued and stopped a loss in revenue. Of course Berwick has no dog track sheeters or an inflatable airfence to erect so they don't have to have the same workforce, so they are in a better situation to get others to do the covers occasionally. It was also mentioned that one advantage to have is a banked track as the water runs down to the drains, which is true in Berwick case.

 

I also think your last highlighted passage is a highly relevant fact, and could be why a lot of money and effort is not expended on rescuing a sodden track. Why once again blow your brains out spending vast investments, when the racing could be crap and played out in front of a greatly reduced crowd.

Edited September 25, 2017 by Tsunami

[ruffdiamond]

I'm sure Ronnie Russell had a track drying machine but I can't ever remember it being used

maybe it didn't actually work, but sounded good.

 

Would need to call out the Fire Brigade to have that under control for sure and that might cost a packet......but like the idea

and inevitably make it wet again

[False dawn]

Perhaps if the BSPA stop pissing in the wind, we wouldn't have so many wet tracks to dry out.

 

Alright, I'll get my coat.

[waytogo28]

Of course there are methods to prevent the track getting too wet in the first place and there are ways to dry out the track given a few hours and the staff. There are even as has been mentioned road works machines that could dry it out.

 

But it is the rain sodden brains of the various promoters over the years ( especially during the Sky income years ) that have just not bothered ( or perhaps left it as a low priority ). Until around five years ago enough die hard fans kept coming regardless, either to a rain ruined meeting or to the next one. It is that which has changed and now there is not only a lack of willingness to sort the matter out, there is no money in the sport either.

 

Making the racing exciting and unpredictable again and attracting a new generation of fans are the only two priorities the speedway "brains " ( innovators ) should now be working on.