http://insidedirtracing.com/david-br...track-surface/
There's a lot of work that goes into prepping a dirt track. Here, David Bryant goes through the process day by day.
Also, see which World of Outlaws star has recently tested at Smoky Mountain.
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http://insidedirtracing.com/david-br...track-surface/
There's a lot of work that goes into prepping a dirt track. Here, David Bryant goes through the process day by day.
Also, see which World of Outlaws star has recently tested at Smoky Mountain.
That is the lazy way to do track prep. The proper way is to disk it every week to get the water into the surface. He should ask Helfrich or Sargent for track prep advice.
Some places will get holes if you disk it up. All dirt is not created equal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GEAR_HEAD
Bingo!!!...
How many tracks have you guys actually prepared?
Helfrich and Sargent have prepared many.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dirt
No disrespect meant for David, but his numbers don't add up. Coming from an agriculture background, I have witnessed 20 plus years of poor track prep, mostly from the wrong amount of water used. A track that size has roughly 3 acres of racing surface. To put just 1" of water would require approx. 80,000 gallons. "One load" (probly 5-8000 gals) would be like pissin in a 5 gal bucket. That would barely cover the dust to keep it down. From my experience, the amount of water used is the biggest mistake track preppers make......JMO
I meant the people on this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by GEAR_HEAD
Helfrich and Sargent are among the best. That being said, Smokey Mountain is typically a very racy joint. What those guys are doing seems to work for that track.Quote:
Originally Posted by GEAR_HEAD
The track is almost always smooth and fast. Obviously, unexpected weather can upset the balance but what they're doing seems to work.
Someone told me that the week prior to the Knoxville sprint natls they start there track prep and farm the track 24/7 thats crazy but cool i also heard Boone does the same thing with the imca super nationals
Gearhead, your post is a real classic example of not knowing geography when it comes to dirt. The red dirt here in the South is way different than your stuff up in the Keystone State. Southern red clay is way more difficult, fickle, and way harder to prepare than your dirt up there. You just can't water it to bring it back or tear it up during a break in racing. It comes up it giant clumps. As one who works at Talladega and other tracks, knows the track prep people at dozens of Southern tracks, it is a different animal. Sun is such a huge evil for dirt down here, that is why we don't start at 5 or 6 like you folks up there.
When the dirt is right, like Talladega was Saturday night, it is incredible. To call David's track prep lazy is a exercise in being dirt uninformed on regional dirt prep.
Late Model Mark
Talladega Short Track Announcer
watch the video from tri city last week and tell me what you think
Headaches galore!! D A M N E D if you do D A M N E D if you don't. When dealing with more than 1 you get bit in the A S S by the others. It's a thankless job for sure!!!!!!
I've been to Smoky Mountain before, one race was below average and the other was decent. You could tell though that they try to keep the grader parked as long as possible. That is the absolute easiest way to prep a dirt track. Pack it into asphalt, then try to water a rock. The problem is you can't water a rock and mother nature is your only hope to get the track to hold moisture. My point was if you want to see how good track prep is done go to #FALS, Macon, Jacksonville's summernats race, Tri-State, Boone, or Knoxville. Those tracks never miss the mark. Lets give a little bit of credit to the true track prep masters.Quote:
Originally Posted by Late_Model_Mark
Most of the tracks you mentioned do hit the mark. They also look more like mudbog tracks prior to hot laps. Some tracks just plain don't use enough water. I'm sure the type of dirt plays into the equation some. When I see the push/pack trucks unable to stay up on the banking without sliding down, I know it will be a good night.Quote:
Originally Posted by GEAR_HEAD
lot of tracks just do not use additives to keep moisture in and the dust down.
One thing I do know adout track prep is you have to torn it deep right after your last race for the night.
Can't believe you lumped Boone into the category of "good track prep"...They never, NEVER, let the track slick over. There are about 25% wood chips to hold moisture and they "farm" it at least once a night. During supernationals it may be necessary to tear it up with that many races going on, but on a weekly show all they are doing is taking skill out of it and letting the big HP guys run it. Don't get me wrong, lots of good racing there, but it's always hammer down fast...not my kind of show. I always like East Moline, IL, that little bull ring would go black from the top to the bottom and stay racy the entire night.
Is that requirement? If so then what's their excuse???Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dirt
And it don't take an actual track preparer to observe that reality!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wet & Tacky
Not necessarily a requirement, just wondering how many on here (if any) have actually prepared a dirt track. Myself, I have helped a few times, on different tracks, and there are so many variables that go into it, its not just cut and dry as some think. Some things work better on some surfaces than others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clayton_Wetter
My feeling is that if the poeple complaining were handed the keys to prep a track, they'd see its not so easy.
I seen a video on Youtube on Boone Speedway about a year ago and it was really good and a new promoter could learn a thing or two from it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Boesel
Here is the video of Boone (Iowa) Speedway track prep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUpirSqyH9I
Did even see this post but just posted the same video of Boone Speedway in Iowa. All tracks have their own way of prepping the racing surface some are just better then others.Quote:
Originally Posted by GRT62
You CAN NOT beat the effort Boone puts into their track. Period!
Them boys know what it takes and take the extra measures to get it done.
I would pay extra to see a summer nationals race at Boone!
Sure it's not an easy job, but a lot of tracks do put in a pretty good effort and the ones that don't, deserve all due criticism. It's a shame to knowingly give fans and drivers inferior tracks to race on, when they COULD be an honest effort to make it better and some don't because they can get away with it, for various reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoosier_Dirt
Criticism can be constructive and actually help, when compared to silence and growing disinterests in tracks that don't have a clue, wondering why their crowds are dying a slow death along with the track itself.
Interesting comments, there were 3 guys I interviewed Sat night before the races as I do each race night to interact with the fans who were from Illinois. All regulars at Farmer City,Fairbury, and sometimes Macon. After the races they told me that was one incredible night of racing as they had never seen LM racing on red dirt. These boys had been going to the races for 30 years and really enjoyed their experience. Dirt prep in the South is different than other parts, ya can't farm it like Boone, or dig it up like in California, or water it like other tracks. Also they were pleased that on Friday night we has 114 Late Models and Saturday we only had 97. We had more Late Models than some tracks have in total car count.
Try track prep sometime, I've helped and it is a pain in the keyster.
Late Model Mark
Talladega Short Track Announcer
That comment perfectly describes a Western Pa. track operator ( he's far from a promoter) and his track that once held one of the premier dirt late model races in the Country.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clayton_Wetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Speed Zone
You hit the gold with this statement... Boone definitely knows how to farm down a good racing surface for sure and if some of you guys haven't ever been to boone you should bucket list it..
Heck ive seen everything from mulch,calcium chloride to laundry detergents used to prep a track before...
I live in Iowa and have no interest in going to Boone. JMHOQuote:
Originally Posted by Nasty55
you would think in Iowa they would bring out the big tractors, if you have to over work it all n ight long your are doing something wrongQuote:
Originally Posted by GRT62
Would you if the hel bus full of hell tour drivers pulled in?Quote:
Originally Posted by plunks7
Yes I would. So I was wrong AGAIN!!! D A M N it I hate when that happens. Oh well back to anger management class. But that class P I S S E S me off. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by Speed Zone
Quote:
Originally Posted by plunks7
Thats cool Plunks its not for everyone... Another one that does an awesome job of farming a good racing surface which someone pointed out above is Knoxville... I have been there to the sprint car nationals a few times and it always had a good racing surface each time... The latemodel nationals are on my to do list as well..
If they were to run just Late Models and Mods all week. Heck ya I would go. The lower classes I have lost my interest. I have seen enough S H I T shows in my Life!!!
Oh yeah I have to agree with you there bud lose the support classes and run just as you said lates and mods and things would be much better..Quote:
Originally Posted by plunks7
Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of all sorts of racing but they just need to make it the Boone latemodel & Modified Nationals... They would still fill a week up with racing with just those 2 classes
A good racetrack is usually prepped all week but some think they can show up a few hours before race time and sprinkle some water on and it will be good. Most the time that's doesn't work out so well.