KN1 168 Posted July 2, 2018 Imo too many tracks now just dump water on within a couple of hrs leading up to meeting hence, no time to soak in, annoys riders and really does nothing to hold the track together, as has been said drown it the night before or 5/6 am if possible, but another way you don't see in UK now is a light spray of water whilst grading every few heats to keep it together and dust down, Poole used to have a crop sprayer when speedy was there, perfect, lakeside do it (do wish 2 drivers though) and dust has not been a problem, riders only dislike it when its dumped on the track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldyman 6,243 Posted July 2, 2018 Bob at Ipswich always starts watering the track well in advance , and we never get any dust. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted July 2, 2018 On 7/1/2018 at 8:58 AM, Jeanzi said: Put detergent into the water bowser to allow it to soak into the base better. The detergent breaks the surface tension of the shale allowing the water to soak through quicker. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mac101 1,187 Posted July 2, 2018 6 hours ago, tyretrax said: The detergent breaks the surface tension of the shale allowing the water to soak through quicker. Pretty Sure they also used to use old engine oil along with detergent to help bind it together and it also helped to hold the moisture stewart Dickson used to really soak Glasgow the night before after the sun had gone down on hot days then all Sunday morning up to match but still kicked up dust halfway through the meeting a lot depends on the base type and clay shale content 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted July 2, 2018 6 hours ago, mac101 said: Pretty Sure they also used to use old engine oil along with detergent to help bind it together and it also helped to hold the moisture stewart Dickson used to really soak Glasgow the night before after the sun had gone down on hot days then all Sunday morning up to match but still kicked up dust halfway through the meeting a lot depends on the base type and clay shale content With the total loss engine the oil went straight on to the track but the environmentalists put a stop to that. Track curators have been know to dispose of oil in the shale stock. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted July 2, 2018 13 hours ago, KN1 said: Imo too many tracks now just dump water on within a couple of hrs leading up to meeting hence, no time to soak in, annoys riders and really does nothing to hold the track together, as has been said drown it the night before or 5/6 am if possible, but another way you don't see in UK now is a light spray of water whilst grading every few heats to keep it together and dust down, Poole used to have a crop sprayer when speedy was there, perfect, lakeside do it (do wish 2 drivers though) and dust has not been a problem, riders only dislike it when its dumped on the track. Best track prep arrangement was at Rye House probably about 2003/4 when Len Silver employed two small tractors, one with a small bowser on the back and the other one with a flat grader. After each heat, and whilst the riders were leaving the circuit on bend 1, the two tractors come out of bend 4 centre green and did a quick couple of circuits just before the next race riders were coming out onto the track. They took no extra time, but the condition and preparation was the same for all 15 heats. Only time I have ever seen such good preparation. Unfortunately it probably can't be done now, as the tractors were ready on the centre green area and also entered the track whilst riders were either leaving or entering the circuit. "Elf and Safety you know. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 4,962 Posted July 3, 2018 On 7/1/2018 at 8:58 AM, Jeanzi said: Put detergent into the water bowser to allow it to soak into the base better. On 7/1/2018 at 12:04 PM, jenga said: that will help keep the bikes and rides clean and save on washing down kevlars and bikes. leaving more time to party . And the fans lol... self cleaning shale, what a brilliant idea! 19 hours ago, mac101 said: stewart Dickson used to really soak Glasgow the night before after the sun had gone down on hot days then all Sunday morning Glasgow? Hot day? Cannot compute! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,333 Posted July 3, 2018 2 minutes ago, iainb said: And the fans lol... self cleaning shale, what a brilliant idea! Glasgow? Hot day? Cannot compute! Sun Off's. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Al 708 Posted July 4, 2018 How many tracks are on metered water supply now? The water companies are wanting/having to switch consumers onto metered supply so is that causing some reluctance to use methods such as soaking the tracks early morning. Then add-in the problems with shale supply, tracks breaking up, and it's starting to look bad unless the weather changes soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
balderdash&piffle 720 Posted July 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Big Al said: How many tracks are on metered water supply now? The water companies are wanting/having to switch consumers onto metered supply so is that causing some reluctance to use methods such as soaking the tracks early morning. Then add-in the problems with shale supply, tracks breaking up, and it's starting to look bad unless the weather changes soon. Up in Berwick they get the water from Simpsons Malt, it is the waste water from the plant which they take before it goes through the effluent meter. As much water as they want for free, they still don't water it anywhere near enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted July 4, 2018 Shawfield has a bore hole from which water is drawn to water the dog track. Initial outlay was a few thousand pounds but I'm sure it paid for its self after a couple of years. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ragdoll64 645 Posted July 6, 2018 Have strategically placed sprinkler systems ever been tried? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted July 6, 2018 1 hour ago, ragdoll64 said: Have strategically placed sprinkler systems ever been tried? At Shawfield we turned a sprinkler from the dog track onto the speedway track to water the starting gate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted July 6, 2018 When I worked at Wimbledon, we used to flood the track daily from Monday afternoon leading up to the meeting on Thursday evening, weather permitting of course. We had two huge water storage tanks under the centre green, which we used to fill the big water tanker to soak the track with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites