Tracks' inability to control dust lately

[Spudman]

Is it me or has there been a HUGE increase in the amount of dust lately.  While at a race recently , my son and I were shocked by the amount of dust.  It was even to the point where I don't think the drivers could see.   With the amount of money tied up in equipment it is shameful to see that much dust fly.  I prepare a track so I know what it takes to do the work.  If I ran these races I would be ashamed at the lack of moisture. I have a pic to prove it but don't want to point fingers at just one track. I can tell you that I won't go back to these tracks until I see an effort to do something about it.

[leroy]

I am sure that it all starts with whatever ground you have to work with. But I am thinking some of these tracks need to go to Port Royal Speedway school and see what they are doing? lol  I have only been there twice. But both times the track conditions have been excellent! They have it figured out. Last year was a June race so good track conditions are to be expected. But for Saturday to be April 5th, the track conditions there were nothing less than spectacular!!  And for a big,high speed track, they have passing.   Limited dust. And smooth. No Ruts. No Roughness. No springtime excuses.  :thumbup:

[azvorsky]

Lincoln also.  They always hace a great surface.

[Nick Austin]

Is it me or has there been a HUGE increase in the amount of dust lately.  While at a race recently , my son and I were shocked by the amount of dust.  It was even to the point where I don't think the drivers could see.   With the amount of money tied up in equipment it is shameful to see that much dust fly.  I prepare a track so I know what it takes to do the work.  If I ran these races I would be ashamed at the lack of moisture. I have a pic to prove it but don't want to point fingers at just one track. I can tell you that I won't go back to these tracks until I see an effort to do something about it.

 

global dusting?

[tygarl]

Not one spec of dust flew on saturday night at Lincoln. The track was still spongy after the night was over. Here is my photo album from saturday for proof.

 

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/gallery7/thumbnails.php?album=2407&page=1

[ChrisAkulis]

 

Is it me or has there been a HUGE increase in the amount of dust lately.  While at a race recently , my son and I were shocked by the amount of dust.  It was even to the point where I don't think the drivers could see.   With the amount of money tied up in equipment it is shameful to see that much dust fly.  I prepare a track so I know what it takes to do the work.  If I ran these races I would be ashamed at the lack of moisture. I have a pic to prove it but don't want to point fingers at just one track. I can tell you that I won't go back to these tracks until I see an effort to do something about it.

 
global dusting?

 
This is Bush's fault.

[The Wee One]

 

 

Is it me or has there been a HUGE increase in the amount of dust lately.  While at a race recently , my son and I were shocked by the amount of dust.  It was even to the point where I don't think the drivers could see.   With the amount of money tied up in equipment it is shameful to see that much dust fly.  I prepare a track so I know what it takes to do the work.  If I ran these races I would be ashamed at the lack of moisture. I have a pic to prove it but don't want to point fingers at just one track. I can tell you that I won't go back to these tracks until I see an effort to do something about it.

 
global dusting?

 

 
This is Bush's fault.

 

Thanks, Obama....

[Tony Farone]

It's called working on the track !

[dirt-in-my-beer]

Makes for a long drive home when I'm caked in dirt.  I applaud tracks that try to do something about it at intermission when they recognize a dust problem.

[NiagaraRaceFan]

all depends on the time of year and the type of surface... most PA tracks seem to have that red clay that  holds the moisture better.  Personally I think track conditions are way better now than they used to be in the 70's-90's.  I went to over 40 races last year and can only remember a handful where I left with dust on my clothes. Perhaps the original poster could be more specific about which track(s) he is referring to...?

[ChrisAkulis]

IMO, yes I would say in general there is less track work done now than in past years. But diesel fuel being $4.25/gallon probably has a lot to do with that. And most drivers don't like a heavy surface anymore anyway because the cars have evolved to the point that they get a lot more hp to the ground than they used to (yes, that was a thinly veiled shot at the shoe box bodies), so they run the risk of tearing out drivelines, axles, rear ends, etc...when the track is too tacky.

It's the nature of the beast now, like it or not.

I happen to think slick tracks make for better racing, because you see who can finesse a car around and keep the rear end pointed straight while feathering the throttle. When the track is tacky, everyone goes fast and you tend to have less passing. Having said that, I do think there is a huge difference between a slick track, and a bone dry dustbowl.

Until the cars lose about 100hp and a significant amount of downforce, this is not going to change.

[Josh Bayko]

In my experiences over the last few years, the tracks that have a tendency to dust up are still dusty. The tracks that are generally pretty dust free are still relatively dust free.

 

And I echo the statement above. The tracks by me in PA are generally pretty dust free. I don't know if it's the clay content or how the prep it or whatever, but I can count on one hand how many times I've gone home dusty from a race in the past five years, and two of them are at the notoriously dusty Tyler County in WV.

[Greg Birosh]

IMO, yes I would say in general there is less track work done now than in past years. But diesel fuel being $4.25/gallon probably has a lot to do with that. And most drivers don't like a heavy surface anymore anyway because the cars have evolved to the point that they get a lot more hp to the ground than they used to (yes, that was a thinly veiled shot at the shoe box bodies), so they run the risk of tearing out drivelines, axles, rear ends, etc...when the track is too tacky.

It's the nature of the beast now, like it or not.

I happen to think slick tracks make for better racing, because you see who can finesse a car around and keep the rear end pointed straight while feathering the throttle. When the track is tacky, everyone goes fast and you tend to have less passing. Having said that, I do think there is a huge difference between a slick track, and a bone dry dustbowl.

Until the cars lose about 100hp and a significant amount of downforce, this is not going to change.

Bingo!  Add to that the fact that they can't use calcium anymore, and the problem only gets worse.  And as a racer, I am also guilty of hating a heavy track.  That's when it becomes all about shear horsepower and replacing driveline components all the time, hopefully before they break.  Heavy, fast track = very expensive.

[FightForTheRail]

I am sure that it all starts with whatever ground you have to work with. But I am thinking some of these tracks need to go to Port Royal Speedway school and see what they are doing? lol  I have only been there twice. But both times the track conditions have been excellent! They have it figured out. Last year was a June race so good track conditions are to be expected. But for Saturday to be April 5th, the track conditions there were nothing less than spectacular!!  And for a big,high speed track, they have passing.   Limited dust. And smooth. No Ruts. No Roughness. No springtime excuses.  :thumbup:

 

I read several accounts that Port was outstanding on Saturday, but there isn't always lots of passing there since the track eliminated handicapping a couple years ago. Port has lots of winners from the first two rows because the fast cars start up front so frequently. IMO, that has really hurt the weekly racing there. But eliminating handicapping is where things are going in central PA. There are an increasing number of teams every year that won't run handicapped shows.

 

The old joke that if you want to see speed you go to Port and if you want to see racing you go to Lincoln gets used more often than ever these days,

[BobMiller]

The old joke that if you want to see speed you go to Port and if you want to see racing you go to Lincoln gets used more often than ever these days,

 

I couldn't agree more. Lincoln is one of the raciest tracks I've ever been to, and it doesn't matter what division is on the track. I just love the racing there. The food sucks, but the track is awesome. 

[tygarl]

The food sucks????? Lincoln is known for having some of the best food around for a racetrack. Everybody raves about the BBQ chicken they have. They also have good pizza and their chicken tenders & fries are excellent. You'd have to be pretty damn picky to say the food at Lincoln sucks

[FightForTheRail]

 

The old joke that if you want to see speed you go to Port and if you want to see racing you go to Lincoln gets used more often than ever these days,

 

I couldn't agree more. Lincoln is one of the raciest tracks I've ever been to, and it doesn't matter what division is on the track. I just love the racing there. The food sucks, but the track is awesome. 

 

 

I have always found that the biggest thing lacking there is that the bathrooms are right out of the Andersonville Civil War prison camp.  ;)

[Nick Austin]

The food sucks????? Lincoln is known for having some of the best food around for a racetrack. Everybody raves about the BBQ chicken they have. They also have good pizza and their chicken tenders & fries are excellent. You'd have to be pretty damn picky to say the food at Lincoln sucks

 

Thats great if you like chicken :sarcastic:

[BobMiller]

I bout

 

The food sucks????? Lincoln is known for having some of the best food around for a racetrack. Everybody raves about the BBQ chicken they have. They also have good pizza and their chicken tenders & fries are excellent. You'd have to be pretty damn picky to say the food at Lincoln sucks

 

I'll say it again... the food sucks at Lincoln. I eat pizza one or two times a year because I've never been a pizza guy. We eat lots of chicken here at the house. When I go to a race track, I want an Italian sausage with peppers and onions and covered with mustard. I bought one of them formaldehyde sausages they serve. I threw it away and bought a burger instead. It wasn't much better. I figured after two strikes, I wasn't going to try a hot dog. I don't see that as being picky.

 

[Waterwagon]

I bout

 

The food sucks????? Lincoln is known for having some of the best food around for a racetrack. Everybody raves about the BBQ chicken they have. They also have good pizza and their chicken tenders & fries are excellent. You'd have to be pretty damn picky to say the food at Lincoln sucks

 

I'll say it again... the food sucks at Lincoln. I eat pizza one or two times a year because I've never been a pizza guy. We eat lots of chicken here at the house. When I go to a race track, I want an Italian sausage with peppers and onions and covered with mustard. I bought one of them formaldehyde sausages they serve. I threw it away and bought a burger instead. It wasn't much better. I figured after two strikes, I wasn't going to try a hot dog. I don't see that as being picky.

 

Thanks Bob, I was thinking what I wanted to do for supper.  Mmmmm Sausage w/peppers and onions.

[Bicknell55]

You went to the track run stand, that's where things went awry. Next time you're at Lincoln go to Sensenig's BBQ trailer (http://www.turkeyleg.com/). I've had the pit beef, turkey, and pork with no complaints at all. Portion sizes are more than sufficient as well. 

[NYracefan]

I lived in Arizona for 15 years, tracks that ran sprint cars, and I never saw the sort of dust that I see on the NY modified tracks. bear in mind Arizona gets zero rain and the tracks bake under 110 degree sun all summer long. Granted, there is some dust, but nothing like i see here in the Northeast (and NY in particular) I simply do not get it, nor will I ever understand how this can be.

[Neffro]

When you run a dozen qualifying events mid day under bright sunshine, with some wind, and make no effort to at least water the top side of the track before the features you get a blinding dust storm and really disappointed fans...OCFS this means you!

 

I passed more people to get to the front of the mens room line than there were cars passed on the damn track.

 

I had not been to that track in about 20 years and won't gpo back now for another 20.

[NO Sail Panels]

C'mon Spud, keeping the dust down @ Chemung doesn't count.... :tease:

[Bob Krummel]

You went to the track run stand, that's where things went awry. Next time you're at Lincoln go to Sensenig's BBQ trailer (http://www.turkeyleg.com/). I've had the pit beef, turkey, and pork with no complaints at all. Portion sizes are more than sufficient as well. 

 

 I went to Lincoln opening day this year, and had crab soup and corn fritters...... Crab soup at a race track...... and , yes  the BBQ sandwiches are great.