track building

[robert L.]

whats the best type of dirt to use when building a track?

[1stPlaceRace]

Man are you trying to start a war?!! :)
Here is the short version. Free dirt is best, If you are outdoors and can wet, rototill and pack ( i use a turf roller $99 at home depot) your dirt you might be suprised how hard packed it will get after being wet/dry 3-4 times.
Now, If you were to do a poll 80 % of the people would say clay. I like red clay. We had a indoor track in reno that went to the truckee river, dug clay out and used that. It sucked if it was dry because it broke apart. When it was wet everybody had to use slicks. I like to race in the dirt. Its easier on you car in crashes. I have been on clay tracks that were hard as concrete and ate ball cups and suspension parts for lunch. The dirt wears parts quicker, but in reality any hard raced vehicle will be seeing its fair share of new parts. Our track is hard packed dirt. It has amazed everybody who comes here because it does not get rough and rutted like alot of big dirt tracks and the more we race on it the better it seems to get. I have a killer water system and we are able to run 2 very high pressure garden hoses. Water is a must for the dirt.

[teamlosiisback]

i have ran on both tracks i think that clay is better because it is alot cleaner, faster, and alot of traction. But i dont like how you have to run slicks to run on them, they are hard tracks, and they usually take alot of wetness to get the track to stick and run well with out alot of dust.
Dirt on the other hand is fun but is kinda hard to get alot of people to come to your track if you are not indoor and have it really organized and setup.
But either way it is a track and it is up to the track official on what they want to provide for competition. Clay is where they have most of the big races and big drivers. and dirt is for more of a club atmosphere and small club races.

[1stPlaceRace]

I agree with everything losisback said, One thing that I forgot..Nitro. I dont care how good the vents are running nitro indoors sucks, and running nitro 1/8 scale especially on clay almost seems un natural. If I am running 1/10 scale electric there is nothing finer than a indoor clay track....

[teamlosiisback]

Also if you plan on running alot of gas classes you want a type of clay that will not be really dusty them motors suck it up. Indoor clay for electric is a awesome. and out door clay that is not completely hard packed that will give some slide but will also have traction is awesome.