"off road" racing not really off road

[Rdub202]

i have seen this before maybe on this board maybe another or even in a mag. but when i was just looking at a offroad track's website i noticed how smooth it was. this blue groove stuff it like contradicts off-road. most off road tracks are basically semi bumpy, dirty, tracks with jumps. this is from what i have observed from the tracks i have seen. its like why is it even off raod if u are on stuff rally's could drive on (excluding the big jumps). im not an off road racer but i would be if i had a track and im sorry if i pissed off any of you tru off road racers. this just kinda bugs me.

-dUb-

[rocknbil]

Yeah it's come up before an argued ad nauseum. There is a difference in traction and characteristic between the smoothest blue groove track and pavement though. Actually a LOT of difference. It's all good.

Oh and there's no curbs. LOL

[SteveK]

I am in 100% agreement. It breaks my heart every time I see a blue groove track. Makes me sick to see slicks on a truck or buggy. Real off-road should be bumpy and rutted with loose dirt flying everywhere. I don't even think they should do anything to the track ones it's been constructed: If there's a massive rut or pothole for you to hit, everybody else has to avoid it too. If you can hold full throttle for more than a couple of seconds anywhere on the track, it's either too straight or too smooth.

Just one more example of the boy band-ization of America. Everybody who likes blue-groove tracks might as well get a manicure and frosted tips while they are at it. Maybe tracks can pipe in the in-store music from Abercrombie & Fitch or The Gap for racers to listen to in the pits while they aren't cleaning their cars.

[TJNMT]

LOL, that is right, that's way I don't race my trucks just bash with them.

[SteveK]

Same here. Well, that and nobody can seem to make an off-road track survive here.

[metalry101]

Well I can't say that the current off-road racing is completely weaksauce, but I would prefer something messier...Maybe the "off-road" part of it refers to the air time, which taken literally, is off-road. Personally, I would prefer to see tracks a little looser and rougher, but I think part of the reason for not having them that way is tuning...If the conditions are constantly varying, then you can't really change your setup on your truck w/ any sort of confidence because the track will be different next time you go out. Learning how to tune a vehicle to track conditions is one of the reasons that experienced racers typically do better.

[Crusher 1]

I can tell you it is way more fun to build a really solid race truck and just go to those events and just be Mr Hammer!
In a race day you can cause lots of damage to Mr Manicure and all his buddies trucks :eek: :D
"sorry Mr Race Director I am just new to this stuff" :D :D :D

[rccardude04]

You haven't seen the 2004 Offroad World's track in sweden yet have you? If you're whining about hard dirt existing here, they're running on a track that is 70% asphalt.
Also racing is more exciting when it's really fast. How is racing going to be as fast if the track is rutted up? I do agree that offroad should not become onroad with a few hills, but if it's too horribly rutted, potholey, dusty, it's not good. Especially when you're a corner marshall and you have to breathe while these things are kicking up more dirt than unlimited hydroplanes do water.
Another thing, dirt causes wear on parts. Less dusty tracks cut down on car wear making everything less expensive for those involved.
Our track the last couple years was perfect. It was fairly packed under the surface, but pretty rough, some places intentionally, the jumps weren't consistent, and once a groove got worn in, everyone could breathe. And there was plenty of dirt.
I bet most of you who are complaining about offroad being too onroad-like don't even race on that type of track...
-Eric

[raderrustler]

If you want off-road racing then come out to the hobbytown racepark (silverstate Track) in vegas..it is not blue groove at all, bumpy rutty,hard spots,silty areas..and a lot of speed.
Randy

[TJNMT]

I am complaining and I do bash on those types of terrian. As for racing, I would if I could find places like those. But anyways yeah I guess your right for dust getting on the trucks and on the marshels causing harm plus wear and tear.

[Rdub202]

sweet im not alone-even the off road guys are agreeing. but thats sweet abotu the sweedish track thats a nice change of events there

[Boxxer]

I am in 100% agreement. It breaks my heart every time I see a blue groove track. Makes me sick to see slicks on a truck or buggy. Real off-road should be bumpy and rutted with loose dirt flying everywhere. I don't even think they should do anything to the track ones it's been constructed: If there's a massive rut or pothole for you to hit, everybody else has to avoid it too. If you can hold full throttle for more than a couple of seconds anywhere on the track, it's either too straight or too smooth.

Just one more example of the boy band-ization of America. Everybody who likes blue-groove tracks might as well get a manicure and frosted tips while they are at it. Maybe tracks can pipe in the in-store music from Abercrombie & Fitch or The Gap for racers to listen to in the pits while they aren't cleaning their cars.

LOL, Im liking the way you think.

[mrkinigit]

lumpy tracks and truly offroad tracks would probly give the 4wd's a true chance to shine.

[DCLXVI]

You haven't seen the 2004 Offroad World's track in sweden yet have you?

I'll have to take a trip there and have a look, last time I was there it wasn't that bad, it was 2-3 meters of concrete just before the tripple...

[potatoe_bird]

I think that it does need to be bumpy with bug jumps and some loose dirt. If things keep going like they are now, before long touring cars will race on the same track as the 1/8 buggies. :rolleyes:

[-=ADA$=-]

if you want true off-road tracks come here, even on-road tracks look like it would be better suited for buggies :D:D and off-road track ( havent been there, but seen a photo) looks just like you described, messy, like noone cared since it was build :D

[TC3Racer]

I think the main reason that the tracks these days are so hard packed are better suited for the cars. Having dust and particles come up and damage drivetrains and strip gears wont keep people coming back to race at their track. Although this is normal for off-road that is a big factor and i honestly think it is one of the major factors as to why they are so hard packed.

I run on a loamy, loose track and its great. I dont care about the dirt and everything and overall i agree about the hard packed "off-road crap and definitely think it should be more off road than it is.

[DCLXVI]

Yeah it's come up before an argued ad nauseum.

Sure, but I think that it more, or less deserves to be argued to be disscussed ad nauseum again...

[Bishop]

When I raced off road as a kid, I remember that dirt tracks were really high maintenance, a lot of work to create, and then quite a lot of upkeep, it usually required like 2-3 hours of prep time before each meet, with major stuff needing to be fixed, and the track just generally needing to be damped down to reduce dust etc.

While I don't blame some for wanting to race something more hardpack, I do think it's kills the whole idea of off road to begin with, but then when you see the attitude of some new gen racers, it's not surprising that some of the true dirt tracks are dying out, cause no one wants to spend that 2-3 hours before a meet fixing the track anymore, it's hard enough to get anyone to turn up to a work/track cleanup day like maybe once or twice a year.

Off road should be true off road though, although I have seen some pics of interesting mix tracks in the UK, where the track covers 4-5 different kinds of surface, which looks kind of cool in a rally car way...

[Combatcm]

I'd rather a track that's not who's the fastest, it's who can make it.

[TC3Racer]

It seems like most hard packed tracks these days are indoor. I remember quite a few that are indoor but no one wants a super loamy track that puts up dust and gets everything dusty inside. Most off road indoor tracks are already like that and it doesn't really attract customers.

[surfer]

not this thread again..remember the first one? over a year ago..like...25 pages long

[Fluke]

Remember those big spikes on the first rc10?

THAT was offroad

[Rdub202]

http://prolineracing.com/proline/tires/8099/8099.jpg
Fits any 2.2" truck wheel. IFMAR World Championship tire design provides extreme traction on the hardest track conditions.(from proline racing)

wow i dont think i need say anything

[rocknbil]

Well . . . this is turning a bit snobbish think . . .

I really don't have a track preference, if it's got dirt somewhere in there I'm on it. I wonder - other than verbal assistance, how many of you have actually worked a track, done the actual work in setting it up and maintaining it? Do you realize how much work it is, even if you can afford a tractor?

The argument here is well, if someone is going to host a track and expects my business, they better know what they're doing and have it set up the way **I** think it should be set up. The problem is that your race fees don't make up for the time and expense of maintaining a track, and it CERTAINLY is not just compensation for the criticism. :D

Yeah, this is leading somewhere. Once you get a track laid in or re-laid out, it has to settle in, at least a little bit. A track that's "blue grooved" as you call it requires a HECK of a lot less maintenance, raises less dust, and is a lot more predictable. I've know several commercial track owners who took the effort to re-lay out their indoor tracks every month or two, and I've helped now and again - and I can tell you it's a CRAPLOAD of work. Just keeping the weeds down is sometimes a battle, even with all the defoliants and shovels you can wail at it with.

If you guys want to throw out words like "lazy," be my guest, but if you do it's not likely you've done any track maintenance. Flash will know of what I speak. :D

[Mastec]

There used to be an offroad track locally here that was hard in a few spots and powder in others. The track never saw a drop of water, it was so cool. Had to use the large step pins to get traction, couldnt use those little pins they use nowadays. Taking off around a turn and hammering the throttle sent dust and dirt flying in the air and into the face of a marshal if one was in the "perfect spot". LOL I miss that track, the owner died in 92 and his wife shut it down.

[RCMayhem293]

I live right next to the woods, and my friends all have four-wheelers, so there is a path down there that is PERFECT for "off-roading." As soon as I get some paddle tires for the sand and rocks I'll be tearing it up. It is so awesome for off-roading, I wish I had a monster truck instead of an Evader ST. There are steep, rocky hills perfect for rock-climbing, or you could just try to jump all the rocks via a small launch ramp. There are ruts and grooves everywhere, hard-packed soil, dusty soil, weeds, sand, and even the occasional mud. It is perfect. It's like Mother Nature has built a track for me!

[GramdeGixxer]

I have helped to build/maintain a track and it is hard work. so now i just race touring. throw some dots and fire hoses out and you got a track.