28 replies to this topic

[gatormark]

We run on a 220 ft Engleman and at times the rubber crud and smut gets really bad in the corners and on the braid it looses contact.

 

The owner said we need to let him know when it needs cleaned? Hello? It's your track, buddy. He also mentioned he will use less stickem on the track so it will stay cleaner longer.

 

My question is this: it's a wing car track, period. How would most owners maintain it for high speed running? Less stickem and different tires? Same stickem and more cleaning, i.e. maintenance?

 

His following is going to dwindle if it's not cleaner, that's for sure.

[Tim Neja]

I know others will chime in here but at Buena Park Raceway in Calif, the track is cleaned before any races!! That's what we've always done.

 

If you aren't racing every week, then it's occasionally cleaned at least once every two weeks at the very least. And it's great if the track owner will do it – but at the very least – have all the product and equipment necessary ready for cleaning at any time. For example, white gas and cleaning towels and long-handled scrubbing tools as well as sprayers for the cleaner of choice.

 

It's a constant maintenance to keep good track conditions for racers to test on as well as race on!! Doesn't do you any good to test on a track that is not similar to what you will be racing on!!

 

And spraying less is not a good choice – the track needs to be in race condition as often as possible. 

 

FWIW.

[Dominator]

One of the things that is overlooked with track cleanliness/maintenence is the HVAC system and where the vents are located in relation to the track. If you have vents blowing on or above the track it can not only effect how much grip the track has but can also dump dust/debris onto the surface. Sometimes this can't be helped because of the space but it is one more factor that plays into maintenance of the track.

A good cleaner, naphtha or Coleman fuel, with lint-free towels will go a long way in track prep. For spray gluing usually one bottle of Koford medium in a 20 oz. spray bottle filled with naphtha or Coleman fuel will do the trick. Stay away from the Parma or Champion Tire Bite as I have found the track to get greasy.

[MSwiss]

My track runs better and better, as the rubber builds up.

Not too many raceways have the luxury of having a wing car only track, so it's hard for me to provide advice, but it sounds like your main problem is the braid.

Why not just clean that with some naphtha, as needed?

BTW, if you're not already using them, microfiber towels are the best for cleaning, especially if your braid is less than perfect.

[MSwiss]

His following is going to dwindle if it's not cleaner, that's for sure.

Where are the racers going to go?

To the clean track with perfect conditions down the street? LOL.

[old & gray]

Mike,
 
Sometimes facts don't measure up to perceptions.

We had a track owner who didn't clean the tracks because the rubber gave better traction. The floor was vacuumed/swept every day. The glass on the showcases was cleaned, and the pit tables were wiped before the shop opened each day.

Parents and wives who walked in saw a grey track with black rubber and expressed their displeasure about the "dirty" atmosphere of the shop. He found cleaning the gray tracks made the shop appear brighter and increased the time walk-ins stayed/returned.

[MSwiss]

Bob,

You are 100% correct.

What I left out in my first post is that I clean my King based on the frequency of the casual customer touching the track surface, while reslotting their rental car, and grimacing.

But before that last cleaning, we ran a record total in a Hardbody points race.

So it's a juggling act to keep both ends of the spectrum happy.

I need both to survive.

But one thing I have learned, is that I'll never do another light gray surface.

My flat track, in the front of the store, is painted graphite and it looks the same no matter how much it's rubbered up.

[Half Fast]

Where is there a 220 foot Engleman in FL?
 
Cheers.

[gc4895]

I know the tire smutt accumulates over time. What about dust? Does using the Swiffer technology to remove dust help?

[Wizard Of Iz]

We were blessed at SCR&H in Jacksonville to have a group of five or six racers who showed up the first Monday of every month to help clean the Hillclimb. We might have provided some cold beverages to help the time pass by as we cleaned and bench-raced.  
 
I think your local weather conditions – temperature, humidity, dry-spell, rainy season, etc. – have a big impact on how often you need to clean a track. As long as we stayed on schedule, it was pretty much wipe-on and wipe-off to clean the track. The rare occasions that the cleaning was delayed a week or two made for a much harder clean-up. Especially if humidity was down or the shop got too hot and the rubber glazed over and dried to the track. That made for the worst of both worlds – a dirty looking track that was slickery as all get out.
 
For the track glue, we found that 1.5 bottles of Koford Medium mixed with 24 oz. of naphtha did a real nice job. Always sprayed with the HVAC system off so it wouldn't get sucked up into the AC return. We also found that we got better results by mixing the "sauce" a month in advance and letting it "ferment."
 
I agree with Dominator that the HVAC system plays into the equation. We always changed the filters in our two AC units before we cleaned the track since one of the returns was right over the doughnut. That way we cleaned up any falling dust from the filter change as we cleaned the track. We also found that the track stayed racier longer once we installed a programmable thermostat so the shop would stay a little cooler during the day and on the days we were closed.
 
It all combined to work for us as we received compliments from racers about the track's condition.

[Wizard Of Iz]

Where is there a 220 foot Engleman in FL?

 
Avon Park, FL.  
 
Near Sebring.

[garyvmachines]

Back in 2000 we were blessed to have a King Track in our area, with an owner who did not want clean it.

So after racing everybody grabbed a rag and started cleaning... It took about half an hour if we all pitched in.

After cleaning one guy sprayed... then we all left...
 
GAV

[Mach9]

It's been 30+ years since I had my track, but I'll chime in.

I don't remember exactly how often we cleaned the track, but it wasn't more than every month or two I'm sure. I ran light spray glue, so if we cleaned it, that just meant I had to re-spray it to get the grip back. My track was black, so I didn't have problem with appearance.

I do remember that when it was time to clean it, I would let the racers know a few days ahead of time and I always had at least four or five show up to help. They also got free track time the rest of the night to try to run it back in.

My track was black with a clear polyurethane top coat and when it was clean and no glue, it was slick as a soap maker's butt.

For the posters who complain about their track owner not wanting to clean the track, how about offering to gather a few guys and do it for him? I bet he would be happy to provide the supplies. I would have never asked a racer (customer) to empty trash cans or sweep the floor, but I would ask for help to clean the track. And my racers seemed happy to help. Of course, my racers were 99.5% fantastic people.

I will add that I did go around every week and hit the braid with some Coleman fuel on a rag.

[Rob Voska]

How often should a commercial track be cleaned?
 
More often than some slot racers shower! 

[gatormark]

They will just not go at all. We also have other things to do here in Fla: hunting and fishing, summertime? skiing and wake boarding? I mean yer xxxxxx' me with that answer right?

[gatormark]

Wiz,

Where is your track in J-ville? How many tracks do you have?

[tonyp]

Jacksonville closed last year.

[MSwiss]

They will just not go at all. We also have other things to do here in Fla: hunting and fishing, summertime? skiing and wake boarding? I mean yer xxxxxx' me with that answer right?

 

My point is you're airing your dissatisfaction with your local raceway owner in public.

You should be doing that privately with him.

As far as me editing your comment, a reminder, you're not on Facebook.

[gatormark]

Sometimes the best way to get things done is to air it out in the open but I get your drift about a public forum.

 

After speaking with a couple of owners I guess we need to offer the guy a bit of help, and we will if that's what it takes.

 

I appreciate the opinions here, I thank you and have a happy and safe new year. God bless.

[Rob Voska]

Track cleaning is a big job for one person. Three-four people sure make it go easier.

[zipper]

Two persons, naphta spray, terry towels, disposable gloves on our King - 15 minutes but might cause some swet...

[Half Fast]

Mounting the towels on cleaning sticks saves wear and tear on your back! Goes faster too.

 

Cheers

[MSwiss]

When a raceway owner had a sprayer, we used to clean the track in about 5 minutes, after a race.

My customers offer to help me clean the track but I decline just because I know I'll use the minimum amount of naptha (subjecting the braid to less of it)

[Ramcatlarry]

1) A shop vac is needed to clean the slots every week. Screws and paint chips in the slot make for more wrecks and bad customer relations.

2) If the braid is slowing the cars, soak a small bit of kitchen scotchbrite in naptha to clean the braid before you vacuum the slot.

3) Black tracks do LOOK cleaner longer, but it really masks track conditions for racers and the management.  It also requires higher lighting levels to see the racecar than on a lighter track. I hate those flickering and dim bulbs as well.

4) Stabile humidity and temp in a raceway makes for stabile track conditions.  Screen doors/open doors let in way too much dust.

[NSwanberg]

It takes a lot out of JB at Downriver to clean the track by himself. You can see the pain he is in for the next couple of weeks. The racers need to help with this chore as many hands make the work go faster and easier for all. It is difficult to be there when it can be done as JB never wants to turn track renters away. It is gray surface track and looks awful when it is rubbered up but I know by the lap times it is racing well that way.

 

Once we get a good rubber base down I would just a soon let it go several weeks between cleanings. The rental cars glaze the rubber over but about 5 minutes of practice on the high lanes, where most of the rentals occur, seems to bring them back to race condition. Now the braid is another issue. I would like to see the braid in the turns and turn exits cleaned as needed but that is almost as hard of work as a track cleaning.