Other than tire wear blue groove for me. I dont know what is in the dirt but one track around here is hardpacked clay that has a smooth high-bite line with loamy edges, but doesn't eat tires like a blue groove track. Thats my favorite dirt. For the layout have a high speed straight/side straight/back with a few long jumps, and med-low speed technical infeild. Have a washboard section, a camel jump, and a big rythem section thrown in too. Remember to make the layout easily changable/reversable without having to do a complete rebuild. Covered drivers stand with fans and speakers, also speakers in the pit area. And while its a blank check have a jumbotron for lap times.
I got almost 3months out of a set of SS Gridirons, had about 60% life left until the track I raced this weekend grooved up. I hardly wore the tires in the heats, but went out in the main and made some slicks.