Clay track building / maintaining
10-15-2011 | 03:01 PM
#31
Here is a BMX track in Rockford Ill. That use Soil- Tac. The track surface is almost black now. Its the smothest bmx track in the country!!!! With grip for days..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=800qDjldgeY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=800qDjldgeY
10-15-2011 | 04:37 PM
#32
Tech Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 256
From: So Cal
how are you building your clay track without water? I assume you do not use water when you build as clay dries out and will crack when the water evaporates out of it...?
ocrc is by far the best clay. It is watered heavy before the night and misted about every 2-3 hours. I dont know how you maintain your 100% clay track without water.
ocrc is by far the best clay. It is watered heavy before the night and misted about every 2-3 hours. I dont know how you maintain your 100% clay track without water.
06-07-2012 | 07:19 AM
#35
Thread Starter
Tech Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 57
From: Netherlands
Vid of the 1st A-main of the 2wd Belgium / Dutch nationals we had a couple of weeks ago.
Eventhough we had heavy track use over 3 days, the track held up great. Only minor damage to the track at the start of the straight, but nothing serious.
Eventhough we had heavy track use over 3 days, the track held up great. Only minor damage to the track at the start of the straight, but nothing serious.
| + YouTube Video | |
06-07-2012 | 01:02 PM
#36
Tech Adept
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 119
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Hey Janus .... Track looks good well done.
As for your original posts:
We have one of the finest outdoor clay tracks in North America here in Ottawa.
First mistake people make is mixing clay with ANYTHING ... it will not bind and will fall apart. The biggest trick with clay is to make sure that it came form an area close to a freshwater river. Clay and freshwater silt is the only combination that will work outdoors and standup to the abuse ... expecialy if you run 1/8 E-Buggy (they are the worst on a track).
Never mix it with dirt and definately not sand ... it will fall apart.
If people give advice make sure they are not talking about an indoor clay track. ... they stay moist and dont break apart.
Outdoor clay tracks are very difficult but if you get it right you will have one of the best tracks around and definately the the track with the least amount of repairs.
Send a pm if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Billy Sutton.
As for your original posts:
We have one of the finest outdoor clay tracks in North America here in Ottawa.
First mistake people make is mixing clay with ANYTHING ... it will not bind and will fall apart. The biggest trick with clay is to make sure that it came form an area close to a freshwater river. Clay and freshwater silt is the only combination that will work outdoors and standup to the abuse ... expecialy if you run 1/8 E-Buggy (they are the worst on a track).
Never mix it with dirt and definately not sand ... it will fall apart.
If people give advice make sure they are not talking about an indoor clay track. ... they stay moist and dont break apart.
Outdoor clay tracks are very difficult but if you get it right you will have one of the best tracks around and definately the the track with the least amount of repairs.
Send a pm if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Billy Sutton.
06-09-2012 | 02:48 AM
#37
Thread Starter
Tech Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 57
From: Netherlands
Hey Janus .... Track looks good well done.
As for your original posts:
We have one of the finest outdoor clay tracks in North America here in Ottawa.
First mistake people make is mixing clay with ANYTHING ... it will not bind and will fall apart. The biggest trick with clay is to make sure that it came form an area close to a freshwater river. Clay and freshwater silt is the only combination that will work outdoors and standup to the abuse ... expecialy if you run 1/8 E-Buggy (they are the worst on a track).
Never mix it with dirt and definately not sand ... it will fall apart.
If people give advice make sure they are not talking about an indoor clay track. ... they stay moist and dont break apart.
Outdoor clay tracks are very difficult but if you get it right you will have one of the best tracks around and definately the the track with the least amount of repairs.
Send a pm if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Billy Sutton.
As for your original posts:
We have one of the finest outdoor clay tracks in North America here in Ottawa.
First mistake people make is mixing clay with ANYTHING ... it will not bind and will fall apart. The biggest trick with clay is to make sure that it came form an area close to a freshwater river. Clay and freshwater silt is the only combination that will work outdoors and standup to the abuse ... expecialy if you run 1/8 E-Buggy (they are the worst on a track).
Never mix it with dirt and definately not sand ... it will fall apart.
If people give advice make sure they are not talking about an indoor clay track. ... they stay moist and dont break apart.
Outdoor clay tracks are very difficult but if you get it right you will have one of the best tracks around and definately the the track with the least amount of repairs.
Send a pm if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Billy Sutton.
We sadly don't have the luxury of choosing exact which clay we want to have, but so far we have been able to get a decent / good quality. All the bad stuff is hidden under the astro jumps ;-)
I have to agree on the "not mixing" comment. We've tried it in the past and it always went south....
But when the clay gets to thin, were probably going to clean out the whole patch of land and make 1 big thick slate of clay. instead of just having 5 / 10 inch of clay purely on the layout itself.
But for now, pretty much all of the drivers comments have been good. Even claiming "it's unnatural to have this much grip on dirt/clay".
06-13-2012 | 04:38 PM
#38
Tech Regular
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 287
A track i raced @ used dust control(soiltac). Massive traction, massive tire wear. So bad people quit racing. When they remixed soil, it was great. I'm hearing 5gal h2o, 1 gal elmers glue & 2 cups of viniger. Thats what I hear a lot of BMX tracks are trying.
06-13-2012 | 09:49 PM
#39
10-17-2012 | 10:55 AM
#41
Tech Adept
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 104
From: Yucca Valley
Alrighty... I tested a small batch to see if it would work. Total start up:
Pump
elmers school glue
vinegar
Plus one bucket, a measuring pan and free stir stick(got to love Home depot)
Total: 30.00
I made a 1/3 batch to test as the pump is only 2 gallons and it covered 43' x 10'.
What I did notice was that the real loose large particle sand was crusty and breakable. However the more compact dusty area were nice a solid. I know after a few times it will be perfect.
Thanks for the recipe guys.
Also a gallon of Elmers is camparable to Dirtglue but I am not sure how much it cost to ship to your home. Elmers can be ordered on line for about 13.60 shipped.
I am stoked and cant wait to get the track finished.
Pump
elmers school glue
vinegar
Plus one bucket, a measuring pan and free stir stick(got to love Home depot)
Total: 30.00
I made a 1/3 batch to test as the pump is only 2 gallons and it covered 43' x 10'.
What I did notice was that the real loose large particle sand was crusty and breakable. However the more compact dusty area were nice a solid. I know after a few times it will be perfect.
Thanks for the recipe guys.
Also a gallon of Elmers is camparable to Dirtglue but I am not sure how much it cost to ship to your home. Elmers can be ordered on line for about 13.60 shipped.
I am stoked and cant wait to get the track finished.
Last edited by *saint*; 10-17-2012 at 08:12 PM.
10-17-2012 | 10:23 PM
#44
Soiltac caused unimaginable tire wear. A new 1/8 Aka gridiron turned to a full slick in 3 tanks. Never driven on anything like it, very blacktop like. I don't know what the perfect base would be, I have heard it dosen't penetrate clay very well. We put it on a top soil/sand track and it did not soak in well, only to peel up in a few weeks
Very expensive. Everybody would have hated the tire wear anyhow.
Very expensive. Everybody would have hated the tire wear anyhow.
10-30-2012 | 08:59 PM
#45
Tech Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 67
From: So Cal
I'm looking to build a track in my backyard. I have 100x40 feet to work with. The dirt at my place is super hard packed can barely dig into it. I live in Southern California it is hot most of the year with very little rain. I want to be able to run my short course truck on it with a few buddies. I was thinking about a 5 foot lanes with at least one over under jump. I'm looking to bring dirt in I was originally thinking about bringing 100% clay in. I think it will be to much maintenance with the heat and sun. Looking for dirt idea. And any general knowledge that will help.