IHRA tournament of Champions

Adger Smith · 11-06-2009, 08:17 AM

I keep reading all the talk about Bad Lanes and Track prep. Just a few observations about track prep from a guy that did it for years.. Have you ever noticed How the track crews usually drag a track? Have you ever noticed that when a track goes away it is usually one lane bad or real bad and the other just OK or sometimes good??
When I was a track owner I noticed that my tracks would do stupid things, esp when humidity was a problem. I started looking and trying different preps and traction bite solutions.
I found it was better to drag both lanes the same way. Have you ever noticed they usually drag out on one lane and back on the other. (that is the quickest, easiest way for the tractor driver) Most of the times a driver will drag out on the right lane and come back on the left. That makes the lay of the rubber different. It is just like combing hair one way on one side of your head and then the other way on the other side. You are dealing with a shear condition of the track rubber and the drag rubber. It's just like when a racer rotates his tire because they "Go Away". The sheared rubber takes a set in one direction. You rotate the tires to reverse or scuff the rubber the other direction. I saw that my tracks responded the same way. I started dragging opposite the way that the car tires were pulling the track in each lane. When there was humidity I would cut the VHT with MEK or gas to lay down a thin layer that didn't trap moisture or turn into a goop. I know it was quite a few years ago when I ran my tracks and the VHT of today is not what it was back then, but something I did then may be of interest today.
I didn't post this to be critical of anyone or anybody. I just felt compelled to share my experience..

11-06-2009, 08:17 AM	#20
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: IHRA tournament of Champions I keep reading all the talk about Bad Lanes and Track prep. Just a few observations about track prep from a guy that did it for years.. Have you ever noticed How the track crews usually drag a track? Have you ever noticed that when a track goes away it is usually one lane bad or real bad and the other just OK or sometimes good?? When I was a track owner I noticed that my tracks would do stupid things, esp when humidity was a problem. I started looking and trying different preps and traction bite solutions. I found it was better to drag both lanes the same way. Have you ever noticed they usually drag out on one lane and back on the other. (that is the quickest, easiest way for the tractor driver) Most of the times a driver will drag out on the right lane and come back on the left. That makes the lay of the rubber different. It is just like combing hair one way on one side of your head and then the other way on the other side. You are dealing with a shear condition of the track rubber and the drag rubber. It's just like when a racer rotates his tire because they "Go Away". The sheared rubber takes a set in one direction. You rotate the tires to reverse or scuff the rubber the other direction. I saw that my tracks responded the same way. I started dragging opposite the way that the car tires were pulling the track in each lane. When there was humidity I would cut the VHT with MEK or gas to lay down a thin layer that didn't trap moisture or turn into a goop. I know it was quite a few years ago when I ran my tracks and the VHT of today is not what it was back then, but something I did then may be of interest today. I didn't post this to be critical of anyone or anybody. I just felt compelled to share my experience.. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)