Blue groove!!

[Lee]

After looking at other websites its plain to see in the US they race on clay, my question is are there any clay tracks in the UK and if not, why?
Is it that they would just get washed away?

[jimmy]

Pretty much yes, they'd get washed away.
I think another thing is the maintenance factor. I Think a lot of US tracks are hobby shop owned or commercial in some way. Looking after the clay takes time and money, they spray it, roll it, etc etc.

There is 3A down south, but when we had the national there, the rules dont allow for clay tracks to be maintained (watered) so it got a bit dusty, which I dont think would happen at some of the tracks in the usa - some of them even water the tracks between each race as far as I know.

[BenG]

IF there were to be a clay track here in the U.K. it'd be best indoor. Keeps it from washing away, and the conditions (e.g. heat) would be more controllable

[Lee]

its a shame really because they look awesome and when the uk guys go over th the states the majority must be at a disadvantage.

[Chris Doughty]

pretty much any race out side of the UK is on dirt, and yes, it does take us a few runs to get in the swing of things.

just think how much Neil would have won the worlds by if it was on astro!

[Lee]

where is the euros next year? Also how do you enter, is it like TC where the national top 20 get invited then a few wild cards get entries?

it would be great to have a dirt track in the uk, i suppose tiverton indoor is as close as we get at the moment

[jimmy]

I think lee martins CML track is the closest thing to be honest, looking at it.. yea I realise its not dirt - but neither is tiverton. Tiverton is like, sand and poo and nothing at all like any dirt track ever!

3A is of course a good dirt track but I'm not sure they will run another national.

[stefke]

Over here in Belgium, astro tracks are becoming more and more the standard. They all take the excellent Kampenhout track as an example (the site of the anual EFRA race). Allthough I prefer dirt or clay over astro anytime (I don't like the almost absolute grip), I can't really blame track owners : astro makes a track virtually maintenace free and very consistent.

10 years ago when I started racing, we had an all american style indoor clay track. It was a blast to ride on but it demanded A LOT of maintenace. For example you had to keep it wet all the time or it started to crack. After 3 years, the track owner reverted to astro.

[Lee Martin]

my tarmac sections blue groove!

[Chris Doughty]

Originally Posted by pidge

my tarmac sections blue groove!

oh yes, end of the straight!! super G's!

[G30RGE]

Aire Valley (blast from the past) was an all dirt outdoor venue and a great one.
Reedy was held there some years ago, bit of a coup for NE Region