Building Astro Turf Track

[Mr Eccleston]

Looking for some advice, we're in the process of building a permanent off road track, but having a a problem with moles under the astro turf track sections we have down so far.


What I would like to know is how people lay astroturf, is it straight onto soil or do you put a hardcore layer down first.

Does anyone have a mole problem, and how did you resolve it. Seems there are a couple of theories, basically they feed on the worms that are brought to the surface with astro turf, so use insecticide every year to kill the worms/food.

Other ideas are place someglass bottles in the ground so the wind causes vibration, and apparently moles dont like that. Other ideas have been kids plastic wind milles, again the vibration scares the moles away.

Any ideas.

[coleman758]

Dynamite? It worked on caddy shack


Sorry not very helpful...

http://www.pestcontrolrx.com/david_somlcom/moles/

[Dave Dodd]

shotgun and a swivel chair

[john333]

Definitely put hardcore down to get some drainage, Broxtowe did a fine job recently so try and have a word with one of them? (nottmboy is the name of the top bloke)

[Mr Eccleston]

Do all tracks put some hardcore down, and if so how deep.

[metalmickey0]

Originally Posted by Dave Dodd

shotgun and a swivel chair

You beat me too it. but you forgot the torch as well taped to the gun

On topic now, we put down hardcore and then fine soil then astro. The we run over the track with a vibrating plate to smooth out the bumps a bit.

[Mr Eccleston]

how deep is your hardcore, is it type 1 that you use.

[metalmickey0]

Originally Posted by Mr Eccleston

how deep is your hardcore, is it type 1 that you use.

Ours was just old rubble that a fellow member who works for the electricity people got. Usually from where they dig up your roads and gardens. So had all sorts in it. Time Team would of been impressed with stuff we found. Bottles, cans and even an old tee shirt lol

[acaciapiks]

hi
we had same problem but its resolv
you must dig with "tractor" at 20cm under surface all the track size, after you have 2 solutions:
1 you cover withe rocks
2 you cover with plastic "grillage" (like picture after)
http://www.wire-mesh-fences.com/phot..._mink_cage.jpg

you recover with ground again, pass the compressor roller and apply the astro
it's a little expensive but radical for a long time

sorry for my bad english dude

julien

[nottmboy]

Originally Posted by john333

Definitely put hardcore down to get some drainage, Broxtowe did a fine job recently so try and have a word with one of them? (nottmboy is the name of the top bloke)

we put two large soakaways one at each end of the straight, which is the lowest part of the track. these had an 'overflow' pipe leading out of the track area. each soakaway had a 'christmas tree' of land drainage pipe dug into the ground covered in hessian to stop it silting up. the whole area was then covered with 3-4 inchs of crushed brick and road planings. the features were then built from the same materials. the track was then wacked, rolled and then covered with the astro.
an awful lot of work but having seen the track this afternoon after around 15hrs of constant rain, well worth it

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64591

link with lots of pics of build
cheers andy

p.s. racing sunday for anybody rained off