Why no off road Tarmac tracks?

[Nick Goodall]

Yeah they'd be pretty easy to make up - just some thicker Lexan from a bodyshell off cut or whatever cut so you could bolt it behind the shocks and then folded up over the top or something - sure people could quickly make something anyway, even from an old rear wing

I do think it'd work though, the main benefit for me would be all weather racing as the water shouldn't gather anywhere if it's done right, and grip would still be pretty good with the right tyres....

PLUS the Tyres wouldn't wear out!! Not for ages anyway.... and what do people moan about most??

Anyway the other thing with breaking stuff, is you really would have the same problems racing on hard compacted dirt anyway as in the baking sun those tracks are as hard as concrete anyway!

[DerbyDan]

Originally Posted by GRIFF55

OR, run rallycross shells like back in the day!!

Metro 6R4 FTW!!

Then these cars got narrower - more realistic proportioned... we tarmaced over our off road tracks (Broxtowe & Southend) and so touring cars were born

I like the idea of an off road tarmac track, it would be superfast - but in my mind you can't beat good old fashioned grass/dirt

[coolcars782]

Com'on Lee Get it donee

[Col]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

Yeah they'd be pretty easy to make up - just some thicker Lexan from a bodyshell off cut or whatever cut so you could bolt it behind the shocks and then folded up over the top or something - sure people could quickly make something anyway, even from an old rear wing

cack picture...

[DCM]

I have a 406 and a 6R4 with Kamtec currently

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by DCM

I have a 406 and a 6R4 with Kamtec currently

Crack......

[Si Coe]

Originally Posted by pugboy

Great idea, would probably cost more than astro to construct initially but would be zero maintenance once it was done. Some drainage gullies could even be built in in discreet areas so that it would be truly all weather (maybe I'm getting a little carried away). If jump landings were a concern, maybe even some sections of that rubberised stuff like you get in kiddies playgrounds.

Now that I'd like to see. Been wondering about making track surfaces out of that. I'm not sure how fast it would wear out, but the grip would be mental.

I rather like this tarmac offroad track idea. Its all weather, all year round usable (bit chilly in December though!), minimal maintenance and if you choose the right mix easy on the tyres.
Cost need not be prohibitive - astro is pricy and specialist so the chances of getting much of a deal on it are minimal Tarmac isn't cheap but I'd bet most clubs have members who know someone can do them a tarmacing job on the side for very little.

[Andy71]

Originally Posted by The Pookster

Late 80s or early 90s, can't quite remember, Medway Off Road Club tarmacked over the clay (cos it was all bumpy and pitted) the day before a national, bit of surprise turning up on the Sunday. Wasn't very nice really, tyres didn't last too long.

1990 was the year.

I loved the dirt track and had spent a lot of time running, then we get to the site on the Friday evening and they had covered it in tarmac and then put a sort of fine stone over the top which soon got sweapt off the racing line

It was in June and if memory serves the weather wasn't great either. I tried running some Amark square blocks!! Had a crap meeting all in all.

[Hog]

Originally Posted by DCM

I have a 406 and a 6R4 with Kamtec currently

I'll chase Keef @ Kamtec up and see what the chances are of an RS200 and 205T16 as well! None of this modern stuff - keep it Group B

Awesome idea though - how much more power do we have available now compared to when "Rallycross" was tried back in the 80's?

Glad I hung on to a set of Proline buggy slicks.............

[Garry]

Sack buggies, bring on the rally cars! HPI RS4 Rally, SST Rally etc etc.

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by Garry

Sack buggies, bring on the rally cars! HPI RS4 Rally, SST Rally etc etc.

Nooo, as cool as they are i just want to see basically USA Style Hard packed tracks, but built for all weather purposes (i.e Tarmac) as it would give very similar driving conditions to dirt, and provide similar grip levels.

I wanna see big rolling doubles, table tops and banked curves like the SuperMoto track

[wacattack]

I dont understand the appeal. Isnt "Offroad" supposed to be just that??

[mikerobinson83]

this is a great idea, only last week at our track i was talking about this in a jokey sort of off the cusb thing. and funnily enough my insperation was the same supermoto track, however i think having a dirt section aswell would make it even more interesting having to set the buggy up for both.

[antnee]

[pikey voice] Can I tarmac ya track for ya? Me n the boys will do ya a good deal, maybe chuck in some dags [/pikey voice]

[simoncrabb]

hey, we could all run rally bodyshells, slick tyres, maybe shorter shocks?

Oh shit, it's the late 90s all over again.

[Robfo]

I think a few people are getting the wrong idea about the surface, forget its tarmac as in on-road, just think of it as a different surface. I think a hard surfaced offroad track would be cool, especially if it could be maintained outdoors in the UK and work in the rain!

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by Robfo

I think a few people are getting the wrong idea about the surface, forget its tarmac as in on-road, just think of it as a different surface. I think a hard surfaced offroad track would be cool, especially if it could be maintained outdoors in the UK and work in the rain!

Spot bo!!ock on mate, exactly what i'm trying to say...........

Watch any online vids of the Cacus, Silverstate Nitro race, and any other big race in the states, or even Yatabe arena - That's exactly what i'm picturing but the benfit of using Tarmac or concrete is it means you can use a track like that OUTSIDE in the UK, you get the same sort of grip, proper drainage, and basically USA style racing on a hard packed track that will rubber in properly

It won't have the random odd bumps you get with more traditional UK tracks, but the US style hard packed tracks don't have these either - that's what i'd like to see over here, even if there's just one in the UK.

[jiffy]

West Londons track use to be on tarmac, the days of Chris Boakes

[A.R.C Raceway]

southend outdoor track is tarmac and has undulations. is very similar to when it was the off road multi surface track. take a look at website. SRCCC.
Tarmac laying is a massive expense and would need serious investment.

[Adam Talbot]

Originally Posted by A.R.C Raceway

Tarmac laying is a massive expense and would need serious investment.

no its not,i know,i used to lay the stuff!!!
cotswold lay'd there hole track for less than 20 grand!
and if your not tryin to lay on-road type surface,ie:flat and smooth,any monkey with a wacker plate can do it!! like club members!!!??