hybrid_944

what are the race tracks made out of.. is it an asphalt. or a concrete?

and what are the po's and cons of driving on both of theses surfaces?

Ive see asphalt on low-budget road tracks. but i was thinking that it would be too soft for racing..

thanks for your time

thanks for your time..

Tim

tracks are made of both...

Tom

and dirt too. The advantages of asphalt are that it is smooth and usually easier on tires, and I think easier to lay down. Concrete is very durable but has joints and tends to crack so it becomes rougher. In many cases, the asphalt is laid over a concrete base and/or there are concrete patches on places where high performance tires pull up hot asphalt. Ultimately there are many exotic variations on both surfaces.

Sloth

Sebring is both concrete and asphalt. I think they had to do some repair work on the fresh asphalt during this years race b/c it was getting torn up by the cars and the heat.

hybrid_944

Does the asphalt grove. like it does on the Interstate? just wondering. bc. grovs around corners would suck.

Tim

yeap asphalt grooves, thats why you see the concrete pavement in "the line" at alot of tracks.

The FHWA has a new spec for asphalt pavements called "Super Pave" its supposed to reduce the rutting you see on heavily traveled interstates.

Ill bet race track owners dont buy the cutting edge overlays when the resurface the track

email me off board if you want a real techno geek explaination

Peter Carroll/Toronto

Since repaving Mosport a couple of years ago, the new asphalt has gotten chewed up a couple of times. First they put in concrete patches to fix the damage. That was less sticky, really bumpy, and hard of tires.

Now what they've done is groove the concrete patches with the grooves more or less following the line. The concrete is now smooth as silk with way more traction than the original asphalt. So far I think they are easier on tires too. It's fantastic. Lap times should be dropping.

Mike in Chi

Sloth

[quote] Sebring is both concrete and asphalt. I think they had to do some repair work on the fresh asphalt during this years race b/c it was getting torn up by the cars and the heat. <hr></blockquote>


But those old bomber runways will be there a thousand years from now.

At a race I was in down there a few years ago, I had a guy tell me the back straight runway was constructed two feet taller in the center to aid runoff, but you don't notice it because it's so wide.

Cars tear up asphalt. Runways tear up cars.

Mike