[short track scott]

Hey, a Christmas Eve hat trick here on the IOW. Three in a row for me.

The pavement as of Spring 2015 is 24-30" below the track surface. The quick scale is to look at the "yard block" wall system and understand that the surface was raised one block higher in the Spring of 2015. Then a new top course of yard block was added to retain effective wall height. A new section was poured on the front stretch as well for the same reason. The easiest place to notice the new clay is at the start/finish line gate where there is a much smaller distance from the track to the flagstand base.

As for the mayor or any other powers that be not allowing the track to tear out the pavement, the track is not in city limits. I'm sure there could be an issue at some level somewhere within the county, IDEM, NASCAR, PETA or even YUSOB that is keeping the pavement well buried in place at the present time. I personally believe it could have a lot to do with dollars and sense. Why spend a ton of money, time and screw with the dirt to pull up pavement that is that far down already? I understand a little bit about water tables, underground springs and the like. If it were East Bay, West Memphis, or some other track that has an ample water source within sight it could be a logical course of action. The fact is the low ground behind the track is almost 15' below the track surface and is the drainage for every field west of there for a couple miles. The pit lane at Plymouth falls almost 3 feet from the county road down to the south end of the property behind turn two. It doesn't pond.

In the end the pavement probably doesn't help anything as far as the surface. I'm sure if it were studied, and core samples taken the area where there is pavement probably would have a higher temperature at 18" and 24" and 30" below the surface compared to native ground. But if there were any increase, even a full degree or two, it would not be enough of a reason to drop the money on digging up the pavement. And while I'm not going to make the case that pavement helps water from draining through the surface into the subsurface and water table, neither can I make a case the moisture is seeping UP from the ground below and being stopped by the underside of the buried pavement.

To me, it's a push. At best.