[Dave Rudisell]

Originally Posted by TheLip2 Dave: These may be stupid questions, but something that has been on my mind and maybe others as well. Where does the clay come from? Is there any particular research that goes into obtaining good racing clay or does someone just get out the phone book and order some clay dirt? This question may be out of line, but as a local resident I am also curious: Since the city owns the speedway and you manage the speedway on a lease with the city . . . . Who pays for the clay? My thought and reason for the questions is that I would seem to think that all clay is not created equal and since I know that you bust you %^&$#'s to maintain the track and put on the best show possible it would seem that you would want to acquire the best "dirt" possible. Went out to Manzy in Feb. and was trying to figure out where that "dirt" came from cause it certainly didn't look like anything native to AZ to me. LOL An amazing racing surface! Anyway . . . just some thoughts. Maybe you can shed some light on the subject. Scott

Great question.. The clay was tested and there is a spec for the clay, i can't remember the % of clay ratio, but its there. So we search for the right clay at several location, and just happened to find the clay we wanted just about 5 miles down the road. The city is paying for the clay and hauling it in, we are doing all the spreading, packing and working the clay. I have seen some tracks just dig around the track and put that on the racing surface, and then end up fighting dust because the soil they used does'nt hold moisture like clay does. We are very fortunate to have a good supply of clay close by.
Thanks for the questions, there are good ones, and 5 years ago i had no idea either.
Take care and see ya at the races. Dave Rudisell

[Dave Rudisell]

Scott, by the way, stop by anytime and i'll give ya a tour, and talk about racing.
We are there 7 days a week dawn til dusk and beyond. Dave

[Phylo82]

Originally Posted by Seadog Phil, Are you related in any way to Bill Heil? My dad worked for Cincinnati Bell way back when and he was a co-worker of Bill's. They had racing interests in common which led to a friendship.

No, I don't re-call any Bill Heil's in my family.....weird thing though, I work for Cincinnati Bell.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Phylo82 No, I don't re-call any Bill Heil's in my family.....weird thing though, I work for Cincinnati Bell.

That is kinda wierd.

Just thought I'd ask.

Have a good one!

[fishnman]

Originally Posted by Dave Rudisell Me and Fishnman worked until 9pm in the rain, mother nature was kind enough to turn on her lights (lightning) so we could keep the trucks a coming. I believe we have about all the dirt we need, the track has all the clay on it, now we are stockpiling clay on the bottom. Tim "Graderman" Johnson did his wonders to the track today, and it looked good. Take care, Dave

Tim Johnson is one guy that doesn't get mentioned much, but does a fantastic job. He has had his work cut out for him at the beginning of this year and last year for that matter. I remember one of the construction grader guys last year asking the companys lead man "How is he grading that and changing stuff around without the GPS?" His reply: "The old fashioned way, by the seat of his pants!" He did wonders last year considering the limited amount of dirt we had to work with.

[ShaneMugavin57]

Tim wasn't a bad wheel man in a modified either.

[Phylo82]

The clay/dirt topic is an interesting one.

My son and I went down to North Carolina (Carolina Speedway) in early December to get some track time in. The clay/dirt down there is red and very soft. It was an extremely smooth track. I bet my son turned 150 laps that day and the tires looked the same when we finished as they did when we started.

Whatever it is they have down there is very easy on tires. The only down-side was getting the car cleaned up.....that stuff was everywhere.

[Charles Nungester]

I know Mel and Tim and Rudy went "IN Search Of* two years ago to find suitable clay. The site they found was interesting to say the least. Driving home by it yesterday it seems they are nearing the end of that supply.

I imagine (Depending on your section of counrty) It can be quite hard to find the content you looking for. Its my understanding that Knoxville uses a clay dredged out of the Mississippi. The sand and ash content must have a ton to do with how dusty it gets. I know Earls clay used to come right off his corn fields. Where the latest batch came from?????

Bloomingtons always had a deep rich red clay on it since I can remember. I visited a track in Portsmouth OH. about ten years ago that had what looked like Play Doh on it.


Anyway. Its apreciated that even on dry nights. the visibility remains high. I've seen a few in the past coulple years (One fixed) that you could barely see cars on the track.

Lets go raicin!

[TheLip2]

So where exactly did the clay come from that is being put on the track now? It's not classified is it? LOL

[Charles Nungester]

Top secret hillside locaton outside E Town ohio