Track Preparation

Track Preparation
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> RC Cars, Buggies, Trucks, Tanks and more >> RC Drag Racing >> Track Preparation

Page: [1]

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Track Preparation - 7/2/2007 10:18:12 PM

Posts: 9
Joined: 5/12/2007
From: West Chester, OH, USA
Status: offline

Was curious if anyone could help me in what to use as a traction compound for the track. I am having a difficult time getting the cars to hook up on foamies and noticed in the videos posted by Griz and others that the track had a darker appearance than the other pavement. I know you use kofords on the tires. And where do I obtain this secret formula for the track thanks in advance.

RE: Track Preparation - 7/2/2007 10:45:30 PM

cork44

Posts: 62
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Schererville, IN, USA
Status: offline

Hey, you use VHT Track Bite. It comes in 1 gallon jugs and you can spay it down with those pump up spray bottles. make sure you blow off the track first. Good luck

(in reply to Road Racer)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/2/2007 10:50:15 PM

Posts: 64
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Northwest, GA, USA
Status: offline

chute I didnt need any for mine when it was a low 2 sec car all I used was kroford

_____________________________

Drivers: Christian Olvera, Revo (MT Class), Eric Rodden, Lightening Pro-R(Truggy Class), and Lane Smith, 8ight (Buggy Class)

(in reply to cork44)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/2/2007 11:11:58 PM

Posts: 9
Joined: 5/12/2007
From: West Chester, OH, USA
Status: offline

Where can I buy this stuff. And thx for the reply

(in reply to TeamCELRacing)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/3/2007 12:17:38 AM

Posts: 39
Joined: 5/13/2004
From: Blaine, MN, USA
Status: offline

If you can't get VHT, sugar water is plenty good, and cheap. We have gone 1.5's 85+ MPH on straight sugar water. We put 25 pounds in a 16 gallon sprayer.

_____________________________

RAE/Grand Motorsports
Co-Owner MN RC Dragway

(in reply to Road Racer)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/3/2007 3:31:01 AM

Posts: 9
Joined: 5/12/2007
From: West Chester, OH, USA
Status: offline

Thx paul

(in reply to Paul Songas)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/3/2007 4:57:55 AM

griz11

Posts: 140
Joined: 8/22/2005
From: Granite Shoals, TX, USA
Status: offline

Get Koford from GMS or Walbern. 3 grades light to heavy. Put two or three stripes around the tire and spread it out over the surface. I use the flat of a blade on my pocketknife. Between rounds clean off the old Koford with naptha charcoal lighter something like that. Do it right after your run so they have time to dry before putting on more Koford for the next round. VHT and VP Trak Bite are the best but expensive. You can cut them with more methanol to make a barrel go further. All they are is glue and methanol. The methanol evaporates leaving the glue. Last year at the World Finals we put on an entire 55 gallon barrel during the weekend. The track was super sticky for the final rounds. I've run on bare blacktop with just Koford on the tires as well. Another good thing to use is CRC Belt Dressing. Spray that on the tires and work it into the foam. Do it a few times to a new set and put them in a resealable baggie until you are ready to use them. That will soften the tire and make it sticky. The Koford comes off in 6 ft or so and that CRC underneath is still there. It penetrates a lot further than Koford. Only CRC works to my knowledge. I've tried others but they don't make the tire as sticky.

Griz

_____________________________

ProMoFo Racing
Best R/C Video WeShow Awards Aug '07
Plazma Rat Nitro Pro Mod 2006 R/C of the Year
Featured in Hot Rod, Driver,Xtreme R/C, R/C Car Action

(in reply to Road Racer)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/3/2007 5:43:54 AM

cork44

Posts: 62
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Schererville, IN, USA
Status: offline

Hey griz will any belt dressing work, or does it have to be CRC? I don't know if I can get CRC in my autoparts store. Also do auto part stores usually carry VHT or is that hard to find? Thanks

(in reply to griz11)

RE: Track Preparation - 7/3/2007 2:53:20 PM

Posts: 146
Joined: 3/13/2004
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline

SAMDRL also uses VP Racing LC-5 or LC-6 track adhesive. This is the same traction spray used by NHRA on it's full size drag strips. SAMDRL applies it full length, including the shut-down area.

Here's the link: http://vpracingfuels.com/vp_04_traction.html

Hope this helps.

//AC//

_____________________________

Arnie Hauswald Racing 1943
RC Electric Drag Racing

(in reply to cork44)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/17/2007 6:56:36 PM

Posts: 7
Joined: 12/17/2007
From: Alvin, TX, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: AHR43

SAMDRL also uses VP Racing LC-5 or LC-6 track adhesive. This is the same traction spray used by NHRA on it's full size drag strips. SAMDRL applies it full length, including the shut-down area.

Here's the link: http://vpracingfuels.com/vp_04_traction.html

Hope this helps.

//AC//

I know that this post is a few months old, but I just found this forum. I've worked for the NHRA Safety Safari since 1999, and we do NOT use VP. There are some NHRA tracks that use it for their weekly shows, but for NHRA events, we use VHT (cut with methonol).

Jimmy

(in reply to ac hauswald)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/18/2007 3:18:19 PM

Posts: 146
Joined: 3/13/2004
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for the input. What percentage methonol did NHRA cut the VHT with? Is that to aid in application? Does the methonol evaporate out after the VHT is applied to the track? Same mix for shutdown area, or does NHRA apply to racetrack length only?

Curious, why did NHRA go with VHT over VP? I'm sure they tried both.

SAMDRL has used both VHT and VP. I couldn't tell the difference in tractive grip between the two with my 2.5sec bracket/index rail. My timing slips didn't show any appreciable difference in 6ft times b/w the two either. Koford appears to work equally well with either. VP sponsors IMDRA, so the track gets LC-5 or LC-6 to apply during regional events and the world finals. During the worlds last October, Litespeed Raceway put down a full 55gal drum over the 4day period of the meet. The track was so sticky, I dropped a full two tenths (0.2sec) off my usual E.T. If you let your car set too long in staging, it would stick to the track and tear huge chunks out of the foam tire(s) on launch. I didn't run any Koford to help me launch out to the 6ft beam. Don't know what the Extreme Class cars were using for traction compound on their foams, but they didn't have any problem hooking up full length.

Jimmy, maybe you could help with spray patterns and pressures in applying either VHT or VP? Right now, Litespeed Raceway is applying traction compund with a hand-pump spray bottle. Would adapting a spray bar to like a garden tractor still give even coverage over the track surface and provide the same grip? Should, but knowing how the "pro" sanctioning orgs apply the TC will be helpful.

Again, Jimmy, thanks for checking in and providing the on-track/on-site info.

AC

< Message edited by AHR43 -- 12/18/2007 3:20:07 PM >

_____________________________

Arnie Hauswald Racing 1943
RC Electric Drag Racing

(in reply to JimmyLed)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/18/2007 5:24:27 PM

Posts: 7
Joined: 12/17/2007
From: Alvin, TX, USA
Status: offline

AHR43

We use a spray bar that cover about 1/2 of the groove. We ALLWAYS make at LEAST 2 passes to cover the whole groove. We ONLY spray the 1/4 mile and NOT the shut down. As to why they went with VHT and not VP. I'm sure that's a marketing thing! It's ALL about $$$! All I know is that when we are working on the 1/4 mile, it will pull your shoes off if you don't keep moving.

I've been messing with RC cars for 20 years (from 10th scale to 1/4 scale) and was looking to get into drag racing, and found this forum. I saw that comment and HAD to reply.

Jimmy

(in reply to ac hauswald)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/18/2007 5:26:22 PM

Posts: 7
Joined: 12/17/2007
From: Alvin, TX, USA
Status: offline

Also, I forgot this, I THINK that they mix it 50/50.
Jimmy

(in reply to JimmyLed)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/18/2007 6:43:19 PM

Posts: 146
Joined: 3/13/2004
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimmyLed

Also, I forgot this, I THINK that they mix it 50/50.
Jimmy

Oh!, and I forgot this, Welcome to the Forum.

Thanks for putting me straight on what NHRA uses for traction compound. I sure don't want to put out bad info. RC drag racing should be a good fit for you. Hope you give it a try and enjoy it.

AC

_____________________________

Arnie Hauswald Racing 1943
RC Electric Drag Racing

(in reply to JimmyLed)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/18/2007 11:44:42 PM

Posts: 7
Joined: 12/17/2007
From: Alvin, TX, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the welcome! I really think the difference between the two products isn't a big deal. NHRA is real big on "that's what we've allways done"! As far as RC drag racing goes, I've allways thought that it would be fun and now it looks like there is a club in Houston! I plan on going to the Jan. Test and Tune to see what's going on. After looking around on the net, I'm thinking Pro Mod (which is weird, because I'm not THAT big of a fan of the real ones) 'cause they look like fun with lots of room to try things! I see you're in Houston. What part and are you a member of the club here? I've worked for the city, as a Firefighter, for almost 30 years.
Jimmy

(in reply to ac hauswald)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/19/2007 12:32:55 AM

Posts: 742
Joined: 3/22/2007
From: Tomball, TX, USA
Status: offline

Hey Jimmy, I see you have found this forum as well. Welcome again.

_____________________________

check out www.Hamdrl.org
Snelle-RC, A123 Racer

(in reply to JimmyLed)

RE: Track Preparation - 12/19/2007 2:16:19 PM

Posts: 7
Joined: 12/17/2007
From: Alvin, TX, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the welcome, again!

Jimmy

(in reply to snellemin)