Someone always asks about this, usually a newbie (which, as our DTN, Kemp
officially is at Nationals).
But it is like this ... the airport will not let us compete on the blacktop.
In fact, they only grudglingly even let us park there! At the Divisional, we
can't. I seem to recall that it was laid down with federal funding, which
has something to do with why they cannot let us use it as a competition
surface.
Also, it is not really a thick asphalt .. just a slurry seal cap.
Say what you will about the surface breakup in the course area, fact is the
airport does spend a chunk of its own money and a lot of overtime patching
that thing for us every night. Also doing some other major patchwork in
advance of each year. Whenever I come across the airport's patching crew
while walking course, I always try to thank them for their efforts on our
behalf.
--Rocky
-----Original Message-----
From: JD_Kemp@notes.ymp.gov <JD_Kemp@notes.ymp.gov>
To: Autox@autox.team.net <Autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Friday, September 24, 1999 3:47 PM
Subject: Concrete -vs- Asphalt
>
>
>This is definately my 1.5 cents worth, but. . . The area at Nationals that
was
>used for the paddock was asphalt. The area used for racing was (Duh!)
concrete.
>I didn't measure either one, but I'd guess that the asphalt area was at
least
>2/3 the size of the track area.
>
>Looked to me like they coulda put the paddock in the "South Course" area,
the
>South Course on the asphalt, and run on the North Course on the concrete.
Just
>for variety, you understand, I don't have a problem with racing on either
>surface.
>
>That way, both sides of the argument could go home *PO'd* about having to
race
>on THAT surface, no matter which one you consider THAT surface to be!
And, it
>would test the drivers/cars under a wider variety of conditions. (As if
this
>year's rain, heat, cold and wind weren't enough!)
>
>Y'all discuss that one amongst yourselves, I'm going home for the weekend!
>
>JD Kemp &
>"Lucretia MacEvil" #13 MGB
>(An SP car that gets driven on the street EVERY day!)
>
>
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