Track Conditions?

[crazie.eddie]

Are tracks made of asphalt or concrete? I want to practice my launches on the simlar type of road material that tracks are made of. I was wondering becuase I'm practicing my launches a few weeks back on a concrete road. I later found an empty patch of road, which is asphalt.

EDIT: Ooops. Wrong Forum

[purple04]

Tracks vary, so check your own local track. Historically, it started on old airstrips, so those will be concrete. Most older purpose-built tracks are asphalt. A select few new ones are all concrete, but most newer ones are concrete launch, with an asphalt end. This is talking about the big boy's tracks. In my experience, street traction is not the same as at the track. If it's like most tracks, the starting line is a bit more slippery. If you go to a well-prepped track, you can't walk across it with your shoes untied. Instead of just trying to get the launch perfect, mentally picture the line, lights, starter and the thousand other things that compete for your attention at the line. Get used to those, and how you get up there and launch. The guy who has done it a thousand times has the same heart and breath rate as just sitting in the pits with the engine off. The jitters are easier to "practice out" than the traction, which can change hour to hour.

[nhrapt]

All the nhra and Ihra tracks I've ever seen had a concrete launch pad that goes into asphalt down track. And most tracks spray vht on the track for extra bite makes them really sticky it will pull the shoes off your feet if it done right, hope that helps ya.[8)]

[crazie.eddie]

Cool. Thanks.

[2step]

Back in the old days when I raced muscle cars, the launch areas were notorious for being greasy from all the beaters leaking all over. Public streets had lots more grip. Maybe this is why so many posts reguarding not being able to hookup off the line, by those that go to the track. My guess is things haven't changed.
As far as concrete vs. asphalt, very little difference.