Saving the Salt

[Elmo Rodge]

My job is to be ready if we can run.  Wayno

[maj]

Considering that T&T was cancelled, should anything be read into this as a warning for Speed Week? Just wondering if I need to be thinking of options for our RV destination if the rain gods are unkind.

a single rain event would have less impact on a longer event , we have run a day or 2 late several times after rain, track does dry pretty quick as long as the salt is not already damp from high water table

[sofadriver]

From USFRA Facebook page. "Test and Tune is cancelled. The course is too slick and not safe for high speeds. Ellen Wilkinson, secretary" Bummer

I'm wondering how slick is "too slick" and what causes it?  Can someone describe the condition please?  If time had permitted could grooming have cured the problems?

[kiwi belly tank]

"Slick" is just how much water content is in the salt & that can vary over the length of the course, the wetter it is the slicker it is. Even too dry is a problem these days with the thin salt crust as it starts breaking up.
  Sid.

[jacksoni]

And the radar suggests the track got hit again last night......

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/nevada/weather-radar-24hr

[SPARKY]

Jack there you go-- trying to kick we Ostriches in the rear hard enough    to get us to pull our heads out of the salt long enough to look around and deal with reality ---

[RichFox]

From USFRA Facebook page. "Test and Tune is cancelled. The course is too slick and not safe for high speeds. Ellen Wilkinson, secretary" Bummer

I'm wondering how slick is "too slick" and what causes it?  Can someone describe the condition please?  If time had permitted could grooming have cured the problems?

Hoping to post a picture from the SCTA Facebook page. Looks wet. Caused by rain

[USFRAMONTE]

Mike, aka "Sofadriver". If you take a look at the photo that Rich posted you will see how the salt sticks to the tires on the truck and leaves a groove on the surface of the salt everywhere the vehicle has traveled.  That loose salt on the surface, what I lovingly refer to as "fluff" has not fully intregrated into the salt crust. While I do not understand the chemistry involved, it has something to do with the order in which each compound falls out of suspension in the brine mixture. There is potassium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, etc etc. We had it tested several years ago and that soft fluffy layer on top was mostly magnesium chloride and it does not like to bind together once it gets on the top surface. That seems to be what makes the surface "slick, slippery, snotty, fluffy" or whatever you would choose to call it.
As the surface continues to dry, that top fluffy layer will sometimes dissolve into the crust and sometimes not.  I have been doing some of the course prep for many years and you just never know what you are going to end up with. I suppose I have just made things more confusing as opposed to clarifying anything!

[SPARKY]

you tube  Car 2211 Bonneville 245 mph will give you a good idea!!

[jacksoni]

Jack there you go-- trying to kick we Ostriches in the rear hard enough    to get us to pull our heads out of the salt long enough to look around and deal with reality ---

AS I did my little 5500mile drive just for grins last year, just trying, as you say, to be realistic. Since I have a totally new combination engine on my engine stand being picked away at last touches before trying it on a test stand and having little idea if it will even run, let alone make power (more than before in order to make the trip) I am wondering if someone else may make the decision for me (mother nature). 

[dw230]

Which seems to be the current case according to what was seen last week.

DW

[JoeRider677]

What's the opinion of the salt condition, I saw the photos on the SCTA web site from the 6th and the salt does not look so great. Is that thin salt or nasty loose crusty chunks on top of wet bed?

[Glen]

Over the years we have been thru the wet conditions a few times. Rain outs do happen but we never give up. Have a positive outlook. I have been going to the salt since 1953 and there has been 4 years of rain outs. We are still planning on running and I am sure SCTA will continue to do track preparation as soon as they can get back on the salt. 

[sofadriver]

I suppose I have just made things more confusing as opposed to clarifying anything!

Nope, crystal clear. Thank you. 

[dw230]

This from an email I received from a member of the SCTA course prep team recently returned from the salt:

"I just returned from the salt yesterday and we did not have real good luck with the salt. There are some problems with the salt condition so we are planning to return a few days earlier than we normally go up for Speed Week. We will most likely end up with one good long course this year plus the two short courses. The weather has not been cooperating so keep your fingers crossed for some heat and wind. There are some photos on the SCTA web site."

DW