Topic: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Update and Current Status
It's Wednesday before the race and time to start prepping the track. First off thank you to the guys that offered to help me with the track cleaning. I really appreciate the offers but, I am totally anal when it comes to my track. I have a certain method/procedure I follow when I clean the track, and I am just most comfortable executing that process myself. The care I take when cleaning the track surface and braid is probably extreme and over the top, but I have my reasons! It isn't hard, and it does not take a great deal of time. I just crank up my music and get to it. I hope nobody gets offended by me declining their offer to help, it's just me.
It is 3:00pm and I am finished. I started around 11:00am, had lunch from noon to 1:00pm, and finished up after spending a half hour or so capturing a humming bird that found its way into the shop. I had the overhead door open for ventilation because I use Naptha for the track cleaning. Evidently the bird did not mind the smell.
Tomorrow I may do a quick cleaning of the braid. It doesn't look bad because I just did a thorough cleaning of the braid the last time I cleaned the track. I inspected the braid and it all looks good. There was only one small spot where it has curled just a little, and I will repair that with a little adhesive tomorrow.
My philosophy as a track owner is to have the track 100% ready for races. I want there to be NO issues with the track and or its operation. Any handling problems or deslotting issues need to be either car set up or driver caused. I need to do my best to assure racers those types of problems are not track created. All I ask from racers is diligence in being sure the car you are running on the track is not causing any damage to the track braid or racing surface. This primarily means checking your car for proper ground clearance, especially under the crown or even more importantly, the spur gear. Other areas of concern are the edges of pans and screw heads. Lastly please remember, no additional tire glue. It is OK to CLEAN or add conditioner to your tires (i.e. muscle rub or similar creams). Your tires should feel dry, not wet or greasy after cleaning/conditioning. This track is for you guys, the racers. Please treat it as yours!
Lastly, since I became the caretaker of Inslot's Checkered Flag, I have completed a great deal of work on it. In addition to the redesign and reconstruction of the "Dead Man" curve section of the track track, I have reconstructed and moved the driver's stations, reconstructed many of the side walls, and rewired the entire track adding more power taps. The wiring has been customized for the ability to select different computers and timing/lap counting systems. I have also completely rebraided the track. This is the one task I do not enjoy, at all! If we all just stay on top of our cars maintenance the braid should be good for many more years! But, when the track gets to the point of needing to be rebraided it will be time for the track to move to a new home! I am over 70 years old now and I will not rebraid it again!
Thank you all for racing here, and I am looking forward to seeing everybody on Saturday for the Sportsman race!