Post by Blazing MX on Feb 4, 2006 2:38:40 GMT -6
The Waco Eagles is in desperate need of equipment to maintain, repair, and perform slight modifications to our Motocross tracks. Membership levels are at an all time high and MX race attendance is consistently on an incline, and has been well into our 2nd year. For those of you that may not be aware, the Ford tractor we have is rapidly approaching 35 years old and was never designed to perform our tasks at hand. With maintenance it will be surprisingly in good shape, if used for mowing and dragging a box blade across the dirt, however it is inadequate for keeping up with the obvious current and future demands placed on our only commodity, the tracks.
The club body voted in March 05 to proceed with the purchase of either a new piece of equipment or hopes of finding a good deal on an exceptional used one. No specific time to purchase was determined at that time. The topic was revisited at the January 06 meeting and plans are to move forward with a purchase.
The dilemma
Motocross isn’t the only thing our club has to consider; Flat track is also a big part of our club. We have to realize that the equipment needed to prep these tracks differ and it will be difficult to purchase one piece of equipment as a “do all” for the entire club. Our goal is to choose the right piece of equipment to accomplish the task intended.
Though the FT races are not held as frequently as MX, it would be disastrous to assume we would have a FT race on a track that has not been prepped or is not in good shape. In the same light, the MX tracks are at the point, and have been for several months, which they too have to be regularly prepped to maintain a margin of safety and rider expectation. Generally speaking, a grader appears to be the vehicle of choice to maintain the Flat Tracks but obviously does not work for MX. It has been suggested that a 4-wheel drive tractor with a front-end loader and a box blade equipped with a ripper, that could also pull a shredder, and a backhoe attachment would be a wise choice. The Flat Track is also in need of a sheep’s foot, a roller with coned spikes to dimple the dirt and allow water to soak in, verses allowing water to run to the inside of the track. This could be pulled behind this type of tractor or the current Ford tractor we now use.
Other recommendations come from a number of MX track builders and suggest that a compact track loader (CTL) would be the most beneficial tool in MX track service. This is not the same as a converted skid steer with the rubber track attachment. The CTL is a relatively newer concept on the market, it should not be confused with a skid steer with wheels, yet there appear to be several similarities from my viewpoint. The compact design and lower center of gravity provide more stability when working on inclined areas. Tracks allow this type of unit to maneuver with a zero turn radius that won’t bury a wheel in soft or wet dirt and mud which in turn is beneficial in tight spots or on top of a jump and packing dirt. Available are an almost endless number of attachments, which make the CTL a very versatile piece of equipment in almost any situation. My opinion is there are some attachments that would not be practical for us to consider. I did get a chance to demo a John Deere CT322 at the track a couple of weeks ago (before the rains came) and had no problems digging through our dirt. It was easier to use and much faster and more productive than the small Kubota 3130 front end loader with a box blade and ripper that we rented this summer. I was able to move more dirt in the couple of hours, using the CTL, than I was on the Kubota in 24 hours.
Considerations
Prep time is another consideration. When FT are being prepped, shutting down the tracks for the time it takes on the ¼ and ½ mile tracks does not appear to be a problem. Not the same situation for the almost 2 miles of rough terrain on the MX tracks. A large number of our members’ ride the MX tracks and get very antsy when the MX tracks are closed. For this reason there are almost always riders on the track when prep is being done, even though they are not supposed to be. A simple solution would be to prep, maintain and work the tracks later in the evening or at night. Any purchase we make needs to have working lights on it.
I am asking our club body, especially those of you that have heavy equipment experience, to voice your opinions and experiences as to which type of equipment would best serve the needs of our club. As with any major purchase there are many considerations. Any comments, suggestions and / or concerns are welcomed and encouraged keeping in mind that we need to have the equipment available when needed so renting would not be a practical option. This is your club and lets help it be the best it can for generations to come.
Thanks.
Jeff Gilbert
2006 President
Waco Eagles Motorcycle Club
The club body voted in March 05 to proceed with the purchase of either a new piece of equipment or hopes of finding a good deal on an exceptional used one. No specific time to purchase was determined at that time. The topic was revisited at the January 06 meeting and plans are to move forward with a purchase.
The dilemma
Motocross isn’t the only thing our club has to consider; Flat track is also a big part of our club. We have to realize that the equipment needed to prep these tracks differ and it will be difficult to purchase one piece of equipment as a “do all” for the entire club. Our goal is to choose the right piece of equipment to accomplish the task intended.
Though the FT races are not held as frequently as MX, it would be disastrous to assume we would have a FT race on a track that has not been prepped or is not in good shape. In the same light, the MX tracks are at the point, and have been for several months, which they too have to be regularly prepped to maintain a margin of safety and rider expectation. Generally speaking, a grader appears to be the vehicle of choice to maintain the Flat Tracks but obviously does not work for MX. It has been suggested that a 4-wheel drive tractor with a front-end loader and a box blade equipped with a ripper, that could also pull a shredder, and a backhoe attachment would be a wise choice. The Flat Track is also in need of a sheep’s foot, a roller with coned spikes to dimple the dirt and allow water to soak in, verses allowing water to run to the inside of the track. This could be pulled behind this type of tractor or the current Ford tractor we now use.
Other recommendations come from a number of MX track builders and suggest that a compact track loader (CTL) would be the most beneficial tool in MX track service. This is not the same as a converted skid steer with the rubber track attachment. The CTL is a relatively newer concept on the market, it should not be confused with a skid steer with wheels, yet there appear to be several similarities from my viewpoint. The compact design and lower center of gravity provide more stability when working on inclined areas. Tracks allow this type of unit to maneuver with a zero turn radius that won’t bury a wheel in soft or wet dirt and mud which in turn is beneficial in tight spots or on top of a jump and packing dirt. Available are an almost endless number of attachments, which make the CTL a very versatile piece of equipment in almost any situation. My opinion is there are some attachments that would not be practical for us to consider. I did get a chance to demo a John Deere CT322 at the track a couple of weeks ago (before the rains came) and had no problems digging through our dirt. It was easier to use and much faster and more productive than the small Kubota 3130 front end loader with a box blade and ripper that we rented this summer. I was able to move more dirt in the couple of hours, using the CTL, than I was on the Kubota in 24 hours.
Considerations
Prep time is another consideration. When FT are being prepped, shutting down the tracks for the time it takes on the ¼ and ½ mile tracks does not appear to be a problem. Not the same situation for the almost 2 miles of rough terrain on the MX tracks. A large number of our members’ ride the MX tracks and get very antsy when the MX tracks are closed. For this reason there are almost always riders on the track when prep is being done, even though they are not supposed to be. A simple solution would be to prep, maintain and work the tracks later in the evening or at night. Any purchase we make needs to have working lights on it.
I am asking our club body, especially those of you that have heavy equipment experience, to voice your opinions and experiences as to which type of equipment would best serve the needs of our club. As with any major purchase there are many considerations. Any comments, suggestions and / or concerns are welcomed and encouraged keeping in mind that we need to have the equipment available when needed so renting would not be a practical option. This is your club and lets help it be the best it can for generations to come.
Thanks.
Jeff Gilbert
2006 President
Waco Eagles Motorcycle Club