I'm setting up an outdoor track for the local mini kids to play on. We are planning on sacrificing the lawn and importing dirt for jumps etc. Does anybody know if straight loam will work or would it be better to mix it with some sand for drainage? The loam they are running on now turns to black goo when wet.

Any help will be great.

Andrew

 

Have you tried digging down and seeing what is beneath the topsoil? In Virginia we have clay everywhere except the coast. It is pretty good for racing but can get pretty nasty if it is really wet. Luckily, it dries out real fast when you start riding in it. Sand makes good race tracks but gets rough fast. The sand tracks I go to can be pretty brutal. Still the sand is a far better choice than a loamy/topsoil.

Adam Smith

99 400EX

 

All I know is that I really don't like the black dirt. When its dry, it's like concrete rocks and when it's wet, it turns each of your tires into 20 pound slicks.

 

YoDaddy,
I agree. We had 6, 18 wheeler loads of screened loam brought in for the grass, it turns to goo as soon as you look at it with a glass of water in your hand. When it dries, it's very dusty.

adamsmith,
I know there is sand under there, but, so is the irrigation system. Don't really want to rip that out, it took me too long to put it in. Maybe an equal mix of sand/loam would provide the drainage to keep it from becoming too swampy. If I plan it right maybe I can use the watering system in the summer to keep the dust down.

My wife is not overly excited about me doing this to the yard. I live in one of those upturned nose / conformist neighborhoods where people manicure their lawns for hours. What do you get when your done? A big, useless swath of green that you don't want to walk on for fear of "damaging" it, and an appointment to mow it again in another 3-4 days. They were horrified when I set my 6 y/o to the task of "re-designing" it with his 4-wheeler. I just sat back on the deck and watched them watching from their yards. I just can't see not utilizing my yard, it's not a damn painting!

Sorry I went off on a hissy...

 

some sound advice. first: have a blast! i bought a place out in the sticks with the intention of building a track. 15 acres in the middle of nowhere. so, guess what? it turns out there are 4 or 5 homes in this valley and all of them are retired seniors. the noise from my track just blows these folks away. also, the dustwas intense. it's wasn't too bad when it was just my son on it, but when we got 4 or more machines it was bad. i met with these folks, and we agreed on some time limits. so far, we're all getting along.
i suggest you bring in the loam. if you can find sod, clay, a junk car, old tanks, anything to use for fill, it's a lot chaeper to use big objects for jumps than all dirt. also, grab a few truckloads of wood chips. mix it into the loam. then when you water, the dirt doesn't get mushy, and when it starts to get dry, it doesn't turn to dust. the wood chips retain a lot of moisture, it's the best thing to do, trust me. i own two mx tracks and i've found this to be the easiest thing to do. hope i've helped. good luck.

 

Mongo

Good thoughts!

I have a friend that has a tree service and he has MOUNTAINS of chips from the chipper. The loam is down and existing, I imaginge if I put a layer of chips on top the machines will work them in for me.

Thanks

 

Your best bet is the wood chips and saw dust. It mixes well with the dark soil (The GNC track Muddy Creek uses this combo). Although under heavy use you will still find that the top layer of mixed soil/chips/sawdust will get thrown off and the hard pack will again be exposed. Its easy to drag back into the track with a blade or grade box. Expect large berms and large breaker bumps to form out of no where.

I would stay away from the sand because it could get to rough for the minis.

 

Chawness,

Your the second person to caution any sand. Is sand, sand? I live on the N. shore of MA and the sand that I would be using is like beach sand. I know what you mean about it being hard when wet, but when dry the stuff is very soft. My reason for wanting to include any at all is purely for drainage. I am trying to avoid puddles.

Thanks

 

I am glad that you are making a track for your kids. I hope to do the same in the near future (first need the house).

I notice that you are from Mass. I just wanted to give you a heads up on this, but some one not too long ago was having trouble when riding on their own property in Cnetral Mass. I think the towns where trying to pass a law that would prohibit riding on your own property unless you were a 1000 feet from the line.

I would make sure that you are not going to be shut down by the town for this. I would hate for you to waste your money, or worse build it for the kids, they love it and then have to take it down.

One other thing. Watch out for permitts. I beleive if you have under 2 acres, that you need a special permitt to remove the top layer of soil.

As for what dirt...why not use clean fill rather than loam? It sounds like the dirt you are talking about is better for top soil. I am sure the "cheaper" dirt will work better. But I have road on a track that was mixed with wood chips. It was ok. Made the surface better, but cleaning out muddy woodchips was not fun after the race.

 

Andrew

I am a veteran MX and GNC racer. When I think of sand on a MX track, I think of the huge bone crushing, frame breaking whoops and holes that develope from no where (MX 338 Southwick, need I say more). Im sure adding a little sand would not hurt, but the wood chips and sawdust will also soak up the water.

Ive raced the Virginia beach-cross twice. That white fluffy beach sand, under heavy MX traffic, gets really, really rough! Not to mention it is really hard on the equipment.