3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 85

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
times “Flat track” (also called
Flat Track). However the AMA
Sanction rule books refer to this
discipline as Dirt track racing.
Whether mile, half-mile, short-
track or TT, traction is what
defines a dirt track race. The
bikes cannot use “knobbies”,
they must use “Class C” tires
which are similar to street tires.
On mile, half-mile, short-track
course, the track is an oval, all
turns to the left only, and only
a rear brake is allowed. On the
TT courses, there must be at
least one right hand turn with a
jump being optional, front and
rear brakes are allowed, but
the same “Class C” tires are
required.
Although not mandated, most
flat track racers wear a steel
“shoe” on the left boot which
is actually a fitted steel sole
that straps onto the left boot.
This steel shoe lets the rider
Vol 4 | Issue 2 |Mar - Apr 2019
slide more easily and safely on
their left foot when needed as
they lean the bike to the left while
sliding through the corners,
though
riders
can
often
perform what is known as a
“feet-up slide”, using throttle
control, body lean and steering
alone to power-slide through
the turns, without sliding on
their steel shoe.
Hard-packed
tracks
are
generally
referred
to
as
“groove”
tracks,
loosely
packed tracks are called
“cushions”. The composition
of the track surface is usually
decided by the race promoter
and track preparation team, the
latter using various methods
and
materials
including
combinations
of
clay,
decomposed granite, sand,
calcium (to allow the surface
to retain water moisture) and
other materials. An optimum
“groove” track will have enough
moisture to be “tacky”, without
being slick, and will develop
what is called a “blue groove”
as the motorcycle tires lay down
a thin layer of tire rubber on the
racing line.
A “cushion” track consists of
similar materials to the groove
track, but mixed in a way that
allows the surface to maintain a
more sandy, loose composition.
While power-sliding is common
on both groove and cushion
tracks,
a
cushion
track
allows more power-sliding, into,
through and out of the turns.
Though the “Class C” tires
allowed by the rules are the
same for both cushion and
groove tracks, riders are
allowed to modify the tires by
cutting some rubber off the tire
grooves for improved traction,
but are not allowed to add
materials to the tires
Speedway
Speedway racing takes place
on a flat oval track usually
consisting of dirt or loosely
packed shale, using bikes with
a single gear and no brakes.
Competitors use this surface
to slide their machines side-
ways (powersliding or broad-
sliding) into the bends using the
rear wheel to scrub-off speed
while still providing the drive
to power the bike forward and
around the bend.
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