I went to the superdrome in frisco to take the new commers class to track racing and do a few practice races. I am headed to Seatle Washington later this year and an X Oz racer Bret Seahorn said i should check out the track scene when i get there. I went to Frisco to get a head start so i will be able to actually race in seatle.
It was a lot of fun! The Superdrome has a circumference of 250 meters with banking of 44-degrees in the corners. The front and back straights are banked at “only” 17-degrees. 44 degrees is like staring at a wall when you walk up to it. The faster you go the greater the inertia that pushes you outward against the track surface. Also, the faster the you travel the more you will lean away from the track, which increases good tire contact. This outward force overcomes gravity that is pulling the rider down. As long as inertia is greater than the gravitational pull you will safely stay upright on the track. I think you could ride the minimum of 11mph and not slide down the track.
After the class we had a practice race and before you start everyone has to bunch up so as not to get an unfair advantage at the start. This is probably slowest you go, two guys in front of me slid down the track before we ever got started. After we bunched up the offical blows a wistle to let all the riders know its time to race. Track races are pretty short (8 laps on 250meters) and its goes fast from the gun. It is a great short interval workout and you race around 5 to 6 races a day. In all I raced around 6 races total for the day.
It was a lot of fun! The Superdrome has a circumference of 250 meters with banking of 44-degrees in the corners. The front and back straights are banked at “only” 17-degrees. 44 degrees is like staring at a wall when you walk up to it. The faster you go the greater the inertia that pushes you outward against the track surface. Also, the faster the you travel the more you will lean away from the track, which increases good tire contact. This outward force overcomes gravity that is pulling the rider down. As long as inertia is greater than the gravitational pull you will safely stay upright on the track. I think you could ride the minimum of 11mph and not slide down the track.
After the class we had a practice race and before you start everyone has to bunch up so as not to get an unfair advantage at the start. This is probably slowest you go, two guys in front of me slid down the track before we ever got started. After we bunched up the offical blows a wistle to let all the riders know its time to race. Track races are pretty short (8 laps on 250meters) and its goes fast from the gun. It is a great short interval workout and you race around 5 to 6 races a day. In all I raced around 6 races total for the day.
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