Controlled Grip Track

This invention involves the construction of a racetrack. Track in this case means a fenced road occupying a surface of over 300 square meters. Race tracks are classified into two major types.

The first type offers a surface without great anomalies, mainly high grip and the usual surfacing material is asphalt. This type will be hereinafter referred to as the "asphalt track".

The second type is constructed with dry or wet soil or sand, which is in many cases mixed with gravel or stones bigger in size. This type will be hereinafter referred to as the "track on natural surface".

The use of car on an "asphalt track" causes natural wear mainly to the car tires, tear that can excessively increase, when the car speed is so high as to approach its grip limits on the track. Moreover, the high grip tolerance provide the opportunity to reach high speeds, a fact that creates the need to use highly efficient engines and consequently to enhance systems such as braking, transmission etc. The result is increased cost and risk for the user of the track who wishes to exploit the offered capacities as much as possible. In the case of "tracks on natural surface" overcoming existing anomalies puts strains on tires as well as on the suspension, the transmission and other systems. In addition, usage deteriorates and erodes the ground where the cars move, and thus the drive conditions worsen. This means that existing anomalies worsen or in the case of wet roads the quantity of mud increases. Thus driving, particularly in high speeds on such ground, might mean contingencies with negative consequences on the driver's and passengers' safety and further strain or even direct damages on the body of the car, the suspension and the other car mechanisms.

It has become obvious, one way or the other, both on an "asphalt track" as well as on a "track on natural surface" that seeking to exhaust the opportunities for speeding provided, increases considerably the demands for horsepower and enhancing the other car systems. If this does not occur, the problem of failing to exploit part of the grip provided by the track arises and this results in a slow car that cannot be pushed to the grip limits offered by the track, whereas it may generate problems such as lack of reliability of the car or even safety problems for the driver and his passengers.

The advantage of the invention we are about to present to you is that it provides the opportunity to use the capacities offered by the track, without greatly increasing strain on the car systems. In addition, there is a great reduction hi risks resulting from high speeding that occurs on "asphalt tracks" or from surface erosion and strain on the car systems occurring on

"tracks on natural surface".

The "Controlled Grip Track" consists of two main parts, the bed and the surfacing material. The bed offers a solid surface the main characteristic of which is resistance to erosion caused by cars moving on the track. Accordingly, materials such as asphalt, or another material of higher resistance to humidity, such as cement, may be used.

The characteristic of the surfacing material is that it consists of natural material, such as soil, sand, gravel or bigger in size stones. Another main feature of the track is that it extends on a surface over 300 square meters. It would be desirable to create appropriate side slopes in order to retain the surfacing material and prevent to some extent the cars deviating from the road surface.

The advantage of this track is that in relation to an "asphalt track" it provides lower grip, which lessens significantly the advantage of high horsepower cars compared to lower horsepower cars. Actually, the more the grip decreases, the more high horsepower cars will approach the performance of low power models.

The second advantage involves the creation of a track with grip features of a "natural surface track", which however offers full control over the strain features of the car based on the material that will be used for surfacing. Thus, for Instance, surfacing with wet soil (mud) does not result in great strain on the tires, or suspension etc. On dry soil, sand and gravel, the tire strain increases slightly, but not that of the other car systems. This is simply due to the fact that surfacing material does not contain, and it is totally unlikely that it might contain, any stones or other anomalies capable of disturbing the normal course of the car.

Even if, when using the "Controlled Grip Track", the surfacing material eroded at certain points, as it may happen at times on a "natural surface track", the solid bed revealed would prevent further erosion and cut the contact of the surfacing material with the ground thus eliminating the possibility of unforeseen anomaly manifestation.

The resulting advantage is that in this way cars can be used without making expensive modifications and enhancements, lowering cost and creating the appropriate conditions for drivers with simple passenger cars to participate without making engine improvements and with two or four wheel drive.

It is worth to be noted that such track with wet soil, offers as low grip as the one encountered on central or local roads when covered by ice or snow. In cases of such low grip, it has been observed that car horsepower plays a minimal part. First, driver's skill is of decisive significance, and secondly the type of tires used, the weight of the car and the transmission of power (front wheels, rear wheels, 4x4). Thus, the "Controlled Grip Track" can contribute significantly in making use of the drivers' skills under reduced grip conditions, and in making them familiar with the particular features of their car, and contributing in this way in increasing road safety. It is understandable that, in the way the "Controlled Grip Track" is described, it combines the positive features of the two pre-existing track types (i.e. "asphalt track" and "natural surface track") eliminating to a great extent their respective disadvantages. Figure 1 illustrates a section of a "Controlled Grip Track" showing its main elements. Number 1 represents the surfacing material and number 2 the bed. Moreover, one may see the drawing of the two optional side slopes (number 3) and the natural surface (number 4), composed of materials that support the entire construction.