Real vintage racing: Are there any board tracks left>
05-08-10, 07:56 PM
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soonerbills
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Real vintage racing: Are there any board tracks left>
After a bit of looking I see a number of velo's around the country but I wondered if there were any of the old board tracks still around... just curious
05-08-10, 10:39 PM
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I believe most indoor velodrome tracks are wood construction. The old motor racing board tracks are all gone.
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05-09-10, 06:29 AM
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Sooner, we have a Velo down here in Frisco. It's the host site for this year's Track National Championships.
05-09-10, 07:21 AM
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Back in the 70's there was a portable board track that was set up at various locations around the country. It was 180 meters around with steep bankings. I think they even had an indoor Madison National Championship on it.
There was a promoter that tried to revive 6-day racing with this track. The posters read "Iron Men on Board Tracks". The expense of transporting and setting up, and maintenence lead to its demise. Storing it when it wasnt in use was also a problem and it became damaged and finally destroyed.
I think at one time Babe VandeVelde owned it. He was the father of John(Olympian/Pro) and grandfather of Christian who races in the TDF.
There was a promoter that tried to revive 6-day racing with this track. The posters read "Iron Men on Board Tracks". The expense of transporting and setting up, and maintenence lead to its demise. Storing it when it wasnt in use was also a problem and it became damaged and finally destroyed.
I think at one time Babe VandeVelde owned it. He was the father of John(Olympian/Pro) and grandfather of Christian who races in the TDF.
05-09-10, 08:03 AM
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https://www.fixedgearfever.com/module...op=list&cid=us
I've clicked on a variety of the sites and it seems there are wood tracks out there. Some say 'premium limber' some say 'plywood'. To be honest I'm not sure how nostalgic either of them are. 'Surface' is somewhat vague, the Florida track is listed as '1'. What kind of surface is a '1'? Smotthness is vague as well. Some tracks seem to recommend a particular weight tire based on the overal surface condition. i.e. 180gram tire or 250 gram tires....
I've clicked on a variety of the sites and it seems there are wood tracks out there. Some say 'premium limber' some say 'plywood'. To be honest I'm not sure how nostalgic either of them are. 'Surface' is somewhat vague, the Florida track is listed as '1'. What kind of surface is a '1'? Smotthness is vague as well. Some tracks seem to recommend a particular weight tire based on the overal surface condition. i.e. 180gram tire or 250 gram tires....
05-09-10, 09:45 AM
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soonerbills
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Thanks for the replies and links!
I never raced bicycles in any manner but did quite a bit of enduro in the north east when I was much younger. but when I was a "tweener" I had a lugged frame single speed that came with a three piece crank and chrome drops. I remember getting it at Sears or Monkey Wards. I don't remember the brand.
I used to take to our local schools macadam oval foot track in the evening when the lights were on and ride it there thinking I was actually racing in one of those tracks... Motorcycles and cars then took over and the bike went somewhere, I don't know where the bike went but I am fond of those days and lately wonders if there were any still around hence the question...
TXVINTAGE, I may have to take trip there and check it out.. thanks for the tip.
wa but don't remember the brand
I never raced bicycles in any manner but did quite a bit of enduro in the north east when I was much younger. but when I was a "tweener" I had a lugged frame single speed that came with a three piece crank and chrome drops. I remember getting it at Sears or Monkey Wards. I don't remember the brand.
I used to take to our local schools macadam oval foot track in the evening when the lights were on and ride it there thinking I was actually racing in one of those tracks... Motorcycles and cars then took over and the bike went somewhere, I don't know where the bike went but I am fond of those days and lately wonders if there were any still around hence the question...
TXVINTAGE, I may have to take trip there and check it out.. thanks for the tip.
wa but don't remember the brand
05-09-10, 10:26 AM
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https://www.fixedgearfever.com/module...op=list&cid=us
I've clicked on a variety of the sites and it seems there are wood tracks out there. Some say 'premium limber' some say 'plywood'. To be honest I'm not sure how nostalgic either of them are. 'Surface' is somewhat vague, the Florida track is listed as '1'. What kind of surface is a '1'? Smotthness is vague as well. Some tracks seem to recommend a particular weight tire based on the overal surface condition. i.e. 180gram tire or 250 gram tires....
I've clicked on a variety of the sites and it seems there are wood tracks out there. Some say 'premium limber' some say 'plywood'. To be honest I'm not sure how nostalgic either of them are. 'Surface' is somewhat vague, the Florida track is listed as '1'. What kind of surface is a '1'? Smotthness is vague as well. Some tracks seem to recommend a particular weight tire based on the overal surface condition. i.e. 180gram tire or 250 gram tires....
Frisco Texas, outdoors, resin coated marine plywood.
ADT velodrome, Carson, strip planked wood. Indoors.
Both 250 meters at the pole line per lap.
It is interesting to note that while both are the same length, the Frisco track has much more variation in banking between the straights and curves.
05-09-10, 11:17 AM
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Boulder, CO has a plywood track. The photo gallery has some interesting shots of the track being built.
https://www.boulderindoorcycling.com/...photo-gallery/
https://www.boulderindoorcycling.com/...photo-gallery/
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
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1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
05-09-10, 11:36 AM
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soonerbills
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Kommisar thanks for that... Excellent photos and really what I was wondering was the construction...very informative! Thanks! Gives me ideas
05-09-10, 11:45 AM
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I'm gonna assume that the tire weight choice is determined by the track surface?
I think "vintage" would preclude plywood tracks. When i think wood tracks I envision plank boards.
When i was a kid we used to go see the "Wall of Death" motorcycles riding in the circular wood tower. I always wondered how they kept the surface the same between setups and teardowns. Kinda off topic I know...
I think "vintage" would preclude plywood tracks. When i think wood tracks I envision plank boards.
When i was a kid we used to go see the "Wall of Death" motorcycles riding in the circular wood tower. I always wondered how they kept the surface the same between setups and teardowns. Kinda off topic I know...
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