How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Commercial tracks.
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PWD
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How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by PWD »

We give our aluminum BestTrack a polish each year with Mothers aluminum polish. I am curious if others also do this. Anyone think this is a problem?
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Buckeye
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by Buckeye »

I do. You don't want a shiny, slippery track. Several of us use a solvent cleaner, like denatured alchohol to clean the surface. Scratches can removed with a fine grit sandpaper and cleaned with the solvent.

Polishing is going to provide a slippery surface.
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by PWD »

Buckeye thanks for the response. I guess we will quit polishing it. Won't take long for it to get rough and messy again. I will give the denatured alchohol a try.

I was somewhat surprised that after polishing the track times did not improve.
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by SuperDave »

You don't want a shiny, slippery track.
Why is that? I don't have a problem with 'shiny' as opposed to say 'matte' with the exception of what it might to do light sensitive finish sensors. But, what's wrong with slippery? Well finished wood, new aluminum, new ABS plastic are all slippery. Add graphite (which cars drop) and they get more slippery. What's the alternative?
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by PWD »

I beleive the issue is that you want the car wheel to roll and not slide. When you polish the track there is a chance the wheel will slide. Polishing the track can also cause the car more easily to fish tail and slide back and forth.

I understood this. But on the other hand the track because pretty rough after a while. It seems like it needs more than just cleaning.
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Buckeye
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by Buckeye »

Some people have used stainless steel polish or furniture polish to clean their tracks which leave a residue. This could contribute to rear end wobble.

I personally prefer to run on a clean non polished surface.
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by gpraceman »

We just use some good all purpose cleaner to wipe down the track before the race. You do want the cars to have some traction, so I would not recommend polishing or using cleaners that can leave a slippery residue.
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by DERBYMAN »

WE HAVE POLISHED OUR TRACK EVERY YEAR. MORE COMPETTIVE RACING EASYER TO CLEAN UP AT END AND KEEPS TRACK LOOKING GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME.[size=12][/size][/i]
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Re: How to prepare aluminum track for racing? Polish?

Post by PWD »

Derbyman what do you polish your track with?
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