Sunset Strip ready for new season despite setbacks
NOTE TO ALL COMPETITORS: The Aeroflow Championship round scheduled for October 26 and 27 has been CANCELED, contrary to information provided to Just Drag Racing.
Back in April 2013 Just Drag Racing reported that Sunset Strip was closing for repairs to fix the damage flooding had caused to the track.
Intentions were for the track to be ready by June 30th. Unfortunately the repairs didn't go to plan when the asphalt was lifted off the track and the contractors found a substantial amount of what is known as "reactive clay".
Reactive clay swells on wetting and shrinks on drying causing 70 to 90 millimetres of movement and would have a significant impact on the new racing surface.
"When the original contractors pulled out everything came to a screeching halt until a decision could be made about how to proceed," explained Jenni Gledhill, Infrastructure Support Officer at the Mildura Rural City Council.
Reactive clay - swells on wetting and shrinks on drying"We brought in experts from Adelaide and they determined we had initially been provided with incorrect data. Rather than having to dig down 40 to 50mm to install the road base, we actually needed to dig down 1100 to 1550mm is some places."
With the Federal Government flood recovery program set to end on June 30, the club was without a track and didn't have the money to finish it.
"It was a stressful time for all concerned," said Jenni. "The problems were much worse than we anticipated, the weather was really bad and nothing was going our way. Fortunately we received an extension and now have the funding to complete the project. We could all get a good night's sleep again."
With the extension secured the excavations works were completed and the road based laid ready for the concrete. The concreting process will begin later this week and expectations are for the track to be ready for action at the end of September.
"We'll be running a few test and tunes plus the GazzaNats before the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship round on October 26 and 27. We'll also be dragging the track as often as we can. The track will be a little green but it will be far better than the old track," said Jenni.
NOTE TO ALL COMPETITORS: The Aeroflow Championship round scheduled for October 26 and 27 has been CANCELED, contrary to information provided to Just Drag Racing.
If you'd like to help the track out and you have some old racing slicks to donate please call 03 5025 7117.
