Racing: How were the old school tracks cared for??

[AscotConversion]

I was just thinking about this in reference to races like the VONATS where guys mount modern rubber on their cars. I remember when I started racing TQ tires from Associated, Schumacher spikes and mini pins, and Losi X's with the pins cut down were the types of tires everybody ran. They were pretty hard, had no inserts, and lasted a pretty long time. The tracks, and I only raced locally being a kid, seemed to have loose dirt, not so much rooster tail style, but loose. It also wasn't hard with some dust/loose stuff that was low traction. Anyway, how did they keep the tracks loose? Looking at videos and old mags, the older the period, the loamy-er the tracks seemed to be. Does anyone know or remember what the dirt was or how they kept it up. I love seeing the old photos where the dirt is flying. I also like the tracks where they are kinda sunk into the ground a bit, it looks way cooler than pipes or drain tube. Even looking at the Detroit worlds, the track was so awesome just because the jumps were not about going 15' in the air but having some air and spots on the track where there were dips and rises and stuff to upset the cars.

[Charlie don't surf]

The "sunken" tracks, and all of the tracks that I raced on when I was younger were all natural and "real" dirt/clay/sand-and the best ones that I remember followed the natural terrain. But I really like having to be cautious with my throttle finger so I don't burn the nano-spikes off my tires

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

I would say less water, more big heavy rakes.

[call-911]

Definitely MUCH less clay.

[Charlie don't surf]

Now that I think about it, topsoil--or peat.

[LowClassCC]

track i ran on bitd was basic topsoil. we tilled and changes the layout and jumps on thursday, walked the track to pack it all down with our feet. then before we left we basically turned the track into a pond with water.

saturday comes we show up about noon and heavily water the track again. first cars are hitting the dirt with large puddles still around the track about 1. by 2 more racers start showing up and practicing, at this point we take shop brooms and spreed the remaining puddles around to help them dry. by 4 we start signups for the nights racing. 6 the first heat is underway.

wednesday we have practice day.

thursday we drag the tiller our and start all over.

[jwscab]

when i had my track, just a small backyard oval, I used regular old topsoil, and laid it on the ground. I hosed it down a bunch initially, then after that, it was just maintenence water when it got too dusty. I used to drag a tire on a piece of chainlink fence behind the lawnmower, to groom the track, make it nice and smooth(would collect rocks) and leave the top somewhat soft. I think i used the tractor initially to tamp it all down, just kept riding around in circles overlapping tire treads to flatten it.

[Bormac]

A while ago I was watching an old video cassette I was leant by a fellow racer. It was of the 1986 National off road titles here in Australia.
Man it was cool (well the parts of the old tape that I could make out). The track looked as though it was 'dug' into a grass padock and even had a white 'truss' type bridge that was set over the track. There were a lot of high shorts back then too. LOL!
Anyway the track was very loose and very dusty. Watching the old RC10's,OPTIMA's, Mugen BULLDOGs, ZERDA'a, HOTSHOT's and so on was very cool. There was no watering between the heats and mains, no sweeping of the track or anything.
It seemed like they just set up a coarse and left it at that.