A quick update on the workings at the track
The cables for the new electrical system (floodlighting, control lights, pa, and power) are in the ground and ready for termination
The foundation for the new parts of the track are complete and waiting for the track to be layed from next week
Areas of the existing track which needed to be replaced/repaired have been completed
Areas whcih needed the fencing replaced/upgraded are progressing quickly, with 90% of poles dug in ready to be fenced.
The front straight pitting area has been moved back, with the embankment cut out to accommodate the new straight, along with the tower being moved back and raised, to allow viewing of the new section at the bottom end of the track.
The run off area at the end of the straight has been increased and the fencing moved to the top of the embankment.
Due to the generous donations of local businesses, the club has been able to replace the majority of the existing track and increase the track to 8m wide and extend it over 200m. The covered pit area is also scheduled to be completed prior to the Qld Closed Titles as well.
What gearing and set up will required for the new track, well this is unknown, long fast straights, and tight change of direction corners, almost need a shifter kart.
Will update each week leading up to the Closed, pre noms close the 18th Sept, track will be open for practice on the 25th Sept before closed
The cables for the new electrical system (floodlighting, control lights, pa, and power) are in the ground and ready for termination
The foundation for the new parts of the track are complete and waiting for the track to be layed from next week
Areas of the existing track which needed to be replaced/repaired have been completed
Areas whcih needed the fencing replaced/upgraded are progressing quickly, with 90% of poles dug in ready to be fenced.
The front straight pitting area has been moved back, with the embankment cut out to accommodate the new straight, along with the tower being moved back and raised, to allow viewing of the new section at the bottom end of the track.
The run off area at the end of the straight has been increased and the fencing moved to the top of the embankment.
Due to the generous donations of local businesses, the club has been able to replace the majority of the existing track and increase the track to 8m wide and extend it over 200m. The covered pit area is also scheduled to be completed prior to the Qld Closed Titles as well.
What gearing and set up will required for the new track, well this is unknown, long fast straights, and tight change of direction corners, almost need a shifter kart.
Will update each week leading up to the Closed, pre noms close the 18th Sept, track will be open for practice on the 25th Sept before closed
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Comments12
Good to hear Rod....Well done for everyone involved....look forward to having a run at the closed.....
The track is coming along nicely, thanks to the huge effort by the pros and the help from the members. The new part of the track in the far corner is completed and by today, majority of the straight will be done as well. A lot of levelling works has been done and pretty sure tyres and fencing down the back will be completed by the weekend.
The lighting towers for the new section have been installed, and lighting will also go up this weekend.
It is planned to have the track open for practice on the 13th September.
The new Mackay club website is up and running, and there is also a layout of old/new track on website
www.mackaykartclub.asn.au
Just another update
The track only has 40m to go, with fine weather will be done tomorrow. Most of the tyres around the back end of the track has been done along with the fencing. The leveling has been done and the ripple strips and curving are in right behind the track layers.
Lighting is all but done with the last of the ballast boxes wired up today, ready for connection over the weekend.
A couple of gaps in the fencing to go, a lot of tyres and catch traps to go back, and install the modified tower and it is all done.
Still on track to be ready on the weekend of the 12 September.
Well it is all but done. A huge effort by the club members at the working bee saw the fencing all but completed, the new enlarged control tower put back in its new and higer perch. More lighting poles were installed, poly pipe was laid from the new dam at the start of the straight to keep everything green during winter, and the kids were kept busy picking all the rocks up in the track area. The tyre barriers were also put in place and tied up ready for painting, however we did run out of tyres, more of which were put in this morning (thanks to local tyre shops for letting us take their rubbish away).
Over the next couple of days, the track will be cleaned by street sweepers (wednesday), and will be ready for painting Thursday (including tyre barriers). The fencing at the start of the straight will be completed, and the ambulance entry on the far side of the track will have the gates welded to the poles. The run off areas at the higher speed parts of the tracks will also have catch traps installed by Friday.
The new pit area access roads will also be completed over the next couple of days.
Still on track for this weekend to be ready for test, all going well with the impending track inspection.
Just remember pre noms for all QLD club members close on the 18th September, hopefully info packs have arrived by now, otherwise contact the Mackay kart Club for all info www.mackaykartclub.asn.au
You can also find layout of new track on the above website under track info.
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ah on September 8, 2009 at 8:05
Congratulations to the Mackay Club for their efforts. Anyone who has been involved in these type of projects can appreciate the work you guys have put in. From the piccies the track looks great.
Best of luck with the upcoming Closed Titles, I hope plenty of entries are forthcoming.
Spoke to the president at Mackay yesterday, and he is over the moon to have the track ready for racing today. A huge effort by the members to get the work done in the time frame they had, and I reckon the track looks awesome....everyone will be up for great racing.
The Qld closed in a few weeks will be great I am sure.....unfortunately we won't be there after Luke broke his hand at supercheap..... Have a look at the aerial shot attached....
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Thanks for putting the pic up John, I am at work at the moment and haven't seen the final product. Am itching at the bit to have a go during the week.
Certainly is some sort of transformation though.
Will let everyone know how the ride is during the week.
From everything I hear, the Qld closed is going to be a great event .....less than two weeks away now. I am a little disappointed - but it is nice to be having a spell - not to be going. If anyone is considering going....make the effort, ....I think you are in for a great weekend....... After all the work, it would be great to see the club rewarded with large numbers.....
Well its ALL DONE (good enough to race on anyway).
After spending an enjoyable day at the track, the difference between the old and the new is Daylight. Went through 5L of fuel and my ribs are not sore. The way the track looks is a credit to all those involved. Its smooth, fast and the new track layout definately punishes mistakes. (make sure the brakes are in good nick, you need them)
The amount of work done over the last several months and the planning leading up to have been more than worth it. The new track at Mackay is simply magic.
The track has only had practice Sunday and today, and already is starting to rubber up nicely in the braking areas and on the exits.
Just a quick note though, thanks to another local business, they will be completing the painting of the tyre walls Thursday and Friday, so the track will be closed during this time to finish off the little bits that need to be done. (I think the person that picked the colour scheme may be a Ford supporter, or likes the Phillip Island track).
Thanks to some tips from the current SNH No.1, come to terms somewhat with the new track and I did try hard to stick with him, but not up there yet. Thanks Marshal, have taken the advice on board. (have got my times down to low 44)
Mackay is our home track so we do all our practice here, and did not realise how rough the old track was till you race Townsville or Rocky. The new track is as good and as smooth as either of these now. (and as wide!!)
So to round it up it looks and rides SHIT HOT.
Just remember that entries for the Closed need to be in the mail Friday, or will cost more Sat morning.
Anyone at the track that sees Mark, Pat or Doug, make sure to congratulate them for the time and effort that they have put in for all of us to enjoy the facilities we now have. Hopefully racer's won't think twice from now on about coming to Mackay from now on.
September 14, 2009 at 22:16
Your 100% right Rod, the new track is great. To all those involved we take our hats of to you. What we have to remember is that all the work that has been done has happened in just 6 weeks. That has to be some sort of record..
Well i've spent most of the last 2 days out there burnin around and i can honestly say we now have a track that is as good as any track i've raced on. To all those who plan on coming to the Qld Closed you will be pleasantly suprised. The track now has a big long straight and also a tight technical section that will sort the men out from the boys. As for gearing and set up well i would suggest starting with the same cog as what you normally run then maybe start to drop some when you get your head around the track. I tested a fair bit of stuff today and ended up dropping 2 teeth. For anyone that hasn't been here before and wants to know a bit of info feel free to ask me on here and i'll do my best to get right back to you. As a club we would like to see as many people as we can show up for the closed. After all it is where the State Titles will be held next year so its a great opportunity to get some testing done.
We may have a new track but the freindlyness and and go out of your way for anyone attitude here still remains..
Hey guys, any indication or feedback as to how many karters you may be expecting for the closed..???
Suprisingly, alot of the enquiries and early entries are from down south. Out of the 40 confirmed entries so far, only 6 are from Mackay. Going on numbers from other meets, can look at about 70 from Mackay, and generally get a fair swag from Townsville and Rocky, and the travelling group from Cairns. From the enquires we are expecting some classes to be capacity grid(now 32)
We have also added some extra classes we usually don't run in Mackay, but no entries for these yet. But we are expecting around 150-180, going on number of enquiries for accom, time track is available during week for practice and so on.
If you haven't sent off your entry yet, all info is on the website www.mackaykartclub.asn.au if you need an accomodation list just contact me and I can email you one of what is available (thanks to Mackay Tourism). Entries need to be in the mail by Friday, entries can be made in person up to Sat morning
The track is planned to be open this weekend, and from Wednesday prior to the closed. It will be closed Thursday and Friday (may be open fri arvo) to finish up the bits and pieces, like accel, baulk lines, mag strips, access to track for officials and painting around track.