oil down

[racer x]

I thought I would start a thread about the dreaded "OIL DOWN"

We all know what it is . it is a big waist of time. I think we should discuss it before the next one.
Someone asked once What are we doing? Having grown up in a garage I thought everyone new how to clean up oil with kitty litter. Apparently not.

So first thing is the basics.
Oil on the ground We need to get it up. So we spread kitty litter on the oil and sweep it up . But it is not that simple. Kitty litter will soak up oil. But it takes a while . Well I want to race . So we have to grind the kitty litter into the oil . That grinding scrapes the concrete and cleans up the oil. It is called the kitty litter shuffle.

Then it has to be swept up.

There are other ways to get oil up but we can not use chemicals or heat because of cost and the fragile state of the Maxton serface.

So when oil is down .Everyone needs to spring into action. People power is the key So pick a job .
1 pouring kitty litter
2 grinding kitty litter
 3 sweeping it up

[WildBro]

I'll take #2
Now who is this girl, Kitty??? 

Bill

[doug odom]

 After over 40 years of cleaning my shop floor I have found Rice Hulls work the best for me. Try some sometime in you garage if you have oil stains. Pour a little diesel on it then cover it with rice hulls and let it soak in good before you sweep it off.  YMMV

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Bill, as the generator of one of the longest oildowns in ECTA history -- I should think you'd volunteer for all three duties.

[Cajun Kid]

Bill, as the generator of one of the longest oildowns in ECTA history -- I should think you'd volunteer for all three duties.

OUCH  

Just curious,, what was the estimated distance of the infamous oil down ?  (from where to where ? )

[racer x]

After over 40 years of cleaning my shop floor I have found Rice Hulls work the best for me. Try some sometime in you garage if you have oil stains. Pour a little diesel on it then cover it with rice hulls and let it soak in good before you sweep it off.  YMMV

Many things work. What we need is cheap and works. Because we need a enough to cover about half a mile. maybe a foot wide. I cant even imagine how much that cost.
If anyone knows how the club can save money . Sing out.

[runt13]

good thread, racer x.

what if every racer had to bring 1 bag of speedy dry with them to pass tech? that takes care of the cost. if it is used oh-well, if not bring it next time.

i work at a very high end golf coarse, we have all kinds of equipment that is used to top dress the greens [put fine sand on the greens to fill in holes, ect from the basic maint of said sports turf] this said we have a few pieces of equipment that brush in the sand and then remove it. i believe the idea is the same. and can be done manually .

add speedy dry, shuffle, grind, broom in the speedy dry, then pile and remove speedy dry.

i do have one question....what do you do with it when your done? we will need some kind of containers to store it, and a way to get rid of it.

it wil be interesting to see were this goes!

RUNT

[Dynoroom]

Why don't you guys just run on dirt like us?                   8-)

[desotoman]

I am just a dirt kinda guy. But Doug has a good point, as I believe NHRA uses or used to use rice hulls to clean up oil downs at the drags. You might contact them, or a local drag strip, and get the skinny on how to clean oil downs up fast, and not leave a residue on the track, especially with the use of synthetic oil. Although I personally don't think oil downs and fast clean up go hand in hand.

Tom G.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I don't know the exact length -- but it was from somewhere like half-track at Maxton to well past the lights -- maybe 3/4 mile, maybe more.  Ask Todd Dross -- he's got photos.

[116ciHemi]

My only experience with oildowns is in the shop, but.... what about  using three vehicles to clean up? First one would use a modified hitch mounted salt spreader to lay down the kitty litter (slim knows what I am talking about), second one would follow with a lawn style roller filled with sand the crush and grind the stuff in, and then barter the usage of a street sweeper to sweep up. Or just use elbow grease to sweep. Just a thought, not sure how that would would work, but that's my 17 year old's opinion.

[bbarn]

I am just a dirt kinda guy. But Doug has a good point, as I believe NHRA uses or used to use rice hulls to clean up oil downs at the drags. You might contact them, or a local drag strip, and get the skinny on how to clean oil downs up fast, and not leave a residue on the track, especially with the use of synthetic oil. Although I personally don't think oil downs and fast clean up go hand in hand.

Tom G.

I believe the most effective method the NHRA uses these days is a big fat giant fine for those who spoil the fun for everyone. Sure do see a lot less spills since they adopted that rule. NOT that I am recommending it as the best approach...just saying.

[Cajun Kid]

Why don't you guys just run on dirt like us?                   8-)

Because we have Pavement to run on !!!!

Charles

[Glen]

NHRA uses rice hull ash because it absorbs better then kitty litter on pavement. SCTA uses kitty litter on the dry lake and on the salt as it works best for us. One thing when using rice hull ash is to wear safety goggles as it will dry your eyes out fast and you will need an eye flush and eye drops.

Something I would like to see is engine diapers, catches most oil and many  engine parts from getting you expensive Bonneville tires.

[White Monster]

So pick a job .
  2 grinding kitty litter

I'll take #2
Now who is this girl, Kitty ??

Now that is the funniest thing I've read all day ...