Elgin Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper to Debut at Daytona

[ShadowKnight508]

Credit to Jayski:

Elgin Sweeper has introduced a modified Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper that is set to make its debut at NASCAR racetracks around the country this racing season, beginning with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24. The Track Sweeper plays a supporting role in a new racetrack drying initiative that features a combination of air power and vacuum suction to dry rain-soaked racetracks. The regenerative air Track Sweeper adapts features from Elgin Sweeper's highly successful Crosswind GRS (glycol recovery sweeper), a special-purpose sweeper used to vacuum liquid glycol from airport runways. This specialty sweeper includes unique features developed for racetrack sweeping and maintenance applications, such as a side air-blast nozzle, a reverse sweep system, a 20,000 CFM-rated blower and a hydraulically-driven side broom with plastic bristles.
During track testing conducted in conjunction with NASCAR last November in Daytona, this same vacuum technology proved to efficiently vacuum water from the pores of the racetrack, and worked even better with the new track-drying technology designed by the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Working together to remove moisture from the track surface, both technologies dramatically accelerated the drying time. Developed as a more effective alternative to the current track-drying method, the system, featuring the Crosswind Track Sweeper, is expected to expedite the process.
The specialty sweeper was modified with input from racetrack officials in the NASCAR circuit. Elgin Sweeper representatives along with Jeff Miles from Key Equipment & Supply Company, an Elgin Sweeper dealer based in Kansas City, Kans. worked with NASCAR to address track maintenance issues, as well as fire, safety, medical and security concerns. A lifelong racing enthusiast, Miles is also a lead driver for the Richard Petty Driving Experience and has logged more than 350,000 miles in NASCAR-style stock cars. Traveling to tracks across the country has given Miles an added appreciation for clean track conditions.

 

[skill13]

Lets hope Montoya dosen't run into that.

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

Once you've hit Juan, you gotta hit Jamal...

Okay that was bad XD

 

[Devin41]

It might hurt Juan to hit that more than it did to hit a jet dryer!

 

[MattSRD28]

 

[88 17 6 fan]

LOL

 

[Orian Thompson]

They might not be called jet dryers anymore, but.....

 

[Harry Nurpplez]

Here...

...he looks like a sane person.

But here...

Quickly, hide your RC planes before he uses them all in his plans for world domination!

 

[tipptruck]

II bet a lot of people that are making the jokes. Have been in a accident at 45 mph a under. So should we make jokes about that. I bet most have never had a tire blow out at 65 mph also. Or some part of the suspension or steering break. Its hard enough to control a car at hwy speed when that happens. Let alone a car doing 100 plus.

You guys know the odds of him hitting it in the first place. Even if they tried. I bet they could not hit it again. Way to munch physics and angles for it to match perfect.

Any way I wonder if one them trucks will tip over. Just wait in till it pours at a place with high banking. A gallon of water is about 20lbs. With that many gallons that high up. We all know what will happen.

 

[K.Chuck]

It will be really interesting to see this new method in action, the science is there. For people watching NASCAR as long as I have, it should be a serious game changer for rain delays.

If anyone cares to how this system actually works, this is the best in depth description I could find.
Via- Elgin Sweeper:
The sweeper can clean a wide, 117-inch path with its side broom and pickup head, using a 20,000 CFM-rated blower to provide a high-volume air knife to blast air while picking up debris, oil-dry and standing water. With its side air-blast nozzle, debris can be blown off the track for distances up to 50 feet. The sweeper has a generous 8-cubic-yard hopper to contain ample track debris and water. The Freightliner M2 chassis features dual controls for operation from either the right- or left-side of the cab. The sweeper features dual engines, a 115 hp turbocharged diesel for the sweeper and a 200 hp diesel for the chassis. For enhanced visibility, the sweeper and its chassis are equipped with a multiple array of amber safety lights. For remote cleaning of the bigger jobs, such as an impact to a sand barrel attenuator, the unit also features a soft wall cleaning attachment and a large jib boom-mounted 8-inch rear vacuum hose.

 

[MattSRD28]

It will be really interesting to see this new method in action, the science is there. For people watching NASCAR as long as I have, it should be a serious game changer for rain delays.

If anyone cares to how this system actually works, this is the best in depth description I could find.
Via- Elgin Sweeper:
The sweeper can clean a wide, 117-inch path with its side broom and pickup head, using a 20,000 CFM-rated blower to provide a high-volume air knife to blast air while picking up debris, oil-dry and standing water. With its side air-blast nozzle, debris can be blown off the track for distances up to 50 feet. The sweeper has a generous 8-cubic-yard hopper to contain ample track debris and water. The Freightliner M2 chassis features dual controls for operation from either the right- or left-side of the cab. The sweeper features dual engines, a 115 hp turbocharged diesel for the sweeper and a 200 hp diesel for the chassis. For enhanced visibility, the sweeper and its chassis are equipped with a multiple array of amber safety lights. For remote cleaning of the bigger jobs, such as an impact to a sand barrel attenuator, the unit also features a soft wall cleaning attachment and a large jib boom-mounted 8-inch rear vacuum hose.

Don't expect it to be too long until it's put into action. Question is will the media cover that during a rain delay, or will we just talk about exciting things like what Rutledge Wood found under his shoe in the motor coach lot?

 

[tipptruck]

Don't expect it to be too long until it's put into action. Question is will the media cover that during a rain delay, or will we just talk about exciting things like what Rutledge Wood found under his shoe in the motor coach lot?

I am expecting Rutledge. I would like to see these things work at lest once. I am sure the first rain delay we will see them work. I also want to see the whole thing. Do not cut to pre recorded bs. That they would use on a other day. I want to see them dry the track live. Who knows maybe this could turn in to some thing like Zamboni races. Who can dry there line first?

 

[NDilbeckWx]

Any way I wonder if one them trucks will tip over. Just wait in till it pours at a place with high banking. A gallon of water is about 20lbs. With that many gallons that high up. We all know what will happen.

Apparently there is this: (keeping in mind that cars won't likely be on the track while the new process is taking place)

 

[The Captain]

From what I saw on Twitter today from various reporters, the new dryers will be used at Daytona only for now. They will then get whatever tweaks NASCAR deems necessary before returning.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

Update in Regards to Track Drying Advancements (Credit to Jayski):

Less than eight months ago, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France tasked the team at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., with developing a means to shorten the delay caused by rain. The reasons for the initiative were many, but at the top of the list: Fans, whether in the grandstands or watching on television, should not have to wait long before racing resumes following a downpour.
NASCAR announced Phase 1 of France's vision, introducing the Air Titan track drying system that will debut during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. This innovative technology, steeped in science and created by the NASCAR R&D Center, will reduce track drying time, improve the racing product and enhance the fan experience starting this week and including The Sprint Unlimited on Saturday night at 8:00pm/et on FOX.
"In a short amount of time, our talented team at the NASCAR R&D Center imagined, designed and built the Air Titan, an innovative device that will dramatically improve the race-viewing experience for our fans," France said of the initiative's first phase. "With its far-reaching potential and impact, we believe the Air Titan is a big win for the motorsports industry, and eventually will enhance many surface cleaning and drying industries as well."

With the ultimate goal of reducing track-drying time by up to 80%, the NASCAR R&D team took an advanced scientific approach during the production of the Air Titan. Using compressed air, the Air Titan efficiently and reliably pushes water off of the racing surface and onto the apron where vacuum trucks will remove the remainder of the moisture. Jet dryers will follow each Air Titan, drying any excess water that remains on the racing surface.
As part of the Air Titan's testing process, NASCAR enlisted the expertise of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) in Auburn, Ala., International Speedway Corporation's track construction group, Racing Surface Technologies and QualPro Inc. Additionally, Elgin Sweeper Company, Sullair and Ring Power CAT also provided equipment during the testing, and will be part of the track-drying process at Daytona during Speedweeks. For the immediate future, jet dryers and vacuum trucks will continue to be used during track-drying efforts. Over time, the innovations of the Air Titan will lessen the carbon footprint of track drying, decreasing both emissions and noise pollution. The next evolution in the innovative technology will be to optimize the power source

 

[dalejrgamer]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KraBHo16_w]NASCAR Unveils "Air Titan" Track-Drying Technology - YouTube[/ame]

Stay away, Juan.

 

[MattSRD28]

Hmm, I was sort of curious how track dying went on the TRON Game Grid. Now I know.

 

[celticfang]

Hmm, I was sort of curious how track dying went on the TRON Game Grid. Now I know.

Somebody's got to clean the lightcycle trails off the track after all, they are lethal!

I'm interested to see if this works 100% or if they need to tweak it, my money is on them finding issues during Speedweeks and tweaking it for the 500. Then rolling it out over the season and next year.

 

[tipptruck]

So there still going to use jet dryers. Like Celtic I see some tweaks with this system.

 

[RP Motorsports]

I'm interested to see if this works 100% or if they need to tweak it, my money is on them finding issues during Speedweeks and tweaking it for the 500. Then rolling it out over the season and next year.

They've already acknowledged its a work-in-progress. It was talked about quite a bit during the media tour. A lot of R&D has gone into it, but theres still work to be done. Ultimately, they say it'll be able to dry Daytona in 30 minutes when all is said and done, but its not quite there yet, and it's going to take some more work to get there.