Track Landscaping

[norcaladmin]

Here is a question for everyone, how much do you think track landscaping adds to the way people feel about a track I am talking about things like, haybales, banners, nice fencing, etc. I personally think that tires lining a track look horrible. Weeds growing in the infield, garbage, etc make the track look dirty. Look at Washougal as an example, nice green grass etc, I realize its in Washington where it rains much more, but do you think a track would get a higher rating or talked about in a more positive light if the track surroundings were better Use Argyle for an example. Imagine the track as it is now as far as layout and prep goes, but from the entrance gate all the way to parking area was paved and clean and there was grass and flowers lining the road. The snackbar/pay shack was painted and clean, the bleachers were freshly painted and clean, the tractors were clean and painted, with no broken down anything laying around. The track was lined with banners and streamers.


When you talked to other people about the track would you hold it in higher opinion

[full_time]

Okay Joey, if the "facility" is clean, manicured and looks "pretty". you want to know if people will have an higher opinion of it even if the the "track" sux Wow Joey, companies pay huge dinero to get this information and here you are doing this scientific poll for FREE...laughing. I tnink if an operator is "proud" of their facility and has first hand commitment to the success of the business (this is a business) they will have a "world class" track. Enough said.[8D]

[norcaladmin]

quote:Originally posted by thormxracer

Okay Joey, if the "facility" is clean, manicured and looks "pretty". you want to know if people will have an higher opinion of it even if the the "track" sux

Exactly, everyone take a minute to think about the answer before you just blurt something out.

I personally think the facility has a lot to do with it. Its the psychology of it all.

[MX_563]

When I go to a race track, in addition to riding I end up spending a decent amount of time off the track (in the pit, at the concession stand, BSing with friends, watching the track action, etc). That "downtime" effects the overall experince of going to the track. So I would definitely give a higher rating to a track the "looked nice".

In addition to pavement and fresh paint, I'd put a lot OF focus ON the landscaping. I think a smart tree/shrub layout can positively effect the riding experience...by limiting wind/dust, providing shaded track sections, AND helping TO keep people FROM cutting across the track (I've seen a lot of this at Argyl)

Don't GET me wrong, I'm no tree hugger. But I'd LIKE TO see MORE foliage AT the tracks, FOR sure!

[darnoc14]

Shade is definetly a plus, especially in the summer. But when it comes down to it, I think I would rather have the track owners putting more care into the actual track prep/maintainence. The amount of time required for landscaping would probably mean a sacrifice in the quality of the track. Don't GET me wrong though, I'm all for making the tracks look puuurty, as long as the track condition is priority number 1. After all when we pay $20, we pay to ride, not to go for a walk in a park.

[norcaladmin]

Hey Darnoc thanks for the feedback, but its not quite what I was asking. If you went to a track that the actual track was not that great (jumps were not fun, poor prep, whatever) but the rest of the facility was pristine, clean bathrooms, grass, shades, snackbar, paved parking etc. Would you reccomend the facility to someone else or would you tell them the track sucked.

[motokid40]

For Hangtown we seed grass and weed eat high grass for better viewing and even put down sod on the starting area and plant trees and every year after Hangtown the grass drys up the weeds grow high and the sod dies,If you landscape, it takes a real commitment for upkeep!

[norcaladmin]

Exactly, it takes upkeep. I have only met a few Dirt Diggers, but my guess is, that if the Hangtown track was under there care 365 a year (no AMP) that the track would be well landscaped all the time.

I dont want to get to far off track though. My oringal question still stands, would your feelings about a track be different of the facility itsels if nice

[MX_563]

quote:Originally posted by motokid40

For Hangtown we seed grass and weed eat high grass for better viewing and even put down sod on the starting area and plant trees and every year after Hangtown the grass drys up the weeds grow high and the sod dies,If you landscape, it takes a real commitment for upkeep!

Well, I can't argue WITH that.
I was just thinking that maybe SOME OF the native stuff (TO California) would be less maintenance. Shoot, even SOME palm trees might be nice...those don't need a lot of water do they

I don't know, I guess Joey's question was theoretical so in a roundabout way, I was trying to say...yes, I would recommend a facility to a friend if it was well cared for (even if the track was "so so")

[motokid40]

Yes, Landscape does matter and would have me recommend that track over another for the ambiance.