Obviously, at any big motocross event, the race is only as good as the track. For a big race like the Parts Canada TransCan, the track and the facility have to be top notch. To achieve this level of excellence Walton Raceway calls upon the services of Barry Hetherington. Barry has been building tracks for years and brings a wealth of ideas and experience to the table. We caught up with Barry as he was busy sculpting the track at Walton Raceway into perfection.
Q: Hey Barry, thanks for taking the time to talk with us. This is your second year of being in charge of the track at Walton Raceway. Are things going a little smoother this time around?
A: I think this year is going a little easier. Last year we went through a big change with the pits and parts of the track so leading up to the event in 2012 things were extremely hectic. This year we don’t have to change too much, but there always is some stress, especially in the final weeks before the event.
Q: Were you happy with the feedback you got from the event last year?
A: For the most part yes. You’re always going to have your critics and you can’t please everyone, but almost everyone enjoyed what we did in 2012. I think we got the track back to old style motocross, you know how it really should be for an event like the TransCan. The racing last year was great so that’s all you can really go by.
We’ve been able to increase the lap times here so I’m really happy about that. I think you will see lap times next week range from 2:20 for the really fast riders to maybe 2:40 or 2:50 for some others. I think at a National Championship race it’s important to have that, so that’s good.
Q: Have you found it hard to make changes to the track here at Walton Raceway? Don’t you kind of have to keep to the natural landscape of the property?
A: Yes, you’re correct, you pretty much have to work around the natural double, the step down and the long straight. My thinking is – why try and change stuff that works well? I’d rather work hard on little things and try to get the surface of the track good for racing. If you can get the dirt in good shape and keep it there for the week, the rest of the track will take care of itself and the racing will be good.
Q: Can you tell us what we can expect this year with regards to the track?
A: The track will be pretty much the same as last year with a few exceptions. The Pros will now use the same start as the Amateurs, so that is a big deal, I think. I loved the old start but it doesn’t make sense to have two starts, especially since we have an access road from the Pro Pits to the new start. The biggest change for everyone will be the mechanics’ tunnel at the end of the long straight. Since we’ve put in a tunnel, the dirt required to cover it will give the riders a big hill to go over as they approach the corner at the end of the straight. I think this will be a fun new obstacle and a great place to pass. Every rider from the 50s to the Pros will have to go over it; I think it will be great.
Q: That sounds awesome Barry. You’re right. I think it will be an important section of the track. You bring a lot of experience to this job. How long have you been doing this?
A: I guess it goes back to working with my Father back in Northern Ireland in the mid-1970s. He was a FIM official so he was always at the track and I was right there with him. As far as building tracks, I would say I’ve been doing it for almost a decade now. I had the track in Port Perry for a while, I’ve probably built about twenty practice tracks over the years, and now this track at Walton Raceway so I’ve been doing this a long time.
Q: Well Barry, thanks again and since we’re a week away from the 2013 Parts Canada TransCan we’ll let you get back to work.
A: For sure, thanks for chatting with me and I’m looking for to seeing everyone next week.
