In a successful operation of any scale, daily routines should run like a well-oiled machine. Each component should work hard to perform its duty in concert with the parts around it, creating a harmony in which each piece serves an essential purpose. It is a delicate balance based on careful planning and reliability that can be upset when even one element is out of place. At Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, this balance begins in the maintenance shop.
Since 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway has been a local racing hub for NASCAR fanatics, bringing together thrill-seekers of all ages to witness the fast-paced spectacle. Within the walls of the 89,000 seat stadium is the main 1.5-mile superspeedway that hosts three huge NASCAR events each year – the NASCAR® Sprint All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500.
Between those mainstay events, the maintenance team is responsible for more than three dozen other events in addition to daily management of the complex. These include weekly short-track racing series for Legend Cars and Bandoleros; regional and national car club competitions; and World Karting Association regional, national and international races.
Encompassing nearly 2,000 acres, the property also contains a 2.25-mile road course, a six-tenths-mile karting layout and a quarter-mile oval, a dirt track, the zMAX Dragway – the first drag strip in the world to feature two pedestrian tunnels underneath the strip to increase fan mobility and its most prominent feature, the world’s only four-lane, concrete drag racing surface.
Managing races, events and daily operations in an adrenaline-fueled environment requires immense behind-the-scenes coordination. To handle the demands, Charlotte Motor Speedway operates a fleet of more than 200 vehicles, including tour vans, trams, shuttles and trucks throughout the facility. Supporting this fleet is the maintenance shop, an operation run by just two full-time employees who carefully coordinate jobs to ensure everything is done in a timely and effective manner.
Responsible for keeping up with maintenance under a demanding schedule, the shop can’t afford any downtime. One thing they rely on to get work done is the shop’s air compressor. As part of the facility’s daily operations, it is a crucial piece of equipment. So when their old compressor started disrupting work by delivering poor quality air, they knew it was time for a change.
In the spring of 2016, Atlas Copco stepped in to replace the old and underpowered machine with a GA VSD+ (variable speed drive) 25 horsepower air compressor. It was selected for its performance, durability, small footprint and low noise operation. The GA VSD+ reduces energy consumption by a staggering 50 percent on average (compared to idling compressors) and offers operation noise levels as low as 62 dB(a). This is a welcome change for the maintenance shop, where the sound of an air compressor only adds to the omnipresent roar of cars and fans.
“The GA VSD+ filled a very big need for the guys in the shop,” said Shaun Johnson, executive director of operations, Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The GA VSD+ delivers on its performance promises, and it’s so quiet you hardly even know it’s there.”
Now that their compressed air needs are met, the maintenance shop at Charlotte Motor Speedway can get back to keeping the speedway running smoothly. In fact, between the compressor’s consistent performance and quiet operation, they may even forget it’s there. And in a place that thrives on efficiency and reliability, that’s a very good thing.
