Dry Lakes Racers Australia

Michael Brixton and myself arrived at the lake about 4.00pm on the 5th April and after a brief look at the lake went on to Mt Ives for the night. Today (6th April) via camp DLRA to collect penetrometer then onto Lake Gairdner. At the shore line there seemed to be quite alot of fresh salt growth and approximately 25mm in thickness. This was stable under vehicle. We then went from the shore in a direct line towards the start line and @ 50 metre drove the rod through 50mm of again fresh salt build up with then a thin 5mm silt layer which had been washed down onto the surface after the last heavy rains, but under this silt again good salt coverage. At this point it was worth noting that the moisture meter was showing that it was greater than 25 % moisture which was expected with a full moon due to the celestial mechanics which affect the lake and the gravitational bias that at this time sees water being drawn up through the salt surface from the brine layer beneath. The next was @ 100 metres and again great layering of fresh salt of up to 75mm thick then a silt layer of no more than 5 mm then hard salt beneath which was not penetratable. Then on to 200 metres and the spike did not go into the hard crust surface at all. We then drove out to within 100 metres of the start line coordinates and drove the entire length of the race track out to 12kilometre mark. There was an obvious wet area nearing the creek but quite hard under vehicle. Every kilometre, for the first 5 k's we checked the penetrometer and again very hard and compact with visible new growth. The amount of water that had been on it earlier this year must have left or been blown off quite quickly as the new growth had no crystal like structure to it. We tried to mimic what Smurf and Cookey saw upon their inspection prior race week cancellation and found only one of these in the 12 kilometre stretch, Michael stratched at it going down probably 40 mm then hard salt layer underneath. It will be good to see the next week the difference (if any) with the new moon cycling. I will attach more photos

Plucka

Thanks Plucka

The other photos as promised for some reason it would only allow 3 pictures that I loaded.

Thanks for the effort and report guys.

jon

Well done lads,,excellent reporting, don't forget to test the beer

Thanks guys.

Thanks again.

It must be great to be there and see the Lake recovering or is that regrowing

Pete
APS#866

Cool the Easter Bunny has bought a nice hard lake.

Thanx to all involved in the inspections.

Thanks micheal and plucka good to see the lake reverting back to normal ....one question was the new salt soft ?
Gary #282

All thanks from QLD.

Great way of reporting guys and we can continue using the same method in future. All those who have been on the salt can understand your report and its easy to make accurate conclusions from a distance based on your facts.

By sharing this we are all learning more about our "Lunar Landscape" thats like nothing else on earth.

Chris

Yes agreed Chris and from now on we will have data that we can reflect back to and compare, which done correctly is invaluable. I with a few others intend to continue with the collation of data, not only up to this speed week event but beyond for future reference

Plucka

great recci and report thanks heaps plucka and mike
shep #642

John Moss & I will be leaving early tomorrow morning (Saturday) to do a follow up inspection. All fingers & everything else crossed for a positive report. Pete. DLRA #6.

Hey Pete, hope you and Mossy have a safe trip and bring us back some more good news.

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