Johannesburg, South Africa - The first A1 Grand Prix race in South Africa took place in Durban, Kwazulu Natal between 27 - 29 January 2006. Tennant South Africa, Southern African cleaning equipment distributor, provided street cleaning services for the 3.2 km (2 mile) track.
The logistics behind the recent A1 Grand Prix held in Durban are generally unknown to most and seldom noticed on race day. An A1 Grand Prix rule book, specifically complied to manage the event exists and covers procedures relating to safety, security, medical evacuation right down to the stand-by plumber and electrician that has to be on call given 5 minutes notice. A clean track surface is of utmost importance as debris on the road surface could lead to punctures with disastrous effects for racecar drivers traveling at 300 km/hour.
The organizers of A1 GP South Africa approached Tennant South Africa to clean the racetrack before the practice session, qualifying round and the main race. Cleaning the pit operations areas was considered crucial, as the last thing a racing driver needs is a puncture while leaving the pit area. Two 800D ride-on street sweepers were assigned to complete the tedious task. The 800D ride-on sweepers completed street sweeping in 3 hours prior to each event.
The Model 800D ride-on street sweeper features a massive steel frame and rugged T-beam super-structure that withstands heavy use and abuse over time. Huge steel bumpers encircle and protect the machine. The specially protected hydraulic system is designed to give and flex with movement and vibration. Other features include a side brush that retracts on impact and a Thermo-Sentry TM to sense excess heat in the hopper and stop air flow. An SE (Severe Environment) version offers tower corner and upper body bumpers, protection devices for longer engine life and a stainless steel hopper bottom.
The Model 800D ride-on street sweeper cleans a 66 in. (1680 mm) path that lets it cover as much as 200,000 sq. ft. (1858 m²) in one hour. A huge, 30 cubic ft. (.85 cubic meter) hopper allows up to 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) of debris to be packed in, so the machine saves non-productive time spent traveling to and from dump sites. A standard multi-level dump hopper allows debris to be dumped on the ground or into dumpsters or trucks as high as 6 ft. (1.82 meters).
"Providing efficient, reliable and affordable cleaning solutions is our core business. Our team was therefore delighted to take part in this prestigious event that was a first for South Africa. The Tennant SA team did not just conduct this task with professionalism and efficiency but also had a sense of humor while doing it. One of our street sweepers did a "doughnut" in front of one of the main stands to delight of the crowd which resulted in a standing ovation." says Ricky Bodmer, Director Tennant South Africa.
The media and other interested parties are invited to visit Tennant South Africa for more details.
Tennant SA 800D street sweeper outside the South African pit area
Cleaning opereration areas in the pit lane