SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/126035
WHEN ALBERT PUJOLS arrived in Anaheim last year, his one request of Lopas was to remove some grass in front of first base so that throws from the third baseman would bounce on dirt instead of grass. Lopas was happy to oblige the superstar, who he calls a "really nice guy." AFTER 9/11, Lopas and his team mowed a giant USA in the outfield (top). The pattern started on a letter-sized template (bottom) he created to establish the dimensions. He mowed away from home plate inside the letters for the contrasting color, using a walk mower on the outlines. use the non-existent restroom. One of the maintenance crew members replied that not only was there no bathroom, the crew didn't even have sink. Moreno was incredulous. "Arte is a great, great owner and a wonderful guy," said Lopas. "He took me aside and said 'blow this place up and make it how you want it.'" And that's exactly what Lopas did. Half sports bar and half clubhouse, Lopas' maintenance office is an incredibly unique space. The main room is lined with authentic clubhouse lockers, complete with nameplate and number (year started) for each crew member. When the game is on, the guys watch the action from leather recliners perched in front of a huge flat-screen television. But the creature comforts of home are important for Lopas because time off at this level just isn't an option. "I typically get here about 9 am and leave around 11 pm. My next day off will be in October. When you're grilling dogs on the Fourth of July or sleeping late on a Sunday morning, I'll be here," he said. The grind of 81 home games provides all kinds of challenges for Lopas and his team. But like so many other turfgrass managers around the country, it's a vocation that's in his blood. Each day is another opportunity to prepare a world-class playing surface for the Angels. A small red and dusty iron sign that hangs in the maintenance office sums it all up in just five words: "Rake like a champion today." n A FEW YEARS AGO, Lopas created a mowing pattern that reduces ball snaking in the outfield. By cross-cutting the only areas behind the short stop and second baseman (where very few balls sneak through), it allows him to mow the outfielder areas in just two directions – thus reducing the chance a bouncing ball will move laterally on its way to an outfielder. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIGHER ETHANOL FUEL AND YOUR EQUIPMENT FLEET By Kris Kiser T URF AND FIELD MANAGERS must operate and maintain a host of outdoor power and small engine equipment, from mowers and blowers to utility vehicles, generators and trimmers. Along with safety and reliability, managers want equipment to enjoy a long product lifecycle. Through regular maintenance, one expects that equipment lasts long enough to more than payback on the original investment. However, in the coming year, a new higher ethanol fuel, called Ethanol 15 (E15), will likely appear in gas stations across the country. Although mandated by law, when used in turf and grounds equipment, E15 can cause engine failure and damage product[DASH HERE]bringing your product lifecycle to an abrupt halt. WHY HIGHER ETHANOL FUEL? Energy independence and domestic security gave rise to fuels legislation. Signed into law in 2007, Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program regulations were developed in collaboration www.stma.org with refiners, renewable fuel producers, and many other stakeholders. Created under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), EPA was tasked with reaching the RFS requirement of 7.5 billion gallons of renewable-fuel to be blended into gasoline by 2012 and growing to 15 billion gallons of ethanol. As a result, ethanol use has been mandated by law. The challenge has been that the underlying assumptions used to develop the RFS were not met. For example, many believed that an E85 auto fleet and E85 infrastructure would expand and gasoline use would continue to climb and that E85 would absorb the mandated ethanol. Yet, E85 demand and availability remains low. Further assumptions that have fallen short are: • Flex fuel vehicles that use E85 have not expanded rapidly enough • E85 use is not expanding • Gasoline consumption peaked in 2007 and continues to fall, and • Advanced and cellulosic fuels (non corn ethanol) are not available. So why are you hearing that there will be 15% ethanol on the market although we know that it can damage outdoor power equipment used by your grounds crews? THE BACK AND FORTH ON ETHANOL 15 In 2009, Growth Energy, an ethanol industry trade group, petitioned the EPA to raise the limit on ethanol in gasoline from 10 to 15%. Since gas consumption was falling and E85 was not taking hold, they wanted to increase the allowable level of ethanol to create more demand in the marketplace and to meet ever increasing ethanol mandates. Understanding the corrosive effects of higher levels of ethanol, several engine product and auto manufacturers, including the outdoor power equipment, motorcycle and boating industry, urged EPA to be deliberative in its review process, and assure, with thorough SportsTurf 39