Tartan track

Tartan track is a trademarked synthetic surfacing system for athletics and other sporting venues. Developed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, now known as 3M, the product used polyurethane to create an all-weather surface for running, jumping and throwing events. Its introduction represented a major change from traditional cinder and similar outdoor track surfaces, offering more consistent performance and greater resistance to weather-related deterioration. 3M developed its Tartan track and related Tartan Turf products during the late 1950s. The company tested the track concept at the Los Angeles Coliseum as early as 1959, and its development was described in contemporary sports coverage as a significant technical breakthrough by 1963. The product was intended for both running tracks and horseracing facilities, while the related Tartan Turf line addressed stadium and field applications. The first recorded use of a Tartan surface in an English athletics competition took place during a long-jump event at the Norman Green Sports Centre in Solihull on September 16, 1967. The system achieved its most prominent early exposure at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, which became the first Olympic Games to use a synthetic Tartan surface for athletics. The adoption helped associate the Tartan name with modern competition tracks and accelerated the wider use of synthetic surfacing in schools, universities, professional stadiums and racing venues. The product's Olympic promotion involved athletes and technical advocates including shot-put champion Bill Nieder and miler Don Bowden. American coach Bert Bonanno acted as a liaison between Mexican Olympic officials and 3M while helping prepare athletes for the Games. 3M also enlisted Jesse Owens in efforts to promote the surface to Olympic decision-makers. A Tartan track was additionally installed for the 1968 United States Olympic Trials at Echo Summit, California, at an elevation of approximately 7,377 feet. The Tartan name became highly influential beyond the original product line. Because the surface was commercially successful and became widely recognized, Tartan was increasingly used as a generic description for synthetic all-weather running tracks, even when a facility used another manufacturer's system. The brand was also extended to artificial turf, with Tartan Turf appearing at many sports arenas and stadiums during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Early Tartan track formulations used mercury as a catalyst. Mercury presented an environmental hazard, and the manufacturing process was subsequently reformulated to eliminate its use, with assistance from MCP Industries. Athletic Polymer Systems, a subsidiary of MCP Industries, has managed installation of Tartan-branded running-track systems. The product's original patents began expiring during the 1970s, and the long service life of installed tracks limited replacement demand. These factors reduced the commercial value of the line to 3M as competition increased. Today, Tartan track is best understood both as a continuing trademarked surfacing brand and as a historically important name in the development of synthetic athletics infrastructure. The original late-1960s systems have been joined by numerous competing polyurethane and rubberized track technologies, but the Tartan name remains closely associated with the transition from cinder tracks to modern all-weather surfaces.

Tartan track emerged from 3M's late-1950s work on synthetic sports surfaces. The company developed polyurethane-based track surfacing alongside Tartan Turf, an artificial turf product for stadiums and sports fields. These products were among the earliest purpose-designed man-made surfaces for athletics. A Tartan track was reportedly tested at the Los Angeles Coliseum as early as 1959, and sports coverage characterized the development as a breakthrough by 1963. The surface was designed for running and field events as well as horseracing facilities. Compared with cinder, asphalt and other conventional outdoor surfaces, polyurethane surfacing could provide a more uniform competition area and perform more consistently in changing weather. The technology was introduced during a period when synthetic materials were becoming increasingly important in sporting infrastructure. The first recorded use of Tartan in an English athletics competition occurred at the Norman Green Sports Centre in Solihull on September 16, 1967, during a long-jump event. Its international profile expanded substantially the following year. The 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City became the first Olympic Games to use Tartan track for athletics. Bill Nieder and Don Bowden were associated with the product's development and promotion, while coach Bert Bonanno served as an intermediary between Mexican Olympic officials and 3M. 3M also used Jesse Owens in its efforts to persuade Olympic organizers to adopt the surface. A further high-altitude installation was built for the men's United States Olympic Trials at Echo Summit, California, in 1968. Constructed near the Nebelhorn ski area at roughly 7,377 feet above sea level, the facility demonstrated the product in a major national selection event. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Tartan track became common at major horseracing venues, while Tartan Turf appeared in high-school, collegiate and professional stadiums. The Tartan name was derived from 3M's existing association with the Scotch brand and became unusually influential in public vocabulary. Its commercial success led people to use “tartan track” as a generic term for synthetic all-weather running tracks, including surfaces made by competitors. The product was therefore important not only as a branded system but also as a category-defining reference. The earliest Tartan formulations used mercury as a catalyst. Because mercury is environmentally hazardous, the manufacturing process was later reformulated to eliminate it. MCP Industries assisted 3M with this change, and Athletic Polymer Systems, an MCP subsidiary, has handled installation of Tartan-branded running tracks. During the 1970s, patents covering the technology began to expire. The durability of installed surfaces also meant that replacement demand was limited. As competing track-surfacing technologies became available, the line became less commercially valuable to 3M, even though the Tartan name retained strong historical recognition. Modern synthetic-track markets now include many competing polyurethane and rubberized systems. Tartan track remains significant as an early and influential brand in the transition from cinder athletics tracks to modern all-weather competition surfaces.

• 1970

  Patent protection begins expiring

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  Patents associated with the Tartan technology began expiring during the 1970s, allowing more competition in synthetic track surfacing.

• 1968

  Mexico City Olympics adopt Tartan track

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  The Mexico City Olympics became the first Olympic Games to use Tartan track for athletics.

• 1968

  Tartan surface installed for United States Olympic Trials

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  A track was built at Echo Summit, California, for the men's United States Olympic Trials.

• 1967

  First recorded English competition use

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  The first recorded use of a Tartan surface in an English athletics competition took place during a long-jump event at Solihull's Norman Green Sports Centre.

• 1963

  Development recognized as a synthetic-sports-surface breakthrough

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  Contemporary sports coverage described 3M's Tartan track and turf development as a major advance in athletic surfaces.

• 1959

  Early testing at the Los Angeles Coliseum

  [1]Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org

  A Tartan synthetic track surface was tested for athletic use at the Los Angeles Coliseum, according to historical accounts of the product's development.

Historically positioned as a breakthrough, high-performance synthetic alternative to cinder and other traditional outdoor athletic surfaces. The brand is associated with Olympic-level competition, weather resistance, consistent footing and the modernization of track-and-field facilities.

• Polyurethane athletic track surfacing · 1967

  Tartan track

  A synthetic, all-weather polyurethane surface developed by 3M for running, jumping and throwing facilities and also used at horseracing venues. It became known for providing a consistent alternative to cinder and other traditional outdoor surfaces. The original systems were introduced in the late 1950s and achieved international prominence through Olympic and national-level competition.

• Artificial sports turf

  Tartan Turf

  A related 3M artificial-turf product for stadiums and sports fields. Tartan Turf was used in many high-school, collegiate and professional sports venues during the late 1960s and early 1970s, extending the Tartan name from running tracks into broader athletic infrastructure.

• 1968Mexico City Olympic adoption campaign

  Mexico · United States · International

  3M promoted Tartan track to Mexican Olympic organizers as a modern replacement for the cinder surface traditionally used at the Games. Coach Bert Bonanno helped connect Olympic officials and the manufacturer, while 3M enlisted Jesse Owens and worked with athletics figures including Bill Nieder and Don Bowden.

  Outcome. The 1968 Mexico City Olympics used Tartan track for athletics, making the event a defining showcase for the product and synthetic competition surfaces.

  Source

• 1970

  Tartan line loses commercial value as patents expireStrategy

  Background

  Patents covering the product technology began expiring during the 1970s, while the durability of installed tracks reduced replacement demand.

  Action taken

  3M's emphasis on the original product line diminished as competitors entered the all-weather track market.

  Aftermath

  The market developed into a competitive synthetic-track industry, while Tartan remained a widely recognized historical and genericized term.

  Source

• Reformulation to eliminate mercuryStrategy

  Background

  Early Tartan track production used mercury as a catalyst, creating an environmental concern associated with the manufacturing process.

  Action taken

  3M, with assistance from MCP Industries, changed the production process so that mercury was no longer used.

  Aftermath

  The reformulation reduced the environmental hazard associated with the original process. The specific implementation date is not established in the available reference material.

  Source

1. 1Tartan tracken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tartan Track official websitetartantrack.com