Pick Ups return to Croft and Oulton

Chigley · 16 Nov 2008, 14:36 (Ref:2335821)

Announced at the PuT Award evening last night was that the Pick Up Truck Championship will be returning to Croft and Oulton Park in 2009.

CALENDAR DATES PICKUP TRUCK RACING 2009 (Provisional)
ROUND VENUE DATE
1 - 2 BRANDS HATCH MARCH 28/29
3 - 4 ROCKINGHAM APRIL 18/19
5 - 6 CROFT MAY 2/3
7 - 8 OULTON JUNE 20
9 - 10 ROCKINGHAM JULY 18/19
11 - 12 THRUXTON AUG 15/16
13 - 14 ROCKINGHAM AUG 22/23
15 - 16 ROCKINGHAM SEP 5/6
17 - 18 PEMBREY OCT 17/18
19 - 20 BRANDS HATCH OCT 31/NOV 1

Looks like I'm going to have to find some new B&B's.

gwar · 16 Nov 2008, 14:58 (Ref:2335830)

Ian was there any mention of which sereis are following the pickups around, and are more to the point are they joining up with ASCAR/SCSA at the ROCK for next year.....any info would be helpfull, already planning next years callender...got most dates in know...cheers......tony

White flag man · 16 Nov 2008, 15:17 (Ref:2335841)

gwar,
The pick ups will be on the Truck package at Brands, and probably Pembrey and Thruxton. Don't know about the rest.

Keith Kehoe · 16 Nov 2008, 15:49 (Ref:2335857)

Typical the weekend they are due to return to Oulton is the same weekend as scheduled for the GP at Silverstone.

Stack · 16 Nov 2008, 16:36 (Ref:2335888)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwar

Ian was there any mention of which sereis are following the pickups around, and are more to the point are they joining up with ASCAR/SCSA at the ROCK for next year.....any info would be helpfull, already planning next years callender...got most dates in know...cheers......tony

ASCAR have been invited to do 2 meetings at Warneton<sp> in Belgium and are looking at the possibility of doing at least one short oval in this country.

Mark Mitchell · 16 Nov 2008, 22:25 (Ref:2336071)

Shame Oulton have scrapped the Fosters config........PuT - Like Legends - will be lost on any other config!

Chigley · 17 Nov 2008, 22:53 (Ref:2336685)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwar

Ian was there any mention of which series are following the pickups around, and are more to the point are they joining up with ASCAR/SCSA at the ROCK for next year.....any info would be helpful, already planning next years callender...got most dates in know...cheers......tony

Tony, the only additional info was that the PuT are staying with the BTRA for four rounds; as usual the two at Brands, Pembrey and Thruxton. No mention at all of the V8's.

There was a teaser that there could be another wildcard card event. Remember the surprise of being part of the DTM support this year.

Cheers
Ian

R59 · 17 Nov 2008, 23:10 (Ref:2336697)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stack

ASCAR have been invited to do 2 meetings at Warneton<sp> in Belgium and are looking at the possibility of doing at least one short oval in this country.

A very thorny subject.

IF ASCAR runs at Warneton, or any other non MSA/FIA licenced track, it cannot run at Rockingham.

And the reverse is true.

MSA rules.

Transgression will see drivers and organisers in the MSA courtroom with their trousers folded neatly over their arms, and their licenced poised for the shredder.

The money was available to pay for three/four complete meetings (not just rounds) at the Rock, lock stock and barrel. The funding source was happy to write out a cheque up front, if that's what they wanted. Then they got wind of the short circuit meetings, and the deal was off.

I yearn to run my ASCAR at the Rock again. Nothing else will do.

Thankfully I got plenty of laps in on the Oval this year in a pace car for people doing experiences! That stopped the DT's.

Get's a bit tedious after 500 laps..... but I got to go around and say "I hit the wall there...."

No I don't want to do it in a Pickup, it doesn't "float my boat" not enough cylinders, and the wrong noise.

I'll just sit here stuck in the middle of the politics, and play with my crazy Thundersaloon next year instead.

Rob.

Chigley · 17 Nov 2008, 23:23 (Ref:2336699)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

Shame Oulton have scrapped the Fosters config........PuT - Like Legends - will be lost on any other config!

Mark, are you confusing the PuT with something being under powered or slow?

they produce 230bhp with a top end of 150mph the oval sees an average of 130mph.

They can and do provide some of the closest and most entertaining racing in the country. The have the ability to run consistently in close packs and be able to regularly overtake or swap places within that pack without nerfing anyone into the bondo or barriers and still be competive with, or faster than most tin top series.

This year:

Brands Indy Qualifying 1.198mi

BTCC 49.348 on a drying track.
PuT 56.396 on a damp track. = 3rd on the DMN grid
DMN Saloons 55.037 on a drying track.

Donington Park National Qualifying 1.95mi

BTCC 1.12.140 on a dry track
PuT 1.19.850 on a dry track = 5th on the BMW and Ferrari grid
Kumho BMW 1.19.109 on a dry track.
Ferrari Challenge 1.18.610 on a dry track.

Whatever the length of track they will maintain a close pack purely because of the aero design and the ability to draft. They don't get lost even at Thruxton.

Chigley · 17 Nov 2008, 23:34 (Ref:2336705)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stack

ASCAR have been invited to do 2 meetings at Warneton<sp> in Belgium and are looking at the possibility of doing at least one short oval in this country.

Quote:

The money was available to pay for three/four complete meetings (not just rounds) at the Rock, lock stock and barrel. The funding source was happy to write out a cheque up front, if that's what they wanted. Then they got wind of the short circuit meetings, and the deal was off.

Please tell me that the V8's haven't been shot in the foot already.

So many people stick their fingers into the V8 pie its not surprising that nothing worth while comes out. This chatter about short circuits ..... its old ground, ... they are too powerful and fast for short ovals and desperately need to utilise the grunt and power on a long oval or fast sweeping circuit. IMHO all this cobblers about non MSA licensed events is just increasing the gangrene in the festering V8 nightmare.

Mark Mitchell · 18 Nov 2008, 08:56 (Ref:2336835)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chigley

Mark, are you confusing the PuT with something being under powered or slow?

No Ian, not at all.......I love the PuT and know what they can do!
Probably just my dislike of the Oulton "Island" config.
I personally think people get more excitement watching something like PuT on a short(er) track.

R59 · 18 Nov 2008, 09:12 (Ref:2336844)

From a driver's point of view - I hate the Fosters layout. I lurve the full circuit. Something we don't get to use much these days. There's nothing like taking Island flat in top, before Shell Oils (great banked corner!), followed by a blat through Foulston's.
But I do agree, the PuT excel on a shorter track - it keeps them closer knit.
Except for Gav who seems to disappear into the distance regardless, given half a chance.

Minicross424 · 18 Nov 2008, 17:41 (Ref:2337094)

Pick up trucks are great, V8 is dead, lets move on.

**BertMk2** · 19 Nov 2008, 09:46 (Ref:2337502)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

Shame Oulton have scrapped the Fosters config........PuT - Like Legends - will be lost on any other config!

Mark - I don't think Fosters has been scrapped, it's just a Marshals post that's been removed (on advice from the MSA), as I understand it Fosters is still in use. In fact there's a thread about that very subject here:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111264

gwar · 22 Nov 2008, 13:10 (Ref:2339533)

Thanks guys for the replies ref: PUT,S and ASCAR......i personnally wished for both to rejoin and race the rock where thay belong.....(together)
We,ve taken a sabaticle (as thay say) this year, but missed it and look forward to next year.....croft could be a very close battle.....

mattt · 22 Nov 2008, 13:29 (Ref:2339542)

I think the pick ups at Mallory would be good, with the oval type shape

Chigley · 22 Nov 2008, 16:59 (Ref:2339610)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattt

I think the pick ups at Mallory would be good, with the oval type shape

They used the oval two or three years ago Matt with the spotters being in the top of the tower. The hairpin/bus stop was used as a pit area.

mattt · 26 Nov 2008, 17:29 (Ref:2342287)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chigley

They used the oval two or three years ago Matt with the spotters being in the top of the tower. The hairpin/bus stop was used as a pit area.

Oh right

never knew that

R59 · 27 Nov 2008, 19:18 (Ref:2342890)

Well the MSA sanctioned rendition of ASCAR is now dead. Rockingham have made sure of it, even though £120K was offered to buy three meetings (with a possible 4th). They used the excuse that they'd heard it was going to run on a couple of non-MSA circuits and said "sorry, you can't have it"

It's a real shame because 16 cars were committed, with a few more mulling over it.

They have four dates confirmed at Warneton, Hednesford, and Ipswich. Whether they'll get enough cars out I don't know.

What I do know, is that I won't be one of them.

Rob.

Chris Y · 1 Dec 2008, 11:36 (Ref:2344854)

RIP ASCAR/DoT

R59 · 1 Dec 2008, 23:49 (Ref:2345303)

It was doomed from day 1, when the boys at Silverstone said that "They didn't want that 'sort of racing' over here in this country" - meaning Rockingham, and all that goes with it.

What they forget is that the BRDC began as an oval racing club on one of the most daunting banked oval circuits built ever - Brooklands.

Perhaps if ASCAR had been based around Bentley Mulsannes (mmmm there's a hell of a thought!), the thing would be going today.

Minicross424 · 4 Dec 2008, 14:34 (Ref:2347299)

You ***** about oval racing and yet wont race on short ovals.
Go figure Rob.
National Hot Rods rule!!!

R59 · 5 Dec 2008, 19:49 (Ref:2348378)

National HotRods are great, no doubt about it. If that's what floats you're boat, then race it.

I *love* racing at Rockingham, there is nothing in the UK like it, and then only in an ASCAR, or something like an ASCAR (= V8 Stock Car). As an instructor, I've driven "Formula Rockingham" cars around the oval flat chat (average about 120mph), which are as quick as a pickup, and I don't find them exciting at all. It's all about the noise, vibration and sheer size of the Stock Car.

My comment to Duane (our series rep) is that "If I wanted to race on a short oval, I would race a proper short oval car, like a NHR, or something BriSCA, not an ASCAR".

kelvin88 · 5 Dec 2008, 21:47 (Ref:2348476)

You weren't one of them last year when they had MSA tracks!

R59 · 7 Dec 2008, 08:38 (Ref:2349418)

I raced at Cadwell in Revolutions #99 car, then couldn't get out any further due to work and major cashflow issues. Being in Belfast for much of last spring/summer didn't help in getting a car put back together. The joy of being self employed!

Had I got the chassis repaired at the end of 2007, then I reckon I would have done a few rounds with it, but the chassis jig (which came out of Hauser's workshop in Sept 07) wasn't installed at Revolution's workshop and ready for use until early March, with the first race at the end of March. And I didn't have a team of helpers who would decend on the car at a moment's notice either, so not a hope in hell of getting it done in time.