Rockingham

[garry]

I have been informed that the BARC race meeting at Rockingham on the 27/28th of April has been cancelled due to tarmac problems. This means that all the series that where going to be there will have to have their race re-scheduled which is going to be very difficult.
They really need to get their act together if this venue is going to succeed. Although this deciscion would not have been taken lightly i am sure that they do not realise the problems they are causing by not getting things done in time. laying tarmac is not Rocket science and there is enough experiance and expertese out there to get it right first time. Somebody in a position of authority is clearly not doing their job properly and should be removed before their incompetance causes people more grief and unneccessary expense.

[Stephen Green]

I thought the problem last year was the track surface 'leaking' and that's why it is being relaid. Maybe it's the problem of the leaks that is delaying things rather than a simple job of laying tarmac?

[redshoes]

Are Rockingham ever going to get it right? Cancelling at 10 days notice is just not on. Imagine it must be doubly frustrating for the Formula Saloon guys as you've already had to cancel Donington last weekend.

Weren't the ASCAR there last week for spring training? As far as I know that went ahead without any problems.

[Spinner]

Rockingham has been a disaster since day one. As a racer, the whole paddock set-up was a shambles, people in the wrong places and people taking up uneccessary ammount of room, leaving some poor guys in there race left out in the paddock that seems to be miles away from anywhere. More consideration should have taken place for the central paddock.
Getting onto the circuit, We raced on the short circuit. This was before the grass had finished growing. Our race continued swiftly on from another but nobody had thought it would be sensible to sweep the glass up from someone who rolled going into the first chicane, or the rocks that were left on the circuit. I was in a single seater race, and ended up coming away with a broken visor and a severley damaged wishbone. All because of they didnt sweep the road!
Sorry to go on, hope this makes sense!

[Chris Y]

Here's a press release from Rockingham. Reds - notice that they've also postponed the ASCAR Spring Training..

Track Improvements cause Race Meeting to be postponed

Rockingham’s opening event, the BARC Championship race meeting scheduled for the weekend of the April 27th / 28th, has been postponed following a decision to accelerate a resurfacing programme on the 1.5 mile banked oval track. The event was scheduled to use a combined infield road course, which also uses Turn 4 and the start line straight of the oval.

Following consultation with the track's engineers and the BARC, the decision has been made to accelerate the surfacing programme that was scheduled for mid-May. This will place a new wearing course of hard bitumen on top of the sealing surface of the banked oval, which will effectively remove the problem of damp patches experienced at last year's ChampCar event. Work is due to commence on Tuesday 23rd April and will take five days to complete, but, regrettably, this will mean the postponement of the BARC meeting to allow this work to be carried out.

"We have decided to commence the re-surfacing work as soon as possible" said Rockingham Chief Executive David Grace, who has also been a member of the BARC for twenty years. "Although that means track activities, including the BARC meeting and ASCAR Spring Training, will be postponed, our priority is to solve the problem with the ‘weepers’ on the oval and we will do whatever is necessary to make that happen. We are working with the British Automobile Racing Club to find an alternative date later in the year. On behalf of Rockingham I would like to apologise to the competitors and fans for any inconvenience caused, but Rockingham is still the best motor sport venue in the country for both drivers and spectators and I look forward to welcoming the BARC back in the near future.”

ASCAR Spring Training will be completed over 3 days prior to the first oval race meeting on Sunday May 5th. Rounds 1 & 2 of the 2002 ASCAR championship will take place on that date as scheduled and will be unaffected by the resurfacing work, which will have been completed the week before.

[Nissan]

What do Rockingham mean 'accelerate', the meeting of 27th / 28th April was confirmed in early January, what have they been doing since then to suddenly start work now ?, if competitors waited until days before racing to prepare their cars then there would be NO motorsport, most racers have been preparing cars and teams since the end of last year.

And as for being the best UK motorsport venue in the UK, wake up Rockingham I can think of 10 better club circuits that I would rather visit !!!!!!!!!!.

As for the BARC and Formula Saloons, lets go to a circuit where the general club racers are made welcome and leave Rockingham to the Ascars.

[garry]

My information was that it was the sealant that was put on to stop the weeping reacted to strong sunlight and warm temperatures causing the tyres to change their composition. This was only found out when two ASCAR's hit the wall within 2 secs of each other on their out lap. Apparently the sealant had caused their tyres to turn like glass.
They are now having to lay another 40mm of tarmac on top to prvent this.
Whatever Rockingham says there has been a massive cockup, maybe not by the Rockingham management themselves in may be down to the contractors, either way it should not have happened.
I certainly disagree with David Grace, although the whole stadium is impressive the long infield circuit is too mickey mouse, they have tried to cram too much into a small space. In todays age there is no excuses for getting the infield track so wrong especially with the wealth of experiance out there. To me Rockingham is a huge disapointment it had the potential for being a great circuit but as said before the paddcok is too small.
I also believe that it is difficult for the Clubs running it organise and run a meeting properly.
On a final note we had booked in twice in March to test at Rockingham and on both occassions the tests were cancelled only 2 days before each one because they were going to start work on the circuit. If this is the way they are going to carry on they do not deserve our business.
P.S. Although all the above is my thoughts only and you can tell that I am not impressed with the circuit or the organisers, I do hope that they get it right soon and that is is a success because it doesn't do any of us any good if itisn't.

[Nissan]

Well said, it does appear that most of the bigger circuits only want the TOCA, F3, GT's or Superbikes and dont really care about the grass roots racers.

And on your point about testing it feels this year that to get a test day thats free from red flags due to no marshalls / officials or a test day on a weekend at the larger circuits is as about as difficult as 6 lottery numbers !!!!!!!!!.

And they say motorsport should be stress free and fun.

[Stephen Green]

Nissan, we marshals don't red flag a session for fun. It's normally because there is DANGER on the track and therefore for your own safety. I would also point out that as a marshal we are not responsible for showing a red flag, that decision is made by race control only.

Why not come and join us on the banks one day and soak up some of the friendliness we show to you racers. You are always welcome as are all drivers.

[Nissan]

I do agree with you Stephen but the point I was making was that at most test days the only marshalls that are on the circuit are employees of the circuit themselves not the valued army of raceday marshalls, for example at a recent test at one of Octagon circuits there was only a couple of officals on the circuit and every time a car spun even well off of the track and Not in any danger to the driver or other users then the session was stopped, and in a 45min session less than 15mins was usable.

I agree red flags are not shown for fun but my point is that if the circuits used the test monies more appropriatly by employing test day marshalls then racers would get better value for the high prices charged.

[Stephen Green]

Actually, the majority of those test day marshals are regular volunteers at the weekends as well, but I do understand your point about the stoppages. I think the only way you can overcome that is to speak directly to the person in charge in race control on the day.

[garry]

I have heard that the British Superbikes do not want to return to Rockingham either. I haven't spoken to anyone with anything good to say about the circuit.Even if they found a replacement date we would not want to take it. It seems Mr West's opinion that it is the best venue in the country isn't shared by many people. Finally, if it is the best venue in the country why is it not in the MSA Blue Book?

[Stephen Green]

Good point Gary!

[Rod Birley]

Interesting to see that the admission charges have been halved for the CART race in September at Rockingham. I am writing this whilst it is raining outside!!!!

[Stephen Green]

Maybe they have come to their senses and realised you cannot charge F1 prices for Cart? It's raining in London to Rod, good job I cut the grass yesterday

[Chris Y]

Does anyone know the current financial status of Rockingham? I heard last year that they may have been in 'trouble' financially, but I haven't heard much recently.

[Speedworx]

Who wants the BSB?

Rockingham can survive with out the British Superbikes. Its has other series which want to race there.

[Craig]

Have they ? Sure there's Ascar, but who else seriously wants to return ? Formula Saloons don't, BTCC didn't even make an initial visit. Dunno about F3/GT but if BSB goes it doesn't leave many top line series, does it ?

[Chris Y]

They're certainly alienating the club series. It'll soon be known as ASCARingham.