rec.autos.simulators

by **Colin Harri** » Wed, 29 Aug 2001 22:19:20

Did anybody else from here go to the ASCAR race at Rockingham (UK)
yesterday? I went, thought the facility was pretty good, though it
definitely needed more vendors! Had to queue about an hour to get any food -
as Homer S said "That's not America - that's not even Mexico!".
The track itself looks fun. Square-ish, they were doing 145mph laps, but
ASCAR really has to re-consider running two short races. We had a mere 16
cars for the first race and, thanks to a couple of crashes, only 12 in the
second, both races at 70 laps only, took about 45 minutes. The pit crews
need to get their acts together, too! First race, the leader went in,
changed two tyres (note: TYRES, we're in England!), took some fuel I assume,
and took 26 seconds to do it!
The standard of driving was broad. There seemed to be about 5 of them who
knew what they were doing, and another 5 who were out on a Sunday drive, but
it's a fledgeling series, so that's understandable.
Rockingham itself looks about 90% finished. The exterior still has a touch
of the building-site about it, the track had no car-number pole (I'm sorry,
I don't know the technical term for it, but I mean the one that has the
positions of the cars in the race), the commentator, Keith Huewen, had no
clue about the rules ("Now WHY didn't those guys a lap down pit at the same
time as the other cars? They've missed a chance there!") the recovery
vehicles didn't seem to be sufficient, taking far too long to recover wrecks
under the yellows, but the track itself looked in great condition. CART's
going to have a fun time there!
Mostly, I saw teething problems, I reckon, nothing more. I think we're so
lucky to finally have a facility like this in the UK, and I reckon I'll be
joining Rockingham as a member pretty darn soon.

--

Colin
ICQ 25485061
Fast Food Racing: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
FFRL: http://www.racesimcentral.net/

by **Ian Greenwoo** » Thu, 30 Aug 2001 06:27:53

yeah I was there too - went to Coys meeting in May as well and a lot
of progress made since to the facilities. Compared to US stock cars
the thing which struck me was the difference in the competitiveness of
the field. Cars were soon spread so far out there was no semblance of
a pack for drafting at all. My feelings are that the crowd were very
enthusiastic and liked what they saw , and it could all become mega
with a bit of luck. If there were some more 'name' drivers in ASCAR it
would really take off.

My feeling about the CART meeting is that they have seriously
over-priced the tickets though. We shall see.

On Tue, 28 Aug 2001 13:19:20 GMT, "Colin Harris"

>Did anybody else from here go to the ASCAR race at Rockingham (UK)
>yesterday? I went, thought the facility was pretty good, though it
>definitely needed more vendors! Had to queue about an hour to get any food -
>as Homer S said "That's not America - that's not even Mexico!".
> The track itself looks fun. Square-ish, they were doing 145mph laps, but
>ASCAR really has to re-consider running two short races. We had a mere 16
>cars for the first race and, thanks to a couple of crashes, only 12 in the
>second, both races at 70 laps only, took about 45 minutes. The pit crews
>need to get their acts together, too! First race, the leader went in,
>changed two tyres (note: TYRES, we're in England!), took some fuel I assume,
>and took 26 seconds to do it!
> The standard of driving was broad. There seemed to be about 5 of them who
>knew what they were doing, and another 5 who were out on a Sunday drive, but
>it's a fledgeling series, so that's understandable.
> Rockingham itself looks about 90% finished. The exterior still has a touch
>of the building-site about it, the track had no car-number pole (I'm sorry,
>I don't know the technical term for it, but I mean the one that has the
>positions of the cars in the race), the commentator, Keith Huewen, had no
>clue about the rules ("Now WHY didn't those guys a lap down pit at the same
>time as the other cars? They've missed a chance there!") the recovery
>vehicles didn't seem to be sufficient, taking far too long to recover wrecks
>under the yellows, but the track itself looked in great condition. CART's
>going to have a fun time there!
> Mostly, I saw teething problems, I reckon, nothing more. I think we're so
>lucky to finally have a facility like this in the UK, and I reckon I'll be
>joining Rockingham as a member pretty darn soon.

by **Matt Lanze** » Thu, 30 Aug 2001 21:32:07

How much are the tickets? Good seats at the Michigan race (R.I.P.) went for
$85-$110 a piece, and that was just for the CART race alone. Quallies and the
NASCAR-style race on Sat had Gen Admission for $20.
Compare that to a weekend (Fri-Sun) General Admission pass for the Mid-Ohio CART
race at $40, Michigan seems overpriced as well...

Warlock!

> My feeling about the CART meeting is that they have seriously
> over-priced the tickets though. We shall see.

> On Tue, 28 Aug 2001 13:19:20 GMT, "Colin Harris"

by **Colin Harri** » Thu, 30 Aug 2001 21:18:23

> > My feeling about the CART meeting is that they have seriously
> > over-priced the tickets though. We shall see.

A LOT! www.rockingham.co.uk has the details, I think I saw 85 for the day
(about $120ish).
Tell you what, though, have a look at the ASCAR forum!
http://ascar.motorsportforum.com/
The actual drivers post in there and are currently in the middle of slagging
each other off, big time! It's like some online leagues I've been in!
Imagine if NASCAR had the same - fans and drivers on the same forum :-)

by **Jonny Hodgso** » Fri, 31 Aug 2001 05:32:10

oval.

Are they still running silhouettes of three cars which aren't
available for sale over here? And what happened to... what did they
call it... Eurocar?

Jonny

by **Colin Harri** » Fri, 31 Aug 2001 06:24:31

No, neither were there. Not sure why Needell wasn't, but the forum's quite
sniffy about Cleland's non-participation....

by **Asbj?rn Bj?rnst** » Fri, 31 Aug 2001 11:34:54

> Were Tiff Needell (Top Gear Presenter and former F1 driver) and John Cleland
> (former British Touring Car champion) racing?

I'm a big fan of Tiff, but I'm not sure I would use F1 as the
highlight of his career. If I remember (And after checking the f1
databases I do.) correctly he started in one race, but retired, so he
never actually finished a race.

I think he has done pretty well as a sports car driver, though.
--
-asbjxrn