Chaos weekend 2: Rockingham / Snetterton - 27/28th April

[Chris Y]

Another silly weekend for me coming up.. On the 27th, I'll be racing the MG Maestro at Rockingham (Historic Circuit), and on the Sunday I'll be racing the Mighty Mini at Snetterton (Dusty Circuit)

2 weeks away, and I've just received the final instructions for Rockingham. The MGOC champs and the Mod Prods get the garages on Saturday, which is nice Here's a timetable for both days at Rockingham:

Saturday qualifying:

- Caterham Grads, group 1: 9:00
- Caterham Grads, group 2: 9:25
- Modified Production Saloonatics: 9:50 (after they've tidied the remains of the Grads off the track/armco/gravel!)
- MGOC class A (Midgets, Bs): 10:15
- Caterham Super Grads: 10:40
- MGOC classes B&F (Maestros, MGFs): 11:05
- Citroen 2CVs (guaranteed amusement): 11:30

Saturday racing:

Starts at 12:00, with:

- Caterham Graduates qualification race. (10 laps, 2 red flags, and lots of marshals)
- Toyo Tyres Modified Production saloooooons (10 laps, subject to silliness)

Lunch break: 12:55 - 13:30 - also gives the Clerk of the Course a chance to speak to all the Caterham Graduates

- Caterham Grads championship race (10 laps)
- P&O Portsmouth MG Owners Club Racing Championship in association with Custom Lifts, class A (10 laps)
- Caterham Super Graduates (10 laps)
- P&O, etc, etc. Classes B&F (10 laps, without incident please!)
- 2CVs (10 laps - it'll take them until Sunday )

Sunday qualifying

Kumho Kerb-hopping BMWs: 10:00
Wild Wild Westfields: 10:25
K Sports 1600: 10:50
Formula Saloons: 11:15
Formula Renault: 11:45
TVR Tasmins: 12:15

Sunday racing (from 13:30)

Kumho BMWs (10 laps)
BARC Westfields (10 laps)
MG X-Power K sports 1600 cup (10 laps)
Formula Hatchbacks (10 laps)
Formula Renault (10 laps)
Kumho TVR Tasmins (10 laps)

Look out for a certain A.P. Guy in the BMW's, and Rod Birley in the Formula Saloons - both regular contributors to this forum

I'll post the timetable for Snetterton on the Sunday, when I get it

[Craig]

I'll be there matey - any chance of a spare ticket kicking around for the Saturday ? And will we be driving over to Snett and camping on Saturday night ?

[Rob29]

Thanks Chris,looks like I only need to be at Rockingham on Saturday.But what the hell is a Formula Hatchback?

[Speedworx]

Have fun at Rockingham, its the nearest track to me.

[redshoes]

Please tell me that timetable is wrong. I though Formula Saloons were going to be there both days and was planning a trip especially. The plan was to do FSaloons on Sat then follow you up to Snet for the Minis. That's thrown a spanner in the works. I'm off to sulk now

[Lorna]

Oh flipping heck! Chris! Ask them to race the Formula Saloons on Saturday please?

[Chris Y]

I'm afraid it's true.. The only thing I can say is that when we're packing up to leave on the Saturday, the FSaloons will be arriving. Not much consolation, I know

[redshoes]

So much for that cunning plan Looks like I'm going to have to wait until Brands at the end of May (Pembrey is a non-starter) or Thruxton in October. I'm already booked ever other FS race weekend.

[Carrie]

Shame about the Formula Saloons (one year I might actually get to see those!!!)
Don't know yet if I'll make Rockingham, depends how many other things I'm busy with. Count me in for Snetterton though

[apguy]

For those that will be at Rockingham for the Sunday then come along and find 2 bright yellow BMW M5's. One of those will be me in the BMW Kumho Championship.
First race of the season, with my brand new car and hopefully by then it will be finished!!

[WoodyTJ]

Chris - you will be pleased to know that I am hoping to be there both days

Can't wait as I have never been to Rockingham.

Is anyone staying over - if so where?

[THR]

Im at rockingham too. Car 6 Formula Renault, will be yellow and white by then (with a bit of luck). im chief engineer (sorta) lol.

Testing on friday too £150 for 4 50min sesions i think it was.

they wont let us in the paddock til 630 on sat night! which is mean. but least we get a garage

u missed out saying the red flag for the FR, thats a cert!

[Chris Y]

Yes, I believe us MGOC types may be getting a garage too. Still not sure how that works out in terms of scrutineering and stuff..

The paddock arrangements are going to be v. difficult, if last year's racing is anything to go by.. Too many vehicles trying to maneouvre round an enclosed space, and the scrutineering bays are almost always obstructed.. Get in there early!

You're right about the red flags for the FR though

[Rob29]

Just received an e-mail advising than the Rockingham meeting has been CANCELLED aparently due to problems with the track surface.

[apguy]

Cancelled!!

Nooooooo. I've spent 6 months getting my car ready for this the first BMW race of the season. Any more details Rob29?

[Chris Y]

You HAVE to be joking?!?!

Where did you hear this, and why have they not informed any competitors yet?

[Craig]

It looks like this is sadly not a joke Garry Woodcock from Formula Saloons just confirmed the postponement of the meeting until a further date.

[Rob29]

My info came from a competitor entered, though she does not say who informed her.Awaiting more details.

[Chris Y]

Oh arse

I was really looking forward to this meeting too..
I'm going to try and find out some details tomorrow.

[Chris Y]

The BARC and Rockingham have confirmed it, in case anyone was still in doubt. I imagine the poor sods at BARC HQ have been bombarded by enquiries about this little farce. A letter is being dispatched right now about the situation. You'll either get it tomorrow, or Monday (Or Tuesday, if our local post is anything to go by )

Apparently, it's going to be resheduled sometime later in the year, but no-one knows when, yet.. I'd guess August, as June and July are pretty booked up at The Rock.

I've posted an official press release in this thread.

[THR]

bugger bugger bugger
thats just fantastic isnt it.

[Speedworx]

Britain's oval circuit, the Rockingham Motor Speedway, is be resurfaced earlier than planned in an attempt to solve the drainage problems that almost caused the cancellation of last September's inaugural Champ Car race.

Damp patches following rainfall earlier in the week prevented the CART teams from carrying out any meaningful practice on the 1.5-mile oval before last year's historic race. After extensive work to dry the circuit, a shortened race was held and won by Gil de Ferran.

The resurfacing was scheduled for mid-May, but it has been decided to bring the work forward. A new layer of hard bitumen will be put down upon the sealing surface in an attempt to avoid the 'weepers' - as the damp patches are known - springing up after rainfall.

Rockingham chief executive David Grace said: "We have decided to commence the resurfacing work as soon as possible. Although that means track activities 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."

The work will begin next Tuesday and is expected to take five days to complete. It has meant the cancellation of a British Automobile Racing Club meeting that was scheduled to take place next weekend.

Taken from www.autosport.com

Its a worthy cause, as the CART race is the main event.

[Nissan]

But can Rockingham survive on just one weekend of CART ?

[Chris Y]

Originally posted by hakkiman
Its a worthy cause, as the CART race is the main event.

Not at the expense of just about every other race series it isn't - and that's the way they've been heading recently. Apparently several test days have been called off with limited notice, and now they're cancelling race meetings that have been planned since January.

I mean, they've only had since last year to do this work, I can't see what's so difficult about laying bloody tarmac. There's some Irish blokes around here who'd be only too willing to do it for them, for a small fee!

[THR]

recieved conformation this morning of the cancellation.