Does anyone go to Rockingham?
Discussion
Have just been watching another round of ASCAR (or whatever it's called) on Sky TV, and was struck yet again by how few people there seemed to be in the crowd.
I know it's a big place, with massive galleries, but seriously there can't have been more than about 200 people in the whole place.
All this begs the question of how on earth is Rockingham actually making any money as a business? From recollection it cost something over £100 million and you can't maintain bank loans on that lot with a few trackdays, test sessions and sparten-crowded racedays.
Anyone care to shed some light or a viewpoint on this?
I know it's a big place, with massive galleries, but seriously there can't have been more than about 200 people in the whole place.
All this begs the question of how on earth is Rockingham actually making any money as a business? From recollection it cost something over £100 million and you can't maintain bank loans on that lot with a few trackdays, test sessions and sparten-crowded racedays.
Anyone care to shed some light or a viewpoint on this?
Have been to Rockingham a few times.
Its a new complex and really quite smart. Toilets are clean, facilites good etc etc.
Local roads to the circuit are OK but would probably not cope too well with a huge volume of traffic.
Every place on the circuit can be seen from any seat, which is a bonus.
I spoke to a driver who races in historic races and he reckons it is the least favourite track for all the drivers becasue its too flat, relitively short, has no history to it and is generally a boring drive.
Overall its a good track I thought, but given the chance I would rather watch a race at Donnington / Silverstone etc because there seems to be more of an atmosphere.
Its a new complex and really quite smart. Toilets are clean, facilites good etc etc.
Local roads to the circuit are OK but would probably not cope too well with a huge volume of traffic.
Every place on the circuit can be seen from any seat, which is a bonus.
I spoke to a driver who races in historic races and he reckons it is the least favourite track for all the drivers becasue its too flat, relitively short, has no history to it and is generally a boring drive.
Overall its a good track I thought, but given the chance I would rather watch a race at Donnington / Silverstone etc because there seems to be more of an atmosphere.
I agree with RobP. I've been there before and it is a very wide open track. The major problem with that is that they are restricted in what events they can hold because of the noise levels. They were due to have a leg of the FIA Championships there last year but it had to be panned because the cars were deemed too noisy.
In terms of the actual facilities, it's a nice track, if a little boring.
In terms of the actual facilities, it's a nice track, if a little boring.
I think ASCAR doesn't get the crowds it deserves. I have watched an ASCAR race (at the cicuit not on TV) and was impressed by the spectacle.
I have raced on it 3 times and enjoy it. I am not sure that all the track layouts would be enjoyable and quite possibly not all cars would feel exciting to drive on it.
I must say that watching races on the infield circuit as opposed to the oval looks nowhere near as exciting as it is to drive on it.
I have raced on it 3 times and enjoy it. I am not sure that all the track layouts would be enjoyable and quite possibly not all cars would feel exciting to drive on it.
I must say that watching races on the infield circuit as opposed to the oval looks nowhere near as exciting as it is to drive on it.
robp said: Have been to Rockingham a few times.
Its a new complex and really quite smart. Toilets are clean, facilites good etc etc.
Local roads to the circuit are OK but would probably not cope too well with a huge volume of traffic.
Every place on the circuit can be seen from any seat, which is a bonus.
I went to the Champ car race there. The traffic getting in was dreadful, as bad if not worse than for the GP at Silverstone. The fact they are both in Northamptonshire, home of the tax camera, is probably a coincidence. The traffic getting out was apparently even worse, although I got out very quickly, but it did take 5 hours to get in. After that I promised never to go there again.
Incidentially saw the Ascars at that event but as they ran after Champ cars they looked very slow!
corozin said: Some interesting responses.
Going back to my original post, do you folks who've been there think the place will survive, given the limited racing programme and apparently small(ish) attendances?
I think it will survive, as it stands, but would not be surprised if it changed hands periodically as each owner tries to make a go of it then it goes bust.
Have been a couple of times for GT and Tuscans and found it not the best but not bad at all.Just lashed out £75 for a season ticket for 2 for rockingham covers all events .Being as I've recently paid £50 for entry for 2 to Snetterton BSB's it does'nt seem bad value ,even if Steve Hislop described it "like racing around Tesco car park" at Rockingham.
If i can get to just a few events [it's fairly local] and maybe even have a look at roundy roundy
racing I'll make up my own mind whether it deserves to survive
If i can get to just a few events [it's fairly local] and maybe even have a look at roundy roundy
racing I'll make up my own mind whether it deserves to survive Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff