Thursday 31st May 2001

Mansell Breaks Record

He's been out to play at Rockingham

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[Roy C]

Yes, but there was a guy driving an Indy/Champ car there on Monday who went even faster. As he isn''t "Our Noige" I suppose it isn''t so newsworthy.

[Marshy]

Oval Racing. Zzzzzzzzz.

[marcusl]

It seems strange to me that this 'average speed per lap' record is comparable between oval & non-oval track. Surely an average speed around Silverstone of 160mph+ should be more highly regarded than the same around an oval?

[nmilton]

Couldn't agree more ! Keke Rosberg's lap was stunning and a far better lesson in committed driving than steering round 3 corners with your foot to the floor ! All that needs is a distinct lack of imagination, something "our Noige" should be well able to cope with.

[alfa dave]

3 corners? Is Rockingham a triangular circuit? This sounds more interesting than I had thought.

[richb]

quote:Couldn't agree more ! Keke Rosberg's lap was stunning and a far better lesson in committed driving than steering round 3 corners with your foot to the floor ! All that needs is a distinct lack of imagination, something "our Noige" should be well able to cope with.

Indeed - except that I’d never question Mansell’s commitment as a racer. I had the privilege to watch Mansell, Prost and Senna qualifying at Silverstone back in 92. It was nip and tuck down to the last 5 mins when Mansell took pole in I seem to remember a 1:19 point something. With pole secured he then went out at the last minute to do a 1:18.9 beating his own pole time and setting a new lap record, "just for the fans" so to speak. Incidentally Rosberg’s time would have been before “the Complex” was put in, Mansell still holds the lap record for the “new circuit” I believe.

[Don]

quote:Oval Racing. Zzzzzzzzz.

We're off to see how the Powertour does on the Oval at Rockingham. It'll be interesting to see it - but I'm not sure how interesting it'll be. I saw some of the Indy 500 on Sky last week. VERY fast. The racing just wasn't as interesting as circuit racing though. Saw DRAG Racing for the first time at Santa Pod last weekend. That WAS a fun experience having never seen it before...but not a patch on circuit racing either. IMHO of course...

[mph]

quote:Couldn't agree more ! Keke Rosberg's lap was stunning and a far better lesson in committed driving than steering round 3 corners with your foot to the floor ! All that needs is a distinct lack of imagination, something "our Noige" should be well able to cope with.

What are you talking about ? Nigel may not be to everyone's taste, but I don't think there are many who would say he wasn't fully committed as a professional driver. There is a difference between a race and a p.r/display lap so what's your point ?

[Jonathan T]

However much people dislike Mansell's image or moaning or whatever else they attributed to him, you could guarentee that in a race he was always trying to win and overtake.

[Roy C]

Quote: "We're off to see how the Powertour does on the Oval at Rockingham. It'll be interesting to see it - but I'm not sure how interesting it'll be." Rockingham is not just an oval. For most of last weekend, only 1 of the banked corners was used. The circuit was designed to have a range of configurations which include lots of track in the infield. It's quite tricky at the moment as there are no kerbs yet, so if you put a wheel on the grass, you're off. Roy Edited by Roy C on Friday 1st June 07:54 Edited by Roy C on Friday 1st June 07:55

[hansgerd]

The track is brand new... records will tumble soon. I wouldn't wonder if the first "record lap" was driven by a lorry driver when the track was build.

[Don]

quote:Rockingham is not just an oval. For most of last weekend, only 1 of the banked corners was used. The circuit was designed to have a range of configurations which include lots of track in the infield. It's quite tricky at the moment as there are no kerbs yet, so if you put a wheel on the grass, you're off. Roy

Hey thanks for that. I didn't know. I'll look forward to seeing how it is...

[adrianr]

Went yesterday for a track day with Gold Track - the entire third session was composed of British GT, Porsche Cup & TVR Tuscan cars "acclimatising" to the circuit. Awesome track, awesome sound, should be a great meet - gonna be tricky to set a car up to do 30mph(?) round a hairpin and 150mph(?) through the banked corner though. Cheers, AdrianR

[MikeE]

quote:Couldn't agree more ! Keke Rosberg's lap was stunning and a far better lesson in committed driving than steering round 3 corners with your foot to the floor ! All that needs is a distinct lack of imagination, something "our Noige" should be well able to cope with.

And who was Kekes team mate (and second faster qualifier) that day?......Yes our Noige. Still I've gotta say Noige and Keke were two of the most "Balls Out" racers I've every had the pleasure of watching....hey the good ol' days eh?

[jamesc]

I was there when Keke recorded that lap, since then Silverstone has been ruined by the likes of the FIA, others and now Octagon. James

[pitbull]

Saw the Roc weekend and have ripped round it in my Chimp 5 since and although much of the track support is not finished the track oval and integrated center track is awesome. I grant you it has non of the old Silverstone history but even brooklands was new once. Of what I have seen so far is was excellent (its not just an oval) and will do quite a few visits before I make a sweeping assumption upon something so new. F1 as a sport is a dead game with the likes of Bernie the mad midget so any new burnt hydrocarbons on a new track interests me. The Pitbull