Report on the Atom at Rockingham
Discussion
I took the Atom up to Rockingham yesterday for my fourth track day this year, and first dry day all year. It was pretty cold, but gloriously sunny and -- with Stephen threatening to rescind my rained-cursed membership -- I was doubly grateful that it was a dry day.
I'd heard mixed reports about Rockingham. Some bemoaned the three hairpins in the infield. Others loved the high-speed banked curve but thought that the circuit killed brakes. I thought the International Long provided an enjoyable combination of technical corners with the ultra-fast wall of death providing high speed thrills.
My reaction to the Atom improved during the day. I found that it was struggling out of the hairpins and understeering on the fast corners. As it turns out -- traction control was dialled up fully! Knocking it down a couple of clicks to 1 or 2 provided better throttle response and some lift-off oversteer antics.
My only spin of the day was when my instructor, Howard Hunt, had control of the wheel at the high-speed left turn 8. I also got black flagged because I forced a Radical onto the grass -- I didn't see him, hadn't given consent to overtake, so he was forced to apologise and I was back out with a smug smile.
Neil
P.S. When you're six inches from the wall and have your foot flat to the board at 120mph -- don't yell out triumphantly. It steams up the inside of your helmet!
I'd heard mixed reports about Rockingham. Some bemoaned the three hairpins in the infield. Others loved the high-speed banked curve but thought that the circuit killed brakes. I thought the International Long provided an enjoyable combination of technical corners with the ultra-fast wall of death providing high speed thrills.
My reaction to the Atom improved during the day. I found that it was struggling out of the hairpins and understeering on the fast corners. As it turns out -- traction control was dialled up fully! Knocking it down a couple of clicks to 1 or 2 provided better throttle response and some lift-off oversteer antics.
My only spin of the day was when my instructor, Howard Hunt, had control of the wheel at the high-speed left turn 8. I also got black flagged because I forced a Radical onto the grass -- I didn't see him, hadn't given consent to overtake, so he was forced to apologise and I was back out with a smug smile.
Neil
P.S. When you're six inches from the wall and have your foot flat to the board at 120mph -- don't yell out triumphantly. It steams up the inside of your helmet!
Gassing Station | Track Club Forum | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff