Rockingham Classic - 12/13 April

[Tony Harman]

Here goes then. Season opener for most of the BARC Classic pilots.
2 day meeting at Rockingham. All the usual suspects plus a few more besides.

Classic Clubmans (of course), FF2000, Classic & Historic & Grp one saloons, the Thunder boys, 2 Porsche races, the tail happy Healeys get an outing, cavorting Caterhams in graduate guise, AMOC Intermarque, and the National Supersports (well they used to be Clubmans cars but then started putting engines in the back.)

The Classic part of the package is pretty much concentrated on the Saturday (except FF2000).
Link to the BARC site timetable > http://www.barc.net/timetables/dtt200301.htm

So who's going to be ready and who's not ? - Who's got new paint jobs or new cars this year ?

Apparently they've got Friday testing for anyone who wants it.
Hope our friends with the flags have got their probans all nicely cleaned for the day

Hope to see you all there on Saturday morning.

[Peter Mallett]

Bugger!!!

[josvandeperre]

Sorry Peter ? Do you know something about somebody that we should be told ?

Meanwhile count me in on Saturday

I like the idea of draft timetables being posted

[Slowcoach]

Hi Tony, well I had been waiting for you to post this thread for ages and finally you succumbed. Will I be there, well I have entered and I am pretty confident, well fairly confident,well I am hopeful, well I say hopeful I mean chances are, all being well, could conceivably make it - actually it all hangs in the balance, well I say hangs in the balance....etc etc....Heads are off,axle is out, CW&P laying on the floor,new fire extinguisher is still in the box, oil seals still haven't arrived, oh and when all thats back together it's got to go to the bodyshop for new wings, arch extensions, bonnet bulge bumpers and splitter and paint. Oh and did I mention all these things are being done in the evenings - well you all know that feeling don't you!
So last night I am sitting on the sofa and the other 'arf says to me 'so its your first race in just under 3 weeks, lucky you started getting the car ready nice and early this year......' sarcasm always has been one of her finer points.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by josvandeperre
Sorry Peter ? Do you know something about somebody that we should be told ?

I fully expect to make large number of posts in a similar vein this year.

[Stacy]

Originally posted by Tony Harman
So who's going to be ready and who's not ? - Who's got new paint jobs or new cars this year ?

Well, hopefully I'll be ready.. I'm running in the refreshed motor Thursday at Croft, and scrubbing in my tyres, pads and discs for the first part of the year.

No new paint job, just a change of number.

Hopefully I'll be there Friday testing, have to confirm it though. Need to get back out and blow the cobwebs away.

Stacy

[spnixon]

I called Rockingham to enquire about Friday testing last week (the date is not mentioned on their web site). They said they weren't sure if thewy had any space or not and they were going to call me back - which they haven't done yet.

The BARC timetables are excellent - though I notice the Group One grid are qualifying at the crack of dawn which means an overnight stay for me and hopefully a damp track.

[Stacy]

Originally posted by spnixon
The BARC timetables are excellent - though I notice the Group One grid are qualifying at the crack of dawn which means an overnight stay for me and hopefully a damp track.

They are excellent, trouble is they get changed - when I looked the other day we were out a respectable 10.30am..

I'll be there Friday, not too worried about being a track cleaner - happens to us all at some point.

Stacy

[Tony Harman]

Just hauling this back up top
Received regs this morning, have to say looks like all formula's got good entries for first Classics meeting.
Certain big thunderous Rover missing Mr S.Coach.....

[Slowcoach]

Really.....I entered at least 3 weeks ago and got my blue acknowledgement pretty soon after! Are you sure ? How many are down for CT then? (apart from me!)

[Tony Harman]

Oh all right - 'tis there then, they just spelt "Slowcoach" wrong
20 entries so far, including a VW Scirroco and a Citroen BX....

[Slowcoach]

Excellent, thanks Tony, 20's not so bad at this stage , there should be a few more, I know of one at least who should be posting his form this week. Hows the Haggis - ready ?
Stacy you were right - CT has changed again, moving up the schedule I'm pleased to say.

[Tony Harman]

Originally posted by Slowcoach
..Hows the Haggis - ready ?

'scuse me while I pick myself off the floor, "ready", er not quite, suspension not on, engine not in ( although just the ignition and throttle to do), gearbox not in, (although it is finished), painting not done, couple of wheels / tyres to do, a new gauge, full setup, so should all comfortably be ready by about 6.00am next Weds - 'cos we're testing at Mallory that day (I hope)
Oh I ought to service the trailer too....
and it's a Haggispeed please young Mr Coach.

[Stacy]

Originally posted by Slowcoach
Stacy you were right - CT has changed again, moving up the schedule I'm pleased to say.

I think it's got the makings of a really good championship. If I move on from the Group 1's, it's certainly pricked my interest. Certainly as interesting a technical venture as production saloons which I had my eye on, and a completely different one too.

With late entries coming in I think we could be looking at pretty much capacity grids.

Longer term I can see it headlining and taking the focus from Group 1 as the flagship classic touring car series. There's plenty of cars out there which are eligible and in the spirit of the regs, a number of old Formula Saloons, Mod Prods et al.

As for Rockingham, the revised Group 1 timetable has been a blow. The change came about because we need a gap between Group 1 and Classic Thunder which makes sense, but I was a little disappointed with being on first, and being on my way home Sat lunchtime - from what was originally a two day meeting which had been planned accordingly.

Other than getting out of bed at 7.30 which will put me in a foul mood anyway, I notice from the regulations I can't run the race engine before 9am - So how I'm supposed to warm it up for 20mins, change to race plugs, and get to collecting for my traditional first slot at, er, before 9am, will take some working out - or maybe it'll just be some aggro with the circuit authorities..

Anyway, we'll have to see what happens.

Stacy

[Tony Harman]

What's happened with the CT regs that has increased the entries then ? and that has you thinking it might become the headline formula Stacy ?
Sympathise with you on not being able to officially warm everything up, we've been caught in the same position before, got a slapped wrist at Combe once for early starting.

[Stacy]

Originally posted by Tony Harman
What's happened with the CT regs that has increased the entries then ? and that has you thinking it might become the headline formula Stacy ?

The regs were changed over the winter to allow more modifications and freedom. It's attracted a number of people from other series, but also retains two classes for effectively group 1 or "production" spec.

Hairy arsed stuff, and of course caters for cars in production up until 1990.

Stacy

[Peter Mallett]

It's actaully a pity that we couldn't get the original Group 2 cars out. Or at least more than the 1 or 2 that have turned out. The Classic Touring Cars have also dwindled and I'm not certain why.

What cars are entered for the championship Stacy?

Which reminds me. There's a fellow in the Racer's forum who's looking at a Peugeot for Stock Hatches. Can the 205 be used in CT?

[Stacy]

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
What cars are entered for the championship Stacy?

Which reminds me. There's a fellow in the Racer's forum who's looking at a Peugeot for Stock Hatches. Can the 205 be used in CT?

All sorts, Camaro's, Corolla's, BMW's, Rovers, Escorts, a strong contingent from the Group 1's too.

205's certainly eligible, as are later XR2's and MK2 Golf GTi's.

Stacy

[Slowcoach]

Well I hope so Stacy, the last two seasons have seen some lovely machinery out on the track, but never all at the same time ! I hope you do get tempted....a certain Mr Garratt appears on the CT entry list in a 5 litre Rover, that'll be an interesting addition.
Rockingham should prove interesting - neither of the rocket-ship Capris have entered (I believe Mr Stott is now a resident of Canada) and so it could be wide open, 5 Rovers, 4 Cossies, 4 M3's and the aforementioned selection of Escorts,Gti's etc, from memory the cossies were running about the same times (Capris excepted) as the next 2 or 3 Thunder cars up at Croft when the races were combined so should make for some close racing.
Peter you are right it's such a shame the Camaros and Mustangs seem to have faded away, I dont think any came out last year. I think there were two possible reasons for this, firstly the out and out pace of 'those' two Capris meant the Camaros were only fighting for 3rd and no longer 1st(controversial) and secondly the opportunity to participate in the Heritage Touring Car challenge on the BTCC bill luring them away.(Stacy and I both had the good fortune(?) to get an invite to participate in a round of this). Hopefully they will return, I notice we do have one Camaro on the list!

[Stacy]

Originally posted by Slowcoach
I hope you do get tempted....a certain Mr Garratt appears on the CT entry list in a 5 litre Rover, that'll be an interesting addition.

Nigel's Rover won't be at Rockingham I believe as he's waiting for bits, but I understand he'll be out in the Camaro to start scoring points..

I'll be keeping an eye on things certainly, if there are too many more dawn chorus shifts and part filled race weekends for Group 1 then obviously I'll need to move - I appreciate a more balanced leisurely and absorbing timetable longer term. I expect this is a one-off though.

If and when I do move, I'll be honest and say it'll be a decision across all the series available - The Production Saloons appeals as a technical challenge as I've said, but the CTCRC events stand up to genuine competition so Classic Thunder appeals for more than brand loyalty.

As it happens, I've had a couple of cars in mind for CT, but need to keep a watching brief on the cars, times and regs before committing to a build again.

Also of course any new venture depends rather strongly on the budget available at the time - Our industry, like many, is hardly the cash cow it once was..

Stacy

[spnixon]

Just heard from Rockingham - I've got a place on Friday testing, yippee.

Bloody hell - pre-season testing, what is the world coming too?

If there's space the CT race might also be privileged with the presence of my Mk1 Golf. At the back of the grid no doubt.

[Tony Harman]

What are they charging for Friday testing ? - is it 1/2 or full day ?
I'm planning Mallory on Wednesday

[monster]

Tony, looks like the Crowthorne posse will invading Mallory.My friends (Andy,Mike) in there Golf are testing for the first time on Wednesday,Dad might me going to watch and help as well.
Testing at Rockingham is £100 for 3 sessions,Dad is booked in but still no engine in car(hopefully that will change this weekend)
Hope see everybody on Sat.Good luck.

[Tony Harman]

Well - we're hoping to get to Mallory, things are running a bit close right now, did get some of the suspension on last night, engine must be in this weekend for a run up, just hope I don't have any problems with it. Still loads of other stuff to do. Am considering a Rockingham test but I think Mallory would be more useful for set up.
Chairman being a spanner man - blimey, whatever next

[Slowcoach]

Hi Tony, are you on schedule to test tomorrow at Mallory? I'll be interested to hear if you use the new bit of track? (and it's a good excuse to get this back to the top of the table!)