Talk to me about Rockingham

[garth]

Hi

Long time since I've been on track (on a proper bike) but I plan to waste all my money this summer doing it again, see how fat and incompetant I've become.

Planning on booking 26th May (a Sunday) on the International circuit.

I've heard it's a bit iffy with the coned off bits?

Also it's lots of left handers, which will be nice as they're not my strong point. Another thing on the list to improve on lol.

So, any advice or anyone care to join?

[G]

Coned bits aren't too bad.

Good chance to wear the other side of your tyres.

It's no Cadwell, but fun enough and usually a decent price.

[garth]

I've never been to Cadwell. I will, but when I'm likely to be at a more decent level. Later this year. Rockingham is also 100 miles closer, which helps.

Just read it's pretty slippy in the wet.

[G]

Been there in the damp and it seemed 'ok', don't think I've had proper 'wet' though.

[weasley]

I did a track day on the National circuit, which uses none of the oval. It is essentially a looooong series of right handers, getting pretty quick in places, followed by a quick couple of left handers into a right hand hairpin, then back to the loooong right handers again. I did it on a wet but drying track; was ok in the wet, plenty of grip offline. By the afternoon it had dried and was pretty fast if you're up for it. A couple of people got sucked into going too fast and took home gravel in their fairings as a reward.

Not technical in terms of fast/slow corners etc, but still a challenge to get a good line throughout.
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[Al]

I prefer the national layout but that's probably because I ride a slow 400
The transition from the oval part of the circuit to the flat part of the international takes a bit of getting used to.
It's normally fairly cheap and they do a lot of weekend events which is good.
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[Fawbish]

Have ridden both variations a few times now, it's great fun. Never had a wet day there yet though.

The triple apex left hander leading onto a massive sweeping left following by a fairly difficult right hairpin is a right beauty
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[garth]

Thanks all, I'll give it a stab then, will be my brothers first trackday, though he's done other stuff.

Just ordered some SBS pads as the ebc's that are in it are shocking, and I've got some other forks with K Tech internals to chuck in it too (£50 for a whole set of forks vs doing fork seals, no brainer!)

[garth]

[MarJay]

I quite liked it when I did it, especially the short banked section. The infield part is technical and quite good fun too. As G says it's not Cadwell but it's a lot of fun.
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[Red Devil]

It’s alrighttt, preferred the national track to the international personally although it is quite short with a lack of a decent straight.

Very slippy in places when wet, don’t really want to ride there in the wet if I can avoid it. Watched quite a few people fall off when I was there last time.

Which layout are you doing?
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[garth]

Just about to book this today, its on a sunday with a bank holiday monday afterwards.

Probably ride up and stay in a hotel the night before (anyone know anywhere cheap and close to the circuit?)

Is the international circuit.

[Bendy]

I disliked it intensely.

The version we did had a lot of the layout designated by cones, and I find it very hard to visually follow the 'curve' of a line of cones. Probably an eyesight thing, but I really had a shitty time.

[garth]

[Red Devil]

I kept knocking over those cones on the last bend with my knee on purpose, gives you something to aim for.

I stayed in a pub in Corby last time mate, 5 minutes down the road and pretty cheap.
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[Bendy]

Oh yeah, that was the other thing - fields of rapeseed nearby.

I was antihistamined off my face all day.

[garth]

[Red Devil]

[G]

The International gets cones, don't think the national does.
And yes, a cone to the knee can get a bit sore (but then did a tyre on cadwell before they bought the extra land by the hairpin.)

You can camp just outside the gates for free.

[garth]

Anyone else in for this? Weather doesn't look to bad at the moment, but this is britain.

Booked into the pervy touchy uppy (hopefully) pub down the road for the night before, winner.

Looking forward to getting on track, not looking forward to how rusty I'm going to be! I've also got a go pro but I have no idea how to use it.

[Red Devil]

I now hate Rockingham after my visit last week which ended in two crashes.
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[garth]

[Acemastr]

I'm hoping to go at some point soon as it's 30miles down the road from me, not sure my C&S would like me for it though.

Would be my first trackday but went round the national circuit in a V8 touring car the other week.
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[Red Devil]

Don’t really like the place anyway, the surface isn’t great and it seems dull compared to other tracks now.

First one my gearing was still the same from Mallory and was a bit short for the track, I was changing down to 3rd on the entrance of the 3rd infield left hander and it hit a false neutral on one lap so had to make a quick decision on trying to go around the corner (going in very hot) with no throttle to balance the bike or sit it up and run on. Decided to sit it up as I didn’t fancy trying to make the corner but didn’t realise the grass there is like a mx track and there’s pretty much a little jump onto the grass with loads of bumps/potholes everywhere after. The front tucked and I went flying across the grass at about 90mph hitting my head and neck quite a few times, after a nice little trip to the medical centre I was cleared to ride again but ended up having a concussion a week after and it only went on Friday.

Second one was the second to last session which I decided I was going to make my last one, they held us in the pit lane for about 10 minutes so the tyres were completely cold by the time we got out. Took a lap to warm them up and noticed a chap from the same garage behind me on the second lap so started to up the pace slightly, front let go on the first infield right hander. Think it was just a cold tyre and after chatting to Dean my pressure might have been a bit low (ran it the same as the metzelers but they have a softer carcass so need a bit more pressure). It did start drizzling when I was being picked up so might have been a bit damp as well.

Bounced back from it alright though at the weekend, got 2 x 2nd places at Cadwell during the EMRA meeting and knocked 3 seconds off my pb around there to get a 1.43.5. Not bad for an old ZX6R!
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[Blue_SV650S]

I vote for the National circuit. You are booked on the Int now and I am sure you will have a good time, but please try out the National, I think it is a better configuration!
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