THSCC Forums

Yet another great track event! Do I really need to say that part?

Mark, Stacy and the crew did a wonderful job and the venue was a lot of fun too! I had a great weekend and had a great instructor with Mark Senior getting the punishment in the passenger seat. I only took him into the dirt/off course once, so it wasn't so bad.

The car held up well with a loose plug wire being the only "major" mechanical. It's almost too bad, I finally had a clean garage to work in and I didn't need to do much work!

This might be my last track event of the year, so it was nice to end the season on a good note!

Scott

Wow, what an experience! A totally different kind of fun compared to a dedicated road course like VIR, but still a blast nonetheless. The 25 degree banking is like driving up on a 3 story building. Having a garage providing shade on a hot weekend was an extra plus. Throw in an air-conditioned classroom and you have a very nice facility.

From my driving perspective this weekend was the most fun I've had doing this. Yes, even more fun than my February session at VIR-F this year. I'm sure some of that was due to more success than I had in my group at VIR-S. I did a lot of pointing at VIR, not so much at the Rock. The Focus Zetec rocks! A big thanks again to Rich Anderson for giving me the opportunity to drive the car and instructing me as well. I'm sooooo glad I didn't miss this event.

For those who didn't come to watch or ride, you missed out on a huge amount of fun. I'd highly recommend you try and make it out to The Rock in November.

Hats off again to Mark, Stacy, and the rest of the entire THSCC/TZC team! Great job guys!

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Another great THSCC/TZC event! Rockingham is a lot of fun and the banking is a unique experience. Physically, instructing and driving there is much more demanding than any of the other tracks we run.

I must say that on track etiquette was flawless this weekend in every group I saw. No trains forming, no complaints of late or weak signals and everyone having a good time. Hats off to all the students and my fellow instructors for this.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

Just to add to the comments already posted.

Excellent driving by everyone. Very, very few offs. Concrete walls tend to do that!!

One neat thing about this track is you get a lot of laps per session so lots of chances to see each corner and make appropriate changes.

Each corner in the infield offers up a different and unique challenge. There are fast sweepers (turn 5), decreasing and off camber challenges (the fish hook), tight turns with infinite room at track out (turn 7 entering the oval), and turns that challenge you to go just a bit faster since you didn't use all the track out (turns 1 and 2 entering the infield).

Plus lots of passing zones! If I counted correctly after we opened to zone from 2 to 3 you never had more than 2 turns before another zone!! Wow, no other track gives you that!!

In short, as someone else said, reserve Nov 5 and 6 to come on out and play!!

Ron

Done. We'll be down unless there's too much snow to tow down from up here, or one of us gets sick again.

Diane

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Diane (Hall) Bundas
1992 Spec Miata #48 - 1997 Chevy Tahoe - 2007 Honda Civic Coupe

Yes, On track performance was brilliant including the Time Trial part
of which was run Sunday in the Rain. All but three cars gridded
Sunday ran before we shut it down due to a river running acrosss the
track (drainage from the grandstand). Apart from the brief but heavy
shower late Sunday afternoon, weather was very cooperative. They
(SouthernPines) got most of the nasty stuff thurs & friday. Agan we
luck out with the weather window.

We ended up with 86 entries. The only thing keeping it from being a
100+ car event was the lack of novices.

I always consideredRockingham well suited for Novices:

1) under 100mph the banking is a non issue. the car is absolutly planted
into the ground. Just drive it at your confort level. If others want to go
faster there is plenty of passing zone to let them by.
2) its a great place to learn car rotation has you have two chances
per lap to try it in area with plenty of well groumed run off area.
3) no blind apex's- it's a easy learn. You will come away away with
a feeling of accomplishment
4) perfect primer for Roebling Rd where most of the turns are blind.
and I'm not saying that because we are going to Roebling in two weeks!
5) Laps are short so you get plenty in per session but you don't get
board.
6) Drives home the fact tracks need to be treated with respect and
passing/passer requires cooperation and cordination. We could not
have done better in this respect, see comments from others.
7) It's sometimg completly different (to quote a Monty Python phrase).


We only had 7 novices sign up. We usually have between 15 and 20
minimum. I have a feeling there will be a lot more in Nov.

I',m only sorry we don't go back until Nov. I had to fill up twice so I
got to do plenty of laps in and got to do the TT both days.

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

You can add another Novice for November. I'm planning on doing it then.

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http://www.greywinds.com

The Rock "roval" config way exceeded my expectations .... The track is plain out fun. Lots of opportunities in the infield to trail brake, left foot brake, play with rotation, etc.
That said, I can't *imagine* how the Nascar guys managed to run the oval for 500 miles, but I guess I know why many of them are pilots. The banking sensation is just like flying an airplane in a tight turn ...
All things considered, I think I would pick Rockingham over VIR South Course given the choice .... especially with the garage space. Those of us that packed to leave in the Sunday downpour after the TT were especially grateful and the shade is a great benefit too. Certainly adds to the "enjoyment" of the event ...
My thanks to Mark and the rest of the staff ... another great job, especially considering the "unknowns" in a new venue.
I'm ready to sign up for November ....
Frank

It was only 400 laps at the 1.017 mile oval.

Wes (attended the last ever Rockingham NASCAR race last season)

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Ditto for me. I wouldn't pick The Rock over VIR-F, but over VIR-S I'm with you.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Hopefully there will be not reason to pick one (Rockingham) over
the other (VIR-S).
Ovals in Road course configuration are a differnt type of venue. The course of events (or luck) lead to the opportunity of THSCC to
get access to one.
I should not want to give up either venue. On that note, after talking
to the track manager the future of Rockingham is uncertain.

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

Wes - you were born too late .... I went to the Rock twice (IIRC '86 or '87), and trust me, they were 500 mile (492 lap) events.
The best part of the trip for me was being in the right seat of a Cessna 140 piloted by a friend of mine. The drag strip that we all know so well was the unofficial runway, lots of radio chatter on the way. Those grandstands really make you concentrate on the centerline .....
We were home less than an hour after the race ended, probably half the crowd was still trying to get out of the parking lot.

Frank

On that note....

I have contact info for Burton Smith. I will write him and let him
know how we feel about the venue and the staff running it and
how we hope it will be successful as a "club track". Also will
suggest they look into trying to get GrandAM/Rollex Cup in
there.

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

I didn't have a chance to go to the Rock when I was 13-14.

_________________
Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Vincent, if you guys are over VIR South, you're both driving the crossover way too slow

A Grand Am weekend at Rockingham, now that sounds fun. I've been to the one at VIR and it's a cool way to spend the day...watching some rich guys run into stuff in rented race cars is always fun!

Glad to hear everyone made it back in one piece. I'll have to check the place out come November.