Testing @ Rockingham

[ray.martin]

First the good news: There will be a BTCC Testing Day at Rockingham on Tuesday 13th March and it will be open to the public. Admission is FREE, the Main Grandstand will be open, as will the Diner.

And now the bad news: There will be no access to the infield! Shame, I would have liked to get some photos of the pit activities. Hardly worth a 300+ mile round trip to sit in the stand...

[thompp]

That is NOT the media day....?

[Allyc85]

hmm I might be tempted, cheers for the information :)

[ray.martin]

That is NOT the media day....?

No it's not the media day...details are on the Rock website http://www.rockingham.co.uk/welcome.asp

Although that WAS the date that was being mentioned for Media Day - presumably somebody's changed their mind?

[Iain]

That is the media day. Testing starts at 1pm on the media day usually.

[Iain]

Thought I'd move it to the main forum, so it's more noticable and we don't get duplicate threads talking about the same subject! :)

[the rat fan]

so the media day's at the rock then?

[mattie007]

Awesome! 10 mins drive from me and its free!!

[acorn]

two questions:

1. is media day normally just for the btcc or is it for the whole package?

2. are non-accredited media types normally allowed into the pit(lane) area at media days?

[Iain]

1. Just for the BTCC itself. The Porsches have a Media Day and test elsewhere and the other series just have pre-season tests.

[Dickie L'Amour]

two questions:
2. are non-accredited media types normally allowed into the pit(lane) area at media days?
No, media day is treated just like a race day and no public access to the pit lane is allowed on grounds of safty to both the public and competitors.

[PDS]

2. are non-accredited media types normally allowed into the pit(lane) area at media days?

Non-accredited media? If you are genuine media, you get in!

As the pit lane is classed as part of the circuit, so if your are not accredited you are not insured to be in the pit lane!

[acorn]

so there you have it ray martin. if you're not accredited media you probably wouldn't be able to see much any way as they'll be tucked away in the garages with the rear doors (probably) closed and you can't see in from the garage roof.

[Hazell B]

Non-accredited media? If you are genuine media, you get in!



Members of the media are expected to seek out accreditation, then either allowed in or not depending on what they work at and numbers of 'seats' available. Same old guff at all sporting events really. Even small local papers and radio stations would probably get a pass for something like this.

They'll let people in the pits before the cars are running, won't they? Bit mean if they don't :down:

[PDS]

Members of the media are expected to seek out accreditation, then either allowed in or not depending on what they work at and numbers of 'seats' available. Same old guff at all sporting events really. Even small local papers and radio stations would probably get a pass for something like this. :

At the end of the day TOCA are after maximum publicity! If you can prove that you can give that they will let you in! If you work for 'DIY Weekly', I think you may struggle to get accreditation!

[Hazell B]

If you work for 'DIY Weekly', I think you may struggle to get accreditation!

As somebody with accreditation to other sporting events, I'd say most of us use the word 'Freelance' when we're boarderline or just looking for a free lunch :p :

Somebody who's followed the touring cars for many years recently said to me that the powers that be are slowly trying to close the doors to members of the public. There will be less access to the cars and drivers this year, he guessed. Fewer days when paddocks are open, shorter pit lane walkabouts, etc, are on the cards.

I hope this isn't correct, yet somehow think it might just be exactly what's happening.

[Alfa Fan]

That would surprise me. Part of the BTCCs success is the accesibility to the drivers/cars for the fans.

[Les]

As somebody with accreditation to other sporting events, I'd say most of us use the word 'Freelance' when we're boarderline or just looking for a free lunch :p :

Somebody who's followed the touring cars for many years recently said to me that the powers that be are slowly trying to close the doors to members of the public. There will be less access to the cars and drivers this year, he guessed. Fewer days when paddocks are open, shorter pit lane walkabouts, etc, are on the cards.

I hope this isn't correct, yet somehow think it might just be exactly what's happening.

That will just about kill it off I reckon. Bad enough now that the cars are hidden away at most circuits and little (and big) boys do like to see cars close up.

[Dickie L'Amour]

Rockingham confirmed on btcc.net as staging media day with FREE public access including paddock.

[Rusty]

WOOOO-HOOOO!!!! Wasn't going to go because didn't want to sit in grandstand all day but now defo going day booked off and can't wait roll on BTCC!!!!

[PDS]

Information on the day has been posted here.

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=395&PHPSESSID=e7371f79e172228bc50e7d6cb07ef16e

With particular attention to this...

Fans will be permitted into the Northamptonshire circuit’s huge grandstands from lunch time to watch the day’s traditional afternoon test session, when the BTCC’s teams and drivers go up against one another for the first time this year.

Paddock access will also be granted to spectators during the afternoon, offering fans a first opportunity of 2007 to hunt out autographs and photographs of their favourite BTCC stars. In addition, Rockingham has confirmed its diner will be open at lunch time for fans.

However, on safety grounds, access to pit garages and the pit lane is strictly forbidden. All public must stick to designated areas.

So don't get there too early!

[Hazell B]

Paddock access will also be granted to spectators during the afternoon ....

Thanks for posting that :up:

[chrislambYEP/YS]

Personally I think allowing the true touring car fan into the Media day, (which has in the past been behind closed doors) is a FANTASTIC opportunity for a pre- season look at the field for those who spend hard earned cash to support the BTCC. Sure it’s restricted access, but hey, it’s an extra event on the 2007 calendar which many of you will be excited about. And this time it’s Free! It would have been so easy for Rockingham, TOCA, Teams, Local Council & Police to say otherwise, an influx of hundreds perhaps thousands of extra people, cars, bikes, vans, buses, to what was originally planned to be an “invitation only” showing of the contenders and their awesome machines. All I can say is that it’s a credit to those who are organising not only the Media day, but the Championship, who after all have the FANS in mind on such and exclusive event! It would be interesting to know of ANY official launch where paying fans of that particular sport are invited free of charge to see the players before the season begins! Can anyone suggest any?

[BTCC2]

Errr, You have always been able to go to the media days. (In recent years)

[chrislambYEP/YS]

Don't I feel just like an idiot!! I have never noticed anyone watching before, I must have been concentrating on my work!! I'm sure my editors will be pleased to hear that one!! I do apoligise to everyone, opps!

[daz90]

Might pop along myself, only 40 minutes away and i like free things :)

I will have to book the day off though.

[thompp]

Couple of hours for me, and againa day off, but because access is free and includes paddock access, its tempting, mighty tempting.......

[daz90]

The only thing that might put me off, is if there are a lot of people attending, i have never been to Rockingham circuit before for any kind of event, so no idea what the traffic is like, is it easy to get in and out off?

[Iain]

On a midweek afternoon I wouldn't have thought it'd be any busier than your average shopping centre carpark at that time of day.

[LiamM]

The only thing that might put me off, is if there are a lot of people attending, i have never been to Rockingham circuit before for any kind of event, so no idea what the traffic is like, is it easy to get in and out off?

Of what I can remember of the round in 2004 it didnt actually take that long to get out of the car park, shorter than some other places - Donington - on a Tuesday afternoon tho, it shouldnt be THAT busy

[acorn]

getting in shouldn't be a problem. getting out depends on what time they wrap things up ( it's a working day and rockingham's on an industrial estate), whether everybody decides to leave at the same time and whether they open the 2nd exit but i don't expect it to be a major problem if a problem at all.

[acorn]

Of what I can remember of the round in 2004

.....which probably isn't a lot as the only btcc round at rockingham was 2003.

[daz90]

Good, thanks.

[Iain]

Getting out on the raceday was a nightmare in 2003 as we were parked quite close to the main grandstand and it was just a free for all to join the main line to get back onto the main drive. Could have done with some better traffic management. Mind you I've been sitting in the carpark at Croft at 7.30pm before..... :s

[acorn]

i very much appreciate the fact that the general public will be able to attend free of charge BUT wouldn't it be so much better and give more people the opportunity to attend if the session were held at the weekend. i'm sure there's valid reasons not to(perhaps the weekends are booked for track days, track license restrictions or team personnel liking the weekend off or the journos are covering what little motorsport there is at that time of year) but it would be nice. just a thought.

[Les]

Getting out on the raceday was a nightmare in 2003 as we were parked quite close to the main grandstand and it was just a free for all to join the main line to get back onto the main drive. Could have done with some better traffic management. Mind you I've been sitting in the carpark at Croft at 7.30pm before..... :s

and at Donington and Brands and queuing to get in Silverstone!!! All pretty poor but a weekday Rockingham will be fine

[Iain]

i very much appreciate the fact that the general public will be able to attend free of charge BUT wouldn't it be so much better and give more people the opportunity to attend if the session were held at the weekend. i'm sure there's valid reasons not to(perhaps the weekends are booked for track days, track license restrictions or team personnel liking the weekend off or the journos are covering what little motorsport there is at that time of year) but it would be nice. just a thought.

Probably so it doesn't get overcrowded and the teams and drivers can get on with some serious testing without too much interruption from people pestering them for autographs all the time I guess. :)

[daz90]

and queuing to get in Silverstone!!!

Some of that was down to drivers sitting in the one lane miles away from the entrance, some people are like sheep, if they had used both lanes like i did it wouldn't have taken so long to get into Silverstone.

That said, the roads around an International circuit are poor, certainly for people getting into the circuit.

[Allyc85]

rockingham now has alot of restrictions on the amount of weekends they can use they race circuit so it wouldnt make sense for them to use up a day for media purposes.

[tintin]

i very much appreciate the fact that the general public will be able to attend free of charge BUT wouldn't it be so much better and give more people the opportunity to attend if the session were held at the weekend. i'm sure there's valid reasons not to.

How about that trying to get any media there at all, except for the specialist press who will go at anytime, would be pretty much impossible?

Not having the media there does`rather defeat the object of having a media day...

[Astra Boy]

Hello all.

Just to confirm, you can't get in until Lunch time? If so, that's fine. Gives me a chance to have a lie in before I trek all the way there!

[Hazell B]

Yes, you can have your lazy lie in with your industrial toenails ;)

[mattie007]

I booked the day off work but have to pick my brother up from heathrow at 4am. Going to be a long day for me! Looking forward to it though, The Rock is ace.
Why are people moaning? So what if its a weekday, its free and open to the public. What more can you ask for?

[cos]

For those who can't make it to the Rock next week Alan Hyde and co. are doing a show from 1030-1630 on Globecast 0157. Crash.net radio will probably have something as well like last year.

[Alfa Fan]

Great News. So there will be no news from Rockingham before 1030? Hope so - I have a 3 hour gap in lectures that I can spend online listening to it and following all the press releases!

[VkmSpouge]

Now that will be worth tuning in for. I'll definitely be listening to that.

[Hazell B]

So there will be no news from Rockingham before 1030?

If you had any friends who were there, they could ring you ;)

[PDS]

Great News. So there will be no news from Rockingham before 1030?

That's right.. The official unveiling's start from 10.15.

[Iain]

Good, not too early a start then. :D

[PDS]

It's all driver pictures and interviews before that!

[Funks]

Yawn! :p :

[suzy m]

Good, not too early a start then.

Wait til we get our itinery from TT before you make that assumption! ;)

[LiamM]

Is lunchtime 12 or 1pm?

[Iain]

1pm I think. I read a reply from Rockingham to someone on a forum somewhere saying it was 1pm opening time for the public.

[cookingfat]

Don't rush... I think you will find a few cars will not be taking part in the afternoon session!

Which starts at 1pm!

[tdb]

and remember some people may choose to make their announcements at sponsor related launches, instead of the btcc media day.