Ive only been the once and although my car wasnt working well on the day i still thought the grip levels were fine....better than what i thought it would be for sure. I was expecting something like the grip indoors at worksop but i thought dirt was better, and had a better feel to drive on.
I went when the first track was laid out and in general i thought the track layout was good...but this brings me on to my biggest problem with the venue. Its just too damn small!
I dont mean to be rude but the pictures i saw before i went must have been stretched on photoshop or something because they were almost life size! The members have done a good job and it looks really nice but how can 8,9,10 cars race on a track of that size and complexity without carnage? On the one occasion i have been that is what happened, cars all over the place, marshalls obscuring views every time they stood up, lapping or being lapped by cars every two seconds and just a general sense of mayhem for the entire race. In my opinion it just makes it very difficult to get a feel for the dirt track.....which is the only reason i wanted to go there anyway!
Another gripe is the way the meeting was run. I understand that when i went they hadnt ran many 1/10th meetings but like i have just mentioned, the only reason i went was to get an idea of what its like to race on a real dirt track....so to get there and not have open practice was a big disappontment. What was even more bizarre though was not even being allowed to have warm up laps before the race. Its like the owners are saying 'look at our awesome dirt track, one of only two in the uk....but you're not allowed to use it!'
As has been mentioned already also, why such long breaks between races and rounds...and i dont like to harp on about it....but with no practice being allowed then either, it just makes for a tedious experience. On a positive note, the pits are nice, i had a good sausage cob and it looks good, and again its one of only two dirt tracks we have in the country (i think). I still hope to come again, but only for open practice one day so i can enjoy it and get some dirt track time!
I guess i've gone off topic really, in short....i wouldnt like to see the track permanently sugared, and definately not astro turfed! As someone has said, the dirt track is your selling point, i just think more thought needs to go into your raceday experience and creating some good PR.
I hope it works out
