Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast

Rusty Davenport · 11-01-2016, 02:29 PM

Been a long time since I visited the Rock.......wooooooooooooooooow........ I was there last week end and I couldn't help but wonder when is the last time that place got a face lift ???? Maybe we are getting old and we look old too including what used to be the icon of drag racing at Rockingham. I remember a day it was the place to be for drag racing......really sad to see it in the shape it is in. The legend and the memories live on. This is not a critical analysis.... maybe you have to be from NC to remember what it used to be in the 70's.

Mike Pearson · 11-01-2016, 03:12 PM

I had heard that the Rock was not in good condition. I was there last weekend and I thought it was in decent shape. I have a toterhome so I really don't use the restroom or concessions. The track was real good for me all weekend. Other than the horrible roads in SC. I would go back. It had been about 15 years since I had been there last.

Mickey Whaley · 11-01-2016, 03:43 PM

They had a good turnout!

Jeff Teuton · 11-01-2016, 04:03 PM

I ran there. Didn't notice it being that bad, but I also had my camper so maybe Imissed something. Track was good for me. Beer was cold. Scales seemed right. Visited with Steve for a while. Good old memories. He was happy with the turnout, and had free spectator entries for Sat and Sunday.

SS3718 · 11-01-2016, 04:25 PM

I was there this past weekend for my first visit to Rockingham. The track itself was good. Some of the asphalt in the pits was in really good shape, other parts of it was really rough.

The only "black" cloud for me this past weekend was the "tree". After running our last qualifer Saturday morning, they announced that the tree was being put back to the way it was on Friday. I'm not sure what was changed or even why it was changed? It kind of cast some uncertainty going into Round 1.

Nick Morris
SS

Wayne Totaro · 11-01-2016, 04:51 PM

This was my first time to Rockingham! I thought that the track was very nice! The traction was great all weekend and the scales were "dead on". I would go back! It would have been even nicer, if I had got there earlier and been pitted on the blacktop!

Larry Hill · 11-01-2016, 05:31 PM

I would like to see the water box resurfaced, the ruts are real deep causing a little extra wear on the on the edge of rubber.

Mickey Whaley · 11-01-2016, 05:44 PM

Larry you know you need extra large

HR9121 · 11-01-2016, 07:52 PM

The place could definitely use a little sprucing up and it wouldn't take alot. The secondary pit roads are terrible with lots of roots growing through the asphalt or bad potholes in other places.
The restrooms could use a pressure washer or a firebomb whichever is cheaper.
The racing surface was redone a couple years ago and is very nice other than the ruts in the water box like Mr Larry said.
I wasn't racing as I had loaned my car to another racer who was trying to hold his division lead so the only trouble I had with a tree was the blocking my satellite reception. I've got to work on Uncle Si's choice of pit areas if I'm going to let him start driving my rig around!
All in all it was a great weekend, great weather, very good racing and a very nice turnout. There was good beverages to since I wasn't racing, I'm considering just becoming a car owner/reporter. Got lots of work to do this winter February will be here before we know it, see you all then!

THE LEGEND · 11-03-2016, 09:08 PM

I race at The Rock a lot. In fact its been said I've won more races there than most have made laps. No Bragg Just Fact.
That being said Its no Zmax, or Galot. Ive raced at many tracks and there are a lot worse.
The racing surface is really good
Lots of paved pits for those who like it.
Lots of grassy pits and trees for those who like that.
Bathrooms have showers
Food is reasonable
And it's home

11-01-2016, 02:29 PM	#1
Rusty Davenport Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nashville N.C. Posts: 506 Likes: 4 Liked 101 Times in 27 Posts	Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast Been a long time since I visited the Rock.......wooooooooooooooooow........ I was there last week end and I couldn't help but wonder when is the last time that place got a face lift ???? Maybe we are getting old and we look old too including what used to be the icon of drag racing at Rockingham. I remember a day it was the place to be for drag racing......really sad to see it in the shape it is in. The legend and the memories live on. This is not a critical analysis.... maybe you have to be from NC to remember what it used to be in the 70's. __________________ NHRA AND IHRA STOCK ELIMINATOR 2772 Last edited by Rusty Davenport; 11-01-2016 at 04:59 PM. Reason: it may have sounded negative or critical

11-01-2016, 03:12 PM	#2
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,443 Likes: 613 Liked 1,916 Times in 574 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast I had heard that the Rock was not in good condition. I was there last weekend and I thought it was in decent shape. I have a toterhome so I really don't use the restroom or concessions. The track was real good for me all weekend. Other than the horrible roads in SC. I would go back. It had been about 15 years since I had been there last. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

11-01-2016, 03:43 PM	#3
Mickey Whaley VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,220 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast They had a good turnout!

11-01-2016, 04:03 PM	#4
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast I ran there. Didn't notice it being that bad, but I also had my camper so maybe Imissed something. Track was good for me. Beer was cold. Scales seemed right. Visited with Steve for a while. Good old memories. He was happy with the turnout, and had free spectator entries for Sat and Sunday. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK

11-01-2016, 04:25 PM	#5
SS3718 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 129 Likes: 5 Liked 27 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast I was there this past weekend for my first visit to Rockingham. The track itself was good. Some of the asphalt in the pits was in really good shape, other parts of it was really rough. The only "black" cloud for me this past weekend was the "tree". After running our last qualifer Saturday morning, they announced that the tree was being put back to the way it was on Friday. I'm not sure what was changed or even why it was changed? It kind of cast some uncertainty going into Round 1. Nick Morris SS

11-01-2016, 04:51 PM	#6
Wayne Totaro Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 235 Likes: 1 Liked 39 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast This was my first time to Rockingham! I thought that the track was very nice! The traction was great all weekend and the scales were "dead on". I would go back! It would have been even nicer, if I had got there earlier and been pitted on the blacktop! __________________ J. Wayne Totaro 1117 STK

11-01-2016, 05:31 PM	#7
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,919 Liked 10,681 Times in 2,222 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast I would like to see the water box resurfaced, the ruts are real deep causing a little extra wear on the on the edge of rubber. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

11-01-2016, 05:44 PM	#8
Mickey Whaley VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,220 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast Larry you know you need extra large

11-01-2016, 07:52 PM	#9
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast The place could definitely use a little sprucing up and it wouldn't take alot. The secondary pit roads are terrible with lots of roots growing through the asphalt or bad potholes in other places. The restrooms could use a pressure washer or a firebomb whichever is cheaper. The racing surface was redone a couple years ago and is very nice other than the ruts in the water box like Mr Larry said. I wasn't racing as I had loaned my car to another racer who was trying to hold his division lead so the only trouble I had with a tree was the blocking my satellite reception. I've got to work on Uncle Si's choice of pit areas if I'm going to let him start driving my rig around! All in all it was a great weekend, great weather, very good racing and a very nice turnout. There was good beverages to since I wasn't racing, I'm considering just becoming a car owner/reporter. Got lots of work to do this winter February will be here before we know it, see you all then! __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

11-03-2016, 09:08 PM	#10
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Shock at the Rock.....time really goes by fast I race at The Rock a lot. In fact its been said I've won more races there than most have made laps. No Bragg Just Fact. That being said Its no Zmax, or Galot. Ive raced at many tracks and there are a lot worse. The racing surface is really good Lots of paved pits for those who like it. Lots of grassy pits and trees for those who like that. Bathrooms have showers Food is reasonable And it's home