Knockhill racing circuit ( future venue )

[saltun]

Pretty similar to Cadwell Park, but Knockhill is steeper, faster and has a super smooth surface to top it off.

Neil ( longboardscotland ) and I have been talking aboot this for sometime now as we think the track would step it up from Cadwell Park.

I know a few of the main guys from Knockhill, if Neil and I get some sort of green light from yall I'll have a word and see if I can organize something for next year.

knockhill racing circuit - Google Maps

MapMyRun.com | View Knockhill East in Fife, United Kingdom

MapMyRun.com | View Knockhill West in Knockhill, United Kingdom

http://www.buyagift.co.uk/content/cu...ircuit_map.jpg

Let me know your thoughts and I'll start the ground work

[gavmck]

Yes please geez! I've replied to you on longboard-sessions too, heh, little more detailed over here

[Uldis]

Def. Interested, and I'm sure I can bring another 3 with me.
Let's go for it!

[longboardscotland]

MapMyRun.com | View Knockhill East in Fife, United Kingdom

MapMyRun.com | View Knockhill West in Knockhill, United Kingdom

On the mapmyrun links click the satellite map and the check the 'show elevation' on the right box for a better idea of the specs. It's no monster but should make for a good day out.

If we can get the numbers then it should be financially feasible. The prices for track rental are quite high (not sure what Cadwell is - maybe a bit less???). Once we have an idea of numbers and how much folk are prepared to pay then we can look into it further. Like Cadwell, to make it affordable at all it would probably need to be in the winter months or late autumn/early spring.

I'll put a post up on the Lush forum too.

[saltun]

[saltun]

thanks to Neil we have sent the email to the owner of Knockhill.

He's been expecting the email so its fingers crossed now.

What do you think?

Dear Derek,

We are writing to you representing a group of UK downhill skateboarders.

Downhill skateboarding, also know as longboarding, has quickly gained recognition in the past few years as a high-adrenalin, so-called 'extreme' sport. Official bodies such as IGSA (International Gravity Sports Association) and UKGSA (UK Gravity Sports Association) organise races throughout the UK and the world. The UK leg of the international race series has been held in Eastbourne on closed roads for the last 3 years. 2010 will see the first official UK race series with 4 venues around the country (see STKD in association with Ascenda Events - The UK's most exciting new sport). These events can attract upwards of 100 racers, reaching speeds in excess of 50mph, through hairpins and chicanes for up to 2 miles on some of the country's smoothest tarmac. In 2008, the surface of Beachy Head Road in Eastbourne was re-tarred with racetrack quality tarmac and the cats eyes removed specifically to hold this event for years to come.

Alongside these official races there are also what are known as 'freeride' events held in various parts of the country. These non-competitive events can give non-racers and racers alike a chance to ride without the dangers of traffic on courses with race quality surfaces. One such event has been held at Cadwell Park race track for the last 3 years, giving longboarders, gravity bike riders, street lugers, etc, the opportunity to ride with other like-minded people who will travel from all over the country to attend.

There is currently no such event in Scotland. The last official event here was a competition on Cairngorm ski-centre access road in 2001 when they closed the road to cars for the weekend to allow racing. However, Knockhill looks like it may be an excellent track to hold a 'freeride' event on. The tarmac is smooth and parts of the track have nice gradient and corners. However, it would be prohibitive for us to hire the track at your advertised corporate rates for a full weekend. If you were interested in hosting such an event though, then perhaps we could be accomodated on a summer evening for a 'freeride' session if the track was not in use? We are not sure of the numbers that would attend the event at present but participants would of course be willing to pay a fee for use of the track. We could discuss at a later date when we have more of an idea of the number of attendees, if you are interested in helping us.

Safety is taken very seriously by dowhnill skateboarders. Events always have a mandatory helmet rule and competitive racers wear full motorcyle leathers and gloves. Equipment is normally given a check by experienced riders/organisers to make sure it is fit for the purpose of downhill riding. On track we have marshalls to wave riders through if clear or stop them if there has been a collision. This generally isnt a sport that children take part in like regular skateboarding. Longboarding attracts older participants, who can, and will travel the length and breadth of the country, and the world to look for new exciting hills to ride.

I hope this is something that may interest you. We would be happy to come up to Knockhill for a meeting if required (we both live in Edinburgh) and would require a closer look at the track before we could begin to organise the event. Here are links to a couple of videos taken at 2009's event in Eastbourne so you can see the what the racing side is all about - Go Fast Speed Days 2009 on Vimeo or

YouTube - World Downhill Skateboarding & Street...

. Freeride events are more relaxed with a less competitive edge and a warm summer evening at Knockhill would be perfect for such an event.

If you require any more information then please do not hesitate to get in touch with either of us.

Kind regards,

[gavmck]

You guys ROCK

[saltun]

Just received a reply....

Hello Douglas thanks for your interesting description about your wheelsport promotion

Im keen to assist and have asked my events director Stuart Gray to contact you to arrange a visit and discussions on how it can happen here at Knockhill Racing Circuit

Many thanks for your contact

Derek Butcher


WHOS YER DADDY!!!!!

[gavmck]

Yesssss maaateee!!!

[Anjo K]

Keep us up to date dude!
What potential dates did you have in mind as there's already a bit uk & euro activity taking place.

Alex

[keef]

[saltun]

This is interesting. I was chatting to a friend about this very circuit only yesterday. Keep in mind that the rates for hiring the circuit will change according to the time of year and day of the week, which is probably why Cadwell is in February. However, Knockhill in the winter is not an inviting prospect!!
I wish you every success with organizing this, and I'll be there, entry fee in one hand board in the other should you succeed.

Yea, youre not wrong there, but as the old saying goes " its not what you know, its who you know " a freind of a friend knows the guy ( derek butcher - see email above ) who owns the circuit. Longboardscotland and I are meeting his events director to check the track out, but also to grind away with the dates and figures. Once I have more info I'll stick it up.

Yo Alex, we're trying for a summer session - i'll try and get some dates soon bra

[saltun]

YouTube - Knockhill SMRC Classics May 31 Race1...

[charger_doc]

YEEEEAAHH, awesome clip! Did he make it to the 2nd place?

If you guys can organize this event it would be sick, wish you the best of luck.
I might even think to hop there if it's in the warm season...

[longboardscotland]

Ok folks - aiming for the middle of June if we can. Before the race season and around when we'll get maximum daylight hours. Solstice is on the 21st.

We'll also have a couple of outlaws either side of this so would be well worth a trip north for a weekend (or south if you're already north).

If you haven't already, then it would help us greatly if you can register your interest here so we can get an idea of numbers to present to the track.

Cheers.

Neil

[saltun]

* From the LUSH site *


Just a quick update to keep all you dudes updated.

Dougie spoke with the events manager today and Sat 15th May was one of the dates mentioned for an evening freeride starting 5pm. Also, he was keen to have us skate in front of spectators the following day for 20 min sessions throughout the day when there are breaks in the racing. There's a modified car show on that day featuring the European drifting championship - sounds quite cool actually - anyone got a drift car? This would be in front of about 4000 spectators apparently which would be slightly bizarre. We will speak about all this further with him at the weekend and we'll have a shifty at the track as it still hasn't been skated. Hope it doesn't suck but at least we'll find out sooner rather than later now. I'll take some pics and we'll film with the gopro. At least the venue is very keen on having us. We'll also talk about other possible dates when we meet them.

Knockhill's a busy track so we're well chuffed that they are interested, especially at that time of year. Could turn out to be a fun weekend of skating and it would be great to see you all up this way. About 40-50 people have expressed interest so far.

Will keep you posted.

* From Lush *

Sorry Neil, but you missed one thing out:-

They've said May is pretty much 100%, we're heading up on Sat to discuss an event in June or July which hopefully will be an all day event + we have sunlight until 11pm during these months.

The 5pm event in May will go on until 8 or 9 pm followed by the 20min slots on the Sunday.

Im thinking the May event will be a quick warm up for the Freerides you're all talking about heading to during June and July.

Hope this is good news for all of you.

D

[saltun]

Right, Neils got all the footage and photos as my gopro decided not to work, might have one run with it HOPEFULLY!

I'll stick some more info up later as I need to jam just now, but to clarify IT WAS FECKIN BRILLIANT. I had two falls ( hur hur hur ) due to it being so wet with rain, oil and fuel on the track ( due to all the jimmys driving their hot hatches round it before us ). We had a great hour or so on the track and we've got some good news to follow.

Camping toilets and showers are all there for you guys.

I'll give you the full low doon later

Dougie

[saltun]

Right yall,

We arrived at 10am but never got to hit the track until the hot hatch drivers had their lunch break.

There are three parts of the track that are rideable.

1st:- From the start line you have 50m to the first corner which is a right dipping to a left and then dipping again to a right hander. From there you have a slight straight to an incline section where you lose your speed. We had a tail car following us and we were hitting 35mph in the soaking wet with oil all over the track due to the neds testing their cars before hand. Ive not fallen from skating since Peyragudes, and I fell a beauty today on this section. We reckon you'll easily hit 40mph on this hill in the dry.

2nd: More of a slalom hill, but could be a beginner hill. Running anti clockwise from the start line, you have about 100m on a gradual hill before you hit an absolute cracking left hander. I bombed this hill today, didn't really push much, but once you hit the corner you have another short decline.

3rd:- This is a beginners hill which will pick up speed gradually. Long and smooth with a couple of corners at the end.

It was absolutely soaking wet today, the cars on before hand never helped out either, but Neil and I had a brilliant time.

They have confirmed us on the 15th May from 5pm until last light and on the 16th in between the racing during the day and from 5pm until last light.

We've got some brilliant hills for an outlaw race that we could run on the Sat if the numbers were up.

Neil will have all the footage and photos for you to see shortly.

Hopefully see you guys soon!!

D

[longboardscotland]

Tried out the track yesterday for nearly an hour (loads of thanks to the folks at Knockhill for this). Pity about the weather but it looks good to me. Certainly a lot of fun to be had on it.

1st hill: Mellow 200m from bridge to right hand first corner - descends about 5m. Then continues 200m through gentle left bend and into sharp right - descends another 16m. After sharp right continues to drop for another 11m over 160m length until a slight incline slows you down. So drops over 30m/about 100ft over 600 metres or so. We hit about 35mph on this hill between first corner and sharp right and kept the speed through to the incline, but is was soaking and there was a bit of headwind. With a bit of a push in the dry it would certainly be a cracking little hill.
Mellow from the bridge into the first bend.
Nice little boost of speed before the chicane
Speed is held through the chicane and sharp right.

Incline after last right hander slows you down.

2nd hill: Opposite way (anti-clockwise) from top of track. Mellow for about 150m descending about 5m. Then you can hit a funky little left - left or left - right which drops 10m over 100m or you can continue round a left hairpin for another 300m or so.
Funky steep bit
Hairpin
Looking up to start
Looking up to start - smooth surface
Looking down towards hairpin and funky bit.

There is also a hill at the other side which is fairly mellow and drops 20m over about 600m until you meet the bottom of the first hill.

Cheers

Neil

[bananabiker]

I am going!!!

How much will it cost?

Do you need leathers and a helmet?

When i had my bike on i had to wear my leathers and it cost 60quid for the evening, do the same rules apply to longboards?