Newbie to PH, looking to get into club motorsport
Discussion
Hi everyone,
New to PH but been a lurker on the forums every now and then
This year I'm looking to get into motorsport too (like another OP). I'm a total novice so grassroots, club-level stuff.
What would be the best bet? I've read threads on here about the 750MC Stock Hatch, CSCC Tin Tops, MSV Trackday trophy, but what about hillclimbing and sprinting as a start? Because you only need overalls, helmet, MSA B licence and a strut to break the time beams so pretty cheap to get into.
I'm looking to spend £500 on a car (I have a 1989 Nova 1.0 but I don't want to drop a redtop in and its bodywork is a little crusty. And I dont want to sell it either) and I don't want the predictable Saxo or old BMW. Don't laugh but I've been looking at some Korean white goods - Kia Shuma, Kia Mentor, Hyundai Lantra, that kind of stuff because they're durable, have revvy twincam engines and would stand out from the crowds a little. I've always been one to be different. Also thought of a Hyundai Accent but they already have motorsport pedigree of sorts with the WRC compared to a Shuma which has zero.
All advice gratefully received and looked for! Many thanks and nice to meet everyone here
New to PH but been a lurker on the forums every now and then
This year I'm looking to get into motorsport too (like another OP). I'm a total novice so grassroots, club-level stuff.What would be the best bet? I've read threads on here about the 750MC Stock Hatch, CSCC Tin Tops, MSV Trackday trophy, but what about hillclimbing and sprinting as a start? Because you only need overalls, helmet, MSA B licence and a strut to break the time beams so pretty cheap to get into.
I'm looking to spend £500 on a car (I have a 1989 Nova 1.0 but I don't want to drop a redtop in and its bodywork is a little crusty. And I dont want to sell it either) and I don't want the predictable Saxo or old BMW. Don't laugh but I've been looking at some Korean white goods - Kia Shuma, Kia Mentor, Hyundai Lantra, that kind of stuff because they're durable, have revvy twincam engines and would stand out from the crowds a little. I've always been one to be different. Also thought of a Hyundai Accent but they already have motorsport pedigree of sorts with the WRC compared to a Shuma which has zero.
All advice gratefully received and looked for! Many thanks and nice to meet everyone here
At that sort of budget you're probably best off starting by joining your local motor club and doing some 12-car or navigational rallies as they don't need any specialist equipment (as even the safety equipment and the first entry fee for a hillclimb will be more than your £500 budget)
Not being funny, but those cars you describe *probably* handle like s
t. Certainly if you want to sprint or hillclimb in say a 1600cc standard class ( no mods I assume due to your budget ?) You don't want some Korean rubbish. £500 will get you a ropey 106 Gti, saxo VTS, MX5, XR2, Corsa or Clio etc. But if you want to be remotely competitive you need to look at what everybody else is using,
t. Certainly if you want to sprint or hillclimb in say a 1600cc standard class ( no mods I assume due to your budget ?) You don't want some Korean rubbish. £500 will get you a ropey 106 Gti, saxo VTS, MX5, XR2, Corsa or Clio etc. But if you want to be remotely competitive you need to look at what everybody else is using,Truckosaurus said:
At that sort of budget you're probably best off starting by joining your local motor club and doing some 12-car or navigational rallies as they don't need any specialist equipment (as even the safety equipment and the first entry fee for a hillclimb will be more than your £500 budget)
Thanks...sorry I think I misled. £500 was my budget to initially buy a car! I earn enough to pay entry fees etc from what I've read. Furyblade_Lee said:
Not being funny, but those cars you describe *probably* handle like st. Certainly if you want to sprint or hillclimb in say a 1600cc standard class ( no mods I assume due to your budget ?) You don't want some Korean rubbish. £500 will get you a ropey 106 Gti, saxo VTS, MX5, XR2, Corsa or Clio etc. But if you want to be remotely competitive you need to look at what everybody else is using,
I've followed the hillclimb scene for a while. Been 9 years since been to one but I keep up online. I know everyone uses 106s, Saxos, Corsas, XR2s etc. I guess I just want to stand out rather than be like everyone else!t. Certainly if you want to sprint or hillclimb in say a 1600cc standard class ( no mods I assume due to your budget ?) You don't want some Korean rubbish. £500 will get you a ropey 106 Gti, saxo VTS, MX5, XR2, Corsa or Clio etc. But if you want to be remotely competitive you need to look at what everybody else is using,I'm looking into the mod prod roadgoing category so can save on costs of trailer etc initially by driving to said events. It's early days so I'm more interested in the fun of it (I'm 25 btw). Give it a couple of years before getting seriously competitive! Will probably spend more on mods like better suspension/wheels etc depending on funds as I go on.
The other advantage of following the pack and getting a known hot hatch is that there are handling/performance upgrades available off the shelf whereas if you wanted to be contrary and get something else you'd have to get custom made kit.
If you want to be different, but sensible, what about the Proton that was a Mitsubishi Colt underneath?
If you want to be different, but sensible, what about the Proton that was a Mitsubishi Colt underneath?
£500 is the bare minimum for a race suit, helmet and gloves with the right stickers on. No matter what you spend £500 on, you will not be competitive, so just buy what you really want. Whilst I'd say ModProd is really a class for highly modified road cars and needs a decent budget to build a car, it's often unsupported, so you might find you end up with pots simply because there's not a lot of good competition. A standard car would fit into Roadgoing, but those cars are rarely standard and the classes are usually well supported. A plus point in ModProd is that you can strip the car bare to get some weight out of it, which might appeal to you, but you will need to fit a rollcage, which will cost more than your £500 budget if you pick something obscure that you can't buy an off-the-shelf cage for.
Personally, I'd start out by doing a couple of AutoSolos in your Nova to get yourself into motorsport without the expense. If you get the bug, then shell out on your safety gear, get a licence and try it out in your Nova. After that, decide if you really want to pursue this further. The last thing you want to do is shell out £2000 on a car, cage, safety gear and a load of effort to find out that you don't actually fancy it!
Personally, I'd start out by doing a couple of AutoSolos in your Nova to get yourself into motorsport without the expense. If you get the bug, then shell out on your safety gear, get a licence and try it out in your Nova. After that, decide if you really want to pursue this further. The last thing you want to do is shell out £2000 on a car, cage, safety gear and a load of effort to find out that you don't actually fancy it!
Truckosaurus said:
At that sort of budget you're probably best off starting by joining your local motor club and doing some 12-car or navigational rallies as they don't need any specialist equipment (as even the safety equipment and the first entry fee for a hillclimb will be more than your £500 budget)
As above (apart from the £500.00 entry fee, it aint that much!).Join one of your local clubs, (Chelmsford MC perhaps) and look to do some 12 Car Rallies and Targa events, no safety gear required, very little outlay on entry fees, not even a competition licence under certain circumstances. It's far and away the best bang for your (very small) buck you can get in Motorsport. With the right Navigator you would be competitive on 12 Cars, less so on a Targa Rallies, but you will learn a lot about how to handle a Car on the limit and how motorsport works at club level.
Road Rallying is another option, but I don't think you are particularly well served down there. (apart from one notable exception).
velocemitch said:
Join one of your local clubs, (Chelmsford MC perhaps) and look to do some 12 Car Rallies and Targa events, no safety gear required, very little outlay on entry fees, not even a competition licence under certain circumstances. It's far and away the best bang for your (very small) buck you can get in Motorsport. With the right Navigator you would be competitive on 12 Cars, less so on a Targa Rallies, but you will learn a lot about how to handle a Car on the limit and how motorsport works at club level.
Definitely this, I bought an MX5 just over a year ago, tracked it at first, then joined Chelmsford MC and compete in their Targa rallies and various autosolos. Almost any car will work on these events. Last year, 4 Targas at a cost of £50 each, 8 autosolos at ~£30 each plus tyres and the best fun you can get going sideways.
Yesterday was the first Targa of the season and I came second overall out of 82 entrants. Can't wait for the next one.....
Bob
Thanks for everyone who's responded!
Bit of an update: Applied for MSA non-race B-licence and joined the HSA. I asked the same questions over on UpHillRacers and they suggested to stick with my (somewhat weedy) 1.0 Vauxhall Nova so that I shall do. Might be no class winner but still light and chuckable with plenty of go-faster bits available.
As far as I've learned, as long as it's in an MOT-passable condition (bodywork is scruffy but it passed with it at the most recent one), has tow hooks and ignition cutoff points labelled, yellow tape on the battery negative, race numbers and the timing strut thing, it's good to go.
Was thinking of some DTV Chevette type white squares for the doors to put numbers on, thoughts?
Bit of an update: Applied for MSA non-race B-licence and joined the HSA. I asked the same questions over on UpHillRacers and they suggested to stick with my (somewhat weedy) 1.0 Vauxhall Nova so that I shall do. Might be no class winner but still light and chuckable with plenty of go-faster bits available.
As far as I've learned, as long as it's in an MOT-passable condition (bodywork is scruffy but it passed with it at the most recent one), has tow hooks and ignition cutoff points labelled, yellow tape on the battery negative, race numbers and the timing strut thing, it's good to go.
Was thinking of some DTV Chevette type white squares for the doors to put numbers on, thoughts?
fat80b said:
Definitely this, I bought an MX5 just over a year ago, tracked it at first, then joined Chelmsford MC and compete in their Targa rallies and various autosolos. Almost any car will work on these events.
Last year, 4 Targas at a cost of £50 each, 8 autosolos at ~£30 each plus tyres and the best fun you can get going sideways.
Yesterday was the first Targa of the season and I came second overall out of 82 entrants. Can't wait for the next one.....
Bob
Wow, great result! lets chat at North weald - Are you doing the Challenge again this year?Last year, 4 Targas at a cost of £50 each, 8 autosolos at ~£30 each plus tyres and the best fun you can get going sideways.
Yesterday was the first Targa of the season and I came second overall out of 82 entrants. Can't wait for the next one.....
Bob
Steve
Elstro1988 said:
Thanks for everyone who's responded!
Bit of an update: Applied for MSA non-race B-licence and joined the HSA. I asked the same questions over on UpHillRacers and they suggested to stick with my (somewhat weedy) 1.0 Vauxhall Nova so that I shall do. Might be no class winner but still light and chuckable with plenty of go-faster bits available.
As far as I've learned, as long as it's in an MOT-passable condition (bodywork is scruffy but it passed with it at the most recent one), has tow hooks and ignition cutoff points labelled, yellow tape on the battery negative, race numbers and the timing strut thing, it's good to go.
Was thinking of some DTV Chevette type white squares for the doors to put numbers on, thoughts?
Sounds about right. I got some magnetic sign material as backing for the numbers as I don't want permanent white squares on mine and it avoids the numbers pulling any paint off. You also need a suitable helmet, racesuit and gloves. Bit of an update: Applied for MSA non-race B-licence and joined the HSA. I asked the same questions over on UpHillRacers and they suggested to stick with my (somewhat weedy) 1.0 Vauxhall Nova so that I shall do. Might be no class winner but still light and chuckable with plenty of go-faster bits available.
As far as I've learned, as long as it's in an MOT-passable condition (bodywork is scruffy but it passed with it at the most recent one), has tow hooks and ignition cutoff points labelled, yellow tape on the battery negative, race numbers and the timing strut thing, it's good to go.
Was thinking of some DTV Chevette type white squares for the doors to put numbers on, thoughts?
Have fun!
andyps said:
Sounds about right. I got some magnetic sign material as backing for the numbers as I don't want permanent white squares on mine and it avoids the numbers pulling any paint off. You also need a suitable helmet, racesuit and gloves.
Have fun!
Will shop for helmets/coveralls.gloves as soon as my licence arrives! Have fun!
Nervous but excited. Really hope I can get to Shelsley as thats where I used to go as a child.
I might do that actually - magnetic white squares. Someone on here I saw did that to his Mitsubishi Evo (was it you?) and I think thats a good idea as I have to drive to work in the Nova too!
Elstro1988 said:
Will shop for helmets/coveralls.gloves as soon as my licence arrives!
Nervous but excited. Really hope I can get to Shelsley as thats where I used to go as a child.
I might do that actually - magnetic white squares. Someone on here I saw did that to his Mitsubishi Evo (was it you?) and I think thats a good idea as I have to drive to work in the Nova too!
Not me in an Evo, they beat me substantially! I hillclimb a Fiat Coupe. The magnetic material is also good for the championship sticker I have to display and I have a magnetic Birds custard four fun (related to PH and the photo location challenge on here).Nervous but excited. Really hope I can get to Shelsley as thats where I used to go as a child.
I might do that actually - magnetic white squares. Someone on here I saw did that to his Mitsubishi Evo (was it you?) and I think thats a good idea as I have to drive to work in the Nova too!
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