Saw this and wondered if it might be a low cost way of having a bit of fun.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221070303933?ssPageName=...
So some questions please?

1. What formula if any would this or something similar be eligible for?
2. Would it be better to buy one which is already fitted out to a formula?
3. Where is the best place to look for something like that?
4. What’s the ball park figure for getting started ie racing licence,
helmet, suit & gloves etc
5. Is this the right forum?

At 56 I’m not looking to break any lap records but there’s got to be a better alternative to bloody golf

Would be a shame if that really has sold for £450, would be worth more to the guy if he's spent 20 years on it!

56, prime of life !

Best way to go imo is to find a series that appeals and then buy something ready made ie/ rollcage, extinguishers,cutoffs, etc etc.
Can be much cheaper than buying a car and prepping it.
Budget around £750 for suit, gloves, boots, helmet and underwear,
Race pack, Ards test and licence around £300 iirc.

does your Masserati really do 185 btw ?

Maserati? - "Life's Been Good", but not that good

Thanks for the replies gents.

Yes I do own a TVR and so I know the crowd will be friendly, welcoming and helpful. As a complete novice though I think I'm looking for something simpler and easier to repair after the inevitable shunt. A little less power wouldn't be a bad idea any way.

The advice to buy a ready prepared racer is sound and these two are in the classifieds at the moment.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3806222.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3874543.htm

One of my local TVR buddies suggested the 750MC as a good way of getting into circuit racing so these would seem to be suitable for this. I'm still researching this though.

Obviously there's no such thing as "cheap" motor sport but as a complete novice I'd be looking to keep the outlay down initially to see how it goes.

Any other suggestions/advice welcome - thanks again.

750MC are a good value club for (relatively) low-cost racing - my mate ran with them for several years until they dropped the series he ran in (Roadsports) - when he swappec over to the Classic Sports Car Club (http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/), which runs a series of good-value races in a range of classes - Swinging Sixties, Tin-Tops, Future Classics, Magnificant 7s, and Deutche Marque - all offering 30 minutes qualifying and 40 minute races (with a pit-stop) for around £350 or so per race. Admittedly a 40-minute race might be a bit long as a beginner - my mate dragged me in from the world of rallying to share the driving with him - leading to me celebrating my 60th birthday racing at Brands Hatch GP circuit. Its not unusual for someone to be looking for another driver to share with.

If you're not sure whether you are going to take to it, there are a number of companies that will do "Arrive and Drive" hire packages to get a taste....(this, for example: http://www.motorsportads.com/race-cars/saloon-cars... which might be expensive for a season, but can be cheaper for just a couple of events, and to determine whther you really are committed to it......be warned it can be addictive though...I'm having a year off for financial reasons, and I'm definitely missing it!