Autosolos in Herts area
Discussion
Does anyone here compete in autosolos around the Herts/Essex area?
It's not something I've done before, but I quite fancy having a go. The plan is to use my Chimaera, which is quite possibly the least appropriate vehicle imaginable, with its big heavy V8 and steering that requires two hands at low speeds. I presume its capacity would also put the car (not to mention the driver) in a class where neither would stand any chance of keeping up, but that's fine by me.
Specifically, I was wondering:
It's not something I've done before, but I quite fancy having a go. The plan is to use my Chimaera, which is quite possibly the least appropriate vehicle imaginable, with its big heavy V8 and steering that requires two hands at low speeds. I presume its capacity would also put the car (not to mention the driver) in a class where neither would stand any chance of keeping up, but that's fine by me.
Specifically, I was wondering:
- Are there any requirements for the car (battery cut off etc)?
- Do you have to meet a noise limit?
- Do you have to be a member of a club to enter these events? If so, can you 'visit' neighbouring club's events or are you bound to those organised by your own club?
- Can anyone recommend a good local club? I'm based in Hertford, so I guess Bovingdon and North Weald would be my local venues?
- Also, out of interest, what are the competitive classes/categories for those on a budget in the area?
I'm a member of HCAAC 
As these are clubman events you need to be a member of the organizing club or an invited club. Some of them run a rule whereby the first five entries from other clubs automatically become "invited clubs". I did the WSMC autosolo at Debden at the end of last year as an HCAAC member.
As these are clubman events you need to be a member of the organizing club or an invited club. Some of them run a rule whereby the first five entries from other clubs automatically become "invited clubs". I did the WSMC autosolo at Debden at the end of last year as an HCAAC member.
carl_w said:
I'm a member of HCAAC
As these are clubman events you need to be a member of the organizing club or an invited club. Some of them run a rule whereby the first five entries from other clubs automatically become "invited clubs". I did the WSMC autosolo at Debden at the end of last year as an HCAAC member.
Sounds good. I think HCAAC are my nearest club.As these are clubman events you need to be a member of the organizing club or an invited club. Some of them run a rule whereby the first five entries from other clubs automatically become "invited clubs". I did the WSMC autosolo at Debden at the end of last year as an HCAAC member.
Out of interest, what car do you use for the autosolos and how much are typical entry fees?
Chris71 said:
Sounds good. I think HCAAC are my nearest club.
Out of interest, what car do you use for the autosolos and how much are typical entry fees?
I've only done one -- I usually do sprints in a Citroen Saxo. I used my Z4 but in reality it was too big and heavy. A couple of people turned up in Fiat 126s. I think the entry fees are usually £15-£40 or so.Out of interest, what car do you use for the autosolos and how much are typical entry fees?
carl_w said:
Chris71 said:
Sounds good. I think HCAAC are my nearest club.
Out of interest, what car do you use for the autosolos and how much are typical entry fees?
I've only done one -- I usually do sprints in a Citroen Saxo. I used my Z4 but in reality it was too big and heavy. A couple of people turned up in Fiat 126s. I think the entry fees are usually £15-£40 or so.Out of interest, what car do you use for the autosolos and how much are typical entry fees?
Chris71 said:
The Chimaera has unassisted steering and a great big V8 over the front wheels, so I suspect the Z4 feels like a whippet in comparison. I have to use two hands on the steering below about 20mph, so it has to rank as one of the least suitable options ever for an autosolo... but if I took my Clio 172 along it'd just understeer everywhere, I suspect.
Clio 172 could be a good shout -- it's not about power. Z4 has 265kg of cast iron straight six over the front wheels, not like your aluminium V8 carl_w said:
Chris71 said:
The Chimaera has unassisted steering and a great big V8 over the front wheels, so I suspect the Z4 feels like a whippet in comparison. I have to use two hands on the steering below about 20mph, so it has to rank as one of the least suitable options ever for an autosolo... but if I took my Clio 172 along it'd just understeer everywhere, I suspect.
Clio 172 could be a good shout -- it's not about power. Z4 has 265kg of cast iron straight six over the front wheels, not like your aluminium V8 It's fine once you're above about 50 mph, but then you're in for a much bigger accident if you get it wrong! The one piece of advice I'd now give to anyone buying a Chimaera is find one with PAS. The hydraulics seem to go wrong all the time, but at least you won't need weekly gym sessions to avoid putting it in the hedge.
Think there's something slightly awry with the Clio at the moment. Had the geometry checked, but traction is pretty poor and it understeers like hell. At least in the TVR I'd have fun coming last.
Chris71 said:
but it requires so much physical effort at low speed that it can be a right handful. You can't correct with a flick of the wrist like you can in something with PAS.
Yyou will likely spend the whole time in 1st gear but if you get the routes right, you won't come last. Give it a go - an autosolo is pretty much the cheapest motorsport you can do and there are many autosolos in the area to choose from. To join a club and enter an event will probably be around the ~£40 mark for a first event and ~£30 thereafter.
Chelmsford Motorsports club and the West Suffolk Motorsports Club as well as a few others run a series in the east which is very accessible from Herts.
http://chelmsfordmc.co.uk/events/list provides a good place to see a calendar for the local ones and http://www.amsc.org.uk/ runs the series.
These tend to be at RAF Debden nr Saffron Walden but do move around to other venues in the region. Typically, these tend to be quite tight and technical and the lack of PAS might be challenging (More right foot might balance this up though).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDIooUC8ZDA
There are also a fair few run at North Weald during the year by other clubs - this venue tends to make for more open faster solos with several faster sections within them.
Here is one of me at NW - you can see how the gates are much wider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KMee7Wm1HA
I have seen a Chim run at the CSMA event in North Weald in the past - he had a lot of fun and got very good at turning tyres into smoke as I remember.
I compete in an MX5 but have been considering taking my Tuscan to the CSMA North Weald event as it will probably go well there.
Bob
carl_w said:
Clio 172 could be a good shout -- it's not about power. Z4 has 265kg of cast iron straight six over the front wheels, not like your aluminium V8
S54 engine only weighs 217kg actually 
I fancy do a few Autosolo's in my 135i for some fun. My old motorclub, was MCAC and they run (or used to) an autosolo each year, but, I'd probably get an invite for the Herts County and other club events as well if I rejoined, as I used to Sprints at Weald and Debden etc back in the 80's/90's run those clubs and others.
Yup, Clio 172 would be the better shout if you actually want to compete.
TVR would be a right hoot though
WhiteBaron said:
Good to see the route isn't as bafflingly complicated as I thought I might be. Seen a video online somewhere of an autosolo that just appeared to be a mass of cones with no clear route between them - not sure my memory would be up to something like that without directions!
Just had a new addition to the family, so sleep, time and money are very much at a premium, but I would like to have a go at this sometime this year. For forty-odd quid and a standard road car I reckon it's worth a go.
There will be 30 odd cones and they'll be numbered with another cone indicating which side you should pass the numbered cone. As long as you can count, you can complete the course. Just make sure to keep looking two cones ahead so you can plan your lines. You also have to walk the course before you drive it, which really helps. Only a third of drivers won't be able to watch others driving the course, so lots of opportunity to learn it.
Ah. That would explain the apparent simplicity.
Out of interest, what's the difference between an autosolo and a sprint? Sounds like much the same thing just with a lot less expense preparing car and driver.
I gather that the speeds are lower, the course is more like that of an auto test, but is there an official definition?
Out of interest, what's the difference between an autosolo and a sprint? Sounds like much the same thing just with a lot less expense preparing car and driver.
I gather that the speeds are lower, the course is more like that of an auto test, but is there an official definition?
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff