Which race series - Lotus Elise

[Edmundo2]

Ultimately I'd like to be competitive in class.

Personally I like racing where there's variety and battles between cars with different strengths/weakness however I think you need a reasonably decent sized grid for it to be at its best..If there's a good number of cars in each class then there's the potential for plenty of battles through the field.

Pre66 touring cars seems to offer this so an Imp could be the way forwards for my budget but an Elise would be similar money and could prove more reliable but I'd really like to run against other sports cars I think..

[Dan BSCS]

I have been talking to James at 750MC about this and he is keen on catering for Elises/G40s/etc within Sports Specials initially with a view to maybe creating their own grid if the numbers are there. This would give a sprint race option where you are racing against other lightweight cars rather than 1500kg BMWs that are twice the size. I think there’s definitely an appetite for doing 2 or 3 sprint races in a weekend rather than all the travel and other associated costs for one 40-45 minute race but options are very very limited now.

[CanoeSniffer]

Altrezia said:

My car is 700kg and made of plastic. Against other plastic cars it is fine, when rubbing agasint a 1.5T metal brick.. less so.

I did find this a little humorous, I race with the Jag crowd in the CTCRC and in the Modern Classics wherever possible although car trouble has kept me away from the CSCC more than intended-

It’s not unheard of for the odd Ginetta or TVR to have been claimed by the big Jags in the last few years

(which is not to be taken as a comment on the driving standards as they are very very good in the CSCC, as referred to above it is very much not door handle bashing racing, but as we all know st happens. As also eluded to if you like being at 11/10ths and racing very hard it may seem a little bit uncompetitive compared to a championship)

[andy97]

CanoeSniffer said:

I did find this a little humorous, I race with the Jag crowd in the CTCRC and in the Modern Classics wherever possible although car trouble has kept me away from the CSCC more than intended-

It’s not unheard of for the odd Ginetta or TVR to have been claimed by the big Jags in the last few years

(which is not to be taken as a comment on the driving standards as they are very very good in the CSCC, as referred to above it is very much not door handle bashing racing, but as we all know st happens. As also eluded to if you like being at 11/10ths and racing very hard it may seem a little bit uncompetitive compared to a championship)

Indeed, someone mentioned “elbows out competitive racing earlier” and someone else mentioned the only truly competitive racing being one make stuff.
Trouble is that “elbows out” and / or one make stuff can be quite expensive when driving standards are more BTCC than Goodwood!
When i am paying for every single aspect of my racing, i want close battles but i dont want to be bashed out of the way or in to the wall for a place. As a result, i will stick with CSCC.

[CanoeSniffer]

andy97 said:

Indeed, someone mentioned “elbows out competitive racing earlier” and someone else mentioned the only truly competitive racing being one make stuff.
Trouble is that “elbows out” and / or one make stuff can be quite expensive when driving standards are more BTCC than Goodwood!
When i am paying for every single aspect of my racing, i want close battles but i dont want to be bashed out of the way or in to the wall for a place. As a result, i will stick with CSCC.

That is absolutely fair enough and I think the CSCC has forged a great path in being a tip top club to race at for those reasons

Personally I’m quite competitive, I haven’t managed to make my peace with racing solely for fun yet- and I’ve found the CTCRC ticks the boxes. I’d still say driving standards are high, but there is a little more of a competitive edge.

[andy97]

I chatted through the possibility of setting up a series for various light weight 2 seat production sports cars as discussed in this thread (Elise and variants, Ginetta G20 and 40 etc etc) with the CSCC and whilst they do think it’s a very good idea, they would want about 70 cars registered to make it work, on the basis that for any given race meeting approx 1/3 of those registered actually enter.
That’s not going to happen for next season, sadly.

[CanoeSniffer]

andy97 said:

I chatted through the possibility of setting up a series for various light weight 2 seat production sports cars as discussed in this thread (Elise and variants, Ginetta G20 and 40 etc etc) with the CSCC and whilst they do think it’s a very good idea, they would want about 70 cars registered to make it work, on the basis that for any given race meeting approx 1/3 of those registered actually enter.
That’s not going to happen for next season, sadly.

The TVR crowd are a little homeless these days? There’s probably 20 or so registrations straight away there if you can give them a championship back

[LennyM1984]

andy97 said:

I chatted through the possibility of setting up a series for various light weight 2 seat production sports cars as discussed in this thread (Elise and variants, Ginetta G20 and 40 etc etc) with the CSCC and whilst they do think it’s a very good idea, they would want about 70 cars registered to make it work, on the basis that for any given race meeting approx 1/3 of those registered actually enter.
That’s not going to happen for next season, sadly.

Hi Andy,

I race a Ginetta G40 and would be very keen to (again) have a suitable series. Do you want me to canvas the other owners and see whether there would be sufficient interest (there are quite a few of us who race).

[andy97]

CanoeSniffer said:

andy97 said:

I chatted through the possibility of setting up a series for various light weight 2 seat production sports cars as discussed in this thread (Elise and variants, Ginetta G20 and 40 etc etc) with the CSCC and whilst they do think it’s a very good idea, they would want about 70 cars registered to make it work, on the basis that for any given race meeting approx 1/3 of those registered actually enter.
That’s not going to happen for next season, sadly.

The TVR crowd are a little homeless these days? There’s probably 20 or so registrations straight away there if you can give them a championship back

Trouble is that the TVRs race already within Future Classics, and Elise and G20s race in Modern Classics and G40s race in New Millenium, and the club doesn’t want to take cars away from those series either.
The original,premise was also “lightweight 2-seaters”, I think. TVR Tuscans in particular tend to be quite “meaty”compared to say an Elise or G40

[andy97]

LennyM1984 said:

andy97 said:

I chatted through the possibility of setting up a series for various light weight 2 seat production sports cars as discussed in this thread (Elise and variants, Ginetta G20 and 40 etc etc) with the CSCC and whilst they do think it’s a very good idea, they would want about 70 cars registered to make it work, on the basis that for any given race meeting approx 1/3 of those registered actually enter.
That’s not going to happen for next season, sadly.

Hi Andy,

I race a Ginetta G40 and would be very keen to (again) have a suitable series. Do you want me to canvas the other owners and see whether there would be sufficient interest (there are quite a few of us who race).

It would be a good idea, but I don’t think CSCC will do it for 2024, planning has already started.
Nevertheless it would be worth lobbying.

[Edmundo2]

I had mentioned TVRs as an option as Griffs/Chims are 1080kg in road spec so would presumably dip under a ton in race spec and as you say there must be quote a few out there that don't want to run against ton tops..

[andy97]

cashmax said:

The reality is that you are never going to have a truly competitive series if it isn't single make, unless it's hugely regulated. But the OP doesn't say he wants the most competitive option.

I must admit I didn’t include TVRs etc as I think DanBSCS specifically referenced, Elise’s, G20 and 40s, VX220s etc and so from that I took it to mean lightweight (<1000kg) 2 seaters at <2 litres (or possibly 2.5litres), but that was just my interpretation.
It’s impossible to be all things to all racers, but as soon as you start including big engined cars then the closeness of the racing suffers, the possibility of a small engined car winning suffers and you start to lose interest from the smaller engined cars.
Whichever club can be persuaded to take it on, I think should limit things as suggested here; there are plenty of places to race the bigger engined cars and be very competitive, competing for overall wins.
Just my 2p

[Dan BSCS]

andy97 said:

I must admit I didn’t include TVRs etc as I think DanBSCS specifically referenced, Elise’s, G20 and 40s, VX220s etc and so from that I took it to mean lightweight (<1000kg) 2 seaters at <2 litres (or possibly 2.5litres), but that was just my interpretation.
It’s impossible to be all things to all racers, but as soon as you start including big engined cars then the closeness of the racing suffers, the possibility of a small engined car winning suffers and you start to lose interest from the smaller engined cars.
Whichever club can be persuaded to take it on, I think should limit things as suggested here; there are plenty of places to race the bigger engined cars and be very competitive, competing for overall wins.
Just my 2p

100% agree with this.

[Edmundo2]

Interesting....I would have thought a high powered elise/exige with good chassis dynamics would be a match for a tvr?

[Dan BSCS]

Edmundo2 said:

Interesting....I would have thought a high powered elise/exige with good chassis dynamics would be a match for a tvr?

In terms of lap time yes. But racing is a different story. There’s nothing more frustrating than being stuck behind a big engined car through all the twisties just to watch them disappear down the straights.