Petrolhead opportunities in Hong Kong

Petrolhead opportunities in Hong Kong

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nsa

Original Poster:

1,682 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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I'm moving to HK in January with my family and one thing I'm going to miss about the UK is my track car and track days. A friend out there suggested buying a motorbike out there to scramble in the forests. Is there anything else I could do to offset my track day loss?


anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 12th December 2014
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Everyone I know in HK uses Zhuhai, there are various things there, from coaching to track days, lots of racing the problem you have is that HK racing is very high end and expensive the Chinese do not do low budget stuff, almost nothing for Caterham, SR3 type things.
I race in the Asia Classic car series which is run by the HK Classic Car Club, but that series runs at Sepang because it is actually cheaper to fly to Malaysia than race in HK. PM me if you want details.

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Friday 12th December 2014
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The "Race License in Asia" thread a bit below this one has some go tips too ....

Plenty of starting point reading, then there are a few of us scattered about SE Asia that can help once you start to get more specific stupid ideas (because between us we have all covered most of the stupid ideas that can be done out here already hehe )

Ohh and welcome to our corner of the world!!

nsa

Original Poster:

1,682 posts

227 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Thanks very much. I'll get in touch when I land.

Pat Cash

312 posts

229 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
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I would disagree - Zhuhai is probably the best place in China for "budget" Motorsport and I certainly wouldn't write it off.

I've just got back from Zhuhai having races in the Circuit Hero 500 last weekend - a 3 hour endurance race against everything from an SLS GT3 and a 458, to a Nissan Sunny. Running in various classes you can be competing in all manner of things. As you can see from the entry list.



There's also a 6 race Circuit Hero series throughout the year, running similar cars.

Definitely worth a look.PM me if you want more info!

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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So tell us about the curcuit hero, I know the guy with the R500, (not to use names on here) from when he run it in the Asia Touring Cars, and was thinking about taking mu super sprint over for the curcuit here series, what it like? entry feee? How to enter etc?.
I also hear there is a new series in thtr Phillapines about to start using Touota engined 7 replicas.

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Berw said:
I also hear there is a new series in the Philippines about to start using Toyota engined 7 replicas.
ears

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Hi John, Pat just for the record I don't think we said anything against Zuhai, just we didn't now much about it. I kooked at it for a driving course for the daughter and it looked OK, and the only place around for a course.
Apparantly there is a guy in Manila looking to build Locust 7's with 4 Age's and run them as a series, I'm told he is looking at around 6K US, to buy the car he will then store it and maintain so you just turn up and drive. I was told about it earlier in the week by someone who is trying to chase down exact info, but if the budget is right could be a good deal with Air Asia flights, If/when I hear more i;ll post it up, of course may all be a load of rubbish.

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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$6k is a good deal, but what sort of tracks do they have in the Philippines?!

At least its easy to get some pit lane dolly birds!!! thumbup

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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I'm told there is a track about 3 hours south of Manila, never been. Pit dollys are the thing in Thai Super Cars you actually get points for umbrella girls

Pat Cash

312 posts

229 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Berw said:
Hi John, Pat just for the record I don't think we said anything against Zuhai, just we didn't now much about it. I kooked at it for a driving course for the daughter and it looked OK, and the only place around for a course.
Apparantly there is a guy in Manila looking to build Locust 7's with 4 Age's and run them as a series, I'm told he is looking at around 6K US, to buy the car he will then store it and maintain so you just turn up and drive. I was told about it earlier in the week by someone who is trying to chase down exact info, but if the budget is right could be a good deal with Air Asia flights, If/when I hear more i;ll post it up, of course may all be a load of rubbish.
Hahaha, also just for the record I was not 'defending' Zhuhai - I was merely suggesting that the statement informing the OP that "HK racing is very high end and expensive the Chinese do not do low budget stuff, almost nothing for Caterham, SR3 type things" is actually misguided. But I am glad that I can help you understand more about what goes on there. ;o)

Edited by Pat Cash on Thursday 18th December 06:14

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Hi Pat, again not wishing to argue, so how to enter the Curcuit Hero? Mind looking at some of the cars in that its not cheap the black R500 is not exactly a basic spec, I know there is also a Geneta? and from the pictures I see on face book thats not bottom end.
But interesting both those cars are run by expats, what I meant was all the HK Nationals I know do not run caterham type things, they tend to look at 458 type things.

Pat Cash

312 posts

229 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Berw said:
Hi Pat, again not wishing to argue, so how to enter the Curcuit Hero? Mind looking at some of the cars in that its not cheap the black R500 is not exactly a basic spec, I know there is also a Geneta? and from the pictures I see on face book thats not bottom end.
But interesting both those cars are run by expats, what I meant was all the HK Nationals I know do not run caterham type things, they tend to look at 458 type things.
Really, its a complete mix - As you can see from the Entry List above from the 3 hour race, you can indeed find HK/Chinese drivers running the 458 and the SLS, but far more Chinese drivers are in DC2s, Mitsubishi's etc etc, even some complete sh*t boxes - you have to ask yourself why, but they're having fun... So ok.... And with a grid of 33 cars, there's certainly a bit of everything.

Most of those who want to race big boys cars and have the wallet to do so, will jump straight into Carrera Cup Asia/R8 LMS/Supertrofeo/GT Asia etc so you don't tend to see them.

The entries for the regular Circuit Hero rounds rather than the endurance, often feature more in the way of Elises, a couple more Caterhams, Atoms (available as Chinese build), the Ginettas (and chinese TTX built by Track Torque), the baby Radical SR1, there was a C63AMG this year and all sorts of other interesting things - Makes it very entertaining when you're racing against cars you wouldn't normally get to compete with.

The series is then split into two Circuit Hero 1 and 2, depending on the spec of the car (and that of the driver).

Full credit to the race organisers too - they just want to have people racing, so they are very willing to adapt and add classes so that all sorts of cars can race together, but also compete for class wins, not just outright wins. Makes it very competitive at all levels.

Also very interesting that they get circa 25,000 spectators to each Pan Delta Festival & Circuit Hero race as well as TV coverage... VERY strange lining up against a packed grandstand for a club motosport race...!

QROPS

2,769 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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Berw said:
Hi John, Pat just for the record I don't think we said anything against Zuhai, just we didn't now much about it. I kooked at it for a driving course for the daughter and it looked OK, and the only place around for a course.
Apparantly there is a guy in Manila looking to build Locust 7's with 4 Age's and run them as a series, I'm told he is looking at around 6K US, to buy the car he will then store it and maintain so you just turn up and drive. I was told about it earlier in the week by someone who is trying to chase down exact info, but if the budget is right could be a good deal with Air Asia flights, If/when I hear more i;ll post it up, of course may all be a load of rubbish.
I'll try and find some info if you wish as i live in Makati.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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HI, that would be great any info appreciated, my mate is looking into it as he has aplace in Manila, but all info welcome, thanks

QROPS

2,769 posts

183 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Could be this company

http://rapid7.leadfunnel.co/


wisbech

2,939 posts

120 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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For off-road motor biking, check out http://www.mxclub.com.hk/about-us

Not legal in country parks, so needs to be on private land, or hope you don't get caught. Even the remote parks have lots of hikers though,

All the go kart tracks in HK shut down after a death, and some legal issues about insurance...

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
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Hi Quarps, that certainly looks interesting I will pass to my mate, as I say he is looking in to it. Cost looks keen, I know some one who has a set of 7 body molds, he charges 300US for a 5 part body kit in Fiber Glass, and I know where I can get a chassi and wishbones for 1000US so you could certainly put a kit together for 2500US.

nsa

Original Poster:

1,682 posts

227 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Landed mid January. I've met a couple of people who race at Zhuhai and will try to get over there at some point but incorporating track days into trips back home will probably be the answer. I'll get a bike here to at least have access to transport.

Two of the strangest car related things I've seen so far:



That's not a wrap either. Judging by the cars I saw at Automall last weekend that is a £500k motor after tax is applied.



I saw this Rolls Royce parked in a lighting shop in North Point. La Ferrari in Repulse Bay and a 997 GT3RS with rollcage, which just seems pointless here. Maybe I'm jealous. I've also seen three NSXs (I have one at home) and lots of 964s, Porsche must have sold lots of them here in the early 1990s. A few 355s, and the Audi dealership has a Le Mans car in at the moment. I keep meaning to get in touch with the classic car club.

If anybody wants to get in touch please PM me. I work in Admiralty and am staying nearby. I'm not sure who here is actually in HK now.

Wanchaiwarrior

364 posts

213 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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Having a wash and polish near where I lived a few months ago in Yau Ma Tei