RE: PH goes hillclimbing
Discussion
Wiscombe Park is a great venue.. especially when it's not raining...
Hillclimbing is not for everyone, but it's great grassroots motorsport and can be done cheaply. I've entered my Panda 100HP in a few events. Never going to win the class, but very entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcHXJhN8ELQ
Hillclimbing is not for everyone, but it's great grassroots motorsport and can be done cheaply. I've entered my Panda 100HP in a few events. Never going to win the class, but very entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcHXJhN8ELQ
Zumbruk said:
GC8 said:
Will someone explain 'not competitive' to me please?
Due to a quirk in the rules, you find yourself in a class with a bunch of 600bhp, 4WD hillclimb specials, and no matter how well you drive, you're going to come last.keefr22 said:
You need to find an event you want to do & either get the regs on line (if they have a website, most if not all do now) or if not contact the entries sec. of the organising club to request an entry form. Fill in the form & either send it back with the entry fee or you can also pay on line for many events now. Most clubs will also let you join the club at the same time, & once you've joined you can also use that membership to enter any other events that club is invited to.
You need to check with the MSA Blue Book what class you will be entering - this will also determine whether your tyres are OK for that class - that can also depend on the Additional Supplimentary Regulations that the club issues for its event. There are two lists of tyres, 1A & 1B - most road going classes will require list 1A tyres, unless the organising club states differently. You don't need a 5 point harness unless you're entering a libre class.
You need in spec Helmet, fireproof suit & gloves. Most people also go for boots, but fireproof underwear/socks etc aren't mandatory.
At its most basic, car preparation can consist of wrapping yellow tape around the negative battery lead & marking the ignition switch on/off. Once you start modifying the car you need to make sure you do it properly to the relevant section of the blue book, or you could fail scrutineering on the event. For instance you may need to have certain sized 3mm strengthening plates welded under your roll bar if you want to run in modified production, the bar nees certain sized bolts, your seat may need strengthening plates depending on how its mounted etc..
And as mentioned above you need an MSA National B Non Race licence.
Its all in the Blue Book, which is also known as the Blur Book which you'll come to understand why when you start reading it! The BB also has a list of scrutineers local to you. Most of these guys are very helpful & its always worth contacting one & asking for advice if your unsure of anything in the BB. There's also a lot of helpful people & interesting threads on the Uphill Racers forum;
http://www.uphillracers.com/forum.php
One word of warning - hillclimbing is brilliant fun & pretty addictive...
HTH
Keith
Edit: I forgot, as mentioned in the article basic car prep also requires a timing strut for the vast majority of speed events. Dimensions are agin in the Blue Book.
Thanks so much for the detailed response, reading the requirements, maybe this will have to wait until I can get a budget together, I think I will see if I can get along and spectate first to get an idea of what it's all about....it does look like great fun...You need to check with the MSA Blue Book what class you will be entering - this will also determine whether your tyres are OK for that class - that can also depend on the Additional Supplimentary Regulations that the club issues for its event. There are two lists of tyres, 1A & 1B - most road going classes will require list 1A tyres, unless the organising club states differently. You don't need a 5 point harness unless you're entering a libre class.
You need in spec Helmet, fireproof suit & gloves. Most people also go for boots, but fireproof underwear/socks etc aren't mandatory.
At its most basic, car preparation can consist of wrapping yellow tape around the negative battery lead & marking the ignition switch on/off. Once you start modifying the car you need to make sure you do it properly to the relevant section of the blue book, or you could fail scrutineering on the event. For instance you may need to have certain sized 3mm strengthening plates welded under your roll bar if you want to run in modified production, the bar nees certain sized bolts, your seat may need strengthening plates depending on how its mounted etc..
And as mentioned above you need an MSA National B Non Race licence.
Its all in the Blue Book, which is also known as the Blur Book which you'll come to understand why when you start reading it! The BB also has a list of scrutineers local to you. Most of these guys are very helpful & its always worth contacting one & asking for advice if your unsure of anything in the BB. There's also a lot of helpful people & interesting threads on the Uphill Racers forum;
http://www.uphillracers.com/forum.php
One word of warning - hillclimbing is brilliant fun & pretty addictive...
HTH
Keith
Edit: I forgot, as mentioned in the article basic car prep also requires a timing strut for the vast majority of speed events. Dimensions are agin in the Blue Book.
Edited by keefr22 on Friday 6th June 15:50
Edited by keefr22 on Friday 6th June 15:56
Incidentally, I noticed that some track day organisers do sprint events, sounds like this might be a good starting Point?
I thought I'd add my two-peneth here.
I was originally set on entering the Caterham Academy, I had the money and the ok from my Wife but whilst talking to a colleague (now friend) about it, he convinced me to look into Sprinting as a significantly cheaper alternative.
I ended up buying a Van Diemen single seater with 170bhp Honda Blackbird engine
Link to my 'Readers Cars' thread
The overall cost is set to be under half the £30k I reckoned it would cost for my first year with Caterham Academy and I've got a car with a similar power to weight as a McLaren 12c.
Ok, it's not circuit racing but it's still highly competitive, sociable, friendly and tremendous fun.
Speaking more generically, once you have the car (anything!) then it's going to be around £100 per event to enter with I fairly low wear and tear due to the short, but fast, runs.
I was originally set on entering the Caterham Academy, I had the money and the ok from my Wife but whilst talking to a colleague (now friend) about it, he convinced me to look into Sprinting as a significantly cheaper alternative.
I ended up buying a Van Diemen single seater with 170bhp Honda Blackbird engine
Link to my 'Readers Cars' thread
The overall cost is set to be under half the £30k I reckoned it would cost for my first year with Caterham Academy and I've got a car with a similar power to weight as a McLaren 12c.
Ok, it's not circuit racing but it's still highly competitive, sociable, friendly and tremendous fun.
Speaking more generically, once you have the car (anything!) then it's going to be around £100 per event to enter with I fairly low wear and tear due to the short, but fast, runs.
I've just last week bought myself a MkII 1.8S-VT for this very purpose after doing the Shelsley training day last year. A family bereavement back in January put a full season this year on hold but plan is to get used to what the car does under normal driving and then enter a couple of events later in the year.
Ok, so it means my B licence is only useful for six months but at least I'll know what I want to improve on the car over winter
Ok, so it means my B licence is only useful for six months but at least I'll know what I want to improve on the car over winter
That isn't at all what he meant. Its the difference between just turning up and driving around or going for it and driving the car as fast as you can. The difference is enormous as we all know. In this regard there is no such thing as 'not competitive' as with that mindset there really is no point in doing any motorsport despite what the legions who like to promote their corner of it may claim. Its like the mind set difference between circuit racing and track days, the only thing in common is that both involve a car on a track.
www.eunosecosse.co.uk
There are a group of us in Scotland competing in the Lowlands Speed championship in a single make class designed to promote driver ability over budget size.
The regs have been written to keep cost low and fun levels high......engine are more or less standard barring air filters and exhausts.
It's perfectly feasible to have a competitive car ready to go with roll bar,LSD,list 1b tyres and race seat for under 2K.
The cheapest car in the field won the class last year.......
If anyone wanted any info about getting started feel free to drop me a PM or contact me via the website.
Cheers
Richy
There are a group of us in Scotland competing in the Lowlands Speed championship in a single make class designed to promote driver ability over budget size.
The regs have been written to keep cost low and fun levels high......engine are more or less standard barring air filters and exhausts.
It's perfectly feasible to have a competitive car ready to go with roll bar,LSD,list 1b tyres and race seat for under 2K.
The cheapest car in the field won the class last year.......
If anyone wanted any info about getting started feel free to drop me a PM or contact me via the website.
Cheers
Richy
DevonPaul said:
All this talk has got me thinking.....
the wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
Gthe wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
Nothing at all. Go for it!
DevonPaul said:
All this talk has got me thinking.....
the wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
Class A3 is a friendly class! the wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
Not competitive?
Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
DevonPaul said:
All this talk has got me thinking.....
the wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
It's a complete no brainer... do it! Other venues also not too far from you. Charmouth to the east and several hillclimbs just to the west.the wife says I need a hobby...
there's a bog standard 14 year old MR2 roadster in the garage that hasn't moved for nearly a month and needs to get out more....
I'm 20 miles from Wiscombe....
What could possibly go wrong?
sospan said:
Not competitive?
Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
Absolutely agree, after yesterday I have a set of wet times I will try to beat on wet days in the future, competing against myself and always trying to close the gap to that person just a little quicker than me.Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
sospan said:
Not competitive?
Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
Exactly. Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
It can work the same way when competing against others as well. I realised this last year when I got lapped on the last corner of a race at Silverstone. I did that ole its the taking part thing that matters but its BS, lets be honest it really really sucks when your in that situation and I promised to myself after that weekend that I just will not enter a race unless I know I have everything in place to do myself justice. If then I am not good enough so be it at least I would have pushed my own limits and no excuses it didn't work out, but spending a lot of money to get your head kicked in on track is the complete opposite if an enjoyable weekend IMHE.
The best advice I can give to anyone contemplating motorsport is to never underestimate the time and money it will suck up, read the numbers espoused by the usual promoters of their corner of the motorsport world and double them, at least, because they usually quote the very bottom end of possible expenditure. Look at how much those competing at the front are spending not those at the back and ask yourself what you will be happy with. I made that mistake big time. I listened to those who quoted bottom end numbers and got caught up trying to race a car I could never really afford to be competitive in, I ended up spending nearly all the money I had available on the car and not driving it which means you never get any better or for that matter get to enjoy it much.
sospan said:
Not competitive?
Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
Improving your times can also be seen in the same light as improving.. your cookery skills, for instance, or anything else.Never!
You will always be competing against your own times if not other drivers.
Just think - run 1 time noted
You will try to beat that time - hence run 2 is competing!
Next time you return to the track you will try to beat previous times.
Whichever way you look at it it will become competitive and the "urge" will develope.
You can keep it all in check and have fun with a bog standard road car, and don't need to fit harnesses and cages etc, if you wish.
You can change all that if you want to get genuinely or very competitive of course.
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