RE: PH goes hillclimbing
Discussion
andyps said:
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!
However I am allowed to take the Gransport, or a Corolla 1.3 Auto.
OK, not a hill, nor an MX-5, but here's yours truly at the Abingdon Motorsport CAR-nival Sprint on Saturday;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn--08XvnHM
(I *must* stop leaving my left hand on the gear lever. I thought I'd cured myself of that!)
Definitely a day of two halves - it rained so hard in the morning the event had to be suspended for half an hour and then one of the courses re-arranged because of the huge pool of water on it, then in the afternoon the sun came out. Trench foot and sunburn in one day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn--08XvnHM
(I *must* stop leaving my left hand on the gear lever. I thought I'd cured myself of that!)
Definitely a day of two halves - it rained so hard in the morning the event had to be suspended for half an hour and then one of the courses re-arranged because of the huge pool of water on it, then in the afternoon the sun came out. Trench foot and sunburn in one day!
Edited by Zumbruk on Monday 9th June 10:36
Personally I think you'd be crazy to enter any competitive event in an MX5 without a roll cage ( or at the very least a serious roll bar ), bucket seats, a harness and Hans device.
I'd also much rather be in an Mk2 than a Mk1 for the improved crash structures, especially considering the price difference between the models is minimal compared to the cost of properly prepping the car.
I'd also much rather be in an Mk2 than a Mk1 for the improved crash structures, especially considering the price difference between the models is minimal compared to the cost of properly prepping the car.
ftrigger said:
Personally I think you'd be crazy to enter any competitive event in an MX5 without a roll cage ( or at the very least a serious roll bar ), bucket seats, a harness and Hans device.
I'd also much rather be in an Mk2 than a Mk1 for the improved crash structures, especially considering the price difference between the models is minimal compared to the cost of properly prepping the car.
I'd say it's very rare for a road car to tip over. I've spectated at such events on and off for 30 years and i can't recall if I ever saw a road car crash badly, they just tend to spin harmlessly at sprint events, but at risky hill climbs I'd say common sense tends to prevail.I'd also much rather be in an Mk2 than a Mk1 for the improved crash structures, especially considering the price difference between the models is minimal compared to the cost of properly prepping the car.
The quick guys running purpose built comp cars running on slicks are the ones who tend to endanger themselves ime.
heebeegeetee said:
I'd say it's very rare for a road car to tip over. I've spectated at such events on and off for 30 years and i can't recall if I ever saw a road car crash badly, they just tend to spin harmlessly at sprint events, but at risky hill climbs I'd say common sense tends to prevail.
The quick guys running purpose built comp cars running on slicks are the ones who tend to endanger themselves ime.
In ten years of sprinting/hillclimbing I've never seen anyone roll a standard-ish road car. I've seen 2 or 3 fires and half-a-dozen collisions with bits of scenery, no-one seriously hurt. That said, I have a Rollcentre rollover bar on my TVR, a race seat & 4pt harness.The quick guys running purpose built comp cars running on slicks are the ones who tend to endanger themselves ime.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/923545...
Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
NJH said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/923545...
Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
That is very sad but we all recognise that motor sport is dangerous. How much danger we are prepared to accept within the limits allowed for safety in any particular class is something we should be allowed to make our own minds up about.Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
NJH said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/923545...
Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
The weather was torrential that day.Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
The car aquaplaned then oversteered on standing water at the exit of the chichane crashing sideways into the armco on the pitwall with the drivers side of the car.
As visible in the picture in the Telegraph article; the side impact protection in a Caterham is poor.
I understand that having not tightened her harness enough was a contributing factor in this accident resulting in a fatality.
Whatever the reasons for, it's terribly sad for her friends & family.
Let's not let Journalism get in the way of the facts.
Edited by gidzmasterflash on Monday 9th June 14:42
NJH said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/923545...
Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
If you're saying that because cars can crash we should all wear full safety equipment then I guess I should be wearing it too and from the track too. Lets not let internet opinions get in the way of historical facts.
Just wanted to add that I've been to Wiscombe a couple of times, -not up the hill as I was watching my old man compete, but as team bacon sandwich maker and trolley jack carrier.
It's a nice place to camp and the second time I went brought the kids along. Very friendly, including the paddock, safe atmosphere but relaxed and nice surroundings. Our tent was less than 50 yards from Martini hairpin and it's a good viewing venue for spectators -a fair few aren't. Recommended.
It's a nice place to camp and the second time I went brought the kids along. Very friendly, including the paddock, safe atmosphere but relaxed and nice surroundings. Our tent was less than 50 yards from Martini hairpin and it's a good viewing venue for spectators -a fair few aren't. Recommended.
Glad there are so many people looking to try hillclimbing, sprinting, autosolo and other forms of affordable motorsport.
I accept the point about safety and fitting a roll cage, harness and decent seat. The point of this article was to show you can have a taster of hillclimbing in a very affordable car without necessarily spending a fortune and then finding out you didn't like it. As Cardo points out, there are several MX-5s competing in Scotland with cages, harnesses, race seats and mild tuning that are all very quick, very affordable and massive fun. Having seen these guys in action at Doune hillclimb, anyone who thinks an MX-5 isn't competitive or enjoyable is missing the point.
Any car is competitive in hillclimbing, either against yourself and the clock, or against similar cars. Last year, I competed in a Vauxhall Astra VXR and was up against Porsche 911s, Sierra Cosworths, Nissan GT-R, Imprezas and Evos, Porsche Boxsters, BMW 1M Coupe... you get the picture. There's huge variety and on a good day I was in with a shout of a top three spot. Also, I was sharing the car with another driver, so there was always the competition against him and it helped share the costs of competing.
For anyone interested in hillclimbing, there are various schools around the country - Prescott, Harewood, Shelsley and others. These give a good taster of what it's like to compete as well as teaching you the lines. Have a go - if you don't like it, at least you can speak from experience. If you do like it, then it's up to you how much you commit in time, effort and money.
I accept the point about safety and fitting a roll cage, harness and decent seat. The point of this article was to show you can have a taster of hillclimbing in a very affordable car without necessarily spending a fortune and then finding out you didn't like it. As Cardo points out, there are several MX-5s competing in Scotland with cages, harnesses, race seats and mild tuning that are all very quick, very affordable and massive fun. Having seen these guys in action at Doune hillclimb, anyone who thinks an MX-5 isn't competitive or enjoyable is missing the point.
Any car is competitive in hillclimbing, either against yourself and the clock, or against similar cars. Last year, I competed in a Vauxhall Astra VXR and was up against Porsche 911s, Sierra Cosworths, Nissan GT-R, Imprezas and Evos, Porsche Boxsters, BMW 1M Coupe... you get the picture. There's huge variety and on a good day I was in with a shout of a top three spot. Also, I was sharing the car with another driver, so there was always the competition against him and it helped share the costs of competing.
For anyone interested in hillclimbing, there are various schools around the country - Prescott, Harewood, Shelsley and others. These give a good taster of what it's like to compete as well as teaching you the lines. Have a go - if you don't like it, at least you can speak from experience. If you do like it, then it's up to you how much you commit in time, effort and money.
MX-5 great fun and in the Scottish Championship rounds there is now an "agreement" for a standardised car to provide low cost, level playing field to enable driver skill to become the factor in who takes class wins. Attracting lots of new and returning drivers.
Scottish Lowland Championship has created it's own class already.
If thinking of MX-5 come up and see them compete or come and join in.
Scottish Lowland Championship has created it's own class already.
If thinking of MX-5 come up and see them compete or come and join in.
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