Where to start circuit racing?

Where to start circuit racing?

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tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Hi all,

I'm looking to get into circuit racing, maybe 2015 or 2016. I don't have a huge budget but wondered if anyone's got any advice on where to start?

I've got an A4 that could be used as a tow vehicle and also a Caterham 7, but I'd like to keep the 7 in road spec and it's fairly tidy so wouldn't really want to risk any damage. So I'm planning on buying a dedicated racer.

I quite like the look of the 750 Motor Club, but any advice on a good place to start, which formula to choose and how to get a vehicle would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Tom

andye30m3

3,451 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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This is worth a look http://www.pbmwc.co.uk

I'm in my third year and love it, very competitive with friendly paddock and pretty good driving standards as a whole. Car as cheap to run and entry fees are good value for circuit racing.

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
andye30m3 said:
This is worth a look http://www.pbmwc.co.uk

I'm in my third year and love it, very competitive with friendly paddock and pretty good driving standards as a whole. Car as cheap to run and entry fees are good value for circuit racing.
Interesting, thanks Andy. How much are the entry fees for that?

andye30m3

3,451 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
It varies but normally between £240 and £280 for qualifying and 2 races.

There's also a class in the Toyo Tires Racing Saloons for the PBMW's if one series doesn't give you enough track time

Carnage

886 posts

231 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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How much is your budget, and how comfortable are you with prepping your own car? Do you want to race Caterhams, or single seaters, or saloons?

750 MC are a good bunch and reasonably priced. I started with them before racing with HSCC.

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Carnage said:
How much is your budget, and how comfortable are you with prepping your own car? Do you want to race Caterhams, or single seaters, or saloons?

750 MC are a good bunch and reasonably priced. I started with them before racing with HSCC.
Hi Carnage,

I'm glad to hear 750MC are a good bunch.

I think trailering the car is the way to go so it doesn't matter about it being road legal. I would like to be able to do simple maintenance myself to keep the cost down (and I quite enjoy it).

I think my checklist would be as follows:

- lightweight
- simple construction
- rear wheel drive
- cheap parts

I'm thinking maybe Locust or MX-5, what do you think?

Carnage

886 posts

231 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
There lots of people on here who race MX-5's who can probably tell you more than I can about them! From the outside, it looks like very close racing with the attendant panel damage, to put it neutrally. But bits are cheap and there's lots about.

The problem with Locosts is you can only really race them with 750 MC.

It's worth thinking about something like a Caterham, a Ginetta G20, or an MX-5 that you can race with a number of series. I live just down the road from Silverstone so it's nice being able to do a number of races there with different series.

Best thing to do is go to a couple of meetings, check out driving standards, chat to a few of the drivers about costs, and don't make any rash decisions. Good luck!

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Carnage said:
There lots of people on here who race MX-5's who can probably tell you more than I can about them! From the outside, it looks like very close racing with the attendant panel damage, to put it neutrally. But bits are cheap and there's lots about.

The problem with Locosts is you can only really race them with 750 MC.

It's worth thinking about something like a Caterham, a Ginetta G20, or an MX-5 that you can race with a number of series. I live just down the road from Silverstone so it's nice being able to do a number of races there with different series.

Best thing to do is go to a couple of meetings, check out driving standards, chat to a few of the drivers about costs, and don't make any rash decisions. Good luck!
Good advice, thanks Carnage. (particularly about only being able to race Locusts with 750)

andrewcliffe

935 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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If you fancy single seaters of almost any description, the Monoposto Racing Club is a good place to race - good grid numbers, competitive entry fees. Classes to suit almost any car up to 2 litres - from bike engined Jedis, standard or modified Formula Fords, up to F3 chassis.

Running costs are not as high as many people assume, and a car that may have cost £ 6000 to buy will lap Rockingham in a similar lap time to a Porsche Carrera Cup car.

TonykartEVR

270 posts

148 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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I've just started racing with the CSCC in a Clio cup racer and can highly recommend them for giving good advice for beginners. If you fancy racing a caterham they have a series called 'magnificent sevens' which maybe worth a look...

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
andrewcliffe said:
If you fancy single seaters of almost any description, the Monoposto Racing Club is a good place to race - good grid numbers, competitive entry fees. Classes to suit almost any car up to 2 litres - from bike engined Jedis, standard or modified Formula Fords, up to F3 chassis.

Running costs are not as high as many people assume, and a car that may have cost £ 6000 to buy will lap Rockingham in a similar lap time to a Porsche Carrera Cup car.
Thanks Andrew, worth a look for sure.

Any ideas where you would start looking for a used single seater, or a used Locust or MX5 race car for that matter?

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
TonykartEVR said:
I've just started racing with the CSCC in a Clio cup racer and can highly recommend them for giving good advice for beginners. If you fancy racing a caterham they have a series called 'magnificent sevens' which maybe worth a look...
Thanks Tony, so has 2014 been your first season? If you don't mind saying here (or email if you do), what sort of costs have you incurred (i.e. Car, Fees etc.)?

TonykartEVR

270 posts

148 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
tomperkins said:
Thanks Tony, so has 2014 been your first season? If you don't mind saying here (or email if you do), what sort of costs have you incurred (i.e. Car, Fees etc.)?
I had my first race last month at Donington and thoroughly enjoyed it!
I purchased one of last years clio racers that supported the BTCC races and I'm chuffed to bits with it, it really is a hoot!

Approx. costs I've incurred so far:-
Car £20k
List 1a & 1b tyres £1500 (not allowed to run slicks)
Race suit, lid, hans device etc £2000
Gazebo £600
Trailer £2000
Race entry £295

I've only scratched the surface there, it does get very expensive very quickly but the way I look at it is that now I have everything I need to go racing, the costs from now on should only be entry fees, fuel and accommodation.

...and the feeling you get when you finish, words can't describe how good it is!

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
TonykartEVR said:
I had my first race last month at Donington and thoroughly enjoyed it!
I purchased one of last years clio racers that supported the BTCC races and I'm chuffed to bits with it, it really is a hoot!

Approx. costs I've incurred so far:-
Car £20k
List 1a & 1b tyres £1500 (not allowed to run slicks)
Race suit, lid, hans device etc £2000
Gazebo £600
Trailer £2000
Race entry £295

I've only scratched the surface there, it does get very expensive very quickly but the way I look at it is that now I have everything I need to go racing, the costs from now on should only be entry fees, fuel and accommodation.

...and the feeling you get when you finish, words can't describe how good it is!
And is the first time you've done any racing?

TonykartEVR

270 posts

148 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
tomperkins said:
And is the first time you've done any racing?
I've done many years of trackdays, racing is the next logical step for me...

tomperkins

Original Poster:

91 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
TonykartEVR said:
I've done many years of trackdays, racing is the next logical step for me...
Good man, hope you have a good full season next year!

Any more races this year?

TonykartEVR

270 posts

148 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
tomperkins said:
Good man, hope you have a good full season next year!

Any more races this year?
Snetterton next month, can't wait!

Stevemcmaster

129 posts

198 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi There,

I'm just coming to the end of my first year of racing. I have been with the Caterham Graduate Championship and can thoroughly recommend it.

Great circuits, relatively cheap cost of entry for the performance offered (My car was just over 8 grand for a Crossflow Caterham built in 1997), very welcoming championship that has a real family atmosphere and usually, one overseas round per year.

Tires last for a year in the Classics class, and the engines and gearboxes are pretty bulletproof.

If you are interested, give me a shout and I can give you some more lowdown and pointers.

Cheers
Steve

BritishRacinGrin

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Another happy (ex) Caterham Graduates racer here, I competed between 2010 and 13 and I can't wait to come back.

andrewcliffe

935 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
tomperkins said:
Thanks Andrew, worth a look for sure.

Any ideas where you would start looking for a used single seater, or a used Locust or MX5 race car for that matter?
Race Cars Direct and Motorsport Ads are classified services which is worth a peruse. Otherwise individual series have their own for sale sections or traders.

As its getting towards the end of the season, there may be a number of cars on the market soon as people decide what they want to do in the future - upgrade / retire / take up ocean yacht racing / take up darts.