i know this prob gets asked alot but

[johnthan]

wheres a good place to start racing.

obv get my license

but then what. i would like to race road cars not single seaters etc. im based near manchester so are there any northern chamionships, good for a starting point, or atleast a lowish budget racing.

cheers

[GavinPearson]

I would buy a copy of Motorsport News and read the race reports. Go along to a few meetings. If you see a championship worth competing in it is worth speaking to people in the series to find out what it costs. If somebody is looking to move on (i.e. sell up) then competitors can be a good source of vehicles as they're already proven, but be careful about spending significantly over the odds for such a vehicle. I'd pick a series where the cars are ten a penny, that way you can afford to fix them when an accident happens or sopmething breaks.

[Graham]

as said start going to your local track and see whats on, Oultons probably the closest to you.
talk to the the guys in the paddock, you often see a lot for sale in there as well..

the autosport show this month and race retro in march are also probably worth going to

G

[stockhatcher]

ford xr challenge, which i think is run by the brscc, get your self down to autosport international next weekend and visit the stand. it is for relatively standard xr2/3 based at outlon park

bob is now your uncle....

[lord summerisle]

well theres Oulton Park, Anglesey & Croft circuits all within easy drive with Cadwell not that far. plus on the hillclimb/sprints front theres Aintree, 3 Sisters and Harewood, plus the occasional run at Scammonden Dam

I know its not what your after - but there is a very well supported North West Formula Ford championship which runs at Oulton & Anglesey - they are really the only ones i know (from Marshalling half a dozen race meetings a year) that run a NW championship, most other championships only visit the circuits once or twice a year - so would involve alot of travelling.

[Dave Brand]

johnthan said:

im based near manchester so are there any northern chamionships, good for a starting point, or atleast a lowish budget racing.

As has already been mentioned, the BRSCC Ford XR championship is worth a look. You could also consider the Ace Vehicle Deliveries/Hillside of Heywood sports/saloon championship, run by BARC NW - athough there are some very fast cars in that (e.g. ex-DTM Astra) a lot of people are racing road cars with little modification - it's also very clean racing.

[williamp]

All good advice, espeically as all the Formula 1 seats are taken for this year, so you've got about 8 months to shine get a seat for 2009...

[johnthan]

used to knwo a fella that my dad sponsered in the formula fords, neil he is called.

ford xr ive seen race, have thought of a xr2 would suit well.
will pop down to the show, on the sunday got a car club meet on sat.

will have a look at that barc nw, if they need fast road cars could run my own car as its currently buing built, but tbh rather have that as fast road and not soely race. (r32 skyline gts-t)
dont mind mixin with faster cars, gives me something to aim for.

some good info guys, will look at the sprints and hill climbs, not looked at them that much before

[ph123]

Go to 'school', Silverstone is good, see if you're any good.
Go to some small club races, see what you think.
Look in Pistonheads race cars for sale.
Maybe do a few track days.
Read some specific books, watch some videos.
Go and watch a few big races, watch (and listen) on how the leaders are doing it and compare their handling to the mid fielders and worse, make note of the differences.
Your mental approach to racing is all important; if you're not looking for it from day one, you maybe better off limiting your ambitions.

[johnthan]

good post that thankyou.
im going to be doig some more trackdays when my cars done and get someone to time me, see how i do lap aftyer lap etc. and i may just invest in a school like you say, brush up and weaknesses.