Help me get started - Hillclimbing/Sprinting

[NikB]

I've been trying to get started in Hillcimbing/Sprinting for a while now. I have my Nat B license, and the choice of 2 cars to use.

I have a classic Mini and a Nissan 200sx. I think the Mini is ruled out of any road going classes because it has been deseamed so falls foul of the reg that states the silhouette should remain unchanged.

The Nissan is lightly modified - exhaust, air filter, lowered. I think this is probably easier to get within the regs, I think all it needs is a cage and an extinguisher.

I am struggling to find a motorclub or series to get me started, I have looked at Time Attack, but that is already mid-season and does not seem to allow entries until next year.

Can anyone offer advice? I'm in the South East, Near Ascot if that helps...

[chris_w]

Hi Nik, I started out sprinting our ex-Minicross car in the Tunbridge Wells All Circuit championship a few years back, you've also got Goodwood nearby which hosts a number of sprints every year for a variety of clubs.

Couple of links for you:

http://www.twmc.org.uk/allcircuit/index.html

http://b19.tjgraphics.co.uk/

[carl_w]

If you're in the roadgoing classes you don't need a cage or extinguisher.

[andye30m3]

I do some sprinting in the south east and I'm currently a member of

Tunbridge Wells Motor club - www.twmc.org.uk
Sevenoaks & district motor club - http://www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com/
and also compete in the acsmc speed league - http://www.acsmc.com/

as carl said in the road going classes a neither a cage nor a fire extinguisher are required.

I use a standard Honda S2000, all I had to do was mark the battery -ve cable yellow, mount a timing strut and add a sticker to the standard ignition to show which way off is. I also run the car on Toyo R888's most of the time although I'm unsure if these will be allowed in the road going classes next year.

It may also be worth looking at http://www.farnboroughdmc.org.uk/ as I think Farnborough is reasonably close to you.

Am I correct in thinking that the 200sx is 2.0l turbo? If so this pushes you in to a class A3 were there is some fairly quick stuff.

Edited by andye30m3 on Tuesday 13th July 14:16

Edited by andye30m3 on Tuesday 13th July 16:44

[onomatopoeia]

NikB said:

The Nissan is lightly modified - exhaust, air filter, lowered. I think this is probably easier to get within the regs, I think all it needs is a cage and an extinguisher.

Using the blue book roadgoing definitions all of that lot is fine. You do not need a cage or extinguisher.

Have a look at www.asemc.org.uk (Association of south east motor clubs) and www.acsmc.com (Association of central southern motorclubs). Both promote speed event championships featuring rounds organised by clubs in your part of the world so you should be able to find a club that is active and local to you.

[NikB]

Thanks all, bit of reading for me to there this evening!

Does it sound like the mini is unsuitable?

[Kevp]

The silhouette rule is to stop serious body modifications, like large wings, wide wheel arches. I dont think de-seaming is a consideration, I doubt it affects the silhouette at all.

I cant see why anybody would complain. If they do you enter the modified class.

Its your own time your trying to beat anyway.

[Nick_F]

The key question with the mini is to do with the chassis/body construction, rather than the silhouette:

for Roadgoing Production - must be to 'Manufacturers (sic) original chassis structure and specification of construction, dimensions and material.'

for Modified Limited Production - 'The chassis or unitary construction must remain to the manufacturer's original specification in construction and material within the wheel hub centres'

There's more detail in the Blue Book. Mini classes are notoriously competitive and one of the few in which I've heard of competitors protesting eligibility: an acquaintance has even had to put back the rear seat storage bins as he'd removed them and rivetted ally plates over the holes.

[robemcdonald]

I was also thinking about giving hillclimbing/sprinting a go. Does anyone know of any clubs in Hertfordshire? Google hasn't yielded much so far.

Thanks

Rob

[carl_w]

Herts County Auto & Aero Club
Green Belt Motor Club
Borough 19 Motor Club seem to be the most active though

[andy97]

For those in the Midlands area have a look at the Curborough website, Curborough is the home of the Shenstone & District Car Club & they do an annuaa "Introduction to Sprinting" day, or at least they used to.

I think there is a Hillclimb school at Prescott(?) too.

[RESSE]

andy97 said:

For those in the Midlands area have a look at the Curborough website, Curborough is the home of the Shenstone & District Car Club & they do an annuaa "Introduction to Sprinting" day, or at least they used to.

I think there is a Hillclimb school at Prescott(?) too.

Link to Prescott Driver's School:
http://www.prescott-hillclimb.com/driversschool.as...

Link to Hill Climb abd Sprint Association (a great help when I started hillclimbing in 2003):

http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/

http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/allabout.asp

http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/trackguides.as...

[robemcdonald]

Thanks for the information guys.