Cheapest way in to track racing?

[rossyl]

Hi Everyone,

I know it has been asked before but having had a search, the question asked and budget always varies.

I am looking for:
- cheapest on track racing
- non-modified cars
- cheap cars
- drive to/from track in the car
- friendly series for beginners
- not loads of smashing in to each other
- mainly in/near South East

[EDIT - now looking at speed events - Sprints, Hill Climbs, AutoSolos]

So with that in mind, what do you guys recommend?

Thanks very much
R

Edited by rossyl on Friday 22 July 11:03

[rossyl]

Hi Bert

Thanks all

I haven't given a budget on purpose in the hope of finding the genuinely cheapest racing series, rather than something I can afford.

I hope that makes sense!

I am also hoping that you guys can help me find this!

Cheers

[rossyl]

The more I look in to this, I do think, Auto Tests and Sprints might be a worthwhile introduction before getting in to Track Racing.

If anyone has any suggestions/thoughts on the above - that would be great.

I can't seem to find any active Clubs near North London.

[rossyl]

Having had a read around, though it may not suit all, I think Speed Tests (hill climbs and sprints) make sense if we are not going to trailer the car.

Living in more central North London, having a trailer would be very difficult.

[rossyl]

Thurbs said:

I think the OP's question is a oxymoron.

Sprinting is clearly cheaper. As is autotesting etc.

If you want to go fast then nothing is cheap.

If you want to go for the gap or find the last 3/10ths then hitting things is expensive.

If you want to be at the front then nothing is too expensive.

How is it an oxymoron?

I was looking for the cheapest form of track racing. That means essentially: the cheapest to buy a car for; and, the cheapest track racing series to enter.
I never mentioned anything about speed.
I never mentioned anything about winning or being at the front of the grid.
As for hitting things being expensive, clearly that is linked to a cheap car. Crash a cheap car, you may have lost £1-2k. Crash a more expensive and you have lost more money.

Where is the oxymoron in my question?

As for the question developing in to a realisation that AutoSolos, Sprints and Hill Climbs might be a better route to eventually doing track racing, that is just development of an idea over a period of time.

[rossyl]

Andy - that does sound very good. Thanks

[rossyl]

None of the MX5 series I can see encourage or even expect driving to and from the races....or am i wrong?

[rossyl]

I wouldn't want to go over £5k. But really I'd like to spend £1-3k on the car.

I will do AutoSolos/Sprints initially. In order to build skill and a confidence.
Then move on to track racing.

Thanks very much for the suggestion of this series, and I hope it keeps this points advantage for driving to/from meets. It solves the major issue for me of not having a garage/driveway (so not ability to trailer) and also presumably the series must encourage "clean" driving otherwise driving to/form wouldn't be possible, so a positive on the costs side as well.

[rossyl]

Steve, any suggestions for a cheap track day in or near the South East? I've often thought they are overpriced.

[rossyl]

Morning Andy,

Thanks very much. Looking at the 70's series, I had thought the requirements were to keep the car as standard as possible. Or, do they all require a roll cage?

With a standard car, I think I should be well in the ball park for a 70's car.

My main thinking is that in the 70s and 80s cars were not that reliable. So driving one of them to and from a track, and thrashing it in-between might not work best.

Thanks for your help.

[rossyl]

Fishy Dave said:

You can drive many race cars to and from the circuit, but there is that worry about how you get back if an incident occurs...

Avoid a series more likely to result in panel damage

Hope that helps, cheers, Dave

Dave that is really helpful. Thanks very much. Do you know of any series less likely to result in damage in the South East (or near)?

Altrezia said:

Seriously. Check out Production BMW. It really is the cheapest (one make) race series in the UK.

I bought my race car for £2600, I got it road-legal (easily) and drove it to every round in year 1.
I came 11th in the championship of almost 40 cars. Entry fees are under £300 per round, tyres are £260-300 a set, though I used old part worn tyres for the first year. They also race on great tracks as they are well supported by MSVR - Brands GP, Silverstone GP, Donnington, Rockingham, Oulton etc.

I don't race with them anymore, but would recommend it to anyone looking for a good race series with decent sized grids.

http://www.pbmwc.co.uk

This is brilliant thanks very much. Will check it out. A few questions if you don't mind...
Was Production BMW your first bit of track racing?
The races - are they one day, or spread over two days? If two days, what do the first and second day consist of?
Is it s friendly series?
How much damage did you sustain to the car in your average race?
Are body panels cheap to find?
Any other thoughts?

Thank you

Edited by rossyl on Monday 25th July 13:39