It's what many TVR racers have dreamed of - a TVR only race series. There's something special about the TVR marque and most owners are convinced that their cars are the one to have and could give other models stiff competition around a track.
Now we'll finally have the chance to see the relative performance of the models in a race situation. The new race series will pitch Vixens against Griffiths and Chimaeras against Wedges and just about any other combination you fancy.
It's an evolution of the successful Tasmin series which Steve Lewis got off the ground in the last few years. Now demand from other racers has force the series to widen its remit.
The series will categorise cars into three classes:
Class B is one of the most powerful, single marque, club racing series for production cars available in the UK today. Through clever power to weight regulations, this class will allow standard 5 litre Griffiths, producing factory standard 340BHP, to compete on equal terms with other high powered Rover and TVR V8 Chimaeras, Griffiths and Cerberas as well as the most up to date TVR Tuscans producing up to 400BHP. The regulations will also allow road going TVRs which have been tuned to compete without having an unfair advantage on those running as standard.
Class A is open to cars with slightly less power than Class B. These cars are comparable to those developed and raced over the years in the TVRCC Tasmin Challenge. Again, the power to weight standardisation means that less powerful TVRs will still have an equal chance of beating the established Tasmin Challenge cars, as well as race against standard V8 powered TVRs. The regulations also allow leading Class A cars to compete for the overall TVRCC Challenge Cup title on a level playing field with the more powerful class B.
If you have already prepared your TVR in such a way that it doesn't conform to the regulations for Class A or B but you want to show the world what it can do, then this is the class for you. This class is open to any production based TVR, subject to acceptance by the organisers. Despite having to run on the same control tyres as the other classes, series points are not available to cars from this class, although it does give spectators an opportunity to be entertained by some of the more extreme machines prepared by enthusiasts, i.e. mad SEACs and Tuscan racers.
There are a number of hurdles that need to be completed in order to go racing and the first of these is to get your National B Race licence which is obtained by attending one of the recognised Association of Racing Driver Schools (ARDS) training days at a cost of around £330-350. The TVRCC will subsidise some of these fees though (see below).
1. Apply for an RAC MSA ARDS pack. This includes a video and the correct forms and costs £40.
2. Complete a medical check.
This can be done by the applicant’s GP or there might be the opportunity to complete on the ARDS test day, depending upon the venue.
3. With your form and driving licence you attend the ARDS day organised by TVRCC ARDS instructor Steve Lewis at Silverstone or Rockingham.
After initial signing on and a one hour briefing on racecraft and starting racing (exclusive to TVRCC members) you will split up and:
– Take the Medical (if required and available)
– Take the Multiple choice written ARDS test
– Take the ARDS practical test (this would include some (not normally included) pre-assessment in-car instruction, to give the driver time to learn the circuit and get used to what will be expected when the assessment starts.
– For the final activity, the groups will join together and take part in a timed (Fun) autotest.
This will be in a vehicle set up to overteer greatly and is good for teaching throttle control.
4.
For those (hopefully all!!) that have passed, the ARDS forms are stamped and this then allows the new racer to apply to the MSA for their licence.
Instead of the normal cost of £330-350, the TVR Car Club will sponsor the first 10 applicants such that they have to pay just £30 for the day. All you have to do is commit to racing in at least four rounds of the series.
If you would like to be one of the lucky 10 then you can reserve your place directly with Steve Lewis on 01908 647774.