open wheel vs closed wheel
Discussion
Hi,
(I've had a bit of a search around the forums, but can't see anything too conclusive.)
I'm after a car to race next year and am shopping around - getting very tempted with some of the kit cars, many of which have a kinda formula-like layout to them. But I can't really justify the cost unless its something I can also abuse at trackdays throughout the year.
Here's a couple of pics of the kind of thing I'm considering (but also Locosts, Sylva Phoenix, etc):
whats the deal with this kind of thing on track days? I get that open-wheeled cars are a no-no (and I get why!) But Caterhams, etc, are fine; with flimsy mudguards.
So a fair distinction might be that it must be road legal; the SVA includes requirements on covering up the wheels.
But that also implies a bunch of other stuff thats probalby not relevant (and is hard to retro-fit to an existing car).
Short of ringing round the track day organisers, has anyone else been through this process already? Or know of any good candidate - or kind of car to avoid?
(I get that noise from a race car may also be an issue...)
Any input appreciated,
thx
S
(I've had a bit of a search around the forums, but can't see anything too conclusive.)
I'm after a car to race next year and am shopping around - getting very tempted with some of the kit cars, many of which have a kinda formula-like layout to them. But I can't really justify the cost unless its something I can also abuse at trackdays throughout the year.
Here's a couple of pics of the kind of thing I'm considering (but also Locosts, Sylva Phoenix, etc):
whats the deal with this kind of thing on track days? I get that open-wheeled cars are a no-no (and I get why!) But Caterhams, etc, are fine; with flimsy mudguards.
So a fair distinction might be that it must be road legal; the SVA includes requirements on covering up the wheels.
But that also implies a bunch of other stuff thats probalby not relevant (and is hard to retro-fit to an existing car).
Short of ringing round the track day organisers, has anyone else been through this process already? Or know of any good candidate - or kind of car to avoid?
(I get that noise from a race car may also be an issue...)
Any input appreciated,
thx
S
As far as I know trackday-wise the rules are that if the wheels are covered in mudguards then the car is fine. Apparently MK have got the single seater Sprint approved by all the TDO's as it has mudguards. Cannot see how a 2 seater with four cycle wings could ever be a problem nowdays. However, if you turned up in an F3 car with little cycle wings you may get a few raised eyebrows!
However, there are plenty of cars out there which are race / road legal, and can take plenty of track abuse. Obvious choices include ex 750mc bike-engined RGB cars, or Kit car championship cars. Just be aware that RGB cars, although "road going bike-engined" officially, probobly less than 50% are ACTUALLY road legal and SVA'd (don't ask!) A class C Fireblade Fury for instance will set you back about £7k and they are nigh on indestructible unless you hit something solid.
However, there are plenty of cars out there which are race / road legal, and can take plenty of track abuse. Obvious choices include ex 750mc bike-engined RGB cars, or Kit car championship cars. Just be aware that RGB cars, although "road going bike-engined" officially, probobly less than 50% are ACTUALLY road legal and SVA'd (don't ask!) A class C Fireblade Fury for instance will set you back about £7k and they are nigh on indestructible unless you hit something solid.
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Thursday 27th December 21:00
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