what should I do?
Discussion
walk before you start running.
racing is hideously expensive. you will need a budget of £10K for your first season in a championship to buy car, kit, travel to races, race entry fees, contingency, sundries etc etc.then there is the time issue....
have a look at sprints if you have the competitive bug, the mini will be very slow but its all about having fun. trophy hunters at clubman events are ridiculed (albeit behind their backs!)
as for track days, the mini is fine, you just need experience of track driving so an under powered car is fine, it has fairly neutral handling so providing you stick to your limits, it should be ok.
tuition is a good idea, lots of track day companies offer a driving instructor for sessions. look for an event which has a novice session so you dont get loony caterhams etc buzzing past every minute as you will not learn as much if you are looking in your mirrors all day. most are 15/20 sessions, just long enough to get into a groove, not too long to really start excessive wear on the car.
forget the "experience" days, time in the car is limited and they are very expensive. 4 laps in a ferrari vs 50 in the mini?!?
racing is hideously expensive. you will need a budget of £10K for your first season in a championship to buy car, kit, travel to races, race entry fees, contingency, sundries etc etc.then there is the time issue....
have a look at sprints if you have the competitive bug, the mini will be very slow but its all about having fun. trophy hunters at clubman events are ridiculed (albeit behind their backs!)
as for track days, the mini is fine, you just need experience of track driving so an under powered car is fine, it has fairly neutral handling so providing you stick to your limits, it should be ok.
tuition is a good idea, lots of track day companies offer a driving instructor for sessions. look for an event which has a novice session so you dont get loony caterhams etc buzzing past every minute as you will not learn as much if you are looking in your mirrors all day. most are 15/20 sessions, just long enough to get into a groove, not too long to really start excessive wear on the car.
forget the "experience" days, time in the car is limited and they are very expensive. 4 laps in a ferrari vs 50 in the mini?!?
MSV run a number of novice days at Brands Hatch - http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/trackd...
Don't take the Mini on track.
Get a dirt cheap fun little car and book some novice track days, you can usually for about £25 book some tuition on the day.
Something like an E30 BMW 318i, or MK2 Golf 8V GTi can be picked up for peanuts and will be a good way to learn.
PM me if your interested getting a car sourced and ready for a track day.
Get a dirt cheap fun little car and book some novice track days, you can usually for about £25 book some tuition on the day.
Something like an E30 BMW 318i, or MK2 Golf 8V GTi can be picked up for peanuts and will be a good way to learn.
PM me if your interested getting a car sourced and ready for a track day.
Another way to go is this.
Look at the BRSCC web site and have a look at some of the race series you might be interested in.
http://www.brscc.co.uk/
Then look for a ready prepared car to run in that series... here are two (at random) examples
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/17900/MGF_TR...
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/21422/VW_GOL...
Don’t know if these exact cars are any good, but it might give you some idea of what you can get if you look around.
Then buy the car and a second hand trailer and go and do some track days....
If you feel comfortable go get your race licence (check out the MAS web site)
http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.a...
And then enter a few races..
If you don’t end up racing you will have a handy track day tool that well driven should see off much more power full cars.
This is also useful page to give you some insight in to starting racing.
http://www.gomotorsport.net/en-GB/godrive/circuitr...
But it's not a low cost sport......
Look at the BRSCC web site and have a look at some of the race series you might be interested in.
http://www.brscc.co.uk/
Then look for a ready prepared car to run in that series... here are two (at random) examples
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/17900/MGF_TR...
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/21422/VW_GOL...
Don’t know if these exact cars are any good, but it might give you some idea of what you can get if you look around.
Then buy the car and a second hand trailer and go and do some track days....
If you feel comfortable go get your race licence (check out the MAS web site)
http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.a...
And then enter a few races..
If you don’t end up racing you will have a handy track day tool that well driven should see off much more power full cars.
This is also useful page to give you some insight in to starting racing.
http://www.gomotorsport.net/en-GB/godrive/circuitr...
But it's not a low cost sport......
Edited by chrisb0 on Thursday 11th June 20:45
Quick heads up on the trailer.
Unless you're also allowed to drive trucks and buses, your license is highly unlikely to cover towing a trailer (as is the case for all car licenses obtained after 1997). I've heard stories of people being caught out, effectively caught driving something they're not entitled to!
Unless you're also allowed to drive trucks and buses, your license is highly unlikely to cover towing a trailer (as is the case for all car licenses obtained after 1997). I've heard stories of people being caught out, effectively caught driving something they're not entitled to!
[quote=T89 Track & Race]Don't take the Mini on track.
[/quote]
Why not?
IMO, go along with your brother for a novice track day somewhere (Bedford may be better as a starter than Brands too) and share the driving. A second driver will only add £20-30 onto the cost. The car will survive fine as you are both beginners so won't be hammering the brakes or tyres too.
This way you can get your first taster for track driving and it may help you decide where to go from there.
You can find a full list of MSV novice days here http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/trackd...
[/quote]
Why not?
IMO, go along with your brother for a novice track day somewhere (Bedford may be better as a starter than Brands too) and share the driving. A second driver will only add £20-30 onto the cost. The car will survive fine as you are both beginners so won't be hammering the brakes or tyres too.
This way you can get your first taster for track driving and it may help you decide where to go from there.
You can find a full list of MSV novice days here http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/trackd...
Ok what is a budget to race in the UK, I race in Malaysia,
So cost in a good series is, in pounds
Race Licence 10
Entry fee 6 race series 600
Tyres, One set 300 ( a year, practice qualify n last years tyres)
Fuel (1 poind a gallon) say 30 (30 laps a weekend 3 miles x 6 weekends)
Garage Rent at circuit (shared) 200,
So say 1,250 pounds a year
Of course captital cost of car, trailer, tow car not included, or spare and repair or travel cost to the curcuit,
So cost in a good series is, in pounds
Race Licence 10
Entry fee 6 race series 600
Tyres, One set 300 ( a year, practice qualify n last years tyres)
Fuel (1 poind a gallon) say 30 (30 laps a weekend 3 miles x 6 weekends)
Garage Rent at circuit (shared) 200,
So say 1,250 pounds a year
Of course captital cost of car, trailer, tow car not included, or spare and repair or travel cost to the curcuit,
A.Wang said:
Quick heads up on the trailer.
Unless you're also allowed to drive trucks and buses, your license is highly unlikely to cover towing a trailer (as is the case for all car licenses obtained after 1997). I've heard stories of people being caught out, effectively caught driving something they're not entitled to!
Wrong... Unless you're also allowed to drive trucks and buses, your license is highly unlikely to cover towing a trailer (as is the case for all car licenses obtained after 1997). I've heard stories of people being caught out, effectively caught driving something they're not entitled to!
With a post-97 licence you CAN tow a trailer without an extra test; the combo of car plus trailer must not go over 3500kg - to expand a little, the car weight plus the max gross weight of the trailer must not be more than 3500kg MAM.
With this setup you'll be fine with an estate car towing a hatchback or sports car etc easily...
Edited because I searched for this link:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...
Edited by frodo_monkey on Tuesday 16th June 10:30
Don't be concerned about what you drive. You don't HAVE to have a GT3 or Caterham to do a track day, and you can have just as much fun in a more humble car.
Many track days have instructors along for the day. Look around at some of the usual suspect organisers, and give them a call explaining that you are a complete novice.
Get along to your first event nice and early, and go and find the instructors. Introduce yourself to them, and explain your situation. Ask that they sit with you for your first session (or more), and listen to what they have to say .... getting braking points, apexes, and being smooth is far more important than any flaring revs and agressive turning that many mistake for driving fast. Maybe they might have a plan of the circuit to talk you through before you go out.
Smaller club circuit events might be a better starting point. Castle Combe is a great little friendly circuit, with some good instructors. Nice place to start.
Do one event, and decide where you want to go based on how you found it.
Don't turn up for your first track day with a bald flat tyre, the fuel light on, and a blowing exhaust. An hour of preparation at home in the dry saves several hours of frustration and messing about later in the day.
Don't be scared of the rain! We all drive in the rain everyday. You can still enjoy yourself on the track too within lower limits ..... Wet grass IS a one way ticket to whichever object momentum is carrying you towards though.
Many track days have instructors along for the day. Look around at some of the usual suspect organisers, and give them a call explaining that you are a complete novice.
Get along to your first event nice and early, and go and find the instructors. Introduce yourself to them, and explain your situation. Ask that they sit with you for your first session (or more), and listen to what they have to say .... getting braking points, apexes, and being smooth is far more important than any flaring revs and agressive turning that many mistake for driving fast. Maybe they might have a plan of the circuit to talk you through before you go out.
Smaller club circuit events might be a better starting point. Castle Combe is a great little friendly circuit, with some good instructors. Nice place to start.
Do one event, and decide where you want to go based on how you found it.
Don't turn up for your first track day with a bald flat tyre, the fuel light on, and a blowing exhaust. An hour of preparation at home in the dry saves several hours of frustration and messing about later in the day.
Don't be scared of the rain! We all drive in the rain everyday. You can still enjoy yourself on the track too within lower limits ..... Wet grass IS a one way ticket to whichever object momentum is carrying you towards though.
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