Storage / transport questions

[mx5tom]

I'm dying to give racing a go and I'm looking to get involved with Formula Vee early next year. Though it's early days at the moment, I do have a few questions (no doubt I'll have lots more later on ) I'd really appreciate if someone could answer...

Mainly, it comes down to storing and transporting the car. I'm going to be moving soon, and I'm going to be quite limited by space. I'll have a garage that I could fit the car in, but additional parking is pretty sparse.

At first, I was considering getting an old 4x4 or something as a tow car and storing the car on its trailer in the garage. I could get a 4x4 parked up fine, but I won't have the space to park a car and trailer outside. After a quick read around, this seems to be a bit of a problem in terms of insurance (storing the car on a trailer). Is this at all possible, or should I just rule out that as an option now?

Assuming that storing it on a trailer isn't possible, the only other way I could think of doing it would be a van. Now, I have a feeling this is even less likely. What sort of size van would be needed? Unless it would fit in a panel van (LWB or Sprinter or similar) then again, space would be an issue...

Any other ideas? This is quite a long way off so no rush, but would be good to get an idea of what's possible.

Thanks

[SmartVenom]

Have you looked into getting a team to store/transport the car? It may well work out cheaper (at least in the immediate term). It may also help you get started as you can sort out race support as well. My car is stored and transported to the track for me and it does make things a lot easier, I don't have to get a car I don't want for towing and to worry about storage of a trailer.

[vjay48]

Store you race car in your garage,find a secure caravan storage site,i have used two,most will store a trailer as well,works for us. We pay around £300 a year.insurance against theft is £80 a year,you would need a helicopter to find ours very secure.

[mx5tom]

Hadn't considered it, didn't know that was an option! I've looked at arrive and drive, which I'd be doing to start with just to get a feel for it before committing to buying a car but doing that long term would just be too expensive.

I'd like to own my own car as I want to be as hands on as possible. I've got a lot to learn so the more I can get involved with the quicker I'll learn, really.

Just had a search for storage/transport services and found a company specialising in F-Vees, and the costs look pretty reasonable.

Also, the tip about using a caravan storage site is a good one, will look at that too

[Shoestringracer]

I have seen (at Prescott) a LWB Sprinter van with a vintage Bugatti inside. Always seemed very sensible to me - can go faster than car with trailer, can leave it parked at the services etc without worries. Car nice and clean / dry when you arrive. I looked into it when I had a Midget competition car which I've now sold, but I didn't want the whole depreciation / tax / insurance / MOT / servicing cost. However, that was for a very occasional hobby so if I'd spent £2000 a year on the van that would have been about £500 extra per event. If you are doing a full season and taking it seriously and spreading the cost over many events then I think it would work. It could well be cheaper than running a 4x4 and trailer anyway.

[dapearson]

Shoestringracer said:

I have seen (at Prescott) a LWB Sprinter van with a vintage Bugatti inside. Always seemed very sensible to me - can go faster than car with trailer, can leave it parked at the services etc without worries. Car nice and clean / dry when you arrive. I looked into it when I had a Midget competition car which I've now sold, but I didn't want the whole depreciation / tax / insurance / MOT / servicing cost. However, that was for a very occasional hobby so if I'd spent £2000 a year on the van that would have been about £500 extra per event. If you are doing a full season and taking it seriously and spreading the cost over many events then I think it would work. It could well be cheaper than running a 4x4 and trailer anyway.

I've had a van with car inside before. Caterhams will just about fit in a Relay/Boxer/Ducato, and in others like Sprinters too with the rear wings removed.

It was by far the best way of taking the car round the country. Far preferable to a car/trailer. Stick a Fiamma awning on the side and you're sorted. Sleep in it. Carry lots of spares. Hide when it rains. Secure and stealthy when stopping en-route.

The downside is the running costs of an extra vehicle. Vans are expensive to buy too.