Who races here?
Discussion
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
Mannginger said:
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
Classic Sports Car Club Tin Tops and Swinging Sixties in variuos cars.
Mannginger said:
How did you get started in racing?
Through Family, Father started racing in 1991 and mum in 1993. Mum was also an ARDS instructor at Mallory for many years. I started racing in 2002 but did my first full season this year which was great fun.
Mannginger said:
Are you self funding
Yes.
Mannginger said:
How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
The first time was quite nerve-racking as you don't know what to expect along with hoping the car is in the correct gear and at the right revs waiting for those lights to go out, you can watch as may in-car starts as you like but it is nothing like the real thing.
Mannginger said:
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
It can be like that. My first ever race strt was in the Maestro at Snetterton. In front of me were two Alfa 75's and next to me another Maestro. When the lights went out I had a good start with little wheelspin but the Alfa in front didn't so I had to take evasive action to the left to miss him only to be greeted the the pole position car ( I was on row 7) who had grabbed 4th instead of 2nd off the line, so I then was hard on the brakes dodging the other way to be have some clear space behind another Alfa 75.
At the first corner I started braking way before I needed to since everyone else was an I kept my inside line only to watch the RWD Alfa in front spear off the circuit onto the grass and then jump 4ft in the air when it hit a deep cut in the grass. He made it back on but now behind me.
For fun with clothes on it is hard to beat the thrill of a race with the start and then the dicing with other cars for the duration. We keep it quite clean as we all know each other and therefore don't banger race like BTCC since we pay for the damage ourselves.
Mannginger said:
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
Dunlop Tuscan challenge, Class B with a 5ltr Rover V8 Tuscan.
The season started as a nightmare bust gearbox,bust ecu, not enough power.
Mid season went well with some wins, towards the end of the season we had some handling problems,( bent wishbone etc) that stopped us winning. Should have won the last race but made a mistake and dropped to second.
Overall 4 wins 8 fastest laps, overall series and Class B titles for the year so not a bad result
Mannginger said:
How did you get started in racing?
Bought a Chimaera, found pistonheads, at the time the Tasmin challenge was heavily featured, One night after comming back from the pub i swapped an old land rover for a tasmin, converted it and went racing. Won the class with that in 2004, and then moved to a tuscan.
Mannginger said:
Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board?
Largly self funding with a couple of sponsors helping out with a few bits.. major change this year though with Castle Race Engines Joining as a major partner, building our engines and helping out a lot. Their input was pivotal to us winning the series, as our major competior has TVR Power as a sponsor!! I dont think we would have been able to win without the help of CRE
Our Other Sponsors are
Central TVR
ToolsnStuff
Piper Cams
Famous Four
Compomotive wheels help out with a bit of a discount as do BG developments the brake people, royal purple also gave us some oil.
Mannginger said:
How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you draw up to the grid the nerves and the heart race go up a bit, but the workload keeps you busy.
where has everyone else lined up, which way are their wheels pointing, how much revs shall i use, holding the right revs, watching the lights, they go out, clutch and revs up, hold any slide, counter any wheel spin, where is everyone else going, where are the gaps and hang on.
The start is very important, you cant win in the first corner but you can make up and loose a number of places that will make things harder / easier throughout the race, get is wrong and you can be out almost instantly..
It all happens quickly as well.At mallory park we were on the 3rd row of the grid. from starting to braking for gerrards we were doing just over 100mph and went in to the corner 3 abreast having made it up to 3rd place...
All good fun...
johnnymaestro said:
Mannginger said:
How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
The first time was quite nerve-racking as you don't know what to expect along with hoping the car is in the correct gear and at the right revs waiting for those lights to go out, you can watch as may in-car starts as you like but it is nothing like the real thing.
The lights go out!!!
CombeMarshal said:
johnnymaestro said:
Mannginger said:
How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
The first time was quite nerve-racking as you don't know what to expect along with hoping the car is in the correct gear and at the right revs waiting for those lights to go out, you can watch as may in-car starts as you like but it is nothing like the real thing.
The lights go out!!!
Mannginger said:
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
Castle Combe Saloons in 3 litre E36 M3. Runs on MSA list 1A tyres. Season has gone quite well considering I am up against mental 500bhp+ 12 lap turbo specials. The car has improved by about 2 seconds a lap over the season and now I am challenging for podiums.
I also occasionally do Britcar races (always in a BMW) and have competed in both 24hr Silverstone races. Next year I might do a couple of rounds in the VLN series.
Mannginger said:
How did you get started in racing?
Did a lot of trackdays in my CSL and decided that racing would be more fun, which it certainly is.
Mannginger said:
Are you self funding
Yes.
Mannginger said:
How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
One of the best bits is waiting for the lights to go out. The M3 is demon from the line, so you always end up in a dice into Quarry.
Mannginger said:
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Sometimes you get some loon who will use your car as a turn in aid, but mostly it is close, but you give everyone room.
The Britcar series is seriously good value, as you get tons of tracktime, close racing and quite cheap entry fees. Make sure you use a reliable car, not a fragile turbo thing and you'll get a lot of satisfaction from it. The Combe racing is a bit of fun as it is concentrated into one day on 9 weekends a year, but you only do about 10 laps in qualifying and 12 in the race. So across the season you race for about 2 hours and the costs are about £8-£10k (Inc tyres, tuning, running repairs, fuel, engineering, entry and testing)
Mannginger said:
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
this season i was racing in the 750mc stock hatch championship, it started well, with some top 10 positions, before being punted off in a big way at snetterton( see my video on p'heads tv) i then spent the rest of the year on the sidelines, saving money by not racing in order to repair my car ( £3500), i came back out for silverstone at the end of august, but faired badly as i had been out of the car so long, and was still conscious of the cost of repairs on my car. the only other event i have planned is the birkett relay next weekend.
i got started, through initially going to race and rally schools whilst a teenager, and then upon graduation from uni, my dad paid for me to undertake the jim russell racing drivers school - which then set me on the way to stardom!
i am self funded, spending around 7-10k pa on racing, although i have been known to put the odd bill through my dad's company, for vat purposes.
as for the starting grid, funnily enough, i was at my most nervous in the holding area before the race,thinking "why the
am i doing this" once on the grid it was ok, although, i braked to early for the first corner, as i was braking at the normal spot form a flying lap, whereas from a standing start you can brake, 50 m later - needless to say i have not done this since! once i got to the finish, i was elated, although what keep s me going is the chance to have that winning feeling again - there's nothing like it. i gererally feel quite priveleged to be racing, as it has been an ambition of mine since i was a child.
Edited by stockhatcher on Sunday 22 October 15:41
Had success in karts, FVauxhall, FRenault, then ran out of sponsorship and then after a lot of instructing, got a job. Since then been part funded in various things including LMES (Alfa and Integrale), John Cooper Challenge, and more recently E46 M3 in VLN and 24hr races.
Haven't raced in '06 due to new business, but '07 will be good
Haven't raced in '06 due to new business, but '07 will be good
Racing in the Caterham Graduates
4 seasons and 2 cars later and I'm still as hooked as ever
This season hasn't gone as well as I'd like but more down to increasing competition levels and a bit of bad luck.
No sponsorship but the series is relatively low budget
Had always wanted to race but didn't think I could afford it and in the end decided I'd do it anyway
The start is always a bit of an adrelain rush and always a bit of a relief to come out of the first bend in one piece
4 seasons and 2 cars later and I'm still as hooked as ever
This season hasn't gone as well as I'd like but more down to increasing competition levels and a bit of bad luck.
No sponsorship but the series is relatively low budget
Had always wanted to race but didn't think I could afford it and in the end decided I'd do it anyway
The start is always a bit of an adrelain rush and always a bit of a relief to come out of the first bend in one piece
I raced this year in the Production BMW Championship
A fantastic championship, really well run by a great bunch of guys. This year there were a total of 52 cars that took part. It was my first year racing and I finished 13th overall - not too bad considering I missed 3 of the rounds and had a DNF.
I have always wanted to race and so spent a lot of time finding the right championship on the internet; then visiting races, looking at cars and speaking to racers. I am entirely self funded and sold my road car to race!
Waiting for the lights to go out in my first race was priceless!
I have documented my first year with photos and videos on my blog: www.sohoracing.com
A fantastic championship, really well run by a great bunch of guys. This year there were a total of 52 cars that took part. It was my first year racing and I finished 13th overall - not too bad considering I missed 3 of the rounds and had a DNF.
I have always wanted to race and so spent a lot of time finding the right championship on the internet; then visiting races, looking at cars and speaking to racers. I am entirely self funded and sold my road car to race!
Waiting for the lights to go out in my first race was priceless!
I have documented my first year with photos and videos on my blog: www.sohoracing.com
Just finished my 3rd season in MG sportscar. This time finished 3rd, just 3 points behind 2nd place. Last year finished 2nd. An Engine blow up mid way through the year cost me the points that would ahve easily netted 2nd place.
The car is self prepared - excluding the enigne.
Self funding - although I also work as an ARDS instructor and then helps pay for the racing.
As I sit waiting for the red lights to go out - I fell calm, expectent. Racing shouldn't be a constant white knuckle ride. You are in control. I love the first few laps as the cars run close together. It's not as crazy as it looks from outside. - Often as a driver you are only interested in those cars in your immediate vacinity - as a spectator you are looking at 25/30 cars and thinking "crikey".
Running close to cars at speed without touching, but still fighting for position is incredibly satisfying. Watching the car ahead of you using opposite lock whilst you are doign the same thing all at 80mph or more, and defending from another 2 or 3 cars behind, and passing 2 back markers at the same who are having a fight is fantastic.
The car is now for sale as I want more speed.
The car is self prepared - excluding the enigne.
Self funding - although I also work as an ARDS instructor and then helps pay for the racing.
As I sit waiting for the red lights to go out - I fell calm, expectent. Racing shouldn't be a constant white knuckle ride. You are in control. I love the first few laps as the cars run close together. It's not as crazy as it looks from outside. - Often as a driver you are only interested in those cars in your immediate vacinity - as a spectator you are looking at 25/30 cars and thinking "crikey".
Running close to cars at speed without touching, but still fighting for position is incredibly satisfying. Watching the car ahead of you using opposite lock whilst you are doign the same thing all at 80mph or more, and defending from another 2 or 3 cars behind, and passing 2 back markers at the same who are having a fight is fantastic.
The car is now for sale as I want more speed.
I race in the AVO Ginetta Championship - though it has been a bit of a reduced season for me due to lack of funds (mainly as a result of having spent an absolute fortunate last year!)
I am, though, doing the 6 hour Birkett Relay at Silverstone on Saturday - and I can't wait!
I love the start of the race - mainly because it's one of my strongest points and I usually make up several places. The adrenaline is pumping and you feel acutely aware of everything around you yet are completely focused on the red lights. Fantastic.
Hoping to have a full season next year and get back into the swing of it.
I am, though, doing the 6 hour Birkett Relay at Silverstone on Saturday - and I can't wait!
I love the start of the race - mainly because it's one of my strongest points and I usually make up several places. The adrenaline is pumping and you feel acutely aware of everything around you yet are completely focused on the red lights. Fantastic.
Hoping to have a full season next year and get back into the swing of it.
pistol pete said:
wee_skids said:
The car is now for sale as I want more speed.
What are you planning to getting instead? (I'm if's not a closely guarded secret)
Pete
Hi Pete, I'm planning on building an RX7 that will in the same class as Paul in the DDMC champiosnhip.
I've already most of the build planned - but I need funds to start. And space.
It won't have as much power as the ZT, but it will be consierable lighter and very nimble.
I'll second Ianmeister comments . I also raced this season in the Production BMW Championship. Finished 20-something due to car damage / cashflow and general agg from the wife.
Loved every minute of it. Signed up again for next season - its addictive. A great bunch of lads, close racing on great circuits and a brilliant crack. Competitive but still friendly.
Details at www.seloc.org
Loved every minute of it. Signed up again for next season - its addictive. A great bunch of lads, close racing on great circuits and a brilliant crack. Competitive but still friendly.
Details at www.seloc.org
Mannginger said:
In what series and how has this season gone for you?
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
How did you get started in racing? Are you self funding or have you managed to bring sponsors on board? How does it feel to sit in a grid of cars waitig for the lights to go out?
As you can possibly tell I'm fascinated by racing. When you see the in car action from various series it always seems like such a frantic start, in many cases it seems like a kind of "close your eyes and hope to make it round the first corner" thing. I'm sure that it's not, but it does seem so sometimes.
Cheers,
Phil
How do Phil.
I have raced, or should I say attempted to race in two championships this season - the Dunlop Track & Race Cars series, and the Dunlop V8 Supercar Challenge, with my ex-Thundersaloon Astra Saloon (nee. Belmont) V8, powered by an all alloy Chevy which produces somewhere around 700bhp.
What successes? Well, it's been a nightmare season (again!). My wife keeps telling me to test it and iron out the bugs before racing it, but you know racing drivers! They see an entry form for a circuit they love and the rest is fivers on the fire.
I've had lots of issues with front suspension setup, which I'm convinced I've cured now.
I've had engine issues - which culminated in a rebuild post round 2 this year due to two blown headgaskets, five holed pistons, and vast consumption of beer to drown sorrows.
With that sorted, I've had water system problems, oil leaks like there was no tomorrow. But again, those should now be done.
I started in the BRSCC Super Road Saloon championship back in 1990, and through 1990/91 I took 16 wins from 18 starts, winning the 1400cc class in 91. I spent a lot of years thrashing the beans out of various Vauxhall Nova's - starting with th Sport, through a GTE, finally a GSi (which I still have), but longed for a Thundersaloon for many years. In 2002 I bought a rolling shell - of a car that I'd lusted after from the day it was built.
I am self funded. I had a sponsor once - a friend who ran a group of companies bankrolled a run in the Birkett 6hr relay once.... a long long time ago!
Sitting on the grid, or in the rolling pack, it's a buzz. Then it's looking for gaps to move forwards, avoiding those who get it wrong, and trying not to make an arse of myself too.
But for me, this year, it's been an uphill struggle just to get onto the grid. As I said, hopefully, I have everything sorted now, and the last two races of 2006 will be completed, I don't care where I finish, just as long as I finish, and I can start to get to grips with the car properly with some sort of confidence in it. I know what I can do, it's a case of joining the two together, and finding the limits where man meets beast!
Some say I'm psyco-ceramic, but that's what it's like being on the knife edge between genius and insanity.
Rob.
I have raced in Monoposto single seaters (www.monoposto.co.uk) for the past 4 seasons - 3 seasons in Monoposto 1800 and this season in Mono 2000. However, I only compete in about 6-8 races a year due to budget and time issues. I am very definately self funding!!! Included in my race schedule has also usually been a couple of BARC-SEC single seater races on the Silverstone Stowe circuit - extremely good value and no scenery to hit!.
I drove a Formula Vauxhall Junior 16V for 3 seasons - great fun and very cheap to buy and run (£4.5 to buy, £10 for a set of second hand Formula Ford slicks, Sold for £4.5K!!!). I now have a 2 litre Formula Vauxhall which I bought for £6K and I use second hand F3 tyres at about £10-25 a set. Nothing comes close in performance per pound terms, IMHO. Adding everything up - licence, entry fees, medical, club membership, fuel, spares, tyres, transport, accident damage (not much), testing (not much) and only racing near home so no overnight stays, paid help at races - each race costs me about £400. That's not cheap in the real world but its considered to be cheap in racing; if I was technically competent then I know that i could race for for £300 a go. What the hell, i don't have kids and I'd rather race than go on holiday to Florida or Majorca etc! (went their when the Queen paid me to!!)
I am not a very good driver, sadly, but I have never had a buzz like it when I have been driving through the Craner Curves or Paddock Hill bend - it is an immense feeling. Believe me I have tried a few other things - Skiing, Para Penting, Gliding, sailing, "driving" a frigate through the Dover Straits at 30 Knots and "rapid roping" out of a hovering helicopter on to the deck of a "suspect" vessel and still nothing comes close to the buzz from racing.
Before the race I am usually a pain in the @rse - I feel really tense and suffer badly from PRT (Pre Race tension); I often wonder why I am doing it but afterwards I feel fantastic. And the feeling when you get a corner right is even better (not a feeling that I have had very often!! I have felt like giving up a few times but I know that if I sold the car then within 3-4 weeks I'd be looking for another one. I genuinely believe that even coming last can still be enjoyed when you are in a single seater and lapping a circuit that you have spent 10-20 years reading about or spectating at. I feel priviledged to be able to take part. Coming last in a race is still far better than coming first at Golf.
I have also just bought a race prepared Fiat Uno for £2K for use in the Classic and Sports car Club's "Tin Tops" series (www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk). These are 40 min, 2 driver races and great fun, plus the fact I can rent out the second drive and share an entry fee to subsidise my own costs. The car is very scruffy but hilarious fun to drive. I just need to work out how to change gear in a car with a gearbox that has a mind of its own!
Give it a go, and if you fancy it then single seaters are probably cheaper to run than you think and excellent performance for your money.
I drove a Formula Vauxhall Junior 16V for 3 seasons - great fun and very cheap to buy and run (£4.5 to buy, £10 for a set of second hand Formula Ford slicks, Sold for £4.5K!!!). I now have a 2 litre Formula Vauxhall which I bought for £6K and I use second hand F3 tyres at about £10-25 a set. Nothing comes close in performance per pound terms, IMHO. Adding everything up - licence, entry fees, medical, club membership, fuel, spares, tyres, transport, accident damage (not much), testing (not much) and only racing near home so no overnight stays, paid help at races - each race costs me about £400. That's not cheap in the real world but its considered to be cheap in racing; if I was technically competent then I know that i could race for for £300 a go. What the hell, i don't have kids and I'd rather race than go on holiday to Florida or Majorca etc! (went their when the Queen paid me to!!)
I am not a very good driver, sadly, but I have never had a buzz like it when I have been driving through the Craner Curves or Paddock Hill bend - it is an immense feeling. Believe me I have tried a few other things - Skiing, Para Penting, Gliding, sailing, "driving" a frigate through the Dover Straits at 30 Knots and "rapid roping" out of a hovering helicopter on to the deck of a "suspect" vessel and still nothing comes close to the buzz from racing.
Before the race I am usually a pain in the @rse - I feel really tense and suffer badly from PRT (Pre Race tension); I often wonder why I am doing it but afterwards I feel fantastic. And the feeling when you get a corner right is even better (not a feeling that I have had very often!! I have felt like giving up a few times but I know that if I sold the car then within 3-4 weeks I'd be looking for another one. I genuinely believe that even coming last can still be enjoyed when you are in a single seater and lapping a circuit that you have spent 10-20 years reading about or spectating at. I feel priviledged to be able to take part. Coming last in a race is still far better than coming first at Golf.
I have also just bought a race prepared Fiat Uno for £2K for use in the Classic and Sports car Club's "Tin Tops" series (www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk). These are 40 min, 2 driver races and great fun, plus the fact I can rent out the second drive and share an entry fee to subsidise my own costs. The car is very scruffy but hilarious fun to drive. I just need to work out how to change gear in a car with a gearbox that has a mind of its own!
Give it a go, and if you fancy it then single seaters are probably cheaper to run than you think and excellent performance for your money.
Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 24th October 20:03
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