How to get into racing?

[geo28]

Hi,

I have always been interested in motorsport and am at a time in my life when I am just plain fed up (midlife crisis at 27 ??)

So have recently been thinking about taking up racing as a hobby. Can anyone on here give me advice on how to get into the sport, where to start? what options are there etc.

[lanan]

Edited by lanan on Friday 23 February 14:52

[SimonY]

What area of the sport would you like to enter, and what do you know about these? Racing, rallying, hillclimbing, sprints, trials, karting?
What cars do you like?

[heebeegeetee]

A lot of info here.
www.msauk.org/site/custom/home/default.asp?chapter=22

How much money have you got to spend?

[kickstart]

Have a look at the 750 MC website www.750mc.co.uk as I think from memory that this has a section about starting. The 750MC is a very succesful club for the clubbie and runs the stock hatch championship which might be of interest.

Personally what I would suggest is to go along to a big 750MC meeting and have a look and chat to people, I am sure that this will answer a lot of questions. Also dont be put off it some folks tell you it costs a fortune - it certainly can cost a lot of money but if you are mechanically able of have a friend who is you can do a limited race season for a very small budget.

As to budgets have a look at www.cscc.co.uk on the newsletter as there is an article about someone running in their tin tops series - 2 driver 40 min races which splits costs.

[wedgeman]

Gavin - as you're a Chimaera driver why not come along to some of the Dunlop Tuscan Challenge race meetings this season & chat to the drivers and get a feel for the paddock - it would be good to see you.

If you would like to chat to someone more quickly than that, Graham Walden is the Car Club Competition Secretary and I'm sure would be able to answer any questions you might have; his details are on the inside cover of Sprint Magazine. Alternatively if you fancy sprinting your road legal Tiv, why not contact Steve Cox who organises the Car Club Seed Championship and have a go this year!

Or why not do both - great fun

Or anything else you can think of - please give me a shout.

Cheers - Howard

[JWBCoulson]

Best option is to go along to a range of club race meetings, eg my one:dunlop great and british and ask around. People are very friendly and will often help or push you in the direction of the club secretry who will help you get started. If you do come to Dunlop g+b, hunt me down (look at my profile) and we'll get you started.
james

[robbiemeister]

'pends where you live. SEMSEC do a BMW thing at Lydden. That's quite cheap and they have quite large grids.

and ofter forgotten alternative is sprinting. Cheaper and safer.

Edited by robbiemeister on Sunday 25th February 13:19

[geo28]

Hi all,

Thanks for the great response. I am totally unsure where this is going to take me at the moment, but seen as though I have a real passion for all things TVR I think I will take wedgeman up on the offer and get myself to a Tuscan challenge meet !

[peter-2006]

Why not look in to Caterham racing as well. Very competetive and lots of friendly people.
Theres a lot of different championships too, Starting with the Academy right the way up to C400's and Masters. Have a look at Caterham's website and also the graduates website for more information and look on www.spy-motorsport.co.uk for a few videos.

[itsallyellow]

geo28 said:

Hi all,

Thanks for the great response. I am totally unsure where this is going to take me at the moment, but seen as though I have a real passion for all things TVR I think I will take wedgeman up on the offer and get myself to a Tuscan challenge meet !

Yea you should! Looks like it will be a great season this year with some excellent machinery on track.
mike

[alexpez]

Whats the cheapest (and thats a relative term in motorsports if ever their was one!) single seater/open wheel series that allows/runs sequential gearboxes? Do the BARC still run an old Formula Renault series and do they run sequential boxes?

pez

[Piglet]

Have you thought about marshalling? it's a good way to get close to the action and be involved whilst you work out whether you want to compete and in what? Lots of different disciplines - track, flag, pits, startline, assembly etc. etc.

Take a look here www.marshals.co.uk/ and shout if you want more info there are a number of us about on here.

[jellison]

Club Motorsport is not too bad price wise if you do not bend or blow the car up!

[anonymous-user]

jellison said:

Club Motorsport is not too bad price wise if you do not bend or blow the car up!

or you get a tap from behind.... happens so often at combe on avon rise so some unfotunate driver ends up in the tyres at quarry...

[zumbruk]

Given that you've got a Chimaera, why not have a stab at the TVRCC Speed Championship? Sprints and hillclimbs, you can use your road car completely unmodified, it's not *too* expensive and the people are really nice (but then, I would say that, wouldn't I?)

Details here;

www.tvrspeedchampionship.co.uk

[jellison]

Like Amubruk sez Sprints best to start unless you fancy buying another car just for racing?

Oh I have had few tts drive into me in the past (don't mind a bit of tapping).

[wedgeman]

geo28 said:

Hi all,

Thanks for the great response. I am totally unsure where this is going to take me at the moment, but seen as though I have a real passion for all things TVR I think I will take wedgeman up on the offer and get myself to a Tuscan challenge meet !

Hi Gavin - great news! Would be great to see you at a Tuscan Challenge meet; make sure you come over to meet us in the paddock - we'll be in the Team Wright Racing awning - the one with the four Tuscan Challenge Cars in it...

And don't forget the sprinting - the TVRCC Speed Championship is just excellent. Coxy and the guys are spot-on.

Cheers for now

Howard