Starter motorsport - any suggestions?

[Mike_C]

Hi all,

I'm a keen driver and biker and over the years have done a fair few trackdays in both vehicles, but would like to consider competing in some form of short track motorsport (so no drifting, hill climbs or oval circuit racing please - and I'm too big/heavy for karting and not quick enough on a bike!).

I quite fancy some form of saloon car racing, but to be honest I don't know where to start! Obviously I am brand new to all this, so one series that did appeal was the Caterham Academy - I think it's around £15k all in for the year including the car, which is good value but still quite expensive!

Are there any cheaper options? I was thinking something along the lines of the Ford Saloon Car Championship or something in the 750 Motor Club, but once again am open to suggestions as I have no experience with either.

So, has anyone recently been in my position and taken the plunge into some form of starter motorsport? As mentioned, I don't have a £30k+ budget to jump into Britcar/GT Cup/etc or employ a team of mechanics etc, so something simple to work on and relatively cheap to buy and run would be ideal!

Suggestions on a postcard please...ta!

[Project 644]

Mike_C said:

Hi all,

I'm a keen driver and biker and over the years have done a fair few trackdays in both vehicles, but would like to consider competing in some form of short track motorsport (so no drifting, hill climbs or oval circuit racing please - and I'm too big/heavy for karting and not quick enough on a bike!).

I quite fancy some form of saloon car racing, but to be honest I don't know where to start! Obviously I am brand new to all this, so one series that did appeal was the Caterham Academy - I think it's around £15k all in for the year including the car, which is good value but still quite expensive!

Are there any cheaper options? I was thinking something along the lines of the Ford Saloon Car Championship or something in the 750 Motor Club , but once again am open to suggestions as I have no experience with either.

So, has anyone recently been in my position and taken the plunge into some form of starter motorsport? As mentioned, I don't have a £30k+ budget to jump into Britcar/GT Cup/etc or employ a team of mechanics etc, so something simple to work on and relatively cheap to buy and run would be ideal!

Suggestions on a postcard please...ta!

You said it yourself. StockHatch would fit the bill. Ready to race cars sell for £4000 upwards.

[Mike_C]

Project 644 said:

You said it yourself. StockHatch would fit the bill. Ready to race cars sell for £4000 upwards.

Sounds interesting. How much (roughly) would a seasons racing cost though? As the £15k for the Caterham Academy does include the car at the end of the season, which seems to make the rest of the season very good value!

Any ideas for the StockHatch running costs?

[garycat]

Also take a look at

http://www.pbmwc.co.uk/

and

http://www.pbmwc.co.uk/TTRS/

[The Wookie]

15k seems a bit low for the Academy, I'd budget for at least 18 grand once you've covered buying your kit, and travelled to all of the rounds.

You might want to consider Caterham Graduates Club if you're on a tighter budget, lots more rounds, cars available from 6k for a Classic with a 99bhp Vx engine and 8 or 9 for a Supergrad with a 120bhp K-Series. They're also a friendly bunch with big grids and close racing.

www.graduates.org.uk

Edited by The Wookie on Friday 25th September 12:07

[Stig]

http://www.locost-racing.com

HTH

[intrepid44]

How big/heavy are you?... Just there are heavy classes. And karting IS the cheapest form of racing on circuits that are made of tarmac and include both left and right corners.

[Mike_C]

garycat said:

Also take a look at

http://www.pbmwc.co.uk/

and

http://www.pbmwc.co.uk/TTRS/

These look interesting, and have also seen the Saxmax championship through the 750MC which could be a gower!

Given I won't have a mechanic and I am hardly a mechanic myself (although have a reasonable knowledge and a willingness to learn!), I think sometihng simple and that I have experience with (like a Saxo) would be a good starting point.

Would be really interested to hear from anyone who has recently competed in one of these championships with opinions/experiences and of course, costs too!

Cheers!

[Mike_C]

intrepid44 said:

How big/heavy are you?... Just there are heavy classes. And karting IS the cheapest form of racing on circuits that are made of tarmac and include both left and right corners.

6' tall, athletic build, 14 stone - I get whipped by these little 10 stone whippets at karting, so usually come 2nd or 3rd but there's always some lightweight nipper hooning past on every straight!!

Karting just doesn't do it enough for me I'm afraid!

[Marc W]

Mike_C said:

have also seen the Saxmax championship through the 750MC which could be a gower!

Only if you're aged 14-17

[lord summerisle]

Mike_C said:

Caterham Academy - I think it's around £15k all in for the year including the car, which is good value but still quite expensive!

sort of... tho the current price is £18k (home build) or £21k factory built. before you add any options... like paint, seats....

You do get alot of hand holding from caterham, and does include your race entries etc. But you get what? 3 hillclimbs/sprints and 4 races.



compared to getting a car - say a classic, super or mega grad car, for around £8-12k and having a calender of 14 races.

or else, as in the other thread - the 750mc club has lots of good options to start out in. or the Ma5da MX5 championship. Where you can pick up a car for £4-6k, and have a seasons racing for under £10k. for your £20k budget you could get into Legends too...

Edited by lord summerisle on Friday 25th September 13:32

[anonymous-user]

i think club ff1600 is massivle yoverlooked, as its just amateurs racing for fun, the general behaviour on track is higher than normal entry level saloon cars where a bit of "rubbing" doesnt do much damage, people are far more aware of their actions in open sheelers.

and lets face it, a modified saxo isnt a real racing car is it!?!?! what you want is a solid ff1600, 100bhp never felt so fast!....

[Jemco Andy]

Took ARDS in November 08 (thanks to Simon Mason for his advice)
Bought an Alfa 33 off Ebay for £350 in December
Raced in CSSC Tin Tops/Future Classics all year
3 Podiums including a class win during the season
Great series, great racing, 30 mins qualifying & 40 minute racing, and share costs with a 2nd driver
Less than £3000 spent
CSSC have raced at Spa, Donington GP and Silverstone this year
It's possible to 'live the dream' and not break the bank!

Come to the last meeting at Snetterton 17th/18th Oct to find out more.

Andy

[graememac]

Mike_C said:

intrepid44 said:

How big/heavy are you?... Just there are heavy classes. And karting IS the cheapest form of racing on circuits that are made of tarmac and include both left and right corners.

6' tall, athletic build, 14 stone - I get whipped by these little 10 stone whippets at karting, so usually come 2nd or 3rd but there's always some lightweight nipper hooning past on every straight!!

Karting just doesn't do it enough for me I'm afraid!

Are you talking about indoor hire karts?? 2 stroke karting is a whole different level where there are usually classes for heavier drivers or try one of the gearbox classes where weight isn't so much of an issue. I tested a 125cc gearbox kart a few years ago and i doubt anything will come close to the rawness of it, great fun!

[intrepid44]

pablo said:

i think club ff1600 is massivle yoverlooked, as its just amateurs racing for fun, the general behaviour on track is higher than normal entry level saloon cars where a bit of "rubbing" doesnt do much damage, people are far more aware of their actions in open sheelers.

and lets face it, a modified saxo isnt a real racing car is it!?!?! what you want is a solid ff1600, 100bhp never felt so fast!....

What about if you put that 100bhp in a kart .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLYCrVP-g2g

[Galileo]

Formula Vee is the cheapest open wheeled racing you will get, and have a higher power to weight ratio than ff1600. Also run by the 750mc who like to keep costs down.

[andy97]

Jemco Andy said:

Took ARDS in November 08 (thanks to Simon Mason for his advice)
Bought an Alfa 33 off Ebay for £350 in December
Raced in CSSC Tin Tops/Future Classics all year
3 Podiums including a class win during the season
Great series, great racing, 30 mins qualifying & 40 minute racing, and share costs with a 2nd driver
Less than £3000 spent
CSSC have raced at Spa, Donington GP and Silverstone this year
It's possible to 'live the dream' and not break the bank!

Come to the last meeting at Snetterton 17th/18th Oct to find out more.

Andy

Another massive vote for the CSCC Tin Tops and/ or Future Classics series. If you search on here (or in the club motorsport section) you will find several threads discussing the two series. A great series for the club racer, inc novices.

I, too, used to race an Alfa 33 in the Tin Tops series (which I bought for £650, although it was not as smart as Jemco Andy's!)

There are a wide choice of cars available for not much money for this series from Fiat Unos (mines for sale!) to XR2s to Peugeot 205s to MG Metros.

Happy to answer any questions you like.

[anonymous-user]

intrepid44 said:

pablo said:

i think club ff1600 is massivle yoverlooked, as its just amateurs racing for fun, the general behaviour on track is higher than normal entry level saloon cars where a bit of "rubbing" doesnt do much damage, people are far more aware of their actions in open sheelers.

and lets face it, a modified saxo isnt a real racing car is it!?!?! what you want is a solid ff1600, 100bhp never felt so fast!....

What about if you put that 100bhp in a kart .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLYCrVP-g2g

1:21 through the bombhole........wow!.....