Thinking of Hillclimbing - Questions
Discussion
I am thinking of getting into hillclimbing and wondered what would be the best for me.
Basically, I want to know how I would go about it, what rules and regs there are and classes and such like.
What car would be the best to start with? I'm thinking Austin-Healey Sprite or Triumph GT6 at the moment, but what do you think?
Any tips, hints or otheriwse are all welcome.
C
Basically, I want to know how I would go about it, what rules and regs there are and classes and such like.
What car would be the best to start with? I'm thinking Austin-Healey Sprite or Triumph GT6 at the moment, but what do you think?
Any tips, hints or otheriwse are all welcome.
C
I don't know what part of the country you are in, but your best starting point is your local regional championship. There's lots of info and contact details at www.ukmotorsport.com .
As you can see from my profile pic - I gave Hillclimbing a go 2 years back..as did my brother. I used my TVR 3000M Turbo and he used a pre-lit Westfield 1300cc.
My car was not ideal for the job but a massive challenge and great fun as a result. I was however in the same class as Scoobies etc
so couldn't compete for time...
Jont's car was ideal for the job but obviously couldn't keep up with all the 2ltr Westi's etc, also great fun.
We drove both cars there, drove them home which I feel we should have got extra points for
We didn't enter to win the class, we just enjoyed trying to go fast and beat what we could!
I highly recommend a supportive seat(or at least 3-4point belts) Also, try to use good tyres, availability was hard for the 'M' which slowed progress.
Also, IMO buy a car which is quite cheap and easy to upgrade unless you have endless dollar.
My car was not ideal for the job but a massive challenge and great fun as a result. I was however in the same class as Scoobies etc
so couldn't compete for time... Jont's car was ideal for the job but obviously couldn't keep up with all the 2ltr Westi's etc, also great fun.
We drove both cars there, drove them home which I feel we should have got extra points for
We didn't enter to win the class, we just enjoyed trying to go fast and beat what we could! I highly recommend a supportive seat(or at least 3-4point belts) Also, try to use good tyres, availability was hard for the 'M' which slowed progress.
Also, IMO buy a car which is quite cheap and easy to upgrade unless you have endless dollar.
A non comprehensive guide. I've probably forgotten loads but hopefully should help a bit.
Classes are basically split into various groups with capacity splits and sometime body splits (saloons/sports/"kit and replica":
Roadgoing - tax, mot etc required. Must retain an engine of a type the car was built with (no K series in BMC era Midgets thank you! sorry, hobby horse of mine that one) although mudification of the engine, carbs, ignition is usually permitted, road tyres, steel panels etc. While the Blue Blook defines a set of roadgoing classes, they are not mandatory and a significant number of championships / events do not adopt them. Precise modifications permitted vary from championship to championship, for example many restrict you to what is called "List 1A" tyres, some (notably the AWSMC) use "must be road legal, black and round" rules. Look at the rules for your local association as it is likely that events near you will be a round of their championship and require you to run to their rules.
Modified - slicks allowed, more extensive modifications, more fibreglass panels allowed, still need a series production engine fitted to that model range. My Imp powered Davrian runs in "Modified Production saloons and sports up to 1400cc", on slicks.
Sports Libre - stuff like Mallocks and other covered wheel vehicles, slicks allowed, also a bit of a catch all class for those using a production car and fitting an engine not supplied by the manufacturer on that model, even if it is normally used on the road. Like a BMC era Midget with a K series. There's a chap in our area with a Morris Minor fitted with a Fiat twin cam engine that runs in Libre.
Racing cars - self explanatory.
Modified and higher classes require a "log book" issued by an MSA scrutineer. Fairly sure that roadgoing doesn't, at least it didn't the last time I ran roadgoing in the dim and distant.
If you run your road car then to compete you don't need to do very much to get started. You will need a timing strut (details in the blue book), clearly marked ignition off position on the key, to make sure your numbers are clearly visbile ( black numbers on a dark green car will make you no friends with the Timekeepers or Course Controller and likely get your time disallowed ) and visible spring(s) on the carb(s) directly acting on the spindles to close it if the cable or other part of the mechanism fails. All fuel lines must be secure, so must the battery. You should seriously consider getting proper harnesses, a plumbed in fire extinguisher and a roll cage. With all of those things there are rules in the Blue Blook giving minimum standards for them, you must follow them if you fit these items, even if fitting them is non mandatory.
You need a "non race national B" comp licence from the MSA, at least I'm pretty sure that's what mine says. When you ge that you'll get a copy of the MSA yearbook (aka "Blue Book" with all the rules - general, safety, eligibility etc - although as noted above you may need to check locally about precise eligibility rules for roadgoing in your area.
When you start, if its a new venue to you, walk the hill. Remember that practice is just that, you don't need to set FTD first thing in the morning. There's usually far more to hit at a hillclimb than a sprint (ironic me saying that, the man who hit the only post on an entire airfield), so make sure you can get panels for your car or know a man who can. Be there in time to get scrutineered when you are supposed to. Signing on at 10am may allow a lie in but makes a lot of effort chasing around finding the scruts, who have probably gone for a cup of tea by then and you can't take your car out on the course until it has been passed by the scrutineer.
Practice will often be in class / number order, the "timed runs" will always be. Try to present when your class is called, the organisers tend to get stressed if people turn up out of order. If you have a problem and realise you wont be able to present at the right time, go and talk to the Clerk, we tend to be fairly amenable if requests are reasonable and made politely. Many events have a drivers briefing, attendance is normally mandatory and sometimes useful information is even given out, so it is as well to listen and ask questions if you dont understand. Don't blink or you'll miss my driver's briefings, I take the "brief" part seriously!
Second last and very important. There is normally some kind of catering, burger van or whatever. Don't go and order your lunch from it just as practice finishes. The marshals stand out there all day, get a limited amount of time for their lunch, particularly if the morning runs were delayed, eg by many "offs". Increasing the amount of time they have to queue for their food does not help the meeting run to time and is considered impolite.
Last of all - have fun!
Classes are basically split into various groups with capacity splits and sometime body splits (saloons/sports/"kit and replica"
: Roadgoing - tax, mot etc required. Must retain an engine of a type the car was built with (no K series in BMC era Midgets thank you! sorry, hobby horse of mine that one) although mudification of the engine, carbs, ignition is usually permitted, road tyres, steel panels etc. While the Blue Blook defines a set of roadgoing classes, they are not mandatory and a significant number of championships / events do not adopt them. Precise modifications permitted vary from championship to championship, for example many restrict you to what is called "List 1A" tyres, some (notably the AWSMC) use "must be road legal, black and round" rules. Look at the rules for your local association as it is likely that events near you will be a round of their championship and require you to run to their rules.
Modified - slicks allowed, more extensive modifications, more fibreglass panels allowed, still need a series production engine fitted to that model range. My Imp powered Davrian runs in "Modified Production saloons and sports up to 1400cc", on slicks.
Sports Libre - stuff like Mallocks and other covered wheel vehicles, slicks allowed, also a bit of a catch all class for those using a production car and fitting an engine not supplied by the manufacturer on that model, even if it is normally used on the road. Like a BMC era Midget with a K series. There's a chap in our area with a Morris Minor fitted with a Fiat twin cam engine that runs in Libre.
Racing cars - self explanatory.
Modified and higher classes require a "log book" issued by an MSA scrutineer. Fairly sure that roadgoing doesn't, at least it didn't the last time I ran roadgoing in the dim and distant.
If you run your road car then to compete you don't need to do very much to get started. You will need a timing strut (details in the blue book), clearly marked ignition off position on the key, to make sure your numbers are clearly visbile ( black numbers on a dark green car will make you no friends with the Timekeepers or Course Controller and likely get your time disallowed ) and visible spring(s) on the carb(s) directly acting on the spindles to close it if the cable or other part of the mechanism fails. All fuel lines must be secure, so must the battery. You should seriously consider getting proper harnesses, a plumbed in fire extinguisher and a roll cage. With all of those things there are rules in the Blue Blook giving minimum standards for them, you must follow them if you fit these items, even if fitting them is non mandatory.
You need a "non race national B" comp licence from the MSA, at least I'm pretty sure that's what mine says. When you ge that you'll get a copy of the MSA yearbook (aka "Blue Book"
with all the rules - general, safety, eligibility etc - although as noted above you may need to check locally about precise eligibility rules for roadgoing in your area. When you start, if its a new venue to you, walk the hill. Remember that practice is just that, you don't need to set FTD first thing in the morning. There's usually far more to hit at a hillclimb than a sprint (ironic me saying that, the man who hit the only post on an entire airfield), so make sure you can get panels for your car or know a man who can. Be there in time to get scrutineered when you are supposed to. Signing on at 10am may allow a lie in but makes a lot of effort chasing around finding the scruts, who have probably gone for a cup of tea by then and you can't take your car out on the course until it has been passed by the scrutineer.
Practice will often be in class / number order, the "timed runs" will always be. Try to present when your class is called, the organisers tend to get stressed if people turn up out of order. If you have a problem and realise you wont be able to present at the right time, go and talk to the Clerk, we tend to be fairly amenable if requests are reasonable and made politely. Many events have a drivers briefing, attendance is normally mandatory and sometimes useful information is even given out, so it is as well to listen and ask questions if you dont understand. Don't blink or you'll miss my driver's briefings, I take the "brief" part seriously!
Second last and very important. There is normally some kind of catering, burger van or whatever. Don't go and order your lunch from it just as practice finishes. The marshals stand out there all day, get a limited amount of time for their lunch, particularly if the morning runs were delayed, eg by many "offs". Increasing the amount of time they have to queue for their food does not help the meeting run to time and is considered impolite.
Last of all - have fun!
Always be kind to the guys in Orange
nearest hillclimbs to Cheshire - Loton Park nr shrewsberryy and Harewood Hill in Yorkshire.
Theres also sprints at Aintree in Liverpool (inside the Horse race course)
www.harewoodhill.co.uk/ - harewood
www.hdlcc.com/ - Loton Park
www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/ - Aintree
Most of all - have fun! can hillclimb in pretty much anything, and people do.
nearest hillclimbs to Cheshire - Loton Park nr shrewsberryy and Harewood Hill in Yorkshire.
Theres also sprints at Aintree in Liverpool (inside the Horse race course)
www.harewoodhill.co.uk/ - harewood
www.hdlcc.com/ - Loton Park
www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/ - Aintree
Most of all - have fun! can hillclimb in pretty much anything, and people do.
lord summerisle said:
Always be kind to the guys in Orange
nearest hillclimbs to Cheshire - Loton Park nr shrewsberryy and Harewood Hill in Yorkshire.
Theres also sprints at Aintree in Liverpool (inside the Horse race course)
www.harewoodhill.co.uk/ - harewood
www.hdlcc.com/ - Loton Park
www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/ - Aintree
Most of all - have fun! can hillclimb in pretty much anything, and people do.
I am one of the guys in Orange at the moment and I always respect what the marshalls do if i'm not doing it myself.
Thanks for the advice gentlemen
I'll let you know how it goes.
C
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