Looking to get into circuit racing....
Discussion
Hi all,
Im new to the forum and new to car racing. I've raced motocross for the last 10 years or so, but i'd really like to make a move over to racing cars. I've got so far as to obtain my national B licence, and have so far competed in 2 sprint races and have an entry to goodwood on the 19th. I figured i's start out with sprints as there cheaper, and was nice to get a feel of driving on a track before going door to door with other people!
I'm currently using a 88' Ford XR2, brought as it was cheap, cheap to run, easy to fix, and although its not the most powerful car in the world, it is quite fun to drive and handles well in my humble opion so seemed the right way to go.
As i understand it, i have three ways to go, firstly get a plumbed in extiguisher and use the fiesta, but im unsure of what series to run it in, and the costs involved. Secondly, sell it and buy something less rusty and a bit quicker lol, or thirdly go with a rental drive.
When i had my ards couse, the instructor advised me not to bother with track days and just get out racing, which is very flattering but i feel this would be a quick way to have an accident and perhaps sharing a drive in the CSCC tintops or a similar series would be better so i could learn from a more expirenced driver???
Anyone with any advice, or experiance of rental drives i'd be greatful to hear from you!
Thanks
Lewis
Im new to the forum and new to car racing. I've raced motocross for the last 10 years or so, but i'd really like to make a move over to racing cars. I've got so far as to obtain my national B licence, and have so far competed in 2 sprint races and have an entry to goodwood on the 19th. I figured i's start out with sprints as there cheaper, and was nice to get a feel of driving on a track before going door to door with other people!
I'm currently using a 88' Ford XR2, brought as it was cheap, cheap to run, easy to fix, and although its not the most powerful car in the world, it is quite fun to drive and handles well in my humble opion so seemed the right way to go.
As i understand it, i have three ways to go, firstly get a plumbed in extiguisher and use the fiesta, but im unsure of what series to run it in, and the costs involved. Secondly, sell it and buy something less rusty and a bit quicker lol, or thirdly go with a rental drive.
When i had my ards couse, the instructor advised me not to bother with track days and just get out racing, which is very flattering but i feel this would be a quick way to have an accident and perhaps sharing a drive in the CSCC tintops or a similar series would be better so i could learn from a more expirenced driver???
Anyone with any advice, or experiance of rental drives i'd be greatful to hear from you!
Thanks
Lewis
Firstly congrats on getting your national B licence.
In my opinion there is no substitute for going out racing. Trackdays are fine and great fun and they do give you an idea of where the circuit goes if you want to race there later. They do tend to make you a bit lazy following the cones all day thoguh so when you get out and there are no cones your all lost.
If it was me I'd pick a championship for the XR2 where you dont have to make too many changes to the car and go out and have some fun. Dont worry about trying to be ultra competetive first few times out we all had to start some where. Remember its the all important sigs your after so you need to finish, thinking about that makes you not want to take too many risks.
good luck you've joined glamorous world of being a competitor in club motorsport. wet sundays at mallory crawling round in the padock trying to solve that misfire only to find you didnt bring your spare what ever with you - brilliant!
In my opinion there is no substitute for going out racing. Trackdays are fine and great fun and they do give you an idea of where the circuit goes if you want to race there later. They do tend to make you a bit lazy following the cones all day thoguh so when you get out and there are no cones your all lost.
If it was me I'd pick a championship for the XR2 where you dont have to make too many changes to the car and go out and have some fun. Dont worry about trying to be ultra competetive first few times out we all had to start some where. Remember its the all important sigs your after so you need to finish, thinking about that makes you not want to take too many risks.
good luck you've joined glamorous world of being a competitor in club motorsport. wet sundays at mallory crawling round in the padock trying to solve that misfire only to find you didnt bring your spare what ever with you - brilliant!
750mc stock hatches is where you need to be.
sell your fezza, and buy a race prepped one for £2k.
we currently have a racing novice who also did motocross, and has won a couple of races already in his first year.
if you only do races, you are going to struggle for track time, i would do a few more trackdays at circuits like donington or mallory, then come racing.
all you ned to know is here:
www.phil-law.co.uk
or www.750mc.co.uk
hth
sell your fezza, and buy a race prepped one for £2k.
we currently have a racing novice who also did motocross, and has won a couple of races already in his first year.
if you only do races, you are going to struggle for track time, i would do a few more trackdays at circuits like donington or mallory, then come racing.
all you ned to know is here:
www.phil-law.co.uk
or www.750mc.co.uk
hth
Edited by stockhatcher on Friday 11th August 08:37
mrnacnac said:
When i had my ards couse, the instructor advised me not to bother with track days and just get out racing, which is very flattering but i feel this would be a quick way to have an accident and perhaps sharing a drive in the CSCC tintops or a similar series would be better so i could learn from a more expirenced driver???
Anyone with any advice, or experiance of rental drives i'd be greatful to hear from you!
Your instructor was right. A track day bears no relation to what happens during a real race. Having said that, trackdays perform two major functions - (1) Most organisers will accept a race saloon, so you get cheaper testing, and (2) You can have an instructor with you in the car at trackdays giving you tips on your general driving, and specific to the circuit, i.e. brake, turn-in, clipping points, power application points, etc, along advice on the bet overtaking spots, etc.
I have done a few shared drives in CSCC Tin-Tops (Alfa 33), and I can say that the racing is very clean and the club is definitely under a major expansion programme. They even have a race planned in 2007 at Daytona, USA !!!
Regarding your car, sell it and buy a racer. It will cost you ££££'s to get it to a competitive race spec, whereas current racers can be bought for £2k upwards, as the other poster mentioned.
If you want any further info, particularly on renta-drives, feel free to PM me.
HTH
mrnacnac said:
Hi all,
Im new to the forum and new to car racing. I've raced motocross for the last 10 years or so, but i'd really like to make a move over to racing cars. I've got so far as to obtain my national B licence, and have so far competed in 2 sprint races and have an entry to goodwood on the 19th. I figured i's start out with sprints as there cheaper, and was nice to get a feel of driving on a track before going door to door with other people!
I'm currently using a 88' Ford XR2, brought as it was cheap, cheap to run, easy to fix, and although its not the most powerful car in the world, it is quite fun to drive and handles well in my humble opion so seemed the right way to go.
As i understand it, i have three ways to go, firstly get a plumbed in extiguisher and use the fiesta, but im unsure of what series to run it in, and the costs involved. Secondly, sell it and buy something less rusty and a bit quicker lol, or thirdly go with a rental drive.
When i had my ards couse, the instructor advised me not to bother with track days and just get out racing, which is very flattering but i feel this would be a quick way to have an accident and perhaps sharing a drive in the CSCC tintops or a similar series would be better so i could learn from a more expirenced driver???
Anyone with any advice, or experiance of rental drives i'd be greatful to hear from you!
Thanks
Lewis
Im new to the forum and new to car racing. I've raced motocross for the last 10 years or so, but i'd really like to make a move over to racing cars. I've got so far as to obtain my national B licence, and have so far competed in 2 sprint races and have an entry to goodwood on the 19th. I figured i's start out with sprints as there cheaper, and was nice to get a feel of driving on a track before going door to door with other people!
I'm currently using a 88' Ford XR2, brought as it was cheap, cheap to run, easy to fix, and although its not the most powerful car in the world, it is quite fun to drive and handles well in my humble opion so seemed the right way to go.
As i understand it, i have three ways to go, firstly get a plumbed in extiguisher and use the fiesta, but im unsure of what series to run it in, and the costs involved. Secondly, sell it and buy something less rusty and a bit quicker lol, or thirdly go with a rental drive.
When i had my ards couse, the instructor advised me not to bother with track days and just get out racing, which is very flattering but i feel this would be a quick way to have an accident and perhaps sharing a drive in the CSCC tintops or a similar series would be better so i could learn from a more expirenced driver???
Anyone with any advice, or experiance of rental drives i'd be greatful to hear from you!
Thanks
Lewis
Wrong forum try
www.ten-tenths.com
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