Ginetta Race at Brands
Discussion
Watched all three from initially 17th on the grid, and finally from the wrong side of the tyre barrier 
.
Took myself out in the first race, got un-necesarily clouted by the guest Dunlop car in the second (Driver with Schumacher intentions, but unfortunately without the abilities) and found that we hadn't quite fixed it properly by the third.
Still - always good to see Tom Ferrier and Rob Austin having a go at each other - there is always good racing in the Ginettas. Far too many safety cars, but what do you expect when squeezing thirty identical cars onto a 1.2 mile circuit I suppose.
Total disaster of a weekend for us, but still very enjoyable.
Rich
. Took myself out in the first race, got un-necesarily clouted by the guest Dunlop car in the second (Driver with Schumacher intentions, but unfortunately without the abilities) and found that we hadn't quite fixed it properly by the third
. Still - always good to see Tom Ferrier and Rob Austin having a go at each other - there is always good racing in the Ginettas. Far too many safety cars, but what do you expect when squeezing thirty identical cars onto a 1.2 mile circuit I suppose.
Total disaster of a weekend for us, but still very enjoyable.
Rich
Sounds like your weekend was almost as good as mine! I didn't finish the first race because my gear lever snapped off and came away in my hand 2 minutes from the end, managed 15th in the second and got pushed into the tyre wall by William Hill in the third!
Not bad for a racing debut eh?!
Not bad for a racing debut eh?!
Hello! From the middle of the grid, and after using the wrong gear at 2 of the corners, I parked neatly alongside Daydreamer in the gravel at Paddock in the first race. I was going really well in race 2 before being rammed up the arse by a prat out for a 'jolly' in his dad's car, eventually finishing 13th. Didn't fancy the weather for race 3 so packed up early and watched the antics from the grandstand.
Definitely racing next year. Ian is threatening to sell his car - but hopefully common sense will prevail over the winter 
.
Thinking of doing Croft - although it will require negociations with SWMBO - we'll see.
Take it you weren't put off by your first forray into proper racing. See you the next time I make it out.
Rich
. Thinking of doing Croft - although it will require negociations with SWMBO - we'll see
. Take it you weren't put off by your first forray into proper racing. See you the next time I make it out.
Rich
Yep the Ginetta championship is definately the biggest racing series at the moment and rightfully so. The racing is close and you have all abilities spread throughout the grid of 32 cars and drivers like Tom Ferrier and Rob Austin show the pace these cars will go. You also have Richard to provide a crash or two! Definatley recommended for anyone thinking to start racing.
chaps
a mate and I saw the race at Brands on Sunday morning and it was the best all day; some great stuff in the front half, mainly gentlemanly driving in the other half but some fairly scary elements as well, not least the collision under red flags...
I have a few questions and would be grateful for any comments:
- is there a general website for the series?
- is it a friendly series?
- are running costs high due to unnecessary collision damage or is it all quite sensible?
- are there professional / semi-professional teams, do they keep everything in perspective (doesn't do to take it too seriously)?
- is it possible to take one for a test or do an arrive and drive type approach (I'm a complete numpty mechanically)?
- how difficult are the cars to drive?
That's it for now - appreciate your time in answering
cheers
Toad
a mate and I saw the race at Brands on Sunday morning and it was the best all day; some great stuff in the front half, mainly gentlemanly driving in the other half but some fairly scary elements as well, not least the collision under red flags...
I have a few questions and would be grateful for any comments:
- is there a general website for the series?
- is it a friendly series?
- are running costs high due to unnecessary collision damage or is it all quite sensible?
- are there professional / semi-professional teams, do they keep everything in perspective (doesn't do to take it too seriously)?
- is it possible to take one for a test or do an arrive and drive type approach (I'm a complete numpty mechanically)?
- how difficult are the cars to drive?
That's it for now - appreciate your time in answering
cheers
Toad
Speaking as a spectator...
The main Ginetta site has some high level info on the series. If you speak with Martin Phaff there I believe he is very keen to bring new people and novices into the series.
There are several teams running in the series, Reflex Racing, Richmond Racing, Tollbar Racing, who all seem to provide a comprehensive service trackside.
Plenty of people seem to run themselves too.
On the damage front, the cars seem to be able to be patched up between races successfully, the bonnets seem consumable items though.
The main Ginetta site has some high level info on the series. If you speak with Martin Phaff there I believe he is very keen to bring new people and novices into the series.
There are several teams running in the series, Reflex Racing, Richmond Racing, Tollbar Racing, who all seem to provide a comprehensive service trackside.
Plenty of people seem to run themselves too.
On the damage front, the cars seem to be able to be patched up between races successfully, the bonnets seem consumable items though.
mr toad said:Where to start. First of all, don't recall any red flags in any of the races - but there may have been an incident under the SC which was unfortunate. I think that this is a bit of a one off, as the SC procedure wasn't as always which aparently caused a bit of confusion.
- is there a general website for the series?
- is it a friendly series?
- are running costs high due to unnecessary collision damage or is it all quite sensible?
- are there professional / semi-professional teams, do they keep everything in perspective (doesn't do to take it too seriously)?
- is it possible to take one for a test or do an arrive and drive type approach (I'm a complete numpty mechanically)?
- how difficult are the cars to drive?
Right - questions
1) These isn't a general web site for the series, although we are all carrying sponsorship for the people that are putting it together at the moment, so there should be something soon. There are a number of competitor sites - see my profile etc - but we are none of us the best at keeping them up to date. There is series information on the Ginetta site - www.ginettacars.com - but you would probably be better calling Martin (number on site) and having a chat.
2) Very much a friendly series. As Gav has said above there are a range of abilities within the championship, but generally the standard of driving is pretty good - ranging from Tom Ferrier and Rob Austin at the front (Rob set the fastest lap in the F3 race on Sunday afternoon - for a laugh
) backwards. There are generally excellent battles all the way down the field, and almost without exception, these are conducted in a gentlemanly fashion. In the second race or the season, myself and Paul Rutter traded places eight times (I came out on top on that one 
), at the first Thruxton round, I traded places with Max Henderson 15 times in eight laps. Not even a hint of contact. The reason that my post above was a bit angry was that someone had come in without sufficient experience or respect - which quite rightly pissed me off. 3) Running costs are eminently sensible. My season has cost in the region of £11k, including writing the car off at Castle Combe (full new chassis rebuild) (racing incident that one - they do happen, but Martin hardly sells any chassis at all, indicating that it is rare). That figure includes absolutely everything apart from food and beer. All car costs, maintenance, tyres, damage repair, hotels, transport etc are in there. That is a low TVR Tasmin budget and we are running with F3/GT. Budgetwise there can't really be any complaints.
4) There are the whole range of teams. Tolbar Racing are very professional. They are also the most expensive team to go with. The team is run as a business and the cars always excellently presented. Two other teams run around four cars each are Reflex Racing and Richmond Racing (Martin can give you numbers). These are run by two of the racers, and are priced accordingly - i.e. less expensive - but they know what they are talking about, so this is the way that I'd go if I wanted to be run by a team. Finally, about half of the competitors run themselves, including both this years and last years champions. The cars are very easy to learn about, but you do need someone who knows one end of a spanner from the other to come with you really. We knew nothing at the start of the year and have learnt (an awful lot) on the fly. The car will be faster at the start of next year as a result, whereas it would have been sorted straight away if we'd gone with a team. However, for us running the car is part of the fun.
5) Both. Martin runs tests at Mallory park. You turn up, pay your £80 to the circuit and jump into fully fuelled G20 and spend the morning lapping! He may be flexible on location, but Mallory is cheap
. I also think that Speedway did arrive and drive at Brands (although I may be wrong). 6) The cars are dead easy to drive - not quite so easy to drive fast
. The chassis and suspension is well sorted, and - provided that you get the car set up properly (most people run a baseline setup everywhere, so no need to do loads of testing at each venue) - the handling is very predicatble. However, they are a stiff race car, and will behave accordingly, so you have to react fairly quick. Also as we run very sticky tyres (having said that my rears have been on all season and are still behaving perfectly well) things happen very fast, and at high speeds. Part of the fun . Hope that helps
Rich
Brands was my first races in the Ginetta and I found everyone really helpful and friendly. I think it's one of those series that you could spend a lot of money if you wanted to (doing lots of testing etc) but you don't have to.
I'd definitely recommend doing a test, Toad. Tell us how you get on!
I'd definitely recommend doing a test, Toad. Tell us how you get on!
I'd just like to say that I agree with all the stuff Richard and Gavin have said. I bought my car 3 years ago and have never regretted it. The choice available to anyone looking at taking the plunge into racing is huge.
Having taken that plunge with the intention of running the car myself I'm so pleased I chose this car and this championship. Unfortunately, and very reluctantly, as Richard mentioned my car is for sale (it comes with a spare bonnet!). So if anyone fancies acquiring the (arguably!) sexiest car on the Ginetta grid, get in touch.
Having taken that plunge with the intention of running the car myself I'm so pleased I chose this car and this championship. Unfortunately, and very reluctantly, as Richard mentioned my car is for sale (it comes with a spare bonnet!). So if anyone fancies acquiring the (arguably!) sexiest car on the Ginetta grid, get in touch.
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