Locost racing in the 750MC - any good ?
Discussion
Hi
I am just thinking about joining the Locost racing series run by the 750 Motor Club. I'm new to racing. Have done a few track days etc over the years. Does anyone have any experience they'd like to share of racing Locosts and the racing series generally.
Like most in Locost, I am keen to keep in a reasonable budget
Appreciate the hi's and lo's of the Locost experience.
Thanks
Dave
I am just thinking about joining the Locost racing series run by the 750 Motor Club. I'm new to racing. Have done a few track days etc over the years. Does anyone have any experience they'd like to share of racing Locosts and the racing series generally.
Like most in Locost, I am keen to keep in a reasonable budget
Appreciate the hi's and lo's of the Locost experience.
Thanks
Dave
Yup, did it for a few years from 2000 - not much has changed (if you're bored - have a read of www.locost-racing.com which I wrote at the time to cover the build of the car and subsequent racing).
On the plus side, it's a relatively (and I stress, relatively) cheap way into proper motorsport.
On the downside, it's because of this (and that cars are relatively cheap) that it tends to attract a lot of novices (no offence!) and young racers who think that it's going to propel them to F1 (unlikely, but a few previous championship winners have gone onto do pretty well).
Racing is VERY close, but time and time again it's the lack of experience that results in red flags. I lost count of the number of incidents I had which were caused by 'muppet' moves.
Like all racing, crashing costs and when you're the innocent party and funding your own car - that gets old, very quickly.
That said, I had some great times/experiences and it taught me shedloads. Oh, and I met my now wife through the series as she was a fellow competitor at the time
I can't guarantee the latter
, but it's a good entry into grassroots motorsport.
On the plus side, it's a relatively (and I stress, relatively) cheap way into proper motorsport.
On the downside, it's because of this (and that cars are relatively cheap) that it tends to attract a lot of novices (no offence!) and young racers who think that it's going to propel them to F1 (unlikely, but a few previous championship winners have gone onto do pretty well).
Racing is VERY close, but time and time again it's the lack of experience that results in red flags. I lost count of the number of incidents I had which were caused by 'muppet' moves.
Like all racing, crashing costs and when you're the innocent party and funding your own car - that gets old, very quickly.
That said, I had some great times/experiences and it taught me shedloads. Oh, and I met my now wife through the series as she was a fellow competitor at the time
I can't guarantee the latter
, but it's a good entry into grassroots motorsport.Hi Stig, thanks very much for the very helpful response.
Yes the racing looks close, which has its attraction but I can imagine the number of 'enthusiastic incidents'.
The last benefit you mentioned made me smile. I am recently divorced and so I thought it's now time to start doing what I want to do. And racing has always been high on my list. I dabbled with karting as a teenager. So now its time to wind the clock back again ! At least mentally My philosophy is: the best years are ahead of us. So I'm looking forward to being part of the Locost community and racing fraternity generally.
Dave
Yes the racing looks close, which has its attraction but I can imagine the number of 'enthusiastic incidents'.
The last benefit you mentioned made me smile. I am recently divorced and so I thought it's now time to start doing what I want to do. And racing has always been high on my list. I dabbled with karting as a teenager. So now its time to wind the clock back again ! At least mentally
My philosophy is: the best years are ahead of us. So I'm looking forward to being part of the Locost community and racing fraternity generally.Dave
David, I don't think you can go to far wrong with any of the 750MC championships. Close racing and sensible budgets.
I would suggest you get along to the next race weekend that is close to you and find the championship co-ordinator as well as some 750MC officials and talk to them. I think you will find them all really approachable. They will also probably know of any cars that may be available.
Good luck
I would suggest you get along to the next race weekend that is close to you and find the championship co-ordinator as well as some 750MC officials and talk to them. I think you will find them all really approachable. They will also probably know of any cars that may be available.
Good luck
I raced in the Locost series at the very begining ('99-01), hi Stig (CJ?) 
, it was a good laugh. It has changed a fair bit but thats more through development of the championship to acommodate the numbers that now enter.
It used to be a good series if you were on a tight budget but like all racing there will always be someone with money to throw at it.
Good luck, i'd still recommend it as a good beginners series.
, it was a good laugh. It has changed a fair bit but thats more through development of the championship to acommodate the numbers that now enter.It used to be a good series if you were on a tight budget but like all racing there will always be someone with money to throw at it.
Good luck, i'd still recommend it as a good beginners series.
AWRacing said:
I raced in the Locost series at the very begining ('99-01), hi Stig (CJ?) , it was a good laugh. It has changed a fair bit but thats more through development of the championship to acommodate the numbers that now enter.
It used to be a good series if you were on a tight budget but like all racing there will always be someone with money to throw at it.
Good luck, i'd still recommend it as a good beginners series.
Hi Adam , it was a good laugh. It has changed a fair bit but thats more through development of the championship to acommodate the numbers that now enter.It used to be a good series if you were on a tight budget but like all racing there will always be someone with money to throw at it.
Good luck, i'd still recommend it as a good beginners series.
Stig/CJ
A current driver in Locosts here. This is my 10th season and I'd say it's a great series.
Very close racing with the top 3 frequently only separated by a second or two at the chequered flag. This is mainly due to the terrible aero of the cars, they are like a brick, so you get some great slipstreaming and it's almost impossible for someone to break away from the pack.
You do get some unfortunate contact which is almost always due to driver errors, but it's not that often to be honest and when it happens repairs are usually cheap and quick, and if someone has a problem in the first race most folk in the Locost paddock pitch in to help them get out for the second.
It may be at the cheaper end of motorsport, and there are always new drivers coming into the series, but there are some very good & quick drivers out there and it's very competitive throughout the grid.
There is a Facebook group for the series, 750mc Locosters, and you'll find we're a very friendly bunch with loads of advice and help for new racers.
Very close racing with the top 3 frequently only separated by a second or two at the chequered flag. This is mainly due to the terrible aero of the cars, they are like a brick, so you get some great slipstreaming and it's almost impossible for someone to break away from the pack.
You do get some unfortunate contact which is almost always due to driver errors, but it's not that often to be honest and when it happens repairs are usually cheap and quick, and if someone has a problem in the first race most folk in the Locost paddock pitch in to help them get out for the second.
It may be at the cheaper end of motorsport, and there are always new drivers coming into the series, but there are some very good & quick drivers out there and it's very competitive throughout the grid.
There is a Facebook group for the series, 750mc Locosters, and you'll find we're a very friendly bunch with loads of advice and help for new racers.
Edited by TwoLeadFeet on Friday 5th June 10:35
Over a decade ago I came on PH asking the same question, and Stig (hi Stig/CJ) convinced me to give it a go (even managed to sell me his father in law's car!). I've never looked back.
I learned more racecraft in my two seasons of Locost than at any other time I think, the racing is always close and wherever you are on the grid you'll get some good, wheel-to-wheel racing.
As already said, the proportion of novices is high and there can be some erm...speculative moves which, if you happen to be in the way can be a bit annoying, but that said it's not significantly worse than many other series. As far a motorsport can be, it's cost-effective and once you've raced, trackdays seem a little pedestrian.
I learned more racecraft in my two seasons of Locost than at any other time I think, the racing is always close and wherever you are on the grid you'll get some good, wheel-to-wheel racing.
As already said, the proportion of novices is high and there can be some erm...speculative moves which, if you happen to be in the way can be a bit annoying, but that said it's not significantly worse than many other series. As far a motorsport can be, it's cost-effective and once you've raced, trackdays seem a little pedestrian.
Don't know a huge amount about Locosts, but they always have full grids and the racing is great to watch. Cannot recommend 750MC enough. Started racing with them this year and they really do what they do very well, organisers are always present, they care about everyone's opinions and they go the extra mile to make sure we all have a great weekend.
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