Prep for Sprints and Hill Climbs

[Chris.65]

so....

I have a 1967 MG Midget which until recently had a K series VVC motor giving 170BHP with suitably upgraded brakes, drivetrain and suspension. The gearbox was getting noisy so over the winter decided to have a specialist pull the engine and send the gearbox for a rebuild.

As happens with man maths and "whilst the engine is out I might as well" I now have a brand new 2.0 Raceline Zetec (250bhp on throttle bodies) and new heritage shell that the car is getting rebuilt into (6 Link English Axle, BGH gearbox etc etc) new braking system (maybe a servo) etc etc

I would at some point in the future really like to use the car for some sprints and hill climbs and am looking for some help or a link that can help me understand what prep I need to do to the car for it top be eligible.

It would need to be a roadgoing class so am thinking fireproof rear bulkhead between cockpit and boot (tank), engine cutoff switch, towing points, go back to Safety Devices roll bar. The car s being built up in the new year so not super urgent but wondered if there is a straightforward resource that could help me.

Thanks!

Chris

[Drumroll]

Your best bet is to make contact with the club(s) you might want to run with. Different clubs/series will but cars in different classes. As an example one of the MG classes will only allow engines that were available to MG (in period)

[westwood35]

With the spec you mention, you will be straight into Sports Libre against some very quick cars. Plus all the extra safety gear you have to use in Libre.

[df76]

Does sound like you'd end up in Sports Libre...

The MGCC Speed series has classes for engine swaps, but that's limited to MG / BL lumps. Your K series would have been ok, but not the Zetec that you're now fitting.

[Chris.65]

Thanks for all the comments. I realise that the Zetec and significant drivetrain/suspension mods take me away from any standard or even road modified classes.

I am interested to know what I should build into the car at this stage (I have a bare shell) that would make using the car for competition in the future more straightforward. Firewall between the tank and the cockpit is one but anything else I should think about ?

[Thurbs]

You can put the tank in a box, you don’t need a bulkhead as such.

From a performance point of view with a bare shell? Lightness, stiffness, suspension geometry, weight distribution, seat positioning, routing of lines & wiring are all important decisions.

[Norfolkandchance]

Chris.65 said:

Thanks for all the comments. I realise that the Zetec and significant drivetrain/suspension mods take me away from any standard or even road modified classes.

I am interested to know what I should build into the car at this stage (I have a bare shell) that would make using the car for competition in the future more straightforward. Firewall between the tank and the cockpit is one but anything else I should think about ?

I understand what you are asking but really you need to build the car to a specific set of regulations. Either the national ones created by Motorsport UK (used to be MSA) or a set issued by a particular championship - there can be regional variations or championship variations.

If you try and build a generic car that can be adapted in the future then you might well find that you either build the car then find that without a such-and-such it isn't allowed to compete, or with a such-and-such it isn't allowed to compete or is only allowed to compete in a class where it can't possibly be competitive.

The sports libre class, for example, has purpose built racers with wings and carbon fibre and stuff.

[meehaja]

Javelin sprint series seems to be getting some good feedback and is a bit more open i think, being unrelated to MUK/MSA.