Getting *out* of motorsport
Discussion
Anyone done it?
I’ve raced for 28 years, am still ‘young’ (48), and I still love it, but I race in historics, and at least partly due to the goodwood phenomenon it’s got massively expensive, and a lot of the (often talented) amateur drivers couldn’t care less what the car is etc.
Crowning glory a few years ago was ‘mechanics aren’t allowed in the hospitality tent’. For starters, I’m sorry you don’t want the great unwashed who actually run the cars involved, secondly I’m paying for the hospitality as a condition of entry even though I don’t want to, and thirdly, in our (sub)series, the drivers usually *were* the mechanics.
I’m hacked off. In the 80’s people with D Types etc would stay at the circuit in a tent. Now it’s all 200k motor homes and paying a team to run you. I was introduced to motorsport by my dad, he ran in formula junior at the front end in the mid 80’s on a council technicians salary. Impossible now. A bit like what happened to stage rallying in the 80’s.
So, rant over. I’m seriously considering selling my race car and changing to a ‘<very> fast road spec classic such as a Ginetta g15 instead.
Did you give up racing and what did you do instead? Please don’t say golf, if that’s the only option I’m selling the house and buying a Maserati birdcage.
I’ve raced for 28 years, am still ‘young’ (48), and I still love it, but I race in historics, and at least partly due to the goodwood phenomenon it’s got massively expensive, and a lot of the (often talented) amateur drivers couldn’t care less what the car is etc.
Crowning glory a few years ago was ‘mechanics aren’t allowed in the hospitality tent’. For starters, I’m sorry you don’t want the great unwashed who actually run the cars involved, secondly I’m paying for the hospitality as a condition of entry even though I don’t want to, and thirdly, in our (sub)series, the drivers usually *were* the mechanics.
I’m hacked off. In the 80’s people with D Types etc would stay at the circuit in a tent. Now it’s all 200k motor homes and paying a team to run you. I was introduced to motorsport by my dad, he ran in formula junior at the front end in the mid 80’s on a council technicians salary. Impossible now. A bit like what happened to stage rallying in the 80’s.
So, rant over. I’m seriously considering selling my race car and changing to a ‘<very> fast road spec classic such as a Ginetta g15 instead.
Did you give up racing and what did you do instead? Please don’t say golf, if that’s the only option I’m selling the house and buying a Maserati birdcage.
You refer to 'what happened to rallying in the 80's'. I came out of the sport for the very reasons you elude to and at that time had no plans to return to motor sport in any form. 15 years later, at the age of 50, I returned to the sport but to sprints and hill climbs. 19 years on I'm still doing it and more importantly, still enjoying it. Sure, to win outright is big money. But class wins in road going classes are not silly money and still very competitive. Really depends on what you would be content doing.
keirik said:
Why not try something different? Hill climbing (proper hill climbing not the "look how rich I am" Goodwood version) is still a bunch of people helping each other out and muddling through, but still ultra competitive
Yes, I’m thinking of that with a change to something a bit less highly strung. I go to Barbon every year, Harewood occasionally as a spectator. Obviously at the front end it’s still expensive, I’d be happy middle placed in a middle class. Or for that matter just being there to be honest. At our races now I spend all my time wandering around the paddock looking at the cars rather than watching the actual racing. The only race I watch is from the drivers seat, which is a bit sad to be honest. I’m lucky in that with the HSCC it still is largely people helping each other out, there’s an amazing fount of knowledge and enthusiasm, but it’s diminishing rapidly. Someone once asked me for a fiver just to borrow a hammer which I’d forgotten. On the other hand we’ve had people happily do some serious engine and bodywork for no reward (although we’ve bought them a truckload of beer as thanks anyway). I’d happily lend any tool, even though some have gone awol just in the heat of the moment.
I have a friend who does trials as well, I’ve been a bouncer a few times and it’s good fun. I’m just a bit p’d off that it’s becoming a bit ‘we don’t like normal people so we’re going to price you out’
I race in 70’s roadsports, I’m assuming from your post name you race in guards or similar ? 70’s is friendly, competitive all the way thru the grid, good events and track time, and you don’t need to break the bank account to get on grid in the first place if a mid field class win is good enough for you. I race in the invitation class, but irrespective have been welcomed by everyone, it really is a great series and a great bunch of people.
Veesix75 said:
I race in 70’s roadsports, I’m assuming from your post name you race in guards or similar ? 70’s is friendly, competitive all the way thru the grid, good events and track time, and you don’t need to break the bank account to get on grid in the first place if a mid field class win is good enough for you. I race in the invitation class, but irrespective have been welcomed by everyone, it really is a great series and a great bunch of people.
Hi! I race in HRSR in an Anglia (the username is a dream!). I have raced in guards in a Cannon GT. 70’s road sports is very appealing, I’m thinking 924 (I think a few years ago a guy won the class in a 924 bought off eBay the week before for about a grand), but a G15 really appeals to me. I’m more into the car rather than it’s ability to win.I packed in Stage Rallying 5 years ago, due to an injured back (which happened while cycling). For a year I just occasionally watched or marshalled, which was OK. Then I got involved in organising and am working my way up to Clerk of the Course licence (while very occasionally competing on navigation rallies).
I would say I’m having 80% as much fun, for about 1% of the cost!
I would say I’m having 80% as much fun, for about 1% of the cost!
I've thought about packing it in myself for similar reasons. It used to be a man and a van but now it's a man with a massive transporter, motorhome, six mechanics and a manager with the driver sitting in a chair talking to sponsors. That's not club racing to me. They should be on the TOCA package etc but of course they love being the big fish in the small pond.
Only thing that keeps me going is that I'm bored out of my skull between races generally and wouldn't have a clue what to do if I didn't have the racing. Hill climbing and the like doesn't appeal to me. I like the cut and thrust of cars around me.
Only thing that keeps me going is that I'm bored out of my skull between races generally and wouldn't have a clue what to do if I didn't have the racing. Hill climbing and the like doesn't appeal to me. I like the cut and thrust of cars around me.
ChevronB19 said:
Did you give up racing and what did you do instead? Please don’t say golf, if that’s the only option I’m selling the house and buying a Maserati birdcage.
As you mentioned, rallying became a no-go by the end of the eighties, and while I still helped out and got involved as chase car/service crew and the odd run out as a Nav until '92, I turned to Sprinting with my Sunbeam-Lotus instead. Great fun, low key, good club level paddock atmosphere, but even that started to become proportionally expensive by end of the 90's and I bailed from that as well, although that was as much to do with other things in life at the time.If I was to make a return now, I'd be looking at getting an old Ford Model A and doing vintage trial events or stuff like that - something that is still done for fun by people who want to have fun.
I was much the same. The arms race and reduced track time with the HSCC (12 minute qualifying anyone) moved me back into moderns.
No motorsport is cheap, but when you’ve got 120 hour refreshes, rather than 12, and track cost per hour is half, it makes a huge difference. Yes you don’t get the fun of events like the Silverstone Classic, but you do get less chinless chodes pretending to have gone to a decent school.
The other option is racing abroad. Even with the dismal exchange rate, historic racing in France, Belgium, and Holland is great fun and works out cheaper.
No motorsport is cheap, but when you’ve got 120 hour refreshes, rather than 12, and track cost per hour is half, it makes a huge difference. Yes you don’t get the fun of events like the Silverstone Classic, but you do get less chinless chodes pretending to have gone to a decent school.
The other option is racing abroad. Even with the dismal exchange rate, historic racing in France, Belgium, and Holland is great fun and works out cheaper.
I'm 45 and been racing since 1996, and doing trackdays since 1991. I almost gave up 9 years ago, having spent a large amount of my bonus on going for a final fling, however it didn't work out, so I didn't quit but went off and raced somewhere low key for a few years, picking up a few pots.
fast forward today, and my plans this year was to compete in all the races of my championship, not something I'd previously done (although always planned) due to damage or rebuilds. I failed at the first round, so season is at a stop and the car is in bits in the garage. But here's the thing, I reckon a season's motorsport is about 7-10 hours on track. Costs about 7k, so close to £1000 per hour. I've decided to take up a different challenge which I will blog about on here in the next few months - 100 hour track day challenge. 100 hours on track, in one car, in 12 months. I've bought the car, I can run it by myself so should see an hourly rate of more like £60. No competition specifically I suppose but I'll certainly use the opportunity to improve.
Rambling post, apologies, but as for the OP, drop down a class or race level and run it by yourself. I've been doing that for years.
fast forward today, and my plans this year was to compete in all the races of my championship, not something I'd previously done (although always planned) due to damage or rebuilds. I failed at the first round, so season is at a stop and the car is in bits in the garage. But here's the thing, I reckon a season's motorsport is about 7-10 hours on track. Costs about 7k, so close to £1000 per hour. I've decided to take up a different challenge which I will blog about on here in the next few months - 100 hour track day challenge. 100 hours on track, in one car, in 12 months. I've bought the car, I can run it by myself so should see an hourly rate of more like £60. No competition specifically I suppose but I'll certainly use the opportunity to improve.
Rambling post, apologies, but as for the OP, drop down a class or race level and run it by yourself. I've been doing that for years.
And here I am dreaming about racing an Anglia 
. A Porsche 924 won class D of the 70’s last year, up to 2 litre class, and is a great option. Class D has some good battles in midfield. There are still a couple of 924’s again this year, Alfa 105 coupes, odd lancia etc. I run an Alfasud Sprint and tend to be racing against the class D guys at most events. I overflowed into your grid at Cadwell last year when the 70’s grid was over subscribed.
I really enjoy the 70’s, all down to earth and friendly, and the circuits/events that the hscc gets each year are very good I think. I am a club racer on a tight budget and do almost all the maintenance on the drive at home, help on the day is my pensioner dad.
If you had asked me for a hammer, then not only would it have been free, we’d have also come over and hit whatever needed hammering for you.
Ctcrc and cscc are good options also, but I found I was a bit underpowered with a 1500cc in most of their series.
. A Porsche 924 won class D of the 70’s last year, up to 2 litre class, and is a great option. Class D has some good battles in midfield. There are still a couple of 924’s again this year, Alfa 105 coupes, odd lancia etc. I run an Alfasud Sprint and tend to be racing against the class D guys at most events. I overflowed into your grid at Cadwell last year when the 70’s grid was over subscribed.I really enjoy the 70’s, all down to earth and friendly, and the circuits/events that the hscc gets each year are very good I think. I am a club racer on a tight budget and do almost all the maintenance on the drive at home, help on the day is my pensioner dad.
If you had asked me for a hammer, then not only would it have been free, we’d have also come over and hit whatever needed hammering for you.
Ctcrc and cscc are good options also, but I found I was a bit underpowered with a 1500cc in most of their series.
Edited by Veesix75 on Monday 24th June 22:24
coppice said:
CSCC offers good racing for a huge variety of cars from 5 or 6 decades , typically driven by decent and normal people - big motorhomes a rare sight.
I once described it in print as being like HSCC , but on a dress down Friday. Good on track manners too .
Same here , gave upmIrish tarmac rallies in 1987, started racing in Irish historic class in 1990 and since 2011/2 been racing in the CSCC modern classics , a great club and great racing. Spa Franchoramps this weekend coming I once described it in print as being like HSCC , but on a dress down Friday. Good on track manners too .
Veesix75 said:
And here I am dreaming about racing an Anglia . A Porsche 924 won class D of the 70’s last year, up to 2 litre class, and is a great option. Class D has some good battles in midfield. There are still a couple of 924’s again this year, Alfa 105 coupes, odd lancia etc. I run an Alfasud Sprint and tend to be racing against the class D guys at most events. I overflowed into your grid at Cadwell last year when the 70’s grid was over subscribed.
I really enjoy the 70’s, all down to earth and friendly, and the circuits/events that the hscc gets each year are very good I think. I am a club racer on a tight budget and do almost all the maintenance on the drive at home, help on the day is my pensioner dad.
If you had asked me for a hammer, then not only would it have been free, we’d have also come over and hit whatever needed hammering for you.
Ctcrc and cscc are good options also, but I found I was a bit underpowered with a 1500cc in most of their series.
Same. My pensioner dad (now 80) is still racing his Anglia 100e with HSCC. I started in that car, raced that and many others, before finally buying my own 105e, but I’m having terrible luck with it at the moment! I love the mix of cars in the HSCC, and the people, I just don’t like the gradual increase towards ‘professional’.. A Porsche 924 won class D of the 70’s last year, up to 2 litre class, and is a great option. Class D has some good battles in midfield. There are still a couple of 924’s again this year, Alfa 105 coupes, odd lancia etc. I run an Alfasud Sprint and tend to be racing against the class D guys at most events. I overflowed into your grid at Cadwell last year when the 70’s grid was over subscribed.I really enjoy the 70’s, all down to earth and friendly, and the circuits/events that the hscc gets each year are very good I think. I am a club racer on a tight budget and do almost all the maintenance on the drive at home, help on the day is my pensioner dad.
If you had asked me for a hammer, then not only would it have been free, we’d have also come over and hit whatever needed hammering for you.
Ctcrc and cscc are good options also, but I found I was a bit underpowered with a 1500cc in most of their series.
Edited by Veesix75 on Monday 24th June 22:24
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