Sprint/Hillclimb in a roadgoing class.

[Bengunn]

Afternoon all. I've had a search this morning but i'm not quite finding what i'm after. I'm looking to fill the gap between race weekends with some sprints or hillclimbs in my "classic" road car for a bit of fun. I don't need a championship as i may only do 4/5 events a year preferably close(ish) to Oxfordshire. The car I want to use (don't laugh) is...........a 1979 Morris Marina. As i said its for fun and getting out in the classic. I wan't it to be in a road going class so i don't need a cage. What requirements are there for the car and also, the Marina is running a standard 2.0 ford pinto so that may preclude me from many classes.

Thanks for any help

Ben.

[andye30m3]

I expect there's clubs closer to you but Farnborough motorclub aren't a million miles away and run a couple of sprints.

From memory they're quite good value.

https://fdmc.org.uk

[velocemitch]

Historic rally car register run a sprint and hillclimb championship. Not sure how the classes work but I’d expect yours would fit in OK

[Drumroll]

Had a quick look and found this:
https://scmc.co.uk/abingdon-long-course-sprint/

[df76]

With the engine swap, you'll be in the Sports Libre class and all the safety equipment that have to come with it. Including a cage.

[Bengunn]

Drumroll said:

Had a quick look and found this:
https://scmc.co.uk/abingdon-long-course-sprint/

Thank you for that, Abingdon is nice and close and i do some of the trackdays there atm to test my race car. I'm hoping the engine swap doesn't place the marina in a silly class especially since it has almost identical figures to a 1.8 t/c anyway.

[Bengunn]

andye30m3 said:

I expect there's clubs closer to you but Farnborough motorclub aren't a million miles away and run a couple of sprints.

From memory they're quite good value.

https://fdmc.org.uk

Thanks i'll check the club out.

[Bengunn]

df76 said:

With the engine swap, you'll be in the Sports Libre class and all the safety equipment that have to come with it. Including a cage.

I really hope this doesn't end up being the case or else the Marina won't be seeing any fun. Whilst i understand and agree with the rule in general it seems a little nonsensical when applied to vehicles such as myself.

Having just read section S of the Blue Book i feel it may fit in to the 'Modified Series Production Cars' category....still not concrete though. If only there was a 'old and slow car' category.

Edited by Bengunn on Friday 2nd August 13:43

[df76]

Bengunn said:

df76 said:

With the engine swap, you'll be in the Sports Libre class and all the safety equipment that have to come with it. Including a cage.

I really hope this doesn't end up being the case or else the Marina won't be seeing any fun. Whilst i understand and agree with the rule in general it seems a little nonsensical when applied to vehicles such as myself.

Having just read section S of the Blue Book i feel it may fit in to the 'Modified Series Production Cars' category....still not concrete though. If only there was a 'old and slow car' category.

Edited by Bengunn on Friday 2nd August 13:43

Afraid that the engine swap will be a problem. You'd need a roll cage in Mod Prod also.

[HorneyMX5]

I think if you want to sprint this then your best bet is avoiding an MSUK events was the engine swap will force you into Sports Libra as others have pointed out.

Have a look at the Javelin Sprint Series, pretty sure that's more power to weight. Also Time Attack might be an option?

[eastlmark]

HorneyMX5 said:

I think if you want to sprint this then your best bet is avoiding an MSUK events was the engine swap will force you into Sports Libra as others have pointed out.

Have a look at the Javelin Sprint Series, pretty sure that's more power to weight. Also Time Attack might be an option?

Often hear this nonsense about Sports Libra.... blue book states max height of 90cm! Pretty sure a Marna or anything with a roof wont comply.

[seiben]

You'd be fine in the Javelin series

[Bengunn]

seiben said:

You'd be fine in the Javelin series

Thank you for that. It's a shame the events seem to be more northern biased.

[stevieturbo]

eastlmark said:

Often hear this nonsense about Sports Libra.... blue book states max height of 90cm! Pretty sure a Marna or anything with a roof wont comply.

Plenty of saloon cars in sports libre, so no idea where you're seeing a 90cm rule.

But the engine change rules that force otherwise normal cars into libre etc are nonsensical. As others say, Javelin seem to be far more accommodating to bringing new people into motorsport like this compared to MSUK.

[Truckosaurus]

I've seen the 'Classic Marques Speed Challenge' running at Gurston a few times, they seem to allow all-comers and use a handicap system based on power/weight/etc so you might be in luck => http://www.cmscc.co.uk/speed-challenge/

[chunder27]

I found exactly the same with a 306GTi6 I ran.

It had no back seats and a roll bar and would put me into a class with all sorts of nonsense!

Rules are rules I guess, but that was one lost competitor, especially when you delved into all the crap you had to buy and use.

Motorsport in this country could and should be a lot more attainable to the average man, sadly it is stuffy, full of pointless rules (not the car specs, others) and stupid things like clubs, you have to join this one for that, that one for this. It is utter nonsense really.

[Truckosaurus]

chunder27 said:

...It had no back seats and a roll bar and would put me into a class with all sorts of nonsense!...

Similarly, my Mini has both a rollcage and unusable rear seats to allow access to 'road going' classes.

[Bengunn]

Truckosaurus said:

I've seen the 'Classic Marques Speed Challenge' running at Gurston a few times, they seem to allow all-comers and use a handicap system based on power/weight/etc so you might be in luck => http://www.cmscc.co.uk/speed-challenge/

Thanks very much. I'll look in to this. It sounds the ticket for what i'm after.

[seiben]

Bengunn said:

seiben said:

You'd be fine in the Javelin series

Thank you for that. It's a shame the events seem to be more northern biased.

As a fellow Oxfordshire resident I tend to agree. Hasn't stopped me doing it though (although Croft is a bit of a mission!)

[Bengunn]

seiben said:

As a fellow Oxfordshire resident I tend to agree. Hasn't stopped me doing it though (although Croft is a bit of a mission!)

Ahh good to see some local representatives. Indeed i have raced at Croft before, managed qualifying in which i mis-shifted and bent 8 exhaust valves. That was a long trip home! I was however hoping more for day trips in the classic. I travel wherever the championship goes with the circuit racing.