Sprints & Hillclimbs

Author
Discussion

davejones

Original Poster:

110 posts

233 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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I’m based in the South East and have been racing roadsports and historic saloons for many years in various series - Just before lockdown I bought into a syndicate and now own a quarter share in a Historic Sports 2000, but although my fellow owners are entering races with it, I fancy having a go at a few Sprints and/or Hillclimbs - Other than taking part in a few SDMC Crystal Palace and North Weald sprints in the past I’m a novice and looking for events to “have a go at” in 2021 - anyone here have any experience and or advice as to clubs/events etc I should be considering?

Galveston

708 posts

198 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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There's an active speed championship in the south-east organised by the ASEMC...

http://asemc.co.uk/asemc-aemc-speed-championship/

Perhaps joining one of their member clubs could be a good place to start?

I'm a member of the HSA...

https://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/

... and their website provides loads of info which might be worth a read.

smokey mow

880 posts

199 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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In addition to the clubs mentioned above it’s also worth looking at Borough 19. They organise the sprints at north Weald as well as on many other airfields in Essex as well as a Snetterton sprint.

davejones

Original Poster:

110 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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Thanks guys will follow up on the research

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Monday 2nd November 2020
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Bit late to this but I’m in Hertfordshire Auto and Aero and we’re always on the hunt for more members. We organise events at Hethel and Debden - Debden in particular is a good one I’d say. Feel free to PM (I likely will forget to check back on this thread).

TimCrighton

996 posts

215 months

Thursday 5th November 2020
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Historic S2000 is a great formula though for circuit racing and can open up some lovely grids like Thundersports with HSCC (Nice to share a grid with a Mclaren M8) and races at places like Spa! Perhaps worth benefiting from some of the fun that can be had with the car!

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
quotequote all
Actus Reus said:
Bit late to this but I’m in Hertfordshire Auto and Aero and we’re always on the hunt for more members. We organise events at Hethel and Debden - Debden in particular is a good one I’d say.
I used love doing the Herts Auto & Aero Sprints at Debden back in the early 90's when I used to Sprint my Sunbeam-Lotus.

Happy days smile


Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Monday 9th November 2020
quotequote all
Debden's layout has changed a bit, I think, after some accidents, but it's good fun - some interesting cars come along and some nice people. Was cancelled in May this year, but ran in October and should run again next May I hope.

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

45 months

Monday 30th November 2020
quotequote all
Am seriously considering a bit of sprinting in the future post Covid.

Would be running a road based car in the road categories.

Can anyone shed any light on what type of thing I would need to look at clothing and safety wise in the car? I presume overalls, helmet, gloves?

But I see no cages in some cars, maybe just an extinguisher or something? Obviously this is all blue book stuff, but some guidance would be helpful, am in South east too, so would likely try and race in the area aswell.


Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Monday 30th November 2020
quotequote all
You will require, helmet, race suit and gloves. Boots, etc are optional. Likewise, in the roadgoing classes, cages, harness and extinguishers are also optional.

As far as the car is concerned, mandatory requirements are: timing strut, on/off sticker by the ignition starter switch, and yellow tape on the main battery earth lead.

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Monday 30th November 2020
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Roadgoing: Proban overalls are acceptable
"Standard Cars": helmet required to appropriate standard, arms must be covered

df76

3,615 posts

277 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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carl_w said:
Roadgoing: Proban overalls are acceptable
"Standard Cars": helmet required to appropriate standard, arms must be covered
Yes, and you don't need gloves in the Road Car category either. Start with Section S here, helps to explain quite a lot (and you might also need to ask for clarifications here!). https://www.motorsportuk.org/resource-centre/yearb...

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

45 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Thanks guys

Seems I can really do this on the cheap compared to most other sorts of competitive stuff. I was expecting cages, fire extinguishers, cut off switches etc. So hopefully could be out and about next year maybe. Shame no shows as be easier to et stuff, doubt NEC will be on obviously.


df76

3,615 posts

277 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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LukeBrown66 said:
Thanks guys

Seems I can really do this on the cheap compared to most other sorts of competitive stuff. I was expecting cages, fire extinguishers, cut off switches etc. So hopefully could be out and about next year maybe. Shame no shows as be easier to et stuff, doubt NEC will be on obviously.
Also, see the Intro Class, in the other thread, that will come in for 2021. If your local club runs it then all you need is a free Clubman licence (available on the day if needed) and an approved helmet (they start at about £120). You can then run in the Standard category. Moving up to the Road Car isn't expensive either, and you don't need to do anything to the car safety wise.

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

45 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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Can you point me to other thread chap please?

Have done a quick reckon up, and yes the cheapest suit is about 150, lid I am tempted to buy something better for about 300.

Have gloves anyway, the other stuff is not dear at all.

df76

3,615 posts

277 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
LukeBrown66 said:
Can you point me to other thread chap please?

Have done a quick reckon up, and yes the cheapest suit is about 150, lid I am tempted to buy something better for about 300.

Have gloves anyway, the other stuff is not dear at all.
If buying an expensive lid make sure it has a long homologation expiry date.. details in the Motorsport UK “blue book” section k.

Other thread is here.. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

davejones

Original Poster:

110 posts

233 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2020
quotequote all
TimCrighton said:
Historic S2000 is a great formula though for circuit racing and can open up some lovely grids like Thundersports with HSCC (Nice to share a grid with a Mclaren M8) and races at places like Spa! Perhaps worth benefiting from some of the fun that can be had with the car!
Sure it is a great car and a couple of my syndicate have run it with success in events this year, however I get my "racing kicks" in Saloons and Sports cars but feel a little intimidated in this car and want to have fun concentrating on lines and times without being concerned with those around me.
Thanks to everyone for your contributions, I adn't checked in for a while...

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2020
quotequote all
davejones said:
Sure it is a great car and a couple of my syndicate have run it with success in events this year, however I get my "racing kicks" in Saloons and Sports cars but feel a little intimidated in this car and want to have fun concentrating on lines and times without being concerned with those around me.
Thanks to everyone for your contributions, I adn't checked in for a while...
There isn’t much run off at most hillclimbs.......

I think I would rather share a car in the Sports 2000 Enduro series on circuits I know!

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

45 months

Tuesday 8th December 2020
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Just a quick point, been looking at helmets, obviously safety is paramount, but in a proddy road car, the likelihood of anything awful is pretty low, so a cheaper lid would be preferable. But there seems to be a ceiling of about 80 quid for track day lids and then 300 for anything else, presumably for real racing snell approved race helmets for proper wheel to wheel stuff etc.

For club sprints in a road car, I am presuming something lesser is required, non Snell?

I am also aware that bike stuff is rarely approved, which is annoying as I have a few high quality bike helmets from friends that would be far safer than an 80 quid open face"! But likely not legal.

df76

3,615 posts

277 months

Tuesday 8th December 2020
quotequote all
LukeBrown66 said:
Just a quick point, been looking at helmets, obviously safety is paramount, but in a proddy road car, the likelihood of anything awful is pretty low, so a cheaper lid would be preferable. But there seems to be a ceiling of about 80 quid for track day lids and then 300 for anything else, presumably for real racing snell approved race helmets for proper wheel to wheel stuff etc.

For club sprints in a road car, I am presuming something lesser is required, non Snell?

I am also aware that bike stuff is rarely approved, which is annoying as I have a few high quality bike helmets from friends that would be far safer than an 80 quid open face"! But likely not legal.
No, helmets are the one common safety requirement across the categories. 2020 regs as follows, about to be updated any day for 2021.

FIA 8860-2004 (Not valid after 31.12.20)
FIA 8860-2010
FIA 8859-2015
SNELL SA2010 (Not valid after 31.12.23)
SNELL SA2015 (Not valid after 31.12.26)
SNELL SAH2010 (Not valid after 31.12.23)
SNELL SA2020

Some fairly "cheap" options (such as Zamp, Hedtec and V2 Sport) to have a look at.. and YB Racing has a decent sale on OMP helmets on their eBay page (which is the helmet i use and like).

Edited by df76 on Tuesday 8th December 18:12