Any cheap series with arrive & drive cars available?
Discussion
andy97 said:
Paul Sheard Autosport has both Mk1 and Mk3 MX5 race cars available for hire, he also has k1, Mk2 and a Mk3 rally car for hire as well.
I'm AnD a few rounds of the BRSCC MX5 Clubman champ (not with Paul) - my experience so far has been excellent. Its great fun. It does depend on your definition of cheap though.
Another plug for Puma cup,its a superb little series,the cars are robust as hell,competitive and fun,you could even keep it road legal and drive it to the track,just dont crash it it or break it!
Im going to give it a go again next year.
www.puma-cup.co.uk
Im going to give it a go again next year.
www.puma-cup.co.uk
If you fancy something very fast and still quite economical (in the grand scheme of things) check out sports2000. There is Chris Snowdon https://www.cs-racing.co.uk/ who could put you in one of the original pinto powered cars or MCR https://mcrracecars.co.uk/ who can put you in a brand new Duratec powered car (which is what I own and drive).
To put the pace of these things into context some of the drivers in our series just won this https://vdev.fr/en/event-v-de-v/les-2-tours-dhorlo... in a pinto car against some very serious machinery including a Lola T70 and a gaggle of racing porches. The Duratecs are only a second or so slower than a GT3 car on a lot of tracks.
To put the pace of these things into context some of the drivers in our series just won this https://vdev.fr/en/event-v-de-v/les-2-tours-dhorlo... in a pinto car against some very serious machinery including a Lola T70 and a gaggle of racing porches. The Duratecs are only a second or so slower than a GT3 car on a lot of tracks.
Edited by Caterham-Andy on Sunday 6th November 18:16
Thanks for the continued replies everyone.
I've continued to look at this along with some other options - I'll try and post some actual details at some point. In summary I would say there is some kind of Arrive & Drive available for almost every series, and even some series which are only A&D. The arrangements vary between hiring a car and sorting the rest out yourself, and all-inclusive type deals where you pay a fee which includes everything apart from crash damage.
Some of the significant factors are:
- Endurance vs Sprints - Enduro you generally get more seat time for your money, but you're sharing the drive
- Practice - cheaper if you don't do the test day/track day ahead of a race, although I guess most people would want to
- Days racing - if there are races on two days vs one this will cost more
- Car - as expected cheaper cars are cheaper to race (and to fix if crashed)
- Length of agreement - it can be cheaper if you sign up for a whole series
For a single race with a practice beforehand, you're looking at somewhere around £2k+. (If you know something cheaper, let me know!).
Personally I could only do one or two races like this, for the time being anyway. I may still do that, but I'm leaning more towards finding a couple of people to build a 116 Trophy/C1/EnduroKa with which I think is the maximum fun for the money (if you enjoy messing around with cars, anyway).
I've continued to look at this along with some other options - I'll try and post some actual details at some point. In summary I would say there is some kind of Arrive & Drive available for almost every series, and even some series which are only A&D. The arrangements vary between hiring a car and sorting the rest out yourself, and all-inclusive type deals where you pay a fee which includes everything apart from crash damage.
Some of the significant factors are:
- Endurance vs Sprints - Enduro you generally get more seat time for your money, but you're sharing the drive
- Practice - cheaper if you don't do the test day/track day ahead of a race, although I guess most people would want to
- Days racing - if there are races on two days vs one this will cost more
- Car - as expected cheaper cars are cheaper to race (and to fix if crashed)
- Length of agreement - it can be cheaper if you sign up for a whole series
For a single race with a practice beforehand, you're looking at somewhere around £2k+. (If you know something cheaper, let me know!).
Personally I could only do one or two races like this, for the time being anyway. I may still do that, but I'm leaning more towards finding a couple of people to build a 116 Trophy/C1/EnduroKa with which I think is the maximum fun for the money (if you enjoy messing around with cars, anyway).
Don't forget all these prices are plus entry (usually around £500 per weekend) and plus testing fee (around £4-500 per day also)
Oh and if you bend it you'll be liable for any repairs + labour unless you insure (which is crazy expensive)
I think a cheaper/better option would be to pick up a cheap race car like a fiesta or something and pay for storage with a team or in a local storage place.
At least then you have a saleable asset at the end of it.
Oh and if you bend it you'll be liable for any repairs + labour unless you insure (which is crazy expensive)
I think a cheaper/better option would be to pick up a cheap race car like a fiesta or something and pay for storage with a team or in a local storage place.
At least then you have a saleable asset at the end of it.
It depends, some include those - the endurance ones in particular as you're sharing a drive. 116 Trophy for example with Forty40 is around £2.5k including practice and race entry, or around £10k for a full season of 6 races. (Although IIRC those guys do a track day rather than the official practice session).
Why not go and spend a day at Palmersport. I remember a lot of years ago thinking that Palmersport days were very expensive, but having been racing for many years and understanding the financial (and often emotional) cost of racing, a day at Palmersport represents incredible value and if you truly love it, which I’m sure you will, work out how to get into racing in a car which suits both you and your budget.
Very late reply I know.
If you are still looking, we are offering some arrive and drive options for 2023 in the 116 Trophy. There will be sprint races as well as shared endurance races across the season. Prices will depend on the race, but are roughly £750 + insurance + VAT.
T H Racing Porsche & German Specialist
WhatsApp: 07742 813223 for a chat about it.
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If you are still looking, we are offering some arrive and drive options for 2023 in the 116 Trophy. There will be sprint races as well as shared endurance races across the season. Prices will depend on the race, but are roughly £750 + insurance + VAT.
T H Racing Porsche & German Specialist
WhatsApp: 07742 813223 for a chat about it.
Thanks Hamster69, it's good to have some options. I've not signed up for anything in 2023 yet - TBH I'm not sure I will given my current finances, although I do have a shiny new racing suit and licence waiting to be used.
116 Trophy seems to be one of the most cost-effective series and your prices look good so I'll be in touch if I manage to loosen the shackles on my wallet.
116 Trophy seems to be one of the most cost-effective series and your prices look good so I'll be in touch if I manage to loosen the shackles on my wallet.
Grant.C said:
Thanks Hamster69, it's good to have some options. I've not signed up for anything in 2023 yet - TBH I'm not sure I will given my current finances, although I do have a shiny new racing suit and licence waiting to be used.
116 Trophy seems to be one of the most cost-effective series and your prices look good so I'll be in touch if I manage to loosen the shackles on my wallet.
Just do a few races then, maybe even try a few different formulae.. no need to commit to a single complete championship116 Trophy seems to be one of the most cost-effective series and your prices look good so I'll be in touch if I manage to loosen the shackles on my wallet.
I know someone else mentioned this earlier but you have another option: buy a cheap race car and have it stored and ran at the track by a team. Cost will typically be around 500 quid a day (this includes bringing your car, mechanical support, tea and biscuits) and around 125 per month for storage.
So you get the advantages of arrive and drive (its great when you’re a novice to only have to worry about your driving) and car ownership.
Financially it may actually be quite compelling vs arrive and drive. You are going to be liable for the damage in any case, so might as well own the car since you are responsible for the cost.
I saw a fully running Porsche 924 race car for less than 4 grand last year if i recall correctly. I would imagine you could be getting into Clios, Mx5s, older BMWs, etc for quite cheap
So you get the advantages of arrive and drive (its great when you’re a novice to only have to worry about your driving) and car ownership.
Financially it may actually be quite compelling vs arrive and drive. You are going to be liable for the damage in any case, so might as well own the car since you are responsible for the cost.
I saw a fully running Porsche 924 race car for less than 4 grand last year if i recall correctly. I would imagine you could be getting into Clios, Mx5s, older BMWs, etc for quite cheap
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