Help for a novice looking to go motor-racing.
Discussion
Hi all, I'm new to this forum and looking for a bit of advice please......
I'm 21 and will be starting an engineering degree this month, I'm returning to education after a couple of years of poor health but have managed to save up a pound or two while I was working. As a keen driver, the idea of going motor-racing for a hobby certainly appeals. I have a friend who is also keen and we have been toying with the idea of going halfers on a car, trouble is, we really don't know what sort of motorsport to be looking into!
Living in central Scotland, Knockhill is nearby as is a nice 1/2 mile sprint/rally facility owned by a local car club. We are both reasonable on a go-kart (around 5% off lap-record at local indoor track) and have both done a couple of driving experiences at Knockhill, do you think this suggests we have the ability to take things further?
We have looked at various ads online but there are so many possible avenues to expore; road-legal rally stuff, tin-tops, track day specials, older formula fords, caterhams etc. I know that buying the car is the cheap bit, but my reasoning is that costs would be managable if everything was split down the middle and we both did half a season each?
Any advice/pointers/suggestions will be most appreciated.
I'm 21 and will be starting an engineering degree this month, I'm returning to education after a couple of years of poor health but have managed to save up a pound or two while I was working. As a keen driver, the idea of going motor-racing for a hobby certainly appeals. I have a friend who is also keen and we have been toying with the idea of going halfers on a car, trouble is, we really don't know what sort of motorsport to be looking into!
Living in central Scotland, Knockhill is nearby as is a nice 1/2 mile sprint/rally facility owned by a local car club. We are both reasonable on a go-kart (around 5% off lap-record at local indoor track) and have both done a couple of driving experiences at Knockhill, do you think this suggests we have the ability to take things further?
We have looked at various ads online but there are so many possible avenues to expore; road-legal rally stuff, tin-tops, track day specials, older formula fords, caterhams etc. I know that buying the car is the cheap bit, but my reasoning is that costs would be managable if everything was split down the middle and we both did half a season each?
Any advice/pointers/suggestions will be most appreciated.
Howdy doody, welcome to PH.
My suggestion would be to go along to Knockhill and have a look at a regular club race meeting.
They have a number of "in-house" championships like their Ford XR's, the Scottish Legends, Mini Cooper Challenge, and the usual FFord stuff.
If you want to start pretty cheaply, then have a look at the XR's.
The Legends are fairly cheap too, and there's the national series to play with if you go for it.
Sprinting and Hill-climbing can be done cheaper, but you get what you pay for in terms of action.
My suggestion would be to go along to Knockhill and have a look at a regular club race meeting.
They have a number of "in-house" championships like their Ford XR's, the Scottish Legends, Mini Cooper Challenge, and the usual FFord stuff.
If you want to start pretty cheaply, then have a look at the XR's.
The Legends are fairly cheap too, and there's the national series to play with if you go for it.
Sprinting and Hill-climbing can be done cheaper, but you get what you pay for in terms of action.
Hey, thanks for the reply!
I've been to a few club meets at K'hill over the years and yes, the xr's look like the most cost-effective way into it, with decent cars going for sub 5k. I guess I'm really looking for any general advice/pearls of wisdom that you could offer to someone in my position?
I have also had a look at the 750MC website and they seem to run an eclectic mix of (relatively!) low-budget championships touring the UK's top circuits. Travelling would be an issue, adding to costs, fun though!
Is it perhaps wise to start small with a cheap(ish) rally car to hone our skills over the winter at various sprints and rallies? What about tuition? Is thowing a few hundred quid at a race/rally school a wise investment?
I've been to a few club meets at K'hill over the years and yes, the xr's look like the most cost-effective way into it, with decent cars going for sub 5k. I guess I'm really looking for any general advice/pearls of wisdom that you could offer to someone in my position?
I have also had a look at the 750MC website and they seem to run an eclectic mix of (relatively!) low-budget championships touring the UK's top circuits. Travelling would be an issue, adding to costs, fun though!
Is it perhaps wise to start small with a cheap(ish) rally car to hone our skills over the winter at various sprints and rallies? What about tuition? Is thowing a few hundred quid at a race/rally school a wise investment?
Location, budget, and a second driver are your problems. The 750MC is a great cub, but can you afford the time and money to travel so much?
The SMRC looks a good place to start for racing, and the XR2s could be the way to go (though the SMRC website is a bit pants).
But you should consider hills & sprints (Doune?), perhaps with the XR2 so you can race or prepare to race it. Mix & Match your season between the two disciplines:
The SMRC looks a good place to start for racing, and the XR2s could be the way to go (though the SMRC website is a bit pants).
But you should consider hills & sprints (Doune?), perhaps with the XR2 so you can race or prepare to race it. Mix & Match your season between the two disciplines:
- Climbs are cheaper
- Shared drives are fine, so no argumments about who's spannering and who's driving.
- Less likely to be rammed up the chuff first time out.
- You're guaranteed to have someone to compete against.
if you want to share a car sprints and hillclimbs is the only viable cost effective solution. they dont offer much in terms of bang per buck but you do have a good time and its easy to prep a car. its also good fun and you have the challenge of beating your mate each event in the same car so its a good laugh
buying a ready built racer is cheaper tha nbuilding a car yourself but a racer will still need a trailer and tow car thus eating into your budget.
why not look at building a road going sprint/hillclimb car which one of you can drive to the event and the other drive in a support car? a good class would be the <1400cc class where things like 106 XSIs/Rallyes can be bought for less than a grand, stick in a cage, some sticky tyres, some stiffeer suspension and your safety gear will all be under £3K total. remember you can split the costs of everything bar the safety gear too.
racing is great fun but very expensive, entry fees are >£200 per race and thats before any consumables, damage etc etc... a sprint, albeit less time on track, is less than half that with no one to crash into you too! people will say its not proper motorsport but watch the top 12 run off at doune or somewhere and then tell them guys its not proper motorsport!
buying a ready built racer is cheaper tha nbuilding a car yourself but a racer will still need a trailer and tow car thus eating into your budget.
why not look at building a road going sprint/hillclimb car which one of you can drive to the event and the other drive in a support car? a good class would be the <1400cc class where things like 106 XSIs/Rallyes can be bought for less than a grand, stick in a cage, some sticky tyres, some stiffeer suspension and your safety gear will all be under £3K total. remember you can split the costs of everything bar the safety gear too.
racing is great fun but very expensive, entry fees are >£200 per race and thats before any consumables, damage etc etc... a sprint, albeit less time on track, is less than half that with no one to crash into you too! people will say its not proper motorsport but watch the top 12 run off at doune or somewhere and then tell them guys its not proper motorsport!
A friend of mine has a race ready ,road legal 175 bhp 1.8 civic vtec for £1800 with loads of spare rims and tyres .Its only done 40000 km from new .He won his championship in it something like 4 years ago and has hardly turned a wheel since .If you are interested i will send you some more info.
Paul
Paul
Hi,
The following thoughts come to mind;
1. The biggest outlay to your racing budget, as has been said, will be travelling. You will be staying away, taking additional time out and generally impinging on your life. It's the reverse for me when people talk about racing at Knockhill. I'd think twice about it and I'm already well into the game so easily convinced. This is why I'd suggest you stay local while you start out.
2. The SMRC would thus be a good call, and I'd second the suggestion of turning up at Knockhill and having a look.
3. The choice of circuit racing or Hillclimbing/Sprinting is one only you can make. I've done both and found that yes, entry fees were less than race fees, but then I got a tenth of the track time. When I visited a circuit I'd never driven for my 3 lap event, I found my competitors had been doing 50 laps the previous day on a track day. Can't blame them, I'd have done the same had I known, but if you factor that in each time it's not cheaper or indeed less mileage either.. Besides, you can always have a lack of cars around you if you so choose, just pick a poorly supported (< 20) race series - there are plenty about. Have a look here for a league table http://www.oddballracing.com/uk_motorsport_grid_si...
4. Entry fees will vary depending on the popularity of the series, and whether people are making a profit out of it. I pay £100 for a 20 min qualifying and a 20 minute race and £200 for a double header. I've no idea on SMRC series, but I recall the XR2 is pretty well supported, the bits will be cheap, and there will be plenty of help. They are also simple enough to work on yourself.
That would get my vote..
S.
The following thoughts come to mind;
1. The biggest outlay to your racing budget, as has been said, will be travelling. You will be staying away, taking additional time out and generally impinging on your life. It's the reverse for me when people talk about racing at Knockhill. I'd think twice about it and I'm already well into the game so easily convinced. This is why I'd suggest you stay local while you start out.
2. The SMRC would thus be a good call, and I'd second the suggestion of turning up at Knockhill and having a look.
3. The choice of circuit racing or Hillclimbing/Sprinting is one only you can make. I've done both and found that yes, entry fees were less than race fees, but then I got a tenth of the track time. When I visited a circuit I'd never driven for my 3 lap event, I found my competitors had been doing 50 laps the previous day on a track day. Can't blame them, I'd have done the same had I known, but if you factor that in each time it's not cheaper or indeed less mileage either.. Besides, you can always have a lack of cars around you if you so choose, just pick a poorly supported (< 20) race series - there are plenty about. Have a look here for a league table http://www.oddballracing.com/uk_motorsport_grid_si...
4. Entry fees will vary depending on the popularity of the series, and whether people are making a profit out of it. I pay £100 for a 20 min qualifying and a 20 minute race and £200 for a double header. I've no idea on SMRC series, but I recall the XR2 is pretty well supported, the bits will be cheap, and there will be plenty of help. They are also simple enough to work on yourself.
That would get my vote..
S.
Edited by stacy on Friday 18th September 19:32
stacy said:
Besides, you can always have a lack of cars around you if you so choose, just pick a poorly supported (< 20) race series - there are plenty about. Have a look here for a league table
http://www.oddballracing.com/uk_motorsport_grid_si...
Hi Stacy http://www.oddballracing.com/uk_motorsport_grid_si...
Not seen that before, very interesting - is it your handywork?
I know the racing's close in stock hatch, but how can you get and average grid of 63?!
Edited by VX Foxy to correct illiteracy on Friday 18th September 22:47
Edited by VX Foxy on Friday 18th September 22:49
Hello Mate,
Mine and a few others - it takes hours I'm afraid and it's overdue an update. Funnily enough there seems little change in it, aside some lowering further down though..
Stock Hatch do as Julian does with P8R PBMW and TTRS - they buy more time and run split grids. In fact with them I think they run heats.
S.
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