RE: Time Attack uncovered
Discussion
-Moley- said:
I'd love to enter myself, but with under 400bhp in a 1400kg car i'd spend every session checking my mirrors constantly, rather than enjoying the time on track.
You'd be suprised, the current club FWD championship leader has only ~220bhp @ ~1200kg's with good suspension, brakes, tyres etc...4key said:
Anyone that i know who competed in time attack left because of issues with the tyres.
Changed this season, Club are on MSA 1a/b tyres (depending on conditions) and Pro are on slicksTruckosaurus said:
There seems to be plenty of support/sponsorship/entries from tuning companies so it must be a good platform for showing what they are capable of.
There's not many race series with similarly liberal rules (Castle Combe GTs perhaps).
It would be interesting to see if in future the TimeAttack format could expand to feature more lightly modified cars such as compete currently in hillclimbs and sprints. (Similar to Palmer's "How Fast?" events)
That's a fair point. I hadn't really thought of that aspect of it. I suppose there is considerable pleasure in beating a car that's technically very good in a car that's built on a shoestring.There's not many race series with similarly liberal rules (Castle Combe GTs perhaps).
It would be interesting to see if in future the TimeAttack format could expand to feature more lightly modified cars such as compete currently in hillclimbs and sprints. (Similar to Palmer's "How Fast?" events)
I guess there's nothing at all wrong with diversity at the end of the day!
Racer Mike, I see your point of view completely, I have held a race licence for 15 years now but have only managed to afford 1 full season of wheel to wheel in all that time, I simply don't have budgets to do it.
What Time Attack offers me is the opportunity to pitch me, my home built car and my driving skills against a variety of different machinery in an environment which requires you to find space on circuit before hoofing it down and not trading paint for the next position.
Apart from the fact I have a fibreglass car, it would only take one off with damage and it is season over for me so the spacial nature of space hunting and diverse machinery as well as the best paddock I have ever been in is the appeal for me.
Don't get me wrong, if I had £30k a year to spend, I would be in a SEAT Leon in Saloon racing but I don't.
What Time Attack offers me is the opportunity to pitch me, my home built car and my driving skills against a variety of different machinery in an environment which requires you to find space on circuit before hoofing it down and not trading paint for the next position.
Apart from the fact I have a fibreglass car, it would only take one off with damage and it is season over for me so the spacial nature of space hunting and diverse machinery as well as the best paddock I have ever been in is the appeal for me.
Don't get me wrong, if I had £30k a year to spend, I would be in a SEAT Leon in Saloon racing but I don't.
Si1295 said:
4key said:
Anyone that i know who competed in time attack left because of issues with the tyres.
Changed this season, Club are on MSA 1a/b tyres (depending on conditions) and Pro are on slicksWhen you are running on a shoe string and have spent a lot of money and time building a car specifically for that series, to be told that you have to buy overpriced tyres when you already have a substantial collection of MSA approved tyres is quite disheartening to say the least. And theres nothing to say that the rules wont be changed again next year, is there?
The thing about Time Attack is, its really just posh sprinting.
Me personally, I prefer racing other people rather than just the clock. I understand the comments about the skill being finding a gap etc, well, yeah but we do that every race weekend, its known as qualifying.
Time Attack really is not budget motorsport, I grant there is more track time than a sprint or hill climb event but there should be with how much more you pay to do it.
Ultimately, if you took a trip to a kart track and awarded points for places, then went to an ATM and printed your bank balance and awarded points for that, the combined points total would pretty much sum up Time Attack. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
Me personally, I prefer racing other people rather than just the clock. I understand the comments about the skill being finding a gap etc, well, yeah but we do that every race weekend, its known as qualifying.
Time Attack really is not budget motorsport, I grant there is more track time than a sprint or hill climb event but there should be with how much more you pay to do it.
Ultimately, if you took a trip to a kart track and awarded points for places, then went to an ATM and printed your bank balance and awarded points for that, the combined points total would pretty much sum up Time Attack. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
emicen said:
The thing about Time Attack is, its really just posh sprinting.
Me personally, I prefer racing other people rather than just the clock. I understand the comments about the skill being finding a gap etc, well, yeah but we do that every race weekend, its known as qualifying.
Time Attack really is not budget motorsport, I grant there is more track time than a sprint or hill climb event but there should be with how much more you pay to do it.
Ultimately, if you took a trip to a kart track and awarded points for places, then went to an ATM and printed your bank balance and awarded points for that, the combined points total would pretty much sum up Time Attack. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
Not quite...Me personally, I prefer racing other people rather than just the clock. I understand the comments about the skill being finding a gap etc, well, yeah but we do that every race weekend, its known as qualifying.
Time Attack really is not budget motorsport, I grant there is more track time than a sprint or hill climb event but there should be with how much more you pay to do it.
Ultimately, if you took a trip to a kart track and awarded points for places, then went to an ATM and printed your bank balance and awarded points for that, the combined points total would pretty much sum up Time Attack. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
I am a sales manager, the team consists of an electrician, a maintenance guy, a chippy, a guy who prints wall paper and an IT service desk manager.
None of us has any formal training or qualification in anything automotive, let alone motorsport yet here we are fighting for a class win, 0.107 seconds off the win at Brands so a bunch of amateurs with little or no facilities can compete.
We built the car in a single lock up with no power or lights. None of us are wealthy and it is all done through help from friends.
With the class system TA has in place it mainly stops the ex BTCC car and team of mechanics being classed incorrectly, I am not saying the series is perfect but it works well.
Wheel to wheel, yup, great fun but having been there, bought the T-Shirt, I like the lower car damage risk element to TA.
emicen said:
. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
It seems you may not be aware of the different classes within TA.Club class
Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
Normally Aspirated – 3000cc and under*
Pro class
Pro
Club Pro
Pro 2WD
Prototype
There is also the opportunity to try it out as a single entry.
SirSamuelBuca said:
This is something i would love to participate in at some point 
This is from the Knockhill round. http://youtu.be/8aVLBo2M1_E and if you want more info go to. http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/index.phpStartline Al said:
emicen said:
. A very skilled driver with good engineering skills might make a fast car, but they'll only win as long as someone doesnt rock up with an ex-BTCC car and team of mechanics.
It seems you may not be aware of the different classes within TA.Club class
Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
Normally Aspirated – 3000cc and under*
Pro class
Pro
Club Pro
Pro 2WD
Prototype
There is also the opportunity to try it out as a single entry.
Believe there was a 900+ hp GTR in club or club pro earlier this year was there not?
For budget Time Attack I would recommend the MLRSS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO9ooWeV5Qk&fea...
Started out as a sprint event for MLR evos (inc. a guest class).
This year we've seen Evo's battle it out with Scoobie's and the guest class people can run what they like - anything from Clio's - Atom's - GTR's - WTAC cars.
Now that's real thrills on a shoe string budget and the banter is arguably the best in any racing series!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO9ooWeV5Qk&fea...
Started out as a sprint event for MLR evos (inc. a guest class).
This year we've seen Evo's battle it out with Scoobie's and the guest class people can run what they like - anything from Clio's - Atom's - GTR's - WTAC cars.
Now that's real thrills on a shoe string budget and the banter is arguably the best in any racing series!
Skydragon said:
Ref sction 5 of regs >>Pro Classes (except Prototype) and Club Challenge Classes- space/tube Frame chassis of any description are not permitted<<
I guess this effectively bans Caterhams, Westfields, etc from competing in time attack ;-(
Does anyone know why they do this?
To stop silhouette racers crashing the party, as I understand it. But there may be a more specific reason I'm not aware of...I guess this effectively bans Caterhams, Westfields, etc from competing in time attack ;-(
Does anyone know why they do this?
lets be clear then , there is no such thing as cheap motorsport on a track. Sprinting, hill climbs, circuit racing and time attack all cost a few thousand to get on the grid, I suppose with hill climb and sprinting you can at least use your road car but would you really give it everything knowing you have to drive it home as well .. I dunno maybe its just an excuse.
Autosolo and autotest are what I consider budget as you can use you daily driver and have a laugh for £30 with no safety gear and a £30 to you local motor club to get the licence. Granted to be competitive you still need the right car, for example I cannot hope to win the up to 2ltr class in my wife's 2ltr mk1 focus as I am against hot hatches like the clio but I still have fun.
Autosolo and autotest are what I consider budget as you can use you daily driver and have a laugh for £30 with no safety gear and a £30 to you local motor club to get the licence. Granted to be competitive you still need the right car, for example I cannot hope to win the up to 2ltr class in my wife's 2ltr mk1 focus as I am against hot hatches like the clio but I still have fun.
Skydragon said:
Ref sction 5 of regs >>Pro Classes (except Prototype) and Club Challenge Classes- space/tube Frame chassis of any description are not permitted<<
I guess this effectively bans Caterhams, Westfields, etc from competing in time attack ;-(
Does anyone know why they do this?
Because the space frame cars can be silly light (t45 frame and carbon shell etc), have ubber rigid chassis and effectively do what the hell they like with suspension points.I guess this effectively bans Caterhams, Westfields, etc from competing in time attack ;-(
Does anyone know why they do this?
That's kind of unfair for the guys running oem shells and not everyone has the budget for a space frame build. The rule is a leveler and the OEM shell is effectively a physical restricter.
Edited by kins on Friday 20th July 15:00
binnerboy said:
lets be clear then , there is no such thing as cheap motorsport on a track. Sprinting, hill climbs, circuit racing and time attack all cost a few thousand to get on the grid, I suppose with hill climb and sprinting you can at least use your road car but would you really give it everything knowing you have to drive it home as well .. I dunno maybe its just an excuse.
Autosolo and autotest are what I consider budget as you can use you daily driver and have a laugh for £30 with no safety gear and a £30 to you local motor club to get the licence. Granted to be competitive you still need the right car, for example I cannot hope to win the up to 2ltr class in my wife's 2ltr mk1 focus as I am against hot hatches like the clio but I still have fun.
No form of motorsport is cheap - even grass tracking and banger racing. Even track days are expensive when you factor in tyres, brake pads, fuel, servicing costs, track costs, fuel to get there, hotels, food etc.... and that's best case if you don't have an off.Autosolo and autotest are what I consider budget as you can use you daily driver and have a laugh for £30 with no safety gear and a £30 to you local motor club to get the licence. Granted to be competitive you still need the right car, for example I cannot hope to win the up to 2ltr class in my wife's 2ltr mk1 focus as I am against hot hatches like the clio but I still have fun.
At the end of the day motorsport is an expensive hobby and you have to pay to play.
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