Getting into Motorsport
Discussion
ginettajoe said:
.....and that is the mistake that I see so many make!!
Hopefully you mean this bit...JZZ30 said:
Thanks. Very insightful. I suppose it's very easy to forget about (or willfully ignore) some associated costs.
rather than this bit!JZZ30 said:
If we go for the J1000 rally (I really do think it will be much cheaper than circuit racing)
I suppose if we do greatly underestimate the ongoing running costs, he could use the car for autotest stuff anyway.ginettajoe said:
No, it isn't!! 16 would be the youngest and even then, your budget would exceed £10k.
If you spend more than 10k a season, you're doing something very wrong!I did the BRSCC Supercup in 2015, which is the mk3 mx5, apparently more expensive to run. but I bought the car for £12500, spent £800 on a paint job. By the end of season it needed a new paint job, but it was tidy enough through out to not get me kicked out the championship.
I spent no more than £7k including, fees, fuel, tyres, (I only used 3 sets in total, one of those sets came with the car and each set was £250, Federal RSR) and repairs (a couple of wheel bearings) I didn't do any test days however. and I slept in a tent at the circuit
I finished 2nd overall....
In 2014 I did the Mk1s and that cost a bit more, maybe 10k and my car was immaculate. But I tested a lot. something I found wasn't completely useful...I found more time by testing in the off season. But Even then i didn't get out in the car that much
I finished 3rd that season.
Lessons learnt is..buy a decent proven car...
Cheers
John
I have a trailer AND a tow car for sale that i would let go for the same price as the Brian James you'd mentioned 
I'm not sure how you are for space but both are currently kept in a storage facility that could be transferred over if you wanted to keep all your stuff at a secure facility.
PM me if you want any more info.
I also have a fully track/race prepped Clio 182 available although i'm not sure what series, if any, it would be suitable for though.
Have you considered SLS? It's not direct wheel to wheel racing but is another one to consider and is based at Knockhill.
I'm not sure how you are for space but both are currently kept in a storage facility that could be transferred over if you wanted to keep all your stuff at a secure facility.
PM me if you want any more info.
I also have a fully track/race prepped Clio 182 available although i'm not sure what series, if any, it would be suitable for though.
Have you considered SLS? It's not direct wheel to wheel racing but is another one to consider and is based at Knockhill.
R8Steve said:
I have a trailer AND a tow car for sale that i would let go for the same price as the Brian James you'd mentioned
I'm not sure how you are for space but both are currently kept in a storage facility that could be transferred over if you wanted to keep all your stuff at a secure facility.
PM me if you want any more info.
I also have a fully track/race prepped Clio 182 available although i'm not sure what series, if any, it would be suitable for though.
Have you considered SLS? It's not direct wheel to wheel racing but is another one to consider and is based at Knockhill.
PM incoming!I'm not sure how you are for space but both are currently kept in a storage facility that could be transferred over if you wanted to keep all your stuff at a secure facility.
PM me if you want any more info.
I also have a fully track/race prepped Clio 182 available although i'm not sure what series, if any, it would be suitable for though.
Have you considered SLS? It's not direct wheel to wheel racing but is another one to consider and is based at Knockhill.
Hadn't considered SLS, just had a quick google and I can't tell if Juniors are allowed or not, but like a lot of the other stuff that's being mentioned, It's of interest for the future anyway. Thanks.
One of my cousins went on to do SaxMax when he grew out of jnr karting. He dad my uncal has a share in a 2CV racing car team with both a UK and Belgium spec car.
He enjoyed it and the social side, but only managed a session and a half or something before the money ran out, in part due to a bad crash but the writing I think was already on the wall. At the time he was prime teenager and personal didn't really appreciate what was being provided, I was 18 at the time, just got my first car, and would have killed for the opportunity. Took me another three years to save up to by a £4k Westfield and do trackdays and get into autotesting.
Personally while I would like to support my child a little more than i got, if they where reasonably keen, it's a lot of money. It's a way off for me, but have thought maybe just odd shared trackdays, and then into autosolo maybe, which is what I now do.
Daniel
He enjoyed it and the social side, but only managed a session and a half or something before the money ran out, in part due to a bad crash but the writing I think was already on the wall. At the time he was prime teenager and personal didn't really appreciate what was being provided, I was 18 at the time, just got my first car, and would have killed for the opportunity. Took me another three years to save up to by a £4k Westfield and do trackdays and get into autotesting.
Personally while I would like to support my child a little more than i got, if they where reasonably keen, it's a lot of money. It's a way off for me, but have thought maybe just odd shared trackdays, and then into autosolo maybe, which is what I now do.
Daniel
chunder27 said:
There are series you could easily race in, that do not contain hidden costs
It just depends on how much you want to spend on a car or how much you want to spend on keeping clubs afloat and the MSA alive.
Your choice
Not a fan of the MSA then?It just depends on how much you want to spend on a car or how much you want to spend on keeping clubs afloat and the MSA alive.
Your choice
Any links to series that you mention? thanks.
If many of you read JZZ30's OP, then he specifically suggested it was for his son, and as he is a 14 year old junior, then the cost of them competing in any MSA race series is far greater than someone tipping up with their own car, in a senior series, sleeping in a tent, and cutting every expense corner they can!!!
JZZ30 ...... the F1000 is a more affordable entry into competitive motorsport, allowing you to share special times and "team" connection with your son!!
JZZ30 ...... the F1000 is a more affordable entry into competitive motorsport, allowing you to share special times and "team" connection with your son!!
OP
It depends what you want him to do or what he wants to do.
if he wants close racing in quick cars on oval tracks there are plenty of series around. If you are in Scotland you have two tracks up there and a few close by, but it's a rather more working class sport, but no less skilful at the top level.
But you or he might not consider that proper racing or something you would want to try.
Alternatively have you thought about motocross or enduro. Some of the cheapest racing you can do, keeps you very fit, is challenging, tough, very skill based. And talent stands out like a sore thumb on bikes, far more than it ever can in cars.
Karting sounds a plan, can be done cheaply, but can also be hideously expensive. Some teams charge more for kart season that smaller junior formulae on circuits ridiculously.
It depends what you want him to do or what he wants to do.
if he wants close racing in quick cars on oval tracks there are plenty of series around. If you are in Scotland you have two tracks up there and a few close by, but it's a rather more working class sport, but no less skilful at the top level.
But you or he might not consider that proper racing or something you would want to try.
Alternatively have you thought about motocross or enduro. Some of the cheapest racing you can do, keeps you very fit, is challenging, tough, very skill based. And talent stands out like a sore thumb on bikes, far more than it ever can in cars.
Karting sounds a plan, can be done cheaply, but can also be hideously expensive. Some teams charge more for kart season that smaller junior formulae on circuits ridiculously.
ginettajoe said:
JZZ30 ...... the F1000 is a more affordable entry into competitive motorsport, allowing you to share special times and "team" connection with your son!!
Exactly this. Thanks.To some other points - karting, yes we have looked at this (he does indoor karting fairly regularly) and it doesn't seem particularly cheap for the pro karting, besides our passion is for tin top racing.
Oval racing - I'll look a bit further into it. Been to Cowdenbeath a couple of times. Not for a while though. Only Junior stuff I can remember going on was the mini stocks. Not sure it would be any cheaper than running a Micra in the f1000 though.
My son just wants to be in a car. Any car! Any series. Ultimately circuit racing, but he tells me that competing in the f1000 will still allow him to enter the Ginetta Scholarship again next year.
JZZ30 said:
Exactly this. Thanks.
To some other points - karting, yes we have looked at this (he does indoor karting fairly regularly) and it doesn't seem particularly cheap for the pro karting, besides our passion is for tin top racing.
Oval racing - I'll look a bit further into it. Been to Cowdenbeath a couple of times. Not for a while though. Only Junior stuff I can remember going on was the mini stocks. Not sure it would be any cheaper than running a Micra in the f1000 though.
My son just wants to be in a car. Any car! Any series. Ultimately circuit racing, but he tells me that competing in the f1000 will still allow him to enter the Ginetta Scholarship again next year.
There is also the JSCC scholarship that he can enter alongside the Ginetta one! I think the one for the coming season maybe fully booked, but worth an enquiry... To some other points - karting, yes we have looked at this (he does indoor karting fairly regularly) and it doesn't seem particularly cheap for the pro karting, besides our passion is for tin top racing.
Oval racing - I'll look a bit further into it. Been to Cowdenbeath a couple of times. Not for a while though. Only Junior stuff I can remember going on was the mini stocks. Not sure it would be any cheaper than running a Micra in the f1000 though.
My son just wants to be in a car. Any car! Any series. Ultimately circuit racing, but he tells me that competing in the f1000 will still allow him to enter the Ginetta Scholarship again next year.
http://juniorsalooncars.co.uk/scholarship/
JohnClem88 said:
Funky Panda said:
I love the BRSCC MX5 championship. When I was doing my man maths a couple of years ago it was the championship I chose. I don't think a junior can enter though.
Who are you Funky Panda?? 
First bit of spend to document. I'll file it under 'training'
Booked the teen rally experience at Knockhill for him. A bit of seat time while we look at getting everything together. Will be useful in the lead up to his BARS licence, I think.
Running total .
Booked the teen rally experience at Knockhill for him. A bit of seat time while we look at getting everything together. Will be useful in the lead up to his BARS licence, I think.
Running total .
Edited by JZZ30 on Monday 6th January 13:09
Quick update to the running total
I bought a van with a towbar rather than fit a towbar to the 5 series (was getting quotes of near £500 to fit!)
I'll not put in the cost of the van, but I will count £400 for the towbar.
Hope to get a trailer sorted in the next few days.
Costs so far:
Training
£135
Unrecoverable Miscellaneous
Towbar £400
Numberplate £10
Car Club Membership £30 (for us both)
TOTAL £575
I bought a van with a towbar rather than fit a towbar to the 5 series (was getting quotes of near £500 to fit!)
I'll not put in the cost of the van, but I will count £400 for the towbar.
Hope to get a trailer sorted in the next few days.
Costs so far:
Training
£135
Unrecoverable Miscellaneous
Towbar £400
Numberplate £10
Car Club Membership £30 (for us both)
TOTAL £575
I get the impression that the OP is not overly handy with the spanners .
£400 for a towbar !
The last one I fitted cost me £25 and about 6 hrs of my time including making the thing .
As for running any competition car it's all expensive !
Buying a built ,proven car is usually the cheapest way in .
Always buy the best safety equipment you can afford ,you only get one chance with this stuff .
All money spent on racing must be regarded as lost money , everything must be regarded as disposable, it can turn to scrap very easily .
Sit down with a sesoned racer and get him to write down all the costs that you have not considered.
£8-12K might get you on the start line for the first event but it will probably cost £500+ for each event after that .
Entry fees .
Fuel .
Accommodation.
Food and drink at each event .
Maintenance of the racer.
Tax,ins and maintenance of tow vehicle .
It all adds up , very quickly .
So many give up before the end of the first season purely due to finance .
£400 for a towbar !
The last one I fitted cost me £25 and about 6 hrs of my time including making the thing .
As for running any competition car it's all expensive !
Buying a built ,proven car is usually the cheapest way in .
Always buy the best safety equipment you can afford ,you only get one chance with this stuff .
All money spent on racing must be regarded as lost money , everything must be regarded as disposable, it can turn to scrap very easily .
Sit down with a sesoned racer and get him to write down all the costs that you have not considered.
£8-12K might get you on the start line for the first event but it will probably cost £500+ for each event after that .
Entry fees .
Fuel .
Accommodation.
Food and drink at each event .
Maintenance of the racer.
Tax,ins and maintenance of tow vehicle .
It all adds up , very quickly .
So many give up before the end of the first season purely due to finance .
Part of the exercise is also getting my son to know his way around a car with the spanners.
Just this evening we serviced the van I just bought. I'll happily change brakes, suspension etc. And when we get the rally car I imagine we'll have to change the clutch, driveshafts etc.
But I know my limits. I wouldn't dream of trying wire up the electric s in an E61 5 series. I got two quotes. Both over £450. I decided just to buy a cheap van with a towbar already fitted. Much better for flinging in a spare set of wheels, gearbox, whatever.
Just this evening we serviced the van I just bought. I'll happily change brakes, suspension etc. And when we get the rally car I imagine we'll have to change the clutch, driveshafts etc.
But I know my limits. I wouldn't dream of trying wire up the electric s in an E61 5 series. I got two quotes. Both over £450. I decided just to buy a cheap van with a towbar already fitted. Much better for flinging in a spare set of wheels, gearbox, whatever.
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