How could I get into club racing on a weekend at low cost?

[Bizboz]

I would love to get into club racing on a weekend from karting to cars but haven't got the first idea how I would go about it.

Is it expensive?
Would I have to buy my own car/kart?
What would you say would be the best route to go down and where?
Would I be too old to start as a beginner at 30?

I hope someone can help me with some basic details so it will give me some idea.

Thanks

[spyderman8]

I started this year - at 48! I'm running on an arrive-and-drive basis - which is admittedly expensive but then I figured it would be best to go with someone who knows exactly what they're doing and it gives me less to worry about!

[andye30m3]

I started this year in production BMW which must be one of the cheapest race series.

First job is to buy your go racing pack from the MSA, Demon tweaks etc ect this gives you a lot of info about getting your license. You'll need to do a test & have a medical I'd guess the best part of £500 is required to get your national B license.

You then need to decide on a championship / series and join the appropriate club.

Racewear will prob set you back between £500-1000

I opted to buy my own car and trailer for around £6k and a tow car which I use every day.

I guess it depends on how handy you are as a mechanic, I can do most stuff myself that you want to undertake in the paddock.

I'm looking at a cost of around £4.5-5k for the years racing including fuel, traveling, entry fees etc, I'll recoup some of that as a friend hires the car off me for a separate race series which runs on the same weekends as Production BMW.

[Bizboz]

Thanks for that, it's given me a bit more insight as to what I need to do.

[Tibs]

Sprinting? Hillclimbing?

You can even do it in your daily driver if needs be, I do, loads of classes and different events up and down the country.

Be as competitive as you want to be and/or can afford.

Cheapest and most enjoyable way into motorsport for myself, after weighing up lots of options over several years.

[drmotorsport]

Depends how much money you've got to burn, but whether you hire a car or buy one, you will need to choose a race series that fits your budget and location.

For example if your southern based you could try the BARC SE Tin Tops in a basic race car and have a bit of fun without spending a fortune. Besides the car you will need an ARDS/medical test to be able to get a race license (£400ish), then race suit/helmet etc. You would need to budget about £800 on the racewear, £2000 on club membership and a seasons race entry fees before you've even got a car.

Age is not a factor in club racing!

Edited by drmotorsport on Monday 16th July 17:34

[andy rob]

A quick look through the previous threads will see these same questions get asked and answered reguarly in this section of the forum

[Tyrewrecker]

andy rob said:

A quick look through the previous threads will see these same questions get asked reguarly in this section of the forum

Thanks for valuable input I will save your comments for future reference.




ETA

no namers please.

Edited by Big Al. on Monday 16th July 21:56

[Bizboz]

Thanks for all your info, it's helped me no end. Now at least I've got an idea where to start :-)

I am new to this forum as I only registered yesterday but I will bear your comment in mind next time

[Tyrewrecker]

Bizboz said:

Thanks for all your info, it's helped me no end. Now at least I've got an idea where to start :-)

I am new to this forum as I only registered yesterday but I will bear your comment in mind next time

Dont worry, there is often repeat threads, such is the nature of a forum. Search function is st too. If you have any more questions fire away I started racing last year with nat b

[webbj2]

I recommend you look at the Drayton Manor Metro Cup. The cars and parts are realistically as cheap as you can get for circuit racing. There's a good mix of skill levels, so there's usually someone to race with, so it ends up great fun. Check out this vid from Mallory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc2Jy-ERizI&lis...

Jim.

[andy97]

Have a look at CSCC "Tin Tops", "Future Classics" and "Deutsche Marque" as good places for both novices and an experienced racer. 40 min races means plenty of track time (or you can share with another driver to share costs) and its a very friendly club.

Something like a Mk1 MX5 (for Future Classics) can be picked up relatively cheaply already race prepared and spare parts are cheap and plentiful.

[PGD5]

Max5racing perhaps?

There's a number of drivers which sound like they are in a very similar position to yourself taking part already, and more looking to join in next year..

[andylaurence]

Tibs said:

Sprinting? Hillclimbing?

You can even do it in your daily driver if needs be, I do, loads of classes and different events up and down the country.

Be as competitive as you want to be and/or can afford.

Cheapest and most enjoyable way into motorsport for myself, after weighing up lots of options over several years.

Yep, sprinting and hillclimbing is much cheaper than circuit racing. Unfortunately, many people don't realise that motorsport outside of circuit racing even exists. The previously suggested budget for running a BMW in circuit racing is much more than my budget for running a 440bhp/ton sports racer in sprints. Production classes are cheaper still and you only need a £40 racing licence and no ARDS test. If you want to go cheaper, AutoSolo is brilliant fun and about £30 in a standard road car - just join a motor club.

[S2Mike]

Also try Luffield Championship
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccsc/
Low cost motorsport, circuit hillclimb and sprint.
Minimal cost to prepare and run road/track car. Drive to the event race and drive home.
My MGB was used by its previous owner for just that, and he won several events, around the country.
The car is for sale by coincidence!!

[carl_w]

andye30m3 said:

I started this year in production BMW which must be one of the cheapest race series

How are you getting on? Haven't seen you or Ben at any sprints, nor have I seen any vids uploaded on Youtube.

[andye30m3]

carl_w said:

andye30m3 said:

I started this year in production BMW which must be one of the cheapest race series

How are you getting on? Haven't seen you or Ben at any sprints, nor have I seen any vids uploaded on Youtube.

I saw you message the other day but having problems logging on to my Youtube account and haven't had time to sort it out.

It's going reasonably well, tend to be midfield in a very competitive series so can't really complain.

Got a very boring and poorly written blog here http://aagmotorsport.blogspot.co.uk/ really struggle to remember what the hell happened a couple of days after the races.

Still hoping to get along to at least 1 sprint this year if only to catch up with a few people.

[Soul Reaver]

Try looking at Track Day Trophy

http://www.trackdaytrophy.co.uk/

Like Tin Tops you can have two drivers to share the costs. I am having fun in this one.

[bozla]

Don't forget the red dragon mk1 mr2 series. Very cheap racing, and option of arrive and drive.
For karting most local tracks have series or try Covkart for national racing or Club 100 if you wanna go faster. Covkart is a non-profit organisation so it's really cheap.

Edited by bozla on Thursday 19th July 22:34

Edited by bozla on Thursday 19th July 23:05

[Graham]

At club level other than the car most of the costs are the same at around £6-8 per minute track time

some series seem to be cheaper but you get less track time.

for example

mr2 15 qually plus 2 * 15 min races = 303 = £6.73 per min
TVR 20 qually plu2 2 * 20 min races = 360 = £6.00 per min

the licence and safety gear ( suit,helmet,gloves,boots) cost the same whatever car you are racing


So realistically the biggest variable is the car, and also how competitive you want to be.. you can enter something like stock hatch and buy a car and trailer for 2k but even if you are a driving god you'll always be at the back as the guys at the front spend a magnitude more on just the engines... your first step should be to draw up a short list of cars you want to race and then go and watch them racing and see what grid numbers, and competition is like.

For me its a balance of the car I wanted to race the value for money on the track time, the competition and the interesting circuits.

Im fortunate enough to have driven every uk circuit other than goodwood, and even won a title so now pick and choose the races I want to do,


this year that will probably be

1 * TVR Race probably Oulton Now (365)
The Birkett 6 hr relay ( silverstone GP) (1440 split by 4 drivers)
2 hr endurance at Brands GP (850

which gives me an average track cost of £4.98

not bad for 3 of the best uk circuits including 2 GP circuits..

I race a TVR because thats what I wanted to race, ok a tuscan isnt the cheapest car to buy, but it is very quick and a purpose built racer. the most expensive consumable is the slick tyres..at a grand a set.

what I do these days is set my megre budget at the start of the year and work out the best fun i can have for that and include a couple of k for maint on the car.


have fun..