Arrive and Drive options - South

[Trixman]

Hi,

Having done a few track days, few karting events and the 'Ring... and being an armchair racer (read Gran Turismo) I've finally realised that track days do not supply the competitive element I really crave.

Having a young family, being completely and utterly spanner-less - and even if I had a spanner I wouldn't know what to do with it - I'm gathering that an 'Arrive and Drive' format would possibly work for me.

I'm not looking to do a whole championship. But a few meets a year would be great Car wise I don't really mind, prefer RWD, but it would do my head in not to be in a competitive car so 'renting' worries me.

Can anyone recommend anything for me? I'm based in West Sussex so anything Brands/Silverstone etc is great.

Also I'd be looking at driver training to get me up to acceptable level (heel and toe?! lol) - I'd hate to languish at the back! I'm a bad loser

[Trixman]

Just to add - I'm looking for a cost effective option! Around 1k'ish' a meet - the 750mc / pbmw seem good and cheap!

[supraboy]

are you looking for single seaters or tin tops?

[lol1]

BRSCC MK1 MX5 is good. Definitely a few teams that hire cars out and I think Brands is in July.

BC cars are quite good as is Blendini.

[Trixman]

supraboy said:

are you looking for single seaters or tin tops?

I think tin tops would probably work best for me - I've never driven a single seater so can't say if its something I would enjoy.

lol1 said:

BRSCC MK1 MX5 is good. Definitely a few teams that hire cars out and I think Brands is in July.

BC cars are quite good as is Blendini.

Cheers Will check that out.



Would be great to get practice in the car I choose to do the meetings in - is it a normal thing to also offer practice or normal track days, just to get accustomed and get some seat time?

[lol1]

There’s usually a test day on the Friday before the meeting but that will cost you extra on top of your rental and race entrance fees.

[SmartVenom]

Hi,

Give Mo at www.stonerracing.co.uk a call. I'm fairly certain he can do arrive and drive for Mk 1 MR2s. Rear wheel drive, mid-engine and a one make series so cars are fairly close in performance terms.

Have you considered buying a car and having someone else support it though? This is what I do. Cars aren't actually that expensive and race support packages aren't too bad either. Whilst arrive and drive avoids the capital outlay the prices are always higher than running your own car. Running your own car lets you develop it for you. Remember with arrive and drive you will still be responsible for fixing any damage you do, with your own car you can control these costs a bit more.

If MR2 racing appeals then why not hire a car to try out on track and see if you want to go further. Then you can look at the purchase/arrive and drive options.

[Trixman]

SmartVenom said:

Hi,

Give Mo at www.stonerracing.co.uk a call. I'm fairly certain he can do arrive and drive for Mk 1 MR2s. Rear wheel drive, mid-engine and a one make series so cars are fairly close in performance terms.

Have you considered buying a car and having someone else support it though? This is what I do. Cars aren't actually that expensive and race support packages aren't too bad either. Whilst arrive and drive avoids the capital outlay the prices are always higher than running your own car. Running your own car lets you develop it for you. Remember with arrive and drive you will still be responsible for fixing any damage you do, with your own car you can control these costs a bit more.

If MR2 racing appeals then why not hire a car to try out on track and see if you want to go further. Then you can look at the purchase/arrive and drive options.

That sounds perfect and from another brief look about seems to be the way to go really. Need to get more info on the 'race support' packages though and driver training, see if there is one company that does it all and potentially keep a car on site.

[Bertrum]

I have a MK3 MX5 available.

[Trixman]

Bertrum said:

I have a MK3 MX5 available.

What do these normally run cost wise?

From looking around there seems to be quite a few good championships running.

The MX5's seem really good value. I can't help be attracted to the small RWD setup, though from the videos online seems a little bit 'bumper car' and a little unsafe. I guess the cheaper the cars the less respect people have for them? Is this normal? From the racing I've done previously there's nothing worse than the idiots taking crazy small gaps hoping your the one going to move to avoid contact. Spoils it!

There also seems to be a thing with Ma5da and the other series - some controversy going on at the moment and its all 'kicking off' as they say.

I like the idea of the Production BMW Championship due to the cheap entry levels and RWD, and the way its run. I really need to get to one just to soak up the atmosphere. But in the meantime need to an ARDS test and get some equipment.

[Bertrum]

The racing is close and not as rough as MK1's as the cars are a bit more expensive.

PM for a price.

[simes43]

A couple of friends of mine run arrive and drive in a couple
of 750 championships. You could probably race both cars
at one meeting for under 1k, plus testing and entry fees. etc.

[spyderman8]

If you want to stretch to a Porsche Boxster, Brookspeed have one for arrive and drive - they're based in Southampton and we have a Brands Hatch round on 3rd / 4th August.

http://www.brookspeed.com/
http://www.porscheracingdrivers.co.uk/

[HustleRussell]

Remember that whatever you chose to do, you should budget £1k minimum for your race license and PPE (unless you can borrow PPE).

[rallycross]

If you fancy trying an Mr2 race Rogue are very well set up for hire and arrive and drive and will show you the whole process of entering your first race.

Prices worth giving them a call and see if they may be up for a deal if you book more than one race.

The cars are well put together, great racing, and Rogue will look after you.

http://www.roguemotorsport.com/arriveanddrive.htm

[bozla]

Hi Trixman,

Mo at Stoner racing is a good guy to go and he is local to you. Another one to try is Alec at Prize Motors based in Henlow. Both prepare a lot of cars for the MK1 Mr2 series, and i know Alec at Prize has an arrive car available (One of Alec's car won and the 'loaner' car came second at Rockingham 2 weekends ago so is a good-un). As mentioned before, I believe Patrick at Rogue motorsports is also a good guy to deal with, but he's further away still (Leicester).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OQmj9S5_8c

[andye30m3]

If your interested in pbmw then speak to Rob at raw Motorsport he has a very good car available for hire.

Next round in May is on the brands hatch GP circuit also heading to silverstone later in the year.

[Piglet]

Trixman said:

but it would do my head in not to be in a competitive car so 'renting' worries me.

If you've got no race experience at all, the most uncompetitive thing about the set up is likely to be the driver so I wouldn't worry too much about a competitive car in the early days...

[spyderman8]

Trixman said:

Hi,
Car wise I don't really mind, prefer RWD, but it would do my head in not to be in a competitive car so 'renting' worries me.

Actually that's precisely why I did rent in my first year - I didn't want to have any worries about the car at all. Its not in the interests of the rental company to rent you a car that's not competitive.

[RobM77]

You can drive a pukka single seater with http://www.edgintonracing.co.uk/ I did two seasons with them and thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a decent truck with seating and tea/coffee and toast and the team are the friendliest I've ever met, not to mentioned the most talented in terms of car preparation (have a look at the gallery on their website; Nick also restores historic single seaters - his workshop is as clean as my kitchen!). Having raced a variety of cars, I was surprised at how affordable single seaters are. If you look at my profile you'll see me racing at Brands in their Formula Renault followed by my teammate in their Ray F4 car.