Looking to hill climb, south west
Discussion
I'm looking to start hill-climbing (and maybe sprinting....) next year: just a few events local to me (South West, so Gurston, Wiscombe). Before I get properly hooked and it spirals out of control ;-)
Who do people recommend for safety gear? And does anyone have any South West recommendations? (I'm in Dorset). As a newbie it would be nice to find out how big my head is before I buy a helmet, rather than after.
As this is the biggest (initial) financial outlay to overcome, I'm keen to get a handle on what it'll cost. Anything I can save can go on competition wheels, right? (LordHaveMerci, you take the blame for that - thanks once again :-))
Who do people recommend for safety gear? And does anyone have any South West recommendations? (I'm in Dorset). As a newbie it would be nice to find out how big my head is before I buy a helmet, rather than after.
As this is the biggest (initial) financial outlay to overcome, I'm keen to get a handle on what it'll cost. Anything I can save can go on competition wheels, right? (LordHaveMerci, you take the blame for that - thanks once again :-))
This is as good a place to start as anywhere: http://www.aswmc.org.uk/
You really need to try before you buy with helmets as we all have different shape heads. Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe is one option or if you order with Demon Tweeks, they operate a no penalty returns policy if for any reason the helmet you purchase is unsuitable.
You will also need to join a motor club that is a member of the ASWMC.
Good luck and hope to see you out there.
You really need to try before you buy with helmets as we all have different shape heads. Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe is one option or if you order with Demon Tweeks, they operate a no penalty returns policy if for any reason the helmet you purchase is unsuitable.
You will also need to join a motor club that is a member of the ASWMC.
Good luck and hope to see you out there.
FYI on the helmets it's worth looking at both V2 helmets and Hedtec helmets as both are Snell approved. I started a few years ago and at the time I shelled out £600 on an Arai lid which is great and purchased based on it being he best fit out of the options at DT + reputation etc. however i wasn't aware of these other options. I don't know a lot about them but have heard scepticism and praise in equall measure. I see a lot of them around the paddock so may be worth a look at £150 ish.
Good luck and enjoy.
Good luck and enjoy.
I started 1½ years ago, bought a V2 helmet, £150 & been very happy with it. I compete with the TVRCC in their Speed Champ, other safety eqt needed includes Overalls, gloves and shoes to FIA compliance. If the car is a road car, ie current MOT and tax you can run it as it is. I fitted a 4 point harness to the Cerbera - I bought it from ebay, second hand but never fitted, they do come up every now and then £60 and the fittings were another £15, easy to fit.
Have a look at the MSA Blue Book for the regs, its available on line here: https://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle....
Of course now I'm making plans for tyres, shocks, etc, etc.... once started......
Good luck, see you on a hill!
Have a look at the MSA Blue Book for the regs, its available on line here: https://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle....
Of course now I'm making plans for tyres, shocks, etc, etc.... once started......
Good luck, see you on a hill!
As Trev450 says, look up the ASWMC website for the info. Once you get involved with a motor club you will also get to know those who have been doing it a while and get loads of help there too.
I personally wouldn't use secondhand safety gear, new belts are cheap and get a helmet that fits you very well as you never know when you may need it.
It's a great sport, for the car I would recommend getting good brakes and suspension and a set of decent tyres first. Don't worry about your times too much as these will improve as you go on, the guys at the front usually have a lot of experience and well sorted cars so don't crash trying to keep up!
Depending on your experience it's also worth getting some track time / tuition beforehand so you can explore the limits, get to know the car etc. Hillclimbs have very little margin for error so the more prepared you are the better it will be...
I personally wouldn't use secondhand safety gear, new belts are cheap and get a helmet that fits you very well as you never know when you may need it.
It's a great sport, for the car I would recommend getting good brakes and suspension and a set of decent tyres first. Don't worry about your times too much as these will improve as you go on, the guys at the front usually have a lot of experience and well sorted cars so don't crash trying to keep up!
Depending on your experience it's also worth getting some track time / tuition beforehand so you can explore the limits, get to know the car etc. Hillclimbs have very little margin for error so the more prepared you are the better it will be...
As above, hedtec or v2 helmets can be a great purchase but make sure it fits well. Try max Tyler at www.racewear.co.uk. you will need gloves also. I bought my nomex overalls from eBay. Unused (still with label on) for £100. So worth a search. Check that they meet the required FIA standard.
With about car mods later. What car is it?
With about car mods later. What car is it?
As said by others get a lid that fits and one that you are comfortable wearing. Some people prefer an open face type as they find full face lid a bit claustrophobic. In the south I would recommend Merlin on the Castle Coombe circuit or GPR at Silverstone. Tweaks probably have more choice in the showroom but it is a bit of a trek up to Wrexham unless you have another reason for being there.
As well as a suitable race suit you will need gloves, they are also an item you need to try on and find the pair that best matches your hands. Not absolutely necessary but beneficial is a set of driving boots/shoes with nice thin soles, also a try on item.
Check that you buy a lid that meets the current regs, they changed a couple of years ago and there are still some older types about being sold for “track day use”
Absolutely the best thing would be to choose a lid and then try it on in the car to see you have enough room, some take a fair bit more room on top than others.
The old adage is if you have a £100 head buy a £100 helmet, the cheaper offerings are probably fine and meet the required test specs but there are other things to consider. One of them being weight, generally the more you spend the lighter it will be, a lighter lid is far more comfortable. To some extent the same applies with a race suit, the cheaper ones tend to be heavier weight material which makes them nice and warm on a cold day but you will be melting in a closed car on a hot day.
If you plan to do Gurston or Wiscombe join the BARC or Woolbridge or ideally both.
A word of warning. Hillclimbing is addictive and there is no know cure.
As well as a suitable race suit you will need gloves, they are also an item you need to try on and find the pair that best matches your hands. Not absolutely necessary but beneficial is a set of driving boots/shoes with nice thin soles, also a try on item.
Check that you buy a lid that meets the current regs, they changed a couple of years ago and there are still some older types about being sold for “track day use”
Absolutely the best thing would be to choose a lid and then try it on in the car to see you have enough room, some take a fair bit more room on top than others.
The old adage is if you have a £100 head buy a £100 helmet, the cheaper offerings are probably fine and meet the required test specs but there are other things to consider. One of them being weight, generally the more you spend the lighter it will be, a lighter lid is far more comfortable. To some extent the same applies with a race suit, the cheaper ones tend to be heavier weight material which makes them nice and warm on a cold day but you will be melting in a closed car on a hot day.
If you plan to do Gurston or Wiscombe join the BARC or Woolbridge or ideally both.
A word of warning. Hillclimbing is addictive and there is no know cure.
Many thanks all for taking the time to respond. It's much appreciated, and really useful advice to get me on my way.
Wool bridge motor club is looking favourite. So far tuition has been limited to the hill climb school at Gurston down - I'd recommend it to anyone, but well aware I'm about to take on a learning curve.
Earlier in the year with a need for school runs and dog transport I was set off to find a practical car. I think I met the brief perfectly, with a Clio 172 cup.
Wool bridge motor club is looking favourite. So far tuition has been limited to the hill climb school at Gurston down - I'd recommend it to anyone, but well aware I'm about to take on a learning curve.
Earlier in the year with a need for school runs and dog transport I was set off to find a practical car. I think I met the brief perfectly, with a Clio 172 cup.
Zulu10 said "Sadly Torbay MC's excellent events at Mamhead seem to be no more (Does anyone know why?)."
Yes the house changed hands, new owner not interested! shame.
Look forward to seeing you out on the hill, also try a Clay Pigeon sprint either the Bournemouth event or Torbay's event as it's great fun and plenty of room to spin off.
Cheers JohnEM (Torbay M.C.)
Yes the house changed hands, new owner not interested! shame.
Look forward to seeing you out on the hill, also try a Clay Pigeon sprint either the Bournemouth event or Torbay's event as it's great fun and plenty of room to spin off.
Cheers JohnEM (Torbay M.C.)
Hey I started Hillclimbing this year at Gurston Down. I did the school day and then got the all clear from Mrs Potnoodle to have a go. She needed convincing that I wasn't going to crash and die and the school day managed that.
I only did three meetings but my summer car Z3M is way out classed in the over 2.0 class by Evos and Scoobies on sticky rubber however I still had fun, learnt and improved my times a lot.
Some of the expense was in the safety gear although Merlin Motorsport had lots of time for me to try suits and helmets on. The missus veto'd the suit I wanted but I still got some bargains and would recommend Merlin. I didn't skimp on the lid but scored some external seamed gloves for half price.
I'd already got to know a couple of competitors as I'd been there as a spectator and posted some vids on YouTube. I was most suprised when I turned up for my first event and they were very encouraging and helpful.
I was hoping to change class next year but my plans have been sidelined by a couple of trips to hospital. Hopefully I'll get this problem shaken off by next year and be able to compete but currently I can't drive at all, which is irritating me in the extreme.
Anyway here's a link to my YouTube with the Gurston videos on.
http://www.youtube.com/user/potnoodleuk
I only did three meetings but my summer car Z3M is way out classed in the over 2.0 class by Evos and Scoobies on sticky rubber however I still had fun, learnt and improved my times a lot.
Some of the expense was in the safety gear although Merlin Motorsport had lots of time for me to try suits and helmets on. The missus veto'd the suit I wanted but I still got some bargains and would recommend Merlin. I didn't skimp on the lid but scored some external seamed gloves for half price.
I'd already got to know a couple of competitors as I'd been there as a spectator and posted some vids on YouTube. I was most suprised when I turned up for my first event and they were very encouraging and helpful.
I was hoping to change class next year but my plans have been sidelined by a couple of trips to hospital. Hopefully I'll get this problem shaken off by next year and be able to compete but currently I can't drive at all, which is irritating me in the extreme.
Anyway here's a link to my YouTube with the Gurston videos on.
http://www.youtube.com/user/potnoodleuk
PotnoodleUK, I've viewed your on board footage and for your first events at Gurston your times a pretty respectable, I'm sure that you'll improve on them next year. It can be a bit disappointing when you're in a class where the other cars have much better power/lower weight but it's still great fun and always a challenge to improve on your PB.
Many thanks all for the advice. Potnoodle - hope you're better soon!
Forms posted for woolbridge, now trying to work out the safety gear. Helmets causing the most toing and froing, it's quite a step from hedtec/v2 to a bell....
How come you need fia suits and gloves but not boots? Is this likely to stay the same for the next few years? And if you need fia race suit, why don't you need fia wear underneath?
Forms posted for woolbridge, now trying to work out the safety gear. Helmets causing the most toing and froing, it's quite a step from hedtec/v2 to a bell....
How come you need fia suits and gloves but not boots? Is this likely to stay the same for the next few years? And if you need fia race suit, why don't you need fia wear underneath?
Wurls80 said:
Helmets causing the most toing and froing, it's quite a step from hedtec/v2 to a bell....
How come you need fia suits and gloves but not boots? Is this likely to stay the same for the next few years? And if you need fia race suit, why don't you need fia wear underneath?
Get yourself along to Autosport in January and try a few on.How come you need fia suits and gloves but not boots? Is this likely to stay the same for the next few years? And if you need fia race suit, why don't you need fia wear underneath?
The issue surrounding what is required to be worn and what isn't is a mystery that only the decision makers at the msa can answer. The best advice is wear the best protection you can afford.
Thanks for that DarkMatter and Wurls80.
I'm on the mend but it's a bit slow and I'm just itching to get back in a driving seat.
I had the same dilemma over the Hedtec and Bell helmets. The missus would have liked me to have saved some money but I got a Bell. Some say they are similar things and there are plenty of people using Hedtec but for me, I went for the best that I was allowed to afford.
Also I did the one stop Merlin Motorsport shop, so that's what I ended up with after trying various helmets on.
I've just been using my stinky old No Fear trainers complete with moth holes. I should get some proper boots really...
Also, nice garage DarkMatter. I miss my TVR. Ah well the Beemers not a bad old thing, and I did record you in 2012 it seems ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzz35aFGE0Y
I'm on the mend but it's a bit slow and I'm just itching to get back in a driving seat.
I had the same dilemma over the Hedtec and Bell helmets. The missus would have liked me to have saved some money but I got a Bell. Some say they are similar things and there are plenty of people using Hedtec but for me, I went for the best that I was allowed to afford.
Also I did the one stop Merlin Motorsport shop, so that's what I ended up with after trying various helmets on.I've just been using my stinky old No Fear trainers complete with moth holes. I should get some proper boots really...
Also, nice garage DarkMatter. I miss my TVR. Ah well the Beemers not a bad old thing, and I did record you in 2012 it seems ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzz35aFGE0Y
PotnoodleUK said:
and I did record you in 2012 it seems ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzz35aFGE0Y
Yep, that's me, and this was the driver's view during practice on the same day... http://youtu.be/wmmvOV-36m4. I only did 3 events in 2013 and those were in my wife's MINI Cooper - that car is really good fun but not powerful enough to be competitive in it's class. Not sure yet whether 2014 will be TVR or MINI.Edited by DarkMatter on Thursday 28th November 09:17
Thanks for all the responses. Looks like I'm all set - many thanks to Max at Racewear.co.uk. A pleasure to deal with and no question was a question too many! At least, not that he let on :-)
Went for the Bell. It's a nice fit, and everyone warns me I'll become addicted. So figured it best to go with something that should last! And wouldn't look out of place if the car changes to something with less seats in the future....
Went for the Bell. It's a nice fit, and everyone warns me I'll become addicted. So figured it best to go with something that should last! And wouldn't look out of place if the car changes to something with less seats in the future....
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