Competion - but wthout a racing licence
Discussion
I am looking at doing some form of car motor racing, but currently dont have a licence.
I have been doing hire-based karting for a few years (daytona, buckmore, thruxton that sort of thing) but fancy a change to cars but dont really know much about the types of events available. The premise is that between myself and a few friends we will use a modest budget to each buy a car and then compete in some, as yet undetermined, events (along the lines of a friendly top gear style challenge!).
The sorts of things I have in mind are autosolos, maybe even a lap of Nurburgring. Possibly track days, although the emphasis is really on joining competitions to work out what we like. So to understand the landscape of the possible opportunities - what else is out there, where we can compete against each other and also against other competitors in a proper motorsport event? Can some sprints/ hill climbs be done without a licence for example?
In time, we will need to obtain a licence, as well as the appropriate clothing, full safety equipped cars and so on, but before we get involved in that are there any tips on what is out there to get started?
Any help appreciated.
I have been doing hire-based karting for a few years (daytona, buckmore, thruxton that sort of thing) but fancy a change to cars but dont really know much about the types of events available. The premise is that between myself and a few friends we will use a modest budget to each buy a car and then compete in some, as yet undetermined, events (along the lines of a friendly top gear style challenge!).
The sorts of things I have in mind are autosolos, maybe even a lap of Nurburgring. Possibly track days, although the emphasis is really on joining competitions to work out what we like. So to understand the landscape of the possible opportunities - what else is out there, where we can compete against each other and also against other competitors in a proper motorsport event? Can some sprints/ hill climbs be done without a licence for example?
In time, we will need to obtain a licence, as well as the appropriate clothing, full safety equipped cars and so on, but before we get involved in that are there any tips on what is out there to get started?
Any help appreciated.
Best tip is to join your local motor club and see what it's all about first.
It's often better to go out and watch or help out on events first so you know what to expect before you turn up at an event not knowing how to carry on.
There's autotests, car trials, nav scats, economy rallies etc which can be done on a club card rather than a comp license.
It's often better to go out and watch or help out on events first so you know what to expect before you turn up at an event not knowing how to carry on.
There's autotests, car trials, nav scats, economy rallies etc which can be done on a club card rather than a comp license.
Greensleeves said:
Best tip is to join your local motor club and see what it's all about first.
It's often better to go out and watch or help out on events first so you know what to expect before you turn up at an event not knowing how to carry on.
There's autotests, car trials, nav scats, economy rallies etc which can be done on a club card rather than a comp license.
I'd echo this, there are loads of ways to get into Motorsport and many of them don't require competition licence, most do require the membership of an MSA club though, so this should be your first port of call.It's often better to go out and watch or help out on events first so you know what to expect before you turn up at an event not knowing how to carry on.
There's autotests, car trials, nav scats, economy rallies etc which can be done on a club card rather than a comp license.
Every body has to start somewhere, most clubs run a series of events which allow a beginner to compete on a shoestring budget in a standard car, either off the public roads as auto tests or car trials, or on the road in the evenings with Navigational scatters and 12 car rallies.
You would also do well to look at marshalling on road or stage rallying, that's a good way to see what's happening....... And get hooked.
andye30m3 said:
You don't need a race license for sprints and hill climbs, you need a non-race license which is £42 and doesn't require a test or medical. I think you'd still need to buy the go racing pack.
No need for the "racing pack", but for hillclimbs / sprints you do need an approved helmet, nomex overalls and gloves. You can run a standard car with no extra safety features.Hill climbing and Sprinting a good option as it allows x2 people to enter the car in single event thus you can compete between each other as well as the rest of the class. If you go this route study the class structure very carefully before you buy a car. Ideally choose a car with the best power to weight potential within the class you choose. Also consider the weight loss potential as well as the tuning potential. Also check out " Uphill Racers " and " Speedhillclimb " websites for forums, advice, classifieds etc. as is often the case you might be as well buying a proven front runner rather than starting a fresh which could cost a lot more etc. good luck
As others have pointed out, there's a lot more to motorsport than roundy-roundy panel beating. Your local motor club is the perfect place to start. You can find your local club at GoMotorsport.net. Most clubs specialise in a few different disciplines and there will be several nearby, so you can take your pick. For example, in Bristol, if you wanted to try AutoSolo, Sprints, Hillclimbs or Trials (you can do the lot with one road legal car if you want), you'd join Bristol Motor Club as they run a couple a year. If you wanted to do rallying (stage or road) or Autotesting, you'd try Bath Motor Club. Find the local clubs, join them at club night and have a chat with a few people at the bar. You'll soon find something you like the sound of.
Thanks for the replies. All really useful, especially the gomotorsport.net website tip. A very good starting point for getting information.
I must admit, I didn't realise the full range of events for both no official licence, or even just with a standard road car. I haven't used this forum before, but what a great source of information you guys are. If I need any more information I know where to come...
Cheers
I must admit, I didn't realise the full range of events for both no official licence, or even just with a standard road car. I haven't used this forum before, but what a great source of information you guys are. If I need any more information I know where to come...
Cheers
Interestingly there is an article by an MSA official in the 'Track Driver' Magazine this month, (Track driver is a free mag aimed mainly at Track Day fans, but covers circuit racing too). He was explaining that the MSA has come to recognise that most peoples idea of motorsport, even those who consider themselves to be car enthusiasts, is limited to F1 and certain other high profile series, such as BTCC. He reckons they have singularly failed to get the message across in recent years that you don't have to have a massive budget and it's not all about racing at expensive circuits with exotic cars.
He was comparing it to football, where there is general recognition that the game is played at all levels from a simple kickabout with jumpers as goal posts, to the world cup, which ever level the players are at they will likely do their upmost to win and have fun along the way, but 99.9% will never be professionals. Well motorsport can be seen the same way yet most people have never realised, it's only when you get involved that you realise just how much you can do.
For my part I never considered considered it either, despite having a strong interest in cars and coming from a family which were active in club motorsport back in the seventies, until I bought a classic car and was looking around for something to do with it. I 'found' Historic Road Rallying almost by accident and tentatively entered an event with a Navigator I'd never even met. That was in 2006, I've done well over 80 events now as either a driver or a navigator and was clerk of the course on my own 12 Car Rally last week.
It is very easy to get involved you only have to open your eyes to it.
He was comparing it to football, where there is general recognition that the game is played at all levels from a simple kickabout with jumpers as goal posts, to the world cup, which ever level the players are at they will likely do their upmost to win and have fun along the way, but 99.9% will never be professionals. Well motorsport can be seen the same way yet most people have never realised, it's only when you get involved that you realise just how much you can do.
For my part I never considered considered it either, despite having a strong interest in cars and coming from a family which were active in club motorsport back in the seventies, until I bought a classic car and was looking around for something to do with it. I 'found' Historic Road Rallying almost by accident and tentatively entered an event with a Navigator I'd never even met. That was in 2006, I've done well over 80 events now as either a driver or a navigator and was clerk of the course on my own 12 Car Rally last week.
It is very easy to get involved you only have to open your eyes to it.
velocemitch said:
Interestingly there is an article by an MSA official in the 'Track Driver' Magazine this month...
Online version of the latest edition: http://ezine.trackdriver.com/TD17/easyracer said:
I am looking at doing some form of car motor racing, but currently dont have a licence.
I have been doing hire-based karting for a few years (daytona, buckmore, thruxton that sort of thing) but fancy a change to cars but dont really know much about the types of events available. The premise is that between myself and a few friends we will use a modest budget to each buy a car and then compete in some, as yet undetermined, events (along the lines of a friendly top gear style challenge!).
The sorts of things I have in mind are autosolos, maybe even a lap of Nurburgring. Possibly track days, although the emphasis is really on joining competitions to work out what we like. So to understand the landscape of the possible opportunities - what else is out there, where we can compete against each other and also against other competitors in a proper motorsport event? Can some sprints/ hill climbs be done without a licence for example?
In time, we will need to obtain a licence, as well as the appropriate clothing, full safety equipped cars and so on, but before we get involved in that are there any tips on what is out there to get started?
Any help appreciated.
my old website (which is in need of a bit of TLC) shows about my expiriences, autotesting, classic rally, hillclimb, sprint, PCT in a MIdget if you are interested www.shoestringMGracer.comI have been doing hire-based karting for a few years (daytona, buckmore, thruxton that sort of thing) but fancy a change to cars but dont really know much about the types of events available. The premise is that between myself and a few friends we will use a modest budget to each buy a car and then compete in some, as yet undetermined, events (along the lines of a friendly top gear style challenge!).
The sorts of things I have in mind are autosolos, maybe even a lap of Nurburgring. Possibly track days, although the emphasis is really on joining competitions to work out what we like. So to understand the landscape of the possible opportunities - what else is out there, where we can compete against each other and also against other competitors in a proper motorsport event? Can some sprints/ hill climbs be done without a licence for example?
In time, we will need to obtain a licence, as well as the appropriate clothing, full safety equipped cars and so on, but before we get involved in that are there any tips on what is out there to get started?
Any help appreciated.
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