Calling Peter - Sprinting
Discussion
Whats sprinting all about? I suppose I could read up on it elsewhere, but I'd like to hear your experience with a V8S. The long version would be welcome, im interested 
What are competitors like, is sprinting on straights only, and how much have you learned (what did you learn exactly) in the art of acceleration? Does it take mega practise, and how much wear is induced on the car? Someone told me once, thrash a car and it gets tired, loses its power over time etc... how does this come into the equation?
What are competitors like, is sprinting on straights only, and how much have you learned (what did you learn exactly) in the art of acceleration? Does it take mega practise, and how much wear is induced on the car? Someone told me once, thrash a car and it gets tired, loses its power over time etc... how does this come into the equation?I've never done proper drag racing but way back when my S was standard the TVR Car Club organised a drag race along the Blackpool promenade. It was on pretty rough concrete with straw blowing across it so I don't know how these times would compare to a proper drag course, but my best 1/4 time was 13.8 with a terminal speed of 103 mph.
Sprinting is a very different kettle of fish to drag racing.
Speed competitions are a friendly and low-cost form of motorsport organised by and for motoring enthusiasts. Not to be confused with autotests (three-point turns against the clock), trials (getting stuck in a muddy field) or 12-car rallies (getting lost on public roads), Speed Competitions are high-speed events on well prepared circuits where the performance of your road-going TVR can be exploited to the full. Competitors drive individually around a course of about a mile, against the clock. Courses vary from a lap of a racing circuit such as Goodwood, or a course laid out at a disused airfield, to the more specialised hillclimb venues which are more like your favorite twisty country lane, often complete with rather solid bits of scenery to catch the unwary. The hillclimb venues are generally seen as more challenging but can be more rewarding too.
There are classes for all sorts of cars, from your Mum's shopping car to V8 powered single seaters that look as if they may once have graced an F1 grid. In the TVR camp we regularly see a wide range of cars from Vixens through to Chimaeras, Cerberas and even the occasional Tuscan. Most TVRs compete in absolutely standard condition, with no special preparation required.
There are various prizes at each event, but the main reason to come along is that it gives you a chance to drive as fast as you dare without any worry about traffic jams, speed limits, flashing blue lights or some other idiot pushing you off the road. The number of TVRs competing has increased substantially in recent years and TVR is now one of the best represented marques. It really is very easy to join in and new competitors are always welcome.
Speed competitions involve a busy day with several runs of the course, but each run lasts only a minute or so. In that time the tyres and brakes have barely got warm. The wear and tear is minimal and should be no problem for the average TVR, no special preparation is required.
If you're interested in find out more about sprinting, go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TVR_Speed_Champ/ .
We've got a guide to competitors explaining what sprinting is all about and how to get started, and a discussion forum where you can chat to all the other competitors. Come over and say 'hi', we're a pretty friendly bunch.
Sprinting is a very different kettle of fish to drag racing.
Speed competitions are a friendly and low-cost form of motorsport organised by and for motoring enthusiasts. Not to be confused with autotests (three-point turns against the clock), trials (getting stuck in a muddy field) or 12-car rallies (getting lost on public roads), Speed Competitions are high-speed events on well prepared circuits where the performance of your road-going TVR can be exploited to the full. Competitors drive individually around a course of about a mile, against the clock. Courses vary from a lap of a racing circuit such as Goodwood, or a course laid out at a disused airfield, to the more specialised hillclimb venues which are more like your favorite twisty country lane, often complete with rather solid bits of scenery to catch the unwary. The hillclimb venues are generally seen as more challenging but can be more rewarding too.
There are classes for all sorts of cars, from your Mum's shopping car to V8 powered single seaters that look as if they may once have graced an F1 grid. In the TVR camp we regularly see a wide range of cars from Vixens through to Chimaeras, Cerberas and even the occasional Tuscan. Most TVRs compete in absolutely standard condition, with no special preparation required.
There are various prizes at each event, but the main reason to come along is that it gives you a chance to drive as fast as you dare without any worry about traffic jams, speed limits, flashing blue lights or some other idiot pushing you off the road. The number of TVRs competing has increased substantially in recent years and TVR is now one of the best represented marques. It really is very easy to join in and new competitors are always welcome.
Speed competitions involve a busy day with several runs of the course, but each run lasts only a minute or so. In that time the tyres and brakes have barely got warm. The wear and tear is minimal and should be no problem for the average TVR, no special preparation is required.
If you're interested in find out more about sprinting, go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TVR_Speed_Champ/ .
We've got a guide to competitors explaining what sprinting is all about and how to get started, and a discussion forum where you can chat to all the other competitors. Come over and say 'hi', we're a pretty friendly bunch.
muskrat said:I watched em all with great interest. Ive been gokarting a few times with friends
He's probably too modest to say, but if you really want to see what it's like then Peter H has put some top videos of himself sprinting on pistonheads.tv. Now if only I could drive like that
but have yet to track my car. Very interesting post, thanks Peter.UkBob - go for it. I've not competed in any sprint competitions but have watched a few and have driven a couple of track days. If I were you I would drive the next available track day to get a true feel for what it's like. The average public go-kart track offers a pretty bland experience when compared to driving a screaming V8S down a runway at over 100mph quickly approaching the next corner!
Steve
Steve
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