Entry fees- how much!
Discussion
With the obvious disclaimer that no one forces you to go racing….
But this year it appears that £420-430 is the ‘norm’ for an entry to a race meet at a main circuit this year, with the provincial circuits a bit cheaper but still nudging £400.
It’s an enormous amount isn’t it?
I’ve been racing for 30 years and can remember when an entry cost £215 to get onto Silverstone.
Cost of living an all that, but I do wonder whether we need to look at alternatives for circuit hire. Like temporary air field circuits of similar, or mid week meetings. But mostly using gate receipts to offset the circuit hire fees.
As ever the MSUK merely shrug their shoulders about this saying there is nothing they can do, but there is it’s just requires some outside of the box thinking.
I have generally budgeted for about 5k per annum to go racing and in the old days that got me a full season and a reasonsble amount of test and some accident damage budget.
Nowadays I’m reliant on having a clean season and almost no testing and I’ve spent that amount.
Is anyone else baulking at the price of racing these days? Or does the addiction hold too strong?
But this year it appears that £420-430 is the ‘norm’ for an entry to a race meet at a main circuit this year, with the provincial circuits a bit cheaper but still nudging £400.
It’s an enormous amount isn’t it?
I’ve been racing for 30 years and can remember when an entry cost £215 to get onto Silverstone.
Cost of living an all that, but I do wonder whether we need to look at alternatives for circuit hire. Like temporary air field circuits of similar, or mid week meetings. But mostly using gate receipts to offset the circuit hire fees.
As ever the MSUK merely shrug their shoulders about this saying there is nothing they can do, but there is it’s just requires some outside of the box thinking.
I have generally budgeted for about 5k per annum to go racing and in the old days that got me a full season and a reasonsble amount of test and some accident damage budget.
Nowadays I’m reliant on having a clean season and almost no testing and I’ve spent that amount.
Is anyone else baulking at the price of racing these days? Or does the addiction hold too strong?
Would a temporary circuit not face challenges getting approvals? Who grants those, MSUK? In Scotland, where I live, Crail gets used for rallying and drag races bit not 'circuit racing', as far as I know, and East Fortune is motorcycle racing only, as is Darley Moor in Derbyshire. So that's maybe the challenge, getting a licence. Or can you just hire an Airfield and crack on?
Another option, getting creative, might be to use access roads at conference centres, like Formula E at London ExCeL.
Another option, getting creative, might be to use access roads at conference centres, like Formula E at London ExCeL.
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Tuesday 17th February 10:45
Sadly I'm finding this with my foray into sprinting, a lot of traditonal sprint venues have gone, so clubs are using circuits and entry fees are a joke. The Assy, I planned to sprint with is going to Goodwood 5 bloody times s at 185 quid a pop, so I bailed.
215 for Cadwell where you will probably get maybe 4 runs in a day.
Yes it's a lovely place and all that, but for such limited on track time it becomes a joke really.
400 plus for circuits is insane, especially when they caveat it with endless yellow flags and call races at times without you doing much racing in timed races not laps done, it's a cheap way of making sure races are run quicker at your cost.
I have followed a few amateurs who race in YT, and the number if races cut short is a joke.
215 for Cadwell where you will probably get maybe 4 runs in a day.
Yes it's a lovely place and all that, but for such limited on track time it becomes a joke really.
400 plus for circuits is insane, especially when they caveat it with endless yellow flags and call races at times without you doing much racing in timed races not laps done, it's a cheap way of making sure races are run quicker at your cost.
I have followed a few amateurs who race in YT, and the number if races cut short is a joke.
Gate receipts 
Costs for everything keep going up, insurance, recovery, timekeeping, medical, and that's before you need an MSUK approved venue for circuit racing. Something mentioned by someone at my club recently that piqued my interest, is that MSV pay millions in council tax whereas football stadiums get massive exemptions 'because community'.
Costs for everything keep going up, insurance, recovery, timekeeping, medical, and that's before you need an MSUK approved venue for circuit racing. Something mentioned by someone at my club recently that piqued my interest, is that MSV pay millions in council tax whereas football stadiums get massive exemptions 'because community'.
I think part of it is that at some circuits and with some championships, the racing is a teensy-bit dull, and people won’t pay to watch boring races.
I've walked the length of the “old” pit lane at Silverstone in the middle of the afternoon on a fine weather clubbie race day and not seen a sole in any of the grandstands that I can see from the pit lane. It’s a sad sight.
A drop in attendance of 2,000 spectators is £30K for most circuits and that’s a fair slice off the income for the weekend.
Add in the extra costs of medical personnel, the insurance (big cost) and now security. The total just adds up.
I scrute’d at the GP in 2023 and 2024. In ’24, we were told that there were over 3,000 extra “security people” to keep an eye out for the “Just Stop Oil” shenanigans. That’s a lot of people who have to be paid for the day, transported in for the day, and fed for the day. I heard this cost at least £1m+ for the 3-4 days. Don’t know if it’s true though.
As above the Production BMWs used to have heats to gain a place in the final. Hugely popular championship- 80+ cars on some weekends. Now its died…
Another problem is the age of some of the marshals and also the lack marshals coming through - especially when they hear it’s all voluntary. Youngsters will do the experience days, but the drop out rate is 97%.
I've walked the length of the “old” pit lane at Silverstone in the middle of the afternoon on a fine weather clubbie race day and not seen a sole in any of the grandstands that I can see from the pit lane. It’s a sad sight.
A drop in attendance of 2,000 spectators is £30K for most circuits and that’s a fair slice off the income for the weekend.
Add in the extra costs of medical personnel, the insurance (big cost) and now security. The total just adds up.
I scrute’d at the GP in 2023 and 2024. In ’24, we were told that there were over 3,000 extra “security people” to keep an eye out for the “Just Stop Oil” shenanigans. That’s a lot of people who have to be paid for the day, transported in for the day, and fed for the day. I heard this cost at least £1m+ for the 3-4 days. Don’t know if it’s true though.
As above the Production BMWs used to have heats to gain a place in the final. Hugely popular championship- 80+ cars on some weekends. Now its died…
Another problem is the age of some of the marshals and also the lack marshals coming through - especially when they hear it’s all voluntary. Youngsters will do the experience days, but the drop out rate is 97%.
In 2007, the club I'm involved with had an average race entry fee of roughly £ 255 and usually you got . Plus a champion registration fee of £ 120.00
Last season, the average race entry was £ 515, and championship registration fee was £ 195.00
Accounting just for inflation, the race entry fee of 2007 would be £ 436 now, and the championship registration would be £ 205
The club is also visiting "better" circuits than they were in 2007, and the more prestigious circuits generally cost more. The amount of track time your entry buys has remained pretty similar..
Last season, the average race entry was £ 515, and championship registration fee was £ 195.00
Accounting just for inflation, the race entry fee of 2007 would be £ 436 now, and the championship registration would be £ 205
The club is also visiting "better" circuits than they were in 2007, and the more prestigious circuits generally cost more. The amount of track time your entry buys has remained pretty similar..
drmotorsport said:
Gate receipts
Costs for everything keep going up, insurance, recovery, timekeeping, medical, and that's before you need an MSUK approved venue for circuit racing. Something mentioned by someone at my club recently that piqued my interest, is that MSV pay millions in council tax whereas football stadiums get massive exemptions 'because community'.
The issue with gate receipts is that the contract the clubs sign in most cases preclude any revenue from speccies attending, so no club bothers to promote.Costs for everything keep going up, insurance, recovery, timekeeping, medical, and that's before you need an MSUK approved venue for circuit racing. Something mentioned by someone at my club recently that piqued my interest, is that MSV pay millions in council tax whereas football stadiums get massive exemptions 'because community'.
Castle Combe bank holiday club or meets often have 5000+ people attending . All paying £20. That would make a sizeable difference to the cost of hosting a meeting.
But if the clubs don’t get the money they aren’t going to market the meeting.
And if the events had many speccies maybe the community aspect would happen and rates reduce.
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
Would a temporary circuit not face challenges getting approvals? Who grants those, MSUK? In Scotland, where I live, Crail gets used for rallying and drag races bit not 'circuit racing', as far as I know, and East Fortune is motorcycle racing only, as is Darley Moor in Derbyshire. So that's maybe the challenge, getting a licence. Or can you just hire an Airfield and crack on?
Another option, getting creative, might be to use access roads at conference centres, like Formula E at London ExCeL.
You’d need insurance to appease the land owner . You’d want to avoid getting the msuk involved. But you could organise something but it won’t be easy.Another option, getting creative, might be to use access roads at conference centres, like Formula E at London ExCeL.
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Tuesday 17th February 10:45
But maybe if the msuk worked with some entrepreneurs then maybe a ‘pop up’ circuit might happen and it’ll be a ton cheaper to hire.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
You d need insurance to appease the land owner . You d want to avoid getting the msuk involved. But you could organise something but it won t be easy.
But maybe if the msuk worked with some entrepreneurs then maybe a pop up circuit might happen and it ll be a ton cheaper to hire.
Having had a look around - I love looking at maps and things. The people MSUK really need to work with are the MoD, they're the only people that have loads of tarmac you could race on that isn't going to have NIMBY issues. Relatively near me (Glasgow), they've maintained airfields that could be used at Kirknewton near Edinburgh, and Qinetiq's site at West Freugh looks good but is down near Stranraer, so pretty isolated. RAF Leuchars near St. Andrews and HMS Condor (Royal Marines) near Arbroath both are potentials. Issue is then letting civvies onto MoD sites and the paperwork that would cause. But maybe if the msuk worked with some entrepreneurs then maybe a pop up circuit might happen and it ll be a ton cheaper to hire.
Plus there are a few airports that are fairly moribund to commercial aviation but still have maintained runways and access roads - Carlisle, Manston.
These would all satisfy the blue book requirements for things like cover for scruitineers and timekeepers
My opinion
Even Javelin have moved away from airfield for their sprint series, not sure about track days they do not interest me, that's says something, a lot of race cars don't want to or dont like running on airfields, too bumpy, their problem for me, seems like maybe they call the shots now, as most British Sorint series rounds I think all are on circuits.
There are scores, literally scores of airfields you could do sprints, single stage rallies and track days on.
There must be a reason why it doesn't happen much.
But if it can happen at Debden, Abingdon etc, it can happen at others, it is probably about the initial contact, friendships over many years etc
Even hillclimbs are having issues it remains to be seen if Loton runs this year sadly, one of the best runs in the UK.
Regarding circuits, I have said for years, clubbies should be behind closed doors, to reduce costs. Too many similar series, grids are often 10 ish, that is not great.
Even Javelin have moved away from airfield for their sprint series, not sure about track days they do not interest me, that's says something, a lot of race cars don't want to or dont like running on airfields, too bumpy, their problem for me, seems like maybe they call the shots now, as most British Sorint series rounds I think all are on circuits.
There are scores, literally scores of airfields you could do sprints, single stage rallies and track days on.
There must be a reason why it doesn't happen much.
But if it can happen at Debden, Abingdon etc, it can happen at others, it is probably about the initial contact, friendships over many years etc
Even hillclimbs are having issues it remains to be seen if Loton runs this year sadly, one of the best runs in the UK.
Regarding circuits, I have said for years, clubbies should be behind closed doors, to reduce costs. Too many similar series, grids are often 10 ish, that is not great.
Msuk have created a single point of contact for the airfields. But as far as I know no discussion has taken place about running a race on them . Only sprints and rallies.
Not all airfields are suitable but some definitely are. If the msuk were entrepreneurial they’d set up a race meet.
Not all airfields are suitable but some definitely are. If the msuk were entrepreneurial they’d set up a race meet.
For their Sprints, Javelin run them outside of the jurisdiction of Motorsport UK, and competitors take a competition license from the IOPD and they have guidance notes on their website on how to set up an event whilst complying with the legal aspect as well as planning for safety.
So if you want to start your own motorsport events on old airfields, then its certainly possible to do so.
https://www.iopd.org.uk/
So if you want to start your own motorsport events on old airfields, then its certainly possible to do so.
https://www.iopd.org.uk/
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
Having had a look around - I love looking at maps and things. The people MSUK really need to work with are the MoD, they're the only people that have loads of tarmac you could race on that isn't going to have NIMBY issues. Relatively near me (Glasgow), they've maintained airfields that could be used at Kirknewton near Edinburgh, and Qinetiq's site at West Freugh looks good but is down near Stranraer, so pretty isolated. RAF Leuchars near St. Andrews and HMS Condor (Royal Marines) near Arbroath both are potentials. Issue is then letting civvies onto MoD sites and the paperwork that would cause.
Plus there are a few airports that are fairly moribund to commercial aviation but still have maintained runways and access roads - Carlisle, Manston.
These would all satisfy the blue book requirements for things like cover for scruitineers and timekeepers
I have some experience in this frame;Plus there are a few airports that are fairly moribund to commercial aviation but still have maintained runways and access roads - Carlisle, Manston.
These would all satisfy the blue book requirements for things like cover for scruitineers and timekeepers
Have a look on GoogleEarth and it’ll give you a more accurate view of the state of Kirknewton (the gliders don’t use the “tarmac” runways). You could run an auto solo or barrel sprint there but not much else.
West Freugh, no danger, they’ll bin you off in a heartbeat if the MoD decide they want to do something the same day. Additionally, the wouldn’t like people all over the site on the perimeter roads etc as you would need to do to make any fashion of interesting circuit or loop.
Leuchars, you may stand half a chance with as they do some open day type stuff but any form of racing event requires access to a lot of space and it’s difficult to control people from straying.
Machrihanish has done car events in the past, but good luck convincing people to travel there
I used to be involved with a sprint championship which was mostly held on disused airfields, some civilian and some military - some which had been out of active use for some time, and some which were merely mothballed. The surfacing did lead a little to be desired, especially the transition between an access road and the actual runway - fine for something with big wheels moving at relatively modest speed, less good for cars moving significantly faster with much lower profile tyres. Then there was things like landing lights and other furniture which was ready to do serious damage to a car that had got it wrong. They don't do a car much good when hit at speed.
With few exceptions, I think most of the drivers preferred the 'proper' circuits, despite the additional cost.
With few exceptions, I think most of the drivers preferred the 'proper' circuits, despite the additional cost.
Edited by andrewcliffe on Tuesday 17th February 16:00
Track days used to be held at RAF Benson just down the road from me. That actually looks like it could be used for a race track, the surface seems ok. They also held the odd rally there. But I believe it’s been kiboshed for motorsport because of one car club getting a bit presumptuous.
Anyway slight topic derail. Motorsport is expensive!
Anyway slight topic derail. Motorsport is expensive!
bergclimber34 said:
Sadly I'm finding this with my foray into sprinting, a lot of traditonal sprint venues have gone, so clubs are using circuits and entry fees are a joke. The Assy, I planned to sprint with is going to Goodwood 5 bloody times s at 185 quid a pop, so I bailed.
215 for Cadwell where you will probably get maybe 4 runs in a day.
Yes it's a lovely place and all that, but for such limited on track time it becomes a joke really.
400 plus for circuits is insane, especially when they caveat it with endless yellow flags and call races at times without you doing much racing in timed races not laps done, it's a cheap way of making sure races are run quicker at your cost.
I have followed a few amateurs who race in YT, and the number if races cut short is a joke.
It’s almost like you have to cut off a body part, like an ear, and sell it to fund your dream. 215 for Cadwell where you will probably get maybe 4 runs in a day.
Yes it's a lovely place and all that, but for such limited on track time it becomes a joke really.
400 plus for circuits is insane, especially when they caveat it with endless yellow flags and call races at times without you doing much racing in timed races not laps done, it's a cheap way of making sure races are run quicker at your cost.
I have followed a few amateurs who race in YT, and the number if races cut short is a joke.
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