is there a cheap motorsport?
Discussion
When I were a lad (sound of creaking joints, rattling teeth) there were several forms of motorsport that were fairly cheap for the participants. The sort of thing you could enter in an ordinary MG, Healey, Cooper S etc, and maybe not win but at least enjoy the racing.
I fancy doing a bit of motorsport in my dotage, and track days dont appeal. Is there any form of car based motorsport that isnt dominated by the "loads of dosh" merchants?
I dont mind spending 20k on the car but I cant afford 20k pa on the tuning / running costs etc
I fancy doing a bit of motorsport in my dotage, and track days dont appeal. Is there any form of car based motorsport that isnt dominated by the "loads of dosh" merchants?
I dont mind spending 20k on the car but I cant afford 20k pa on the tuning / running costs etc
Hill Climb. Drag Race. Or some of the very limited modification series. http://www.max5racing.com/ or http://www.mr2racing.com/ as examples.
For that budget there's loads of stuff available - start here www.750mc.co.uk
What about superkarts?
Those are pretty quick, and relaitvely cheap in comparison to other forms of motorsport, on the big circuits. Although you will need to purchase some big cojones!
Of course you could give short circuit kart racing a go, it is the cheapest form of real racing (i.e. not banger racing). Here's a few websites for you to have a look at if your interested:
http://www.britishsuperkartrc.com/
http://www.karting.co.uk/
Those are pretty quick, and relaitvely cheap in comparison to other forms of motorsport, on the big circuits. Although you will need to purchase some big cojones!
Of course you could give short circuit kart racing a go, it is the cheapest form of real racing (i.e. not banger racing). Here's a few websites for you to have a look at if your interested:
http://www.britishsuperkartrc.com/
http://www.karting.co.uk/
www.v8trophy.com
Cars available from £7K. Or buy a ride in someone else's car. There are plenty around, and £20K would get you a full season easily.
The cars are easy to drive (respectively for a 1300Kg 460bhp V8 animal), neutral when set up properly. Shedloads of grip from the Hoosier slicks. A proper racing car, not a road car made to race.
PM me if you want more info.
Rob.
Cars available from £7K. Or buy a ride in someone else's car. There are plenty around, and £20K would get you a full season easily.
The cars are easy to drive (respectively for a 1300Kg 460bhp V8 animal), neutral when set up properly. Shedloads of grip from the Hoosier slicks. A proper racing car, not a road car made to race.
PM me if you want more info.
Rob.
Dan Friel said:
MGCC run a number of race series (and also a speed championship) - the possibility of running fairly standard kit. That and the 750MC option should be about as cheap as it gets. I wouldn't classify V8s as a budget series.
If he classifies his "budget" as being up to 20K, then the V8 Trophy is just that. Last year, running at Rockingham, it cost me less than 10K to run my own car, including entries.This season, our entry fees are quartered (typically £250 for a 2x20min double header) and they will fall further when we get 18+ cars out in the series overall, our tyre costs halved, fuel is down too - 20-30L per race compared to 40L per race on the oval. Though we are doing more rounds, and have more travelling. CWS reckon that £20K would buy a good drive in the series (with them - they have two cars available). Same sort of figures for Revolution Racing.
IF he bought his own car (as I said, there are a couple of cars still out there for sub-£10K) and converted it to road course spec (change axle tubes, change springs, swap shocks over from right to left and vice-versa), fit brake & rain lights, and a wiper), he could do the season for 20K, AND have a car of his own at the end of it!
In terms of "bangs for buck", it's probably the cheapest you'll get for a real racing car with serious power. It is, however, National A grade, so no novices.
What about Road Rallying?.
For modern road rallies, you need a decently quick, nimble and strong car and a good navigator.
For Historic Road Rallies you need the same only pre 1981.
Apart from the cost of the car, well under 20K, in fact well under 10K for that matter!!, the cost of the events is a bargain.
On a typical Historic event about £100.00 gets you a full days motorsport plus a meal at the finish for the pair of you, split it 50/50 add in the cost of petrol and that's about it. You can obviously spend as much as you like on modifying the car, but in reality not much is essential.
There's also a great social scene and fantastic atmosphere.
Check out;
www.hrcr.co.uk
www.nescro.co.uk
PS the last two events I was in were won by a Cooper S, and a Midget... that just about fits the requirements from the first post
For modern road rallies, you need a decently quick, nimble and strong car and a good navigator.
For Historic Road Rallies you need the same only pre 1981.
Apart from the cost of the car, well under 20K, in fact well under 10K for that matter!!, the cost of the events is a bargain.
On a typical Historic event about £100.00 gets you a full days motorsport plus a meal at the finish for the pair of you, split it 50/50 add in the cost of petrol and that's about it. You can obviously spend as much as you like on modifying the car, but in reality not much is essential.
There's also a great social scene and fantastic atmosphere.
Check out;
www.hrcr.co.uk
www.nescro.co.uk
PS the last two events I was in were won by a Cooper S, and a Midget... that just about fits the requirements from the first post
Edited by velocemitch on Sunday 13th April 19:29
How about Ford XR Challenge or Ford Saloons?
you have to look at the car you want to race and how much for parts really.
I race a Fiesta XR2 which is eligible for both series and parts can be found reasonably cheap.
The racing costs are the same for everyone unless you run a large truck or go to top notch hotels every race meetings.
you have to look at the car you want to race and how much for parts really.
I race a Fiesta XR2 which is eligible for both series and parts can be found reasonably cheap.
The racing costs are the same for everyone unless you run a large truck or go to top notch hotels every race meetings.
Having been racing on and off for over 20 years my experience is that there is no such thing as cheap motor racing (I know nothing about rallying etc)
If you can do your own preparation and maintenance that will help to bring down costs but even in the lowliest series to run at the front costs money. Accident damage is a fact of life and needs to be accounted for, plus engines go bang etc.
I would have thought in your situation that if you buy a decent car (preferably historic as you will probably get your money back when you come to sell it) that is eligible for more than one series and preferably lots (series get cancelled) then you can pick and choose and have some fun.
Personally I would look to buy something that will get you out to Spa, Nurburgring, Brands GP circuit etc
Have fun
If you can do your own preparation and maintenance that will help to bring down costs but even in the lowliest series to run at the front costs money. Accident damage is a fact of life and needs to be accounted for, plus engines go bang etc.
I would have thought in your situation that if you buy a decent car (preferably historic as you will probably get your money back when you come to sell it) that is eligible for more than one series and preferably lots (series get cancelled) then you can pick and choose and have some fun.
Personally I would look to buy something that will get you out to Spa, Nurburgring, Brands GP circuit etc
Have fun
Formula Ford Kent 1600. You could do worse than contact www.goughracing.co.uk
They have a very competitive 2007 Ray that is available to hire for reasonable £££ as well as top notch driver coaching by a qualified race instructor.
They have a very competitive 2007 Ray that is available to hire for reasonable £££ as well as top notch driver coaching by a qualified race instructor.
intrepid44 said:
What about superkarts?
Those are pretty quick, and relaitvely cheap in comparison to other forms of motorsport, on the big circuits. Although you will need to purchase some big cojones!
Of course you could give short circuit kart racing a go, it is the cheapest form of real racing (i.e. not banger racing). Here's a few websites for you to have a look at if your interested:
http://www.britishsuperkartrc.com/
http://www.karting.co.uk/
Pretty quick? :-)Those are pretty quick, and relaitvely cheap in comparison to other forms of motorsport, on the big circuits. Although you will need to purchase some big cojones!
Of course you could give short circuit kart racing a go, it is the cheapest form of real racing (i.e. not banger racing). Here's a few websites for you to have a look at if your interested:
http://www.britishsuperkartrc.com/
http://www.karting.co.uk/
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