Locost vs Stockhatch series - 750MC - what's involved?

[Mike_C]

Been looking around and asking for advice for a "starter" motorsport series, and a couple that really appeal are two from the 750MC - firstly, the Locost series, and secondly the Stockhatch Championship.

http://www.750mc.co.uk/F-locost.php
http://www.750mc.co.uk/F-stock-hatch.php

Both have a registration fee of £75 for the year plus £50 750MC membership - but these are the only costs mentioned on the 750MC site!

What I would like to know is what other costs are involved for a seasons' racing? Obviously there is fuel and consumables - tyres, brakes and such like (any idea roughly what these would cost for a year?) but what else is involved? I assume that you have to pay an entry fee for each round, but are there any other hidden costs (aside from travel and accomodation) involved?

I am very aware this can be a bit of a money pit, so would really like to hear from anyone who is or has recently raced in either series with their thought and experiences, and of course how much it has cost them! Given it'll be my first experience of racing and thus I could be quite useless (or equally fantastic - honest!) I am looking for as cheap a way a spossible to get into motorsport (karting not included)!

Thanks very much

[Galileo]

Accident damage is going to be your biggest cost with saloon racing. Open wheelers tend to keep away from each other as is hurts too much if you touch. The Locost bunch are usually very well behaved.

You will also need to factor in the cost of getting your race license and annual renewal.

[Graham]

I would expect entry fees to be around 200 for a singe header and 300 for a double header with somewhere between 7 and 10 meetings..



One reasonably pricey but actually very cost effective way of getting your licence, some good trg and a couple of races is to do the race intensive course at silverstone..

ok it'll cost you a few k but you do get a licence, a signature or two ( providing you finish the races) and some instruction from some of the best drivers in the uk. That should give you a good heads up on if you want to go further, without shelling out for a car etc and all that goes with trying to do everything your self...

G


IIRC to get a licence you need

ards pack - 65 quid
medical - 60 quid ( every year on renewal if over 45)
ards test - 300 - 600 depending where you take it
licence - 45 p/a


equipment you need

Helmet 200 upwards
Race suit 300 upwards
gloves 50
boots 80

then you can add underwear, neck brace or hans device..


IMHO when looking at club racing most of the series have very similar running costs, although bigger faster cars tend to wear thing out quicker, and cost more to fix if you have an off.. Tyres can easily be the biggest hidden cost when starting out... in some series you'll get a way with 1 or 2 sets in a year and be competitive, others will need a new set every couple of rounds. or even every race !!

Edited by Graham on Monday 28th September 14:00

[EDLT]

There was a feature on PH a couple of years ago:
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=129&i=159...

"Locost Racing

* Web: www.750mc.co.uk
* Car: £3,000+
* Estimated first year costs: £5,000"

[HiRich]

As suggested, per event costs are:

• Entry Fees (as per entry form)
• Travel, accomodation & subsistence (your choice - B&B, tent, same day travel, etc.)
• Consumables (fuel, oil, etc.)
• Transponder hire (or you can buy outright)
• Damage (mechanical or accident)

Remember, you aren't obliged to enter every single round. It is also advisable to have a mate around (mechanic, pit board, timing, and generally about), and good form to keep them fed & beered...

Season costs:

• Licence
• Club membership & series fee
• Plannned maintenance
• Insurance (if you choose)
• Replacement equipment (helmet, suit, fire extinguisher, etc.) where these things are time limited or regulations are being upgraded.
• Present for the missus for disappearing for two days straight several times a year, buggering up holiday plans, not looking after the kids, and generally just being a husband. Actually, you may need to move this into event costs. Or if you are really lucky, she might become your pit monkey - it does happen, I've seen it, once..

[stockhatcher]

i've been doing stock hatch for the best part of a decade so i'll give you a few pointer on costs etc.

cars : you get what you pay for! £1k for a shed fiesta to £10k + for a Saxo. However you want the most reliable car for your money if you are just starting out. That rules out most 205's. £3k might get you a clean but not particularly competitive Saxo, or a good Fiesta xr2i

theres approx 12 events with 3-4 double headers. Entry costs range from £180 to £300.
If you test you can expect to double those figs for the weekend.

Spares - brakes if you get the right ones could last a season if you only do the races, but you'd want to change the fluids 2x per year at least.

other consumables would be wheel bearings, 2x per year and dampers - will need revalving at least once.

tyres - again if you only race then 2 sets should suffice.

If you can do all the repairs your self and only do the races ( no testing) you could do a season for £5- 6k. However i've never come close to that.

[Mike_C]

Hi stockhatcher,

Thanks for your input! Stock Hatch does sound a bit more expensive than I had initially planned if I'm honest - unless your £5-6k/annum includes a car? If so, that is somewhere closer to what I was expecting.

One option I did have is to buy an existing Stockhatch/Locost car this year, run it on trackdays next year and see how I get on, and if I still have the passion to go racing after that then start the following year. This should also give me the opportunity to get to know a few more tracks around the country, as well as make any improvements I may want to to the car - what do you reckon?

[stockhatcher]

Mike_C said:

Hi stockhatcher,

Thanks for your input! Stock Hatch does sound a bit more expensive than I had initially planned if I'm honest - unless your £5-6k/annum includes a car? If so, that is somewhere closer to what I was expecting.

One option I did have is to buy an existing Stockhatch/Locost car this year, run it on trackdays next year and see how I get on, and if I still have the passion to go racing after that then start the following year. This should also give me the opportunity to get to know a few more tracks around the country, as well as make any improvements I may want to to the car - what do you reckon?

you should remember that you are under no obligation to compete in every round during the season. indeed if it is your first year, i'd probably consider doing 6 or so rounds and some testing. you would make progress quicker with your driving.

locost won't be any cheaper, 5-6k is the minimum you will spend on a seasons racing when you add up entries, race fuel, duel to get you to the circuit, hotels, or camping equipmen, parts and othe sundries such astaking you car to the rolling road to sort out a misfire. but like i said, if you do less races it will cost you less.

as an example

according to my spreadsheet from 2007. total cost £4204.26 but then i did only 9 races and 2 tests

[LocoBlade]

From what I understand, the big expense in Locost racing is the engine as you need to spend something like £2-3k on a pro built X Flow if you want to be near the front. For this reason, the bike engine'd RGB class C is also possibly worth looking at as you could pull a completely stock engine straight from the scrap bike for £500 and it will only be a smidge less powerful than a blueprinted engine rebuilt with new parts.