Sprint/Hillclimb in a roadgoing class.

[Bengunn]

Afternoon all. I've had a search this morning but i'm not quite finding what i'm after. I'm looking to fill the gap between race weekends with some sprints or hillclimbs in my "classic" road car for a bit of fun. I don't need a championship as i may only do 4/5 events a year preferably close(ish) to Oxfordshire. The car I want to use (don't laugh) is...........a 1979 Morris Marina. As i said its for fun and getting out in the classic. I wan't it to be in a road going class so i don't need a cage. What requirements are there for the car and also, the Marina is running a standard 2.0 ford pinto so that may preclude me from many classes.

Thanks for any help

Ben.

[Bengunn]

Drumroll said:

Had a quick look and found this:
https://scmc.co.uk/abingdon-long-course-sprint/

Thank you for that, Abingdon is nice and close and i do some of the trackdays there atm to test my race car. I'm hoping the engine swap doesn't place the marina in a silly class especially since it has almost identical figures to a 1.8 t/c anyway.

[Bengunn]

andye30m3 said:

I expect there's clubs closer to you but Farnborough motorclub aren't a million miles away and run a couple of sprints.

From memory they're quite good value.

https://fdmc.org.uk

Thanks i'll check the club out.

[Bengunn]

df76 said:

With the engine swap, you'll be in the Sports Libre class and all the safety equipment that have to come with it. Including a cage.

I really hope this doesn't end up being the case or else the Marina won't be seeing any fun. Whilst i understand and agree with the rule in general it seems a little nonsensical when applied to vehicles such as myself.

Having just read section S of the Blue Book i feel it may fit in to the 'Modified Series Production Cars' category....still not concrete though. If only there was a 'old and slow car' category.

Edited by Bengunn on Friday 2nd August 13:43

[Bengunn]

seiben said:

You'd be fine in the Javelin series

Thank you for that. It's a shame the events seem to be more northern biased.

[Bengunn]

Truckosaurus said:

I've seen the 'Classic Marques Speed Challenge' running at Gurston a few times, they seem to allow all-comers and use a handicap system based on power/weight/etc so you might be in luck => http://www.cmscc.co.uk/speed-challenge/

Thanks very much. I'll look in to this. It sounds the ticket for what i'm after.

[Bengunn]

seiben said:

As a fellow Oxfordshire resident I tend to agree. Hasn't stopped me doing it though (although Croft is a bit of a mission!)

Ahh good to see some local representatives. Indeed i have raced at Croft before, managed qualifying in which i mis-shifted and bent 8 exhaust valves. That was a long trip home! I was however hoping more for day trips in the classic. I travel wherever the championship goes with the circuit racing.

[Bengunn]

meehaja said:

It’s tricky, I’m not competitive in my class (not a good driver, plus 200bhp less than the others in my class). I do wonder if MSUK would do well to have a “beginners class” where anything road legal could be run, but maybe with no official timing, and only once per season or similar?

As for your issue, I’d suggest doing a hillclimb school day. I’ve only done Harewood, but I know other venues do it. You get plenty of runs, some tuition, can do it in any safe car, don’t need overalls/gloves , licenses etc. Just a good day out on the track.

Thanks for the reply. It's more about getting out in this specific car for me. I race with 750mc throughout the year in another car but really would like to get this classic old girl up a hillclimb.

[Bengunn]

It's a shame the Clasdic Marques won't have me either as the Marina isn't a "sports car". Though I'm sure if it was a mk2 escort 1600 sport which was a direct competitor to the Marina 1800t/c it would be a different story. It's looking very unlikely I'll be using this car in anger anywhere.