Low budget entry into motorsport

[RatLad]

I’m fairly sure this topic has been covered before, but searching is not throwing up the answers I’m looking for.

I’ve just passed my ARDS and looking to get involved with some competitive motorsport, albeit in a casual way. (I’m 33 and have 2 young kids, so time and money is already pretty well spoken for.)

I currently own a very nice S1 Elise, that I could race prepare (it would be a bit of a shame to do that to an immaculate road car though and I also am a bit concerned about the potential costs to damaging the thing too.)

Alternative is to sell the Elise and get a prepped Caterham as it would be even more fun on the road and the repair costs are less of an issue.

I’d want this also to be road registered as I don’t want to trailer a car about.

So, ideally I need a newbie friendly race series where I could compete in occasional races in a road registered car.

I was thinking sprinting or hill climbing might be a good one to get started with.

None of my mates are into motorsport, so I’m a little lost!

Any advice as to where to start and what car to buy (I do live Caterfield type cars) would be much appreciated!

Andy

[RatLad]

Turn7 said:

Javelin sprint series maybe ?

Thank you, having a look at this now.

[RatLad]

carl_w said:

Whereabouts in the country are you? You could have started sprinting and hillclimbing without doing an ARDS.

Just outside of Reading. I'd always had it on my list to do an ARDS anyway, so even if I don't need it, the tuition I had as part of it was game-changing for me.

[RatLad]

andrewcliffe said:

Your Elise would be suited to Sprinting and unlikely to result in damage, or at least, no more likely than a spirited A / B - road blast. Doesn't need any major modifications that detract from its originality.

If you wanted to race (and make use of your ARDS) then it would be a shame to race prep a really nice Elise, but there are plenty of cheaper cars out there.

Thanks Andrew. Good comments. I thought even with sprinting, I'd need the basics (full cage, yellow earth cable, cut off and fire extinguisher), they seemed to state this here - https://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/allabout.asp

[RatLad]

Thank you, everyone, for your help on this one.

This has given me a few things to look at in preparation for next year - massively appreciated!

[RatLad]

Jim Spencer said:

RatLad said:

Thanks Andrew. Good comments. I thought even with sprinting, I'd need the basics (full cage, yellow earth cable, cut off and fire extinguisher), they seemed to state this here - https://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/allabout.asp

Hi

No and Yes..

You'd need (as it'd be a Road Car, made in more than 1,000 units a year):-

Ignition cut off switch marked 'Off/On' (Sticker by the ignition switch)
Yellow Earth Cable (PVC Tape or heat shrink round the current one)
The Tow point fitted and a nice Red 'Tow' Sticker
Second throttle return spring (if an Elise hasn't got 2 already?)
A Timing Strut (folk make this out of Ally or Carbon, a little angle bracket and bolt to number plate or similar)
Race Numbers

Plus
Your PPE - which IS being reduced for 2020 for 'Standard Road Cars' - I'd just pause before you rush out and buy that kit while people determine just exactly how the change is going to work (and what a Standard Road Car actually is in practice!), the info has only just been issued to the championship organisers.

Fire Extinguisher is 'Recommended' not Mandatory (in all Hillclimb & Sprint classes)
(And in my direct experience the Marshals get to a fire Really Quick.. been there.. and the small onboard AFFF extinguishers are about as much use as an incontinent mouse..)

I'd suggest that a good mix of Speed events (Hills and Sprints) as per the HSA's speed series or similar is a really good route into the sport, it's easy to do in the car you have, you'll get plenty of experience (especially when you add some track days in) and you can then determine what path you wish to take.

I'd also suggest (as they're a BRILLIANT day out if nothing else) that a Hillclimb school day would be a good call (Prescott, Shelsley, Loton and others all do them) as that'll be in your car you're effectively doing your 'first event' with somebody taking you step by step through it.

HTH

Jim, you are an utter legend sir. Incredibly helpful, thank you👍

[RatLad]

j13myd said:

RatLad said:

I’m fairly sure this topic has been covered before, but searching is not throwing up the answers I’m looking for.

I’ve just passed my ARDS and looking to get involved with some competitive motorsport, albeit in a casual way. (I’m 33 and have 2 young kids, so time and money is already pretty well spoken for.)

I currently own a very nice S1 Elise, that I could race prepare (it would be a bit of a shame to do that to an immaculate road car though and I also am a bit concerned about the potential costs to damaging the thing too.)

Alternative is to sell the Elise and get a prepped Caterham as it would be even more fun on the road and the repair costs are less of an issue.

I’d want this also to be road registered as I don’t want to trailer a car about.

So, ideally I need a newbie friendly race series where I could compete in occasional races in a road registered car.

I was thinking sprinting or hill climbing might be a good one to get started with.

None of my mates are into motorsport, so I’m a little lost!

Any advice as to where to start and what car to buy (I do live Caterfield type cars) would be much appreciated!

Andy

I'm in a pretty much identical situation. I don't want to sacrifice my S2 Elise either. Not sure how it would work logistically but I wonder if there's any mileage in splitting the costs in running a car for a season between 2/3 people? Either one person using it for a given weekend or a multiple driver endurance event?

Are you going to the motorsportlive thing at Silverstone? I'm going to speak to the different series there locost/116 etc and look into arrive and drive options.

Hey, I won’t be there but report back what you find, I’d be open to looking into splitting it.