Getting into Motorsport

[JZZ30]

Last month my son (14) had a go at the Ginetta Junior Scholarship. Whilst he didn’t win it, he did have a massive amount of fun driving the little G40 junior car round the track at upto 100mph. I also had great satisfaction just watching him.

The Ginetta championship is well out of our reach financially, but we are currently looking at the Junior 1000 Ecosse challenge http://www.j1000ecossechallenge.co.uk/ (the Scottish version of this http://formula1000.co.uk/ )


We need to keep costs in check, but I'd rather spend on something quality than spend twice so i'm starting a thread in the hope of getting advice really. What to buy, what to avoid etc. Brands, where to buy etc. We’ll obviously be speaking to guys already in the championship etc, but more advice can’t hurt.

I recently bought a 325ti to turn into a track car, that’s getting sold along with my Soarer (that basically sits around doing nothing much a lot of the time anyway) to help fund the initial costs.

I have my eye on a K11 Micra that already has the roll cage etc. installed.

To start off, I have a few specific queries.

1) I need a trailer. Any advice? Something like this looks like good Value (£1900.00 plus VAT) brand new - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-Car-Transport...
Or would I be better spending the same money on a used ‘branded’ trailer (eg. Brian James)?

2) I have a 3.5t Peugeot Boxer that will do most of the towing (am I correct that I don’t need a tacho for this?), but would my 520d Touring (auto) be up to the job if the van is otherwise in use on a weekend?

3) Intercom helmets - Looks like a big spend so don't want to get this wrong - Any recommendations?

No doubt we will have loads more questions and I’ll keep the thread updated as we go.

[JZZ30]

Thanks for the replies so far.

The easy one to answer first, yes, I have C+E on my licence.

Ginettajoe - a real eye opener to costs. I thought the Ginetta junior series would be about £50k a season.

£25k is still way beyond our budget unfortunately.

Excluding buying the car/trailer/equipment/clothing etc. I'd hope a season in the little rally car would be no more than 5 thousand!

[JZZ30]

ginettajoe said:

Well, I didn't want to put you off the idea, but more importantly, I didn't want you to be blinkered, and begin to go down a route that will come to an abrupt halt because of lack of funds!
A large proportion of the cost, is what people fail to understand in that to be remotely competitive, they have to test, and when they test, they have to have someone like me sitting with them, although there are one or two exceptions! Generally though, they have to have coaching, and by the time you've finished paying for the day, fuel, fuel to get there, maybe an hotel the night before, the instructor, and general costs like tyres, brake pads etc etc, you will have spent around £1k, so you can quite easily spend £10k over a season just for that. Ginetta juniors works out considerably more, because to be in with a remote chance of having a result, you have to run with a team, so add into the equation the cost of the truck, and staff for the day, and your test (track) day has doubled!! That is before any part of the racing side of things, where body damage adds in another "salary"!!!
I hope this gives you a little more of an understanding into how ridiculous it can be!!

Thanks. Very insightful. I suppose it's very easy to forget about (or willfully ignore) some associated costs.

If we go for the J1000 rally (I really do think it will be much cheaper than circuit racing), basically my son and I will be the team and any bits we need to repair a k11 Micra should be dirt cheap. I going to speak to a garage that I know preps some rally cars and guage some set up costs from them.

I'll be sure to keep this updated with ongoing running costs for anyone else that may be interested.

[JZZ30]

Velocemitch, thanks - I'll look that up later today


Eezeh - if you are looking, you'll no doubt have seen my car on eBay. I think it's in very nice condition but It's not a sport though.

[JZZ30]

eezeh said:

I know the one, though the colour and interior is not my cup of tea

Not exactly resale silver or black!

It does grow on you though, like mould

[JZZ30]

JohnClem88 said:

My vote would go to Mazda MX5 Racing in either the BRSCC or 5 Club championship.

Is this for 14 year olds?

[JZZ30]

ginettajoe said:

.....and that is the mistake that I see so many make!!

Hopefully you mean this bit...

JZZ30 said:

Thanks. Very insightful. I suppose it's very easy to forget about (or willfully ignore) some associated costs.

rather than this bit!

JZZ30 said:

If we go for the J1000 rally (I really do think it will be much cheaper than circuit racing)

I suppose if we do greatly underestimate the ongoing running costs, he could use the car for autotest stuff anyway.

[JZZ30]

R8Steve said:

I have a trailer AND a tow car for sale that i would let go for the same price as the Brian James you'd mentioned

I'm not sure how you are for space but both are currently kept in a storage facility that could be transferred over if you wanted to keep all your stuff at a secure facility.

PM me if you want any more info.

I also have a fully track/race prepped Clio 182 available although i'm not sure what series, if any, it would be suitable for though.

Have you considered SLS? It's not direct wheel to wheel racing but is another one to consider and is based at Knockhill.

PM incoming!

Hadn't considered SLS, just had a quick google and I can't tell if Juniors are allowed or not, but like a lot of the other stuff that's being mentioned, It's of interest for the future anyway. Thanks.

[JZZ30]

chunder27 said:

There are series you could easily race in, that do not contain hidden costs

It just depends on how much you want to spend on a car or how much you want to spend on keeping clubs afloat and the MSA alive.

Your choice

Not a fan of the MSA then?

Any links to series that you mention? thanks.

[JZZ30]

ginettajoe said:

JZZ30 ...... the F1000 is a more affordable entry into competitive motorsport, allowing you to share special times and "team" connection with your son!!

Exactly this. Thanks.

To some other points - karting, yes we have looked at this (he does indoor karting fairly regularly) and it doesn't seem particularly cheap for the pro karting, besides our passion is for tin top racing.

Oval racing - I'll look a bit further into it. Been to Cowdenbeath a couple of times. Not for a while though. Only Junior stuff I can remember going on was the mini stocks. Not sure it would be any cheaper than running a Micra in the f1000 though.

My son just wants to be in a car. Any car! Any series. Ultimately circuit racing, but he tells me that competing in the f1000 will still allow him to enter the Ginetta Scholarship again next year.

[JZZ30]

R8Steve said:

I have a trailer AND a tow car for sale.

Send me the details please.

[JZZ30]

First bit of spend to document. I'll file it under 'training'

Booked the teen rally experience at Knockhill for him. A bit of seat time while we look at getting everything together. Will be useful in the lead up to his BARS licence, I think.

Running total .

Edited by JZZ30 on Monday 6th January 13:09

[JZZ30]

Quick update to the running total

I bought a van with a towbar rather than fit a towbar to the 5 series (was getting quotes of near £500 to fit!)

I'll not put in the cost of the van, but I will count £400 for the towbar.

Hope to get a trailer sorted in the next few days.

Costs so far:

Training
£135

Unrecoverable Miscellaneous
Towbar £400
Numberplate £10
Car Club Membership £30 (for us both)

TOTAL £575

[JZZ30]

Part of the exercise is also getting my son to know his way around a car with the spanners.

Just this evening we serviced the van I just bought. I'll happily change brakes, suspension etc. And when we get the rally car I imagine we'll have to change the clutch, driveshafts etc.

But I know my limits. I wouldn't dream of trying wire up the electric s in an E61 5 series. I got two quotes. Both over £450. I decided just to buy a cheap van with a towbar already fitted. Much better for flinging in a spare set of wheels, gearbox, whatever.

[JZZ30]

Trailer bought thanks to a fellow PH'er. £900 to add to the total. (Was a bit cheaper with some very minor work required that'll bring it up to that).

Still can't work out if I need to re-plate it or not? probably best to save any problems.




Costs so far:

Equipment
Trailer £900

Training
£135

Unrecoverable Miscellaneous
Towbar £400
Numberplate £10
Car Club Membership £30 (for us both)

TOTAL £1475

Edited by JZZ30 on Saturday 9th December 10:46

[JZZ30]

Another delivery today - set of tie down straps to secure a car on a trailer. £45.

Giving the trailer a general look over I discovered a nail in one of the tyres, that's in the garage hopefully getting repaired. I've decided to re-new the trailer bed too. I'll start the tomorrow as we may be getting a car on Saturday.

[JZZ30]

Looking at a K11 Micra. It's probably the cheapest way in and for his first season a decent starter car. Cheap and plentiful spares as well as being easy to work on.

[JZZ30]

Remarkably clean underneath.

How much for 4 sheets of ply?

Edited by JZZ30 on Wednesday 13th December 20:44

[JZZ30]

foggy said:

I guess you’ve already invested in the ply. An alternative is trailer deck board, phonlic ply its known as and generally comes with a black embossed finish. No idea whether it’s any cheaper mind!

Yes, bought the Marine ply yesterday and cut it to size then sealed the edges up. As per the reply below yours, buffalo board is expensive, but a moot point anyway as I needed to get started so I can use the trailer on Saturday and can only work on it between other jobs. Marine ply was in stock locally.

R8Steve said:

Glad to hear you’re happy with the trailer Chris, shame about the tyre though, I hadn’t noticed that.

If you send me your PayPal address I’ll ping you over the cost of a new tyre if it can’t be repaired.

Thanks mate, a very kind offer, but not necessary. It's my trailer now and its on me. Even taking into account the work I'm doing, I'm still well under budget on the trailer.

Edited by JZZ30 on Thursday 14th December 18:07

[JZZ30]

The rally day at Knockhill got cancelled due to weather. re-scheduled for January.

Quick update to overall costs so far

Costs so far:

Equipment
Trailer £900
Re-new trailer bed £300 (4 x 18mm marine ply and 5L non slip paint)

Training
£135 - Rally day at Knockhill
£35 Test day at car club (30th Dec, still to include on the day costs)

Miscellaneous
Towbar £400
Numberplate £10
Car Club Membership £30 (for us both)
New tyre for trailer £65

TOTAL £1875