North Weald Sprint Yesterday

North Weald Sprint Yesterday

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garyfrogeye

Original Poster:

406 posts

210 months

Monday 27th April 2009
quotequote all
I know a couple of you were asking about Sprinting.
Here are some images of my first ever compeditive yesterday at North Weald.
I can highly reccomend it (if you don't mind thrashing your car to within an inch of its life.
Images thanks to my mate Toby
I came 44th out of 80 cars, the only car close to mine in age (1958) was a 1962 Lotus Single seat Formula Junior

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobyanscombe/sets/721...

Chris71

21,545 posts

248 months

Monday 27th April 2009
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Hi Gary,

Great to see the Frogeye in action!

Which club are you involved with? I'm looking around for a local club and I've noticed the Herts Country Aero & Auto Club, The Green Belt Motor Club and the North London CSMA are all within a 5-mile radius!

Chris

garyfrogeye

Original Poster:

406 posts

210 months

Monday 27th April 2009
quotequote all
I joined the Harropw car Club but the event yesterday was jointly organised by them and the Green Belt Motor Club.

plenty

4,851 posts

192 months

Wednesday 29th April 2009
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Great result especially seeing some of the serious machinery competing that day. Although no surprise having seen in person how the Frogeye can make progress!

Chris71

21,545 posts

248 months

Wednesday 29th April 2009
quotequote all
When's the next one Gary? Don't suppose you're going to Debden the weekend after next? I'm off there to meet some of the HCAAC people.

garyfrogeye

Original Poster:

406 posts

210 months

Wednesday 29th April 2009
quotequote all
Hi Chris,

Are you thinking of competing?
I'm tempted but I may wait till I get back from Le Mans as I don't want to brake the car before then. I also want to get a proper racing seat and the roll-over bar installed (as I think I may have pushed my luck so far). The last three events I've attended (two trackdays and one sprint) has seen one car roll at each.
I may still change my mind though.

Chris71

21,545 posts

248 months

Thursday 30th April 2009
quotequote all
garyfrogeye said:
Hi Chris,

Are you thinking of competing?
I'm tempted but I may wait till I get back from Le Mans as I don't want to brake the car before then. I also want to get a proper racing seat and the roll-over bar installed (as I think I may have pushed my luck so far). The last three events I've attended (two trackdays and one sprint) has seen one car roll at each.
I may still change my mind though.
Hi Gary,

I definitely plan to compete later on this year - not at Debden though as I don't have a competition license or a race suit yet.

The idea is to do a few TVRCC Speed Rounds if I stick with the TVR and/or local motorclub ones.

Will definitely be installing a roll bar when I've sorted out the car dilema - reluctant to do it to the TVR as there's a limited resale market for 'modified' or tracked examples, whereas I don't think it would be any detriment to something like a Westfield or Sylva Striker.

Actually car choice brings up another question. Do they run any sort of handicap system? I know some people take sprinting very seriously and I have no intention of trailering the car over or anything, but if I did switch to something else it would be nice to have a car which is vaguely competitive.

garyfrogeye

Original Poster:

406 posts

210 months

Thursday 30th April 2009
quotequote all
Hi Chris,

I would imagine that anything Caterham-like will already have roll bars fitted.
The Sprints are divided into different classes (in some Sprints Caterhams/Westfield type thingies have their own section as they are more or less road going race cars).
So if you turn up in a completely road standard Saxo/Rover 25 or the like, you should have as good a chance as most.
In my class on Sunday, because mine is slightly modified (1330 engine etc). I was up against 1380 race prepped Minis, which although road legal, arrived on trailers and had straight cut gearboxes, race cams and unroadworth suspension, barely road legal tyres etc. So I wouild have very little chance of beating them.
I'm not entering any championships so I'm there really to compete against myself. And see how close I can get to the big boys.
On a 2.3 Km course made up of various straights, fast corners and hairpins.
My five times last Sunday (rounded down) were
129 seconds
119 "
114 "
112 "
111 "

So I was improving every run.
The Mini boys were doing it in about 104 to 108 seconds so I'm not that far off but there is no way I would ever beat them on a dry track.
For me it's just an excuse to be allowed to thrash the *rse off the car in relative safety.