any one do hill climbing or sprinting?

[crackthatoff]

would the elise be a suitable tool? do you have to be any good? can you get insured?

was after a little info from someone whos tried it ?

[Sam_68]

I've done a bit, in the past, but not in an Elise.

crackthatoff said:

would the elise be a suitable tool?

Short answer is no. They are a bit heavy and bulky for their class, and the handling isn't well suited to hillclimb courses.

I'm a bit rusty on the regs, but IIRC they usually classify Elises as Modified Production Sports Cars, to avoid them murdering the MGF's and MX5's, but that puts them up against Westfields and Caterhams so that they are, in turn, murdered.

Don't let that stop you, though - since you're not going to win anything in your first couple of seasons, it doesn't much matter whether you're competitive. The nice thing about hillclimbing is that you don't get in the way of faster cars, and you can compete against yourself.

crackthatoff said:

do you have to be any good?

No. See above.

crackthatoff said:

can you get insured?

I never tried, but I imagine that companies like Competition Car Insurance would cover you, for a price. I'm guessing it would be a 3-figure sum for a day's insurance, though, which on top of the entry fees would make it an expensive day out for a few minutes 'track' time.

Edited by Sam_68 on Saturday 5th July 20:54

[crackthatoff]

so if insurance could be arranged, it is looking like 200 notes ish for 1 'lap'
or I could go on more trackdays for unlimited laps... hmmmm

[bogie]

yes, and ive got a few trophys in my old car ...a factory Elise is in with factory Caterhams normally, so a Sport 190 would be quite competitive if you can drive

check out the LoT sprint series - 100% Elise classes...I hope to be running in that when Im driving again next year.

[Sam_68]

It has to be said, if you just want to drive fast, Hillclimbing is conspicuously bad value for money! Even without the insurance the cost:track time ratio is pretty lousy.

It tends to attract people, who are heavily into the 'technical' aspects (both engineering and driving), since the rules are a lot more flexible than circuit racing, there's loads of time to socialise with fellow competitors, discuss lines, tuning and set-up, and the difference between a bad set up or a bad line/wrong gear through a single corner can make a dramatic difference to your results.

Think of it as the motorsport equivalent of a game of chess...

[Gooby]

Once saw Tony Shute racing the Expose in hill climb.

[bogie]

raced against him last year in a 2-11 and lost ...top bloke though ..

and yeah - its not good VFM in actual track time, it is a great social event, and the cheapest form of real motorsport you can get into....you can still feel the adrenalin the first time you are on the line for a timed run

[AlexT]

I have never felt the Elise was best suited for hillclimb.

[absolutely]

I would say sprinting! Hillclimbs can and do go horribly wrong, we have an ex-hillclimb car and it still has the scars.

[Sam_68]

Gooby said:

Once saw Tony Shute racing the Expose in hill climb.

Yes, the Expose is still on the hills. It was at the last meeting I attended at Shelsley Walsh this year, competing in the Paul Matty Lotus Championship.

[tlracing]

crackthatoff said:

would the elise be a suitable tool? do you have to be any good? can you get insured?

was after a little info from someone whos tried it ?

I'd have to say that, if you choose your club/series carefully, the Elise is an excellent car for sprinting or hillclimbing.

The SDCC, who run Curborough, have not one but two classes you can run in: One for standard Lotus' and the other for modified/transplanted (so a nice, natural progression when you start buying aftermarket bits!)

Also, the Nottingham Sports Car Club's championship could be a good place - there are several Elise' in that series and Gary Thomas' car has been overall champion on (I believe) more than one occasion.

Finally, Mid Cheshire Motor Racing Club run events at Curborough and Scammonden Dam.

[shangani]

Steve Butts who is a regular poster on Seloc won two hill climb championships and missed out on a 3rd by a single point. He did this in a stripped out S1 elise with a 1.9 scholar block k series engine. He did put a lot of work into the car though.

As far as cost vs performance, getting a jedi or some small light purpose built car may be both cheaper and faster.

[bogie]

ding....im in NottsSCC myself and was looking forward to it this year until my accident

for 3 years I did sprints sown South as was in non-competitive classes, but it didnt stop me having fun and a good day out with fellow enthusiasts

[Sam_68]

tlracing said:

I'd have to say that, if you choose your club/series carefully, the Elise is an excellent car for sprinting or hillclimbing.

If you can find a series that is tailored for the Elise (though realistically, that means a 'Lotus only' or handicapped championship), then obviously it can be competitive, but it certainly isn't the best choice if you want to compete within the standard class structure.

There's the Paul Matty Lotus Championship, too, which is a handicap series for Lotus cars, but for some reason the Elise isn't a popular choice. There are a couple running (along with the aforementioned Tony Shute Expose), but I can only assume that the handicapping system doesn't particularly favour it.

But I'd repeat that with hillclimbing, perhaps more than any for any form of motorsport apart from Trials, it's the taking part that matters. Unless you are a natural genius, the challenge in your first few seasons will be improving on your own times and developing your car. Any class or championship honours would just be a bonus.

[tlracing]

Sam_68 said:

Any class or championship honours would just be a bonus.

You mean like these?

[bogie]

Ive got some of those too...only class places though,when you are in an engine converted car, lumped in with wings and slicks things you need to have the right circuit

[alicrozier]

In Scotland there is a suitable class for Lotus, 'Marque Sports Cars' is for production sports cars of a recognised marque. Generally has Porsche 911's, Elise/Exige, Ginetta, etc. This year there is even a Noble.

I had sucess in 2005 with my standard Elise...


...and last year the overall sprint championship went to an Exige (supercharged K series). The regs are pretty open as regards mods but engine conversions are out.
http://www.scottish-sprinting.co.uk/intro.html

Edited by alicrozier on Sunday 6th July 15:47