Comp Safari Experience

[Ross_328i_sport]

Hi there,

Over the past few months I have been ever eager to try and find as much information out as possible but have struggled to find anywhere that offers you the chance to try comp safari racing there are plenty of 4x4 experiences however I assume this is more green laning than comp safari.

Are there any activity centres who would offer comp safari taster packages?

Thanks in advance

Ross

[PhillipM]

Why not just go along to a few? Jump in some passenger seats?

I'm not really sure that any places offer a comp safari 'experience' because of the safety and insurance problems if not running cars to MSA spec/scrutineered for a speed event.
If you have a suitable vehicle then the local clubs like the midlands/southern counties/northern off road clubs tend to run fairly cheap events to get you started.

Edited by PhillipM on Monday 16th May 23:32

[Ross_328i_sport]

Thanks for the reply Phillip. I am intending to attend an event but have been busy karting which I am looking at safari racing as a replacement. I have two weekends free and believe there is some racing on over the last weekend in May. What would be required for a passenger run? does the helmet need to be msa approved? Likewise would overalls be needed and would these need msa approval?

Thanks

Ross

[PhillipM]

Hi Ross, the outright regs generally alter slightly depending on the club running them, but usually you'll need to join the club for insurance reasons (usually about 30 quid for a year depending on the club), and an MSA approved helmet. Apart from that just keep your arms and legs covered, you don't need fireproof overalls but it is recommended, obviously. Most clubs don't charge for signing on as a co-driver when you're a club member, just the car entry.

The last weekend of this month there's a 2 day event* on at Baden hall which is a fairly big joint event for NORC/AWDC/Midlands interclub championships all in one go. The British championship is up at Forest Lodge on the 12-13th of next month too but it's more competitive so you might not get in many cars...

• Scrutineering/Sign on/Walk the course Saturday, then racing Sunday + Monday.

Edited by PhillipM on Tuesday 17th May 13:30

[Ross_328i_sport]

Thanks Phillip for the information i will try and attend on the monday if i can however it is a 3,1/2 hour journey.

From your experience which is the best class to begin in i assume you are in Class 3?

Thanks once again.

Ross

[PhillipM]

Yeah, class 3 for us, 2wd - it's not a bad class to start in really as there's a few cheap VW-based buggies around and the parts are cheap if you want to stick with the original, it's when you start trying to compete with the 4wd guys and chopping and changing that it becomes expensive with those!
Good sideways fun to be had too - you can enjoy playing even if the car's not that quick - and being fairly light they tend to be fairly easy on tyres, etc.

Failing that, there's a fair few old beam axled simbugghini's and the like floating around that can be pretty quick as they're generally v8's with 4wd, and pretty robust and easy to repair.
Really depends on budget and what you want out of it really, there's always the production classes too but that can be almost as pricey unless you drop on an already prepped car.

'Course, you could go nuts and build a big 7L V8 spaceframed thing clothed in carbon if you like

Edited by PhillipM on Tuesday 17th May 22:00

[Sarge 4x4]

Agree with 2WD, great fun, I had a very usefull 2WD Chenworth buggy back in the late eighty's, raced with the AWDC club.

Could always get well up in the Overall results and not un-common to win outright.

Tried both two wheel and four wheel drive, but most fun was two wheel drive.

Andy.

[Ross_328i_sport]

Thanks for the advice once again. I am definitely more interested in the 2wd. Having looked on the websites for awdc and norc and ebay there doesn't appear to be many cars for sale. Where is best to look and what would be the models I would be looking at for competing in 2wd.

Thanks and Regards

Ross

[PhillipM]

Sarge 4x4 said:

Agree with 2WD, great fun, I had a very usefull 2WD Chenworth buggy back in the late eighty's, raced with the AWDC club.

Could always get well up in the Overall results and not un-common to win outright.

Tried both two wheel and four wheel drive, but most fun was two wheel drive.

Andy.

I was watching some old videos of you making Guy cry the other day

[PhillipM]

Ross_328i_sport said:

Thanks for the advice once again. I am definitely more interested in the 2wd. Having looked on the websites for awdc and norc and ebay there doesn't appear to be many cars for sale. Where is best to look and what would be the models I would be looking at for competing in 2wd.

Thanks and Regards

Ross

Chenworth, Warrior, Renegade, Fugitive, etc, all based around VW stuff, also try volkszone, muddybuggy, bajaclub and the SCORR racing clubs.
There's a surprising amount of them just chucked in the corner of barns so talk to some of the guys racing too, see if they can get hold of anything through word of mouth.

Edited by PhillipM on Wednesday 18th May 17:47

[Sarge 4x4]

PhillipM said:

I was watching some old videos of you making Guy cry the other day

Great little Buggy, wished I had never got rid of it.

Andy.

[PhillipM]

Well, if you went we must have missed you!

[PhillipM]

The BCCC is up at Dunfries this weekend Ross, not quite as much of a trip for you if you'd like to take a look.

[Ross_328i_sport]

Unfortunately I didn't make it Phil. I am not sure i will be able to make this weekend either but will try currently can't drive due to injury.

Thanks

Ross

[Steve_D]

Scotish Cross Country is up at the same venue (Forrest Lodge) next weekend.
Hoping to make that one. Not made this weekend with the rest of the team, septic tooth, damn.



Steve

Edited by Steve_D on Sunday 12th June 05:27

[C Lee Farquar]

I went to the BCCC event last year, the midges were awful.

[Sarge 4x4]

Steve_D said:

Scotish Cross Country is up at the same venue (Forrest Lodge) next weekend.
Hoping to make that one. Not made this weekend with the rest of the team, septic tooth, damn.



Steve

Edited by Steve_D on Sunday 12th June 05:27

You could always lend it to me.

Andy.

[Steve_D]

Sarge 4x4 said:

You could always lend it to me.

Andy.

Not mine to lend. It's a customers car.
We are the support and service crew.

Steve

[Ross_328i_sport]

Sorry over ear type.

[PhillipM]

Hi Ross, just seen your post over on AWDC, there's a hillrally on the Scottish Borders (Forest Lodge area again, DG7 3XS) this weekend with a lot of safari cars from the awdc entering if you want to go to ask questions/collar scrutineers, etc. Might be a bit closer for you?

It's not the same format as a comp safari but it'll give you a better idea of what kit/cars/runnings costs I suspect.
They really do depend on the vehicle and driver though, for example we bought 4 new tyres this year, they've done all year and will be fine for us to use on dry gravel events next season too - we'll just buy another pair of rears for the muddy stuff.
However, the heavier 4wd kit with more power give the tyres a lot more abuse and some people do a couple per event just by shredding/puncturing them, same with fuel really, production class or the older cars with small diesels might get away with a pair of 20L cans and not use it all, whereas on a really tough event we'll probably go through 70L of petrol with the rotary...

Running repairs also depends on the cars, most of the older kit is very heavily built however and can be beat and welded back into shape quickly, but bearings and bushes get a hammering, and plan on buying grease by the bucketful for driveshafts and bearings