Stage Rallying - the costs?
Discussion
Yes, I compete in tarmac rallies - including The Summer Stages at Brands Hatch. Needless to say, the costs can soon get out of hand if you want to be competitive, but when I restarted about 8 years ago (after a 15 year break) I did manage to compete and have fun for a few years on a relatively small budget. I bought a BMW Compact that had already been converted into a rally car (much cheaper to buy a ready prepared car). Best to buy something basic and have fun - you could pick up something for under £5k. You then need to buy all the gear - helmet, racesuit and ideally a Hans device, so about another £1k. Entry to each event is about £200, but don't forget tyres (you can pick them up second hand for £20 to £50 a tyre typically) fuel, trailer hire or purchase, renting or borrowing a tow vehicle, possibly helping with service crew costs...
Initially I started with virtually nothing, no spares, road tyres and I even drove the car to events! Needless to say this was a disaster if the car suffered a break down or a crash, so I ended up using a trailer fairly soon. Initial budget after buying the car was about £4k pa. I then got the bug and now spend a very considerable amount...
Happy to discuss if you want to pm me.
Initially I started with virtually nothing, no spares, road tyres and I even drove the car to events! Needless to say this was a disaster if the car suffered a break down or a crash, so I ended up using a trailer fairly soon. Initial budget after buying the car was about £4k pa. I then got the bug and now spend a very considerable amount...
Happy to discuss if you want to pm me.
We like to play in the forests and are hoping to get out this year after an enforced break. Over the years we've run a Felicia, Peugeot 106, Peugeot 205, Mazda 323 and now an Impreza. As a rough guide to it semi seriously in a half decent car then budget £1,000-£1,200 per round (not including damage).
However Single Venue events will be lower than that. Things to take into account -
Entry Fee - can vary from £200 (SV) to around £450 (BTRDA Forest)
Tyres - We tend to budget on a set per event (Approx £80 each Silverstone forest tyres - as a note we actually buy 2 as we have got ahead of our selves - so always have 2 spares)
Fuel - Be realistic on this - We only have a grp N Impreza which currently does around 12mpg on the road and 5mpg on the stage. The average BTRDA event is 45 stage miles and often 150 road miles So around 12 gallons - £150 per event on super unleaded.
Trailer hire - we prefer that
Fuel to and from the event for the tow car
Accommodation - Crew + 2 service crew (min)
The kind of events you do, the car you have and how you plan to do them will all have a massive impact on your costs, plus make sure you have an contributing co-driver. This year we are hoping to 1 SV, 2 forest and then the National section of GB - all Nat B events. Currently working on a budget of £6k - however that may end up leaving things very tight if we have any unexpected issues with the car. However between family commitments and living, sparing a fair amount of cash is always a challenge.
Good luck - it is the biggest buzz, and very addictive. That's why despite having not competed for a good few years we have kept the car and just waited until we can get back out again. Just be realistic on the cost front -> it's the one thing that constantly crops up.
I'm involved with the Alan Healy Memorial Rally at Cadwell park - which is a good event, happening the last weekend of March this year - come and have a look around and chat to people - if you can get to the East Midlands that weekend. Best way to learn - chat and observe.
However Single Venue events will be lower than that. Things to take into account -
Entry Fee - can vary from £200 (SV) to around £450 (BTRDA Forest)
Tyres - We tend to budget on a set per event (Approx £80 each Silverstone forest tyres - as a note we actually buy 2 as we have got ahead of our selves - so always have 2 spares)
Fuel - Be realistic on this - We only have a grp N Impreza which currently does around 12mpg on the road and 5mpg on the stage. The average BTRDA event is 45 stage miles and often 150 road miles So around 12 gallons - £150 per event on super unleaded.
Trailer hire - we prefer that
Fuel to and from the event for the tow car
Accommodation - Crew + 2 service crew (min)
The kind of events you do, the car you have and how you plan to do them will all have a massive impact on your costs, plus make sure you have an contributing co-driver. This year we are hoping to 1 SV, 2 forest and then the National section of GB - all Nat B events. Currently working on a budget of £6k - however that may end up leaving things very tight if we have any unexpected issues with the car. However between family commitments and living, sparing a fair amount of cash is always a challenge.
Good luck - it is the biggest buzz, and very addictive. That's why despite having not competed for a good few years we have kept the car and just waited until we can get back out again. Just be realistic on the cost front -> it's the one thing that constantly crops up.
I'm involved with the Alan Healy Memorial Rally at Cadwell park - which is a good event, happening the last weekend of March this year - come and have a look around and chat to people - if you can get to the East Midlands that weekend. Best way to learn - chat and observe.
It's maybe something that's passed under your radar, but have you looked at Road Rallying or Endurance Road Rallying?. The latter is a sort of scaled back stage rallying limited to Cars of 1400 cc, but without a lot of the expensive safety rules you are saddled with on a Stage Rally. Take a look here.
http://www.endurance-rallying.co.uk/
Or alternatively being in Staffordshire you are fairly well placed for the Derbyshire, Lancashire and Welsh Road Rallying scene. Just an MSA Nat B non race licence needed, no BARS test, lifed seats, race suits and Helmets. Plenty of events to choose from, entry fee's between £70.00 and £100.00, 120 miles or more of competitive driving mostly in the Dark and a choice of championships to chase. Certain restrictions on Cars apply, no large capacity Turbo's, single colour bodywork, limits on spotlights and in certain areas Tyres.... etc
...and don't think of it as a 'soft' option it's bloody hard on the Cars and the crews.... far better bang for your bucks' than single venue stage rallying.
http://www.britishroadrallying.com/
http://www.endurance-rallying.co.uk/
Or alternatively being in Staffordshire you are fairly well placed for the Derbyshire, Lancashire and Welsh Road Rallying scene. Just an MSA Nat B non race licence needed, no BARS test, lifed seats, race suits and Helmets. Plenty of events to choose from, entry fee's between £70.00 and £100.00, 120 miles or more of competitive driving mostly in the Dark and a choice of championships to chase. Certain restrictions on Cars apply, no large capacity Turbo's, single colour bodywork, limits on spotlights and in certain areas Tyres.... etc
...and don't think of it as a 'soft' option it's bloody hard on the Cars and the crews.... far better bang for your bucks' than single venue stage rallying.
http://www.britishroadrallying.com/
I have just purchased a stage rally prepared Peugeout 106 Rallye, came with a transit load of spares including 16 assorted wheels and tyres, bumpers, gearbox etc, was a bargain drubken eBay purchase for £2,500... :-) 
Did the Scatter / 12 car thing, does not flair my boat speeding on open public roads so tried Targa Rallies. Great fun, and more difficult that I thought as your navigator has to be on the ball. Doing my BARS test soon and will do a stage rally this year for sure.
Did the Scatter / 12 car thing, does not flair my boat speeding on open public roads so tried Targa Rallies. Great fun, and more difficult that I thought as your navigator has to be on the ball. Doing my BARS test soon and will do a stage rally this year for sure.
Having just retired again, in answer it very much depends on what car you run and how competitive you are / want to be.
Entry fees have been discussed, along with fuel and tyres. IMO if you want to be competitive Tyres are the biggest expense, too much choice and too many bloody compounds these days insuring your rarely on the optimum rubber, most satisfying when you get it right though!
It goes without saying the more work on the car you can do yourself the better, if you’re a mechanical disaster zone it’s gonna cost more and some good mates who are handy with spanners greatly helps.
It’s a VERY addictive sport, IMO the hardest motorsport discipline to get right, be prepared to have a VERY light wallet
Entry fees have been discussed, along with fuel and tyres. IMO if you want to be competitive Tyres are the biggest expense, too much choice and too many bloody compounds these days insuring your rarely on the optimum rubber, most satisfying when you get it right though!
It goes without saying the more work on the car you can do yourself the better, if you’re a mechanical disaster zone it’s gonna cost more and some good mates who are handy with spanners greatly helps.
It’s a VERY addictive sport, IMO the hardest motorsport discipline to get right, be prepared to have a VERY light wallet
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