How long did it take you...

[JP_Midget]

To get to race at the front, or are you still trying?

This has been my first full season, and after my first time at Donington Park on Sunday I have my sixth signature on my upgrade card, and am no longer a novice!

My races so far have seen me running at or near the back of the field, and although I've found myself in last place a couple of times I've never finished last. I'm not disappointed about where I am at the moment as I've had some fantasticly exciting races and feel I'm learning a lot very quickly. At Donington I was struggling to find the lines and pick up the pace in practise because of the faster chaps coming past all over the place, and it wasn't until I did end up in 27th and last position on lap 3 that I had a chance to find some speed, eventually managing to finish 22nd and still catching those in front of me, which I think was quite a result.

I was just wondering when things clicked for you folk and if there are any good stories out there about first wins, or when it all came together and you beat that chap whom you had always aspired to beat?

[Stig]

Good thread. I was a front runner in my second season of racing. The first season I was absolutely plagued with poor reliability (5 engines!). Once I'd got over the euphoria of actually finishing a race, I could concentrate on race craft propoer without guage watching the whole time - makes a big difference!

Like everything, there's no substitute for practice. Money spent on testing is far more valuable than eeking out a few extra bhp IMHO.

[Wanstead]

I remember my first race like it was yesterday. I was in the MGCC Midget Challenge and I thought I had done really well in qualifying, then the times came out and there I was dead last. To make it worse another chap who was also having his first race was ahead of me, but only just, and we spent the race battling amongst ourselves not to be last. (I lost). For the next couple of seasons pair of us seemed to be always having a battle, but gradually moving up the grid, eventually we were at the sharp end. I never did manage to win with the MG, had a few pole positions though.
The first win came in Formula Ford, it was a fantastic hard fought race with the lead changing several times and I managed to get back in front on the last lap, a day I will never forget.
One thing I did notice in my first couple of seasons, whist some drivers performance gradually improved, others seemed to be stuck towards the back, then all of a sudden it all clicked into place and they jumped towards the front of the grid within a couple of races.
The Mrs. is racing the MG now, so we are going through it all again with her.

[JP_Midget]

Wanstead said:

I remember my first race like it was yesterday. I was in the MGCC Midget Challenge and I thought I had done really well in qualifying, then the times came out and there I was dead last. To make it worse another chap who was also having his first race was ahead of me, but only just, and we spent the race battling amongst ourselves not to be last. (I lost). For the next couple of seasons pair of us seemed to be always having a battle, but gradually moving up the grid, eventually we were at the sharp end. I never did manage to win with the MG, had a few pole positions though.
The first win came in Formula Ford, it was a fantastic hard fought race with the lead changing several times and I managed to get back in front on the last lap, a day I will never forget.
One thing I did notice in my first couple of seasons, whist some drivers performance gradually improved, others seemed to be stuck towards the back, then all of a sudden it all clicked into place and they jumped towards the front of the grid within a couple of races.
The Mrs. is racing the MG now, so we are going through it all again with her.

I don't think I remember much of my first race! I had a poor start and just went for it, making six places, but was still down in 24th or thereabouts at the end (I'm in class B (race modified) and I think mostly overtook the class C road going cars (for those interested)). I couldn't tell you how I took all but one place, which I went down the inside into Copse at Silverstone and managed to hold it on the track! I felt like jelly after the race.

I'm racing in the Midget Challenge, so am probably up against a few of the drivers you competed against. Which series is your Mrs racing in at the moment?

My next two races are at tracks I've raced at before so I'm hoping I will see some improvement. My fastest lap times from the races are not far behind a couple of chaps that have raced for a while, and I'll be pleased if I can match them before the season ends.

Edited by JP_Midget on Friday 25th July 14:51

[Wanstead]

JP_Midget said:

I'm racing in the Midget Challenge, so am probably up against a few of the drivers you competed against. Which series is your Mrs racing in at the moment?

Edited by JP_Midget on Friday 25th July 14:51

It was a while ago (25 years ago, frightening how quickly the time goes) so I don’t think many are still competing in that championship, although I have seen a few of the old faces in various paddocks.
I was in class C when grid sizes were big enough for the class to have its own race, those were the days.
We rebuilt the car with a view to competing in the Midget Challenge again, but when the race calendars were announced at the start of the year most of the Midget races clashed with my Sports 2000 races, so she changed plans and is doing some of the Peter Best Championship instead.
May see you at Brands in September (no clash of dates then), Sandie may even let me relive some of the old times and I could come out to play with you lot, providing I keep the car in one piece for her race.

Edited by Wanstead on Friday 25th July 16:36

[megamaniac]

About 4 years to get my first pole position and another 2 years before i had a win.

[thunderbelmont]

First race : Last, a very steep learning curve!
Third race : Class win, followed by another five, making 6 wins from 7 starts and Championship Class Runner-up.
Second season : 10 class wins from 11 starts, Championship class win.
Downhill from there!!!!

[Redlake27]

I remember turning up at my first race as a 17 year old boyracer in my rollcaged road car thinking I knew it all......

I was ten seconds off the pace. I didn't know what negative camber or buffed tyres were. I'd bought steel Weller wheels because I liked them in white, and didn't realise they were heavier than my standard OE wheels..... and one of them fell off on the first lap!

Luckily the padock is full of people who are kind-hearted and a fellow driver adopted me. Three races later I had a class win,and a year later a class championship.

.....taking good advice saves a fortune in motorsport!

[stockhatcher]

my first 10 results were ( all at the JRRDS)
season 1 1999

7th
2nd
10th
4th
3rd
1st
crash
1st
1st
4th
4th
(champion)
season 2

r (whilst leading (fulda fiats)
1st in class
season 3 2001 (road saloons)

R
2nd n class
3rd in class
1st in class
1st in class

2002 - now, absolutely sweet fa to show for it ( stock hatch) including 9 retirement from 9 races in 2003, although did get fastest lap at donny last year. i need to spend more money.....

[RacingPete]

As another ex-Midget Challenge racer I remember my first win overall... It came at Oulton Park and I remember as I got into the lead thought, yes I am in the lead, and then got overtaken straight back again. But on the last lap the leader slowed and I got him second last corner and took the win. Still have the MotorSport News picture and headline on my wall

I would say it does depend on the car you have or the championship you are in. Like Stig it took me a season of reliabilty problems before I started winning, then won the class championship the year after, and then 34/36 races in my third season to take two different championships overall.

The Ginetta racing this year is another kettle of fish, and I only have one podium to my name... does get very frustrating when you are use to being in the front battles!

[custardtart]

The question should be, "How much money did it take you to get to the front.........."

[Simon Mason]

Without wanting to state the obvious, it very much depends on the quality of your competition and your aptitude for adapting and pushing yourself to suit the car.

Theres allot of people who can be competitive or even win in one categorey but will be at best midfield in another. So I guess what I'm suggesting is the goal posts of getting to the front move around.

As mentioned, the ability to practice as much as you can is worth its weight in gold, get a video camera to learn from your mistakes. Even a shed can get a decent driver into the top 10 of pretty much any club series, after that you have to start looking at the car if want to be honest with yourself.

Depending on the experience of your competition, I would expect 2 to 3 years to get upto the front if the budget allows.

Edited by Simon Mason on Thursday 31st July 12:12

[Vee Racer]

Formula Vee started a B championship this year for the first time. After a terrible start to the season I took the lead in the B championship a couple of weekends ago at Donington. I'm quietly chuffed. This is my second season in Formula Vee. I'm nowhere near the front of the grid, but then there is a big difference in the cars which is why they started a B championship.
Four races to go with Silverstone next...fingers crossed.

[thunderbelmont]

Simon Mason said:

Without wanting to state the obvious, it very much depends on the quality of your competition and your aptitude for adapting and pushing yourself to suit the car.

Theres allot of people who can be competitive or even win in one categorey but will be at best midfield in another. So I guess what I'm suggesting is the goal posts of getting to the front move around.

As mentioned, the ability to practice as much as you can is worth its weight in gold, get a video camera to learn from your mistakes. Even a shed can get a decent driver into the top 10 of pretty much any club series, after that you have to start looking at the car if want to be honest with yourself.

Depending on the experience of your competition, I would expect 2 to 3 years to get upto the front if the budget allows.

Edited by Simon Mason on Thursday 31st July 12:12

Well said Simon.

I'm still learning - from people like Simon - at ripe young age (still got plenty of fire in the belly (which is bigger than it was when I started!))
I was lucky, I had the right car at the right time. Then upgraded to the wrong car due to misguided loyalty to a brand! Still, cut me in half and you'll find GM in there - even if my road car is a V.v.v.v.v.volvo.
I look back on my results from '91 where I had a car that allowed me to run in "3rd place" of the next class up (1400-1800cc) on many an occaision, and had some great races with more powerful competition. I learned that smooth won over ragged, I learned how to maximise the capabilities of me, and the car, and had a bag full of fun - which is most important!

Rob.

[JP_Midget]

Simon Mason said:

Without wanting to state the obvious, it very much depends on the quality of your competition and your aptitude for adapting and pushing yourself to suit the car.

I was hoping to get some stories about the little (and large) successes of people as they started out racing. I know I'm not going to get the advice that puts me on pole directly from a forum.

My plan is that once this year is over, and I know more about how I race and what I lack, that next year I'll cut back on the number of races I enter (which will be a disappointment) to do test days and improve my overall speed, which I hope will offer me a good chance of being up there the following year.

I'm at Oulton Park on the 9th Aug, and this will be the third visit (hopefully not as wet as last time). I believe that I'll see some more progress as I've started to settle in the car which has had a few bugs ironed out and I'm begining to feel happy close to the limit. So, hopefully I'll be able to add my own small victory to this thread as I have my eye on beating one driver in particular!

[BenElliottRacing]

Have you had any driver coaching?

[RacingPete]

BenElliottRacing said:

Have you had any driver coaching?

Happen to know someone Ben?

[JP_Midget]

BenElliottRacing said:

Have you had any driver coaching?

I have a friend that has a lot of race experience, and has done driver coaching in the past. She built the car with me, and has been supporting me, so I've had a lot of things explained to me but we've not done any formal coaching. We walk the tracks before each race and that helps so much!

Other than that I've just been having fun racing those around me and getting used to everything that comes with racing. I think before now any in-depth coaching would have been a bit lost on me as it would have been too much to take in.

[OJ]

My first race win was at Pembrey on my 5th race start... but that was in a novice series!

My first 'proper' wins came in the next year (at a doublt header at Pembrey again funny enough!), which I think was my 3rd race weekend that year, which would make it my 10th start.

My most epic race came towards the end of that season at Thruxton though. I had a massive spin from the lead at Church half way through the race, went down to 13th place, and then broke the class record making my way back up to 2nd as I crossed the line! Definitely my most memorable race ever, despite not winning!

Most satisfying win was last year after I broke the championship winner's 5 race winning streak.

[RobM77]

We should remember the contributions of both car and driver. A good setup is essential, and most novices don't have this. I raced a Metro for six years, starting as a novice about a second a lap off the pace; I got my first class pole halfway through my second season, and my first class win in my third season.

What really made the difference was working on the setup; once I'd done that (or someone else did in truth!) I think I won my class in about 75% to 90% of the races that I entered, and started getting fastest laps and lap records. My second lap record was the end of it for me.. It came after a weekend of running faster than the present lap record, and when it came time for the race my only goal was to beat it. I think I took about 1.5secs off the time, but for some reason it was never recorded in the official results for the championship. I didn't think much of that and went off to race a Caterham. The setup in the Caterham has been crucial too - I had ridiculous understeer in the first race and came about 23rd out of 25 cars. In the second race I had hilarious oversteer and came about 20th out of 25 cars. The handling's now sorted but circumstances mean I can't race anymore Rather frustrating that!