Any Sprinters?
Discussion
I'm going to flog my scooby and get involved in a bit of weekend motorsport. Was just wondering what was involved in sprinting? Seems like a relatively economical way to get involved.
From looking at a few sites, there seems to be a massive range of cars involved too, from Minis and XR2s through to single seaters.
What sort of car should I be looking at to be fun and allow me to be competitive with a bit of practice? First thoughts were to find a 106 Rallye, 205 Gti or similar hot hatch with great handling, and low weight. The idea being to allow as many sets of tyres/repairs as possible in budget.
No point buying a 400bhp Impreza if a). I won't make the most of it, and b). every time out I need a new clutch!
I understand I need to get a non-race national B licence (take it this is just an application, rather than a tested licence??), a suit, a helmet and an external ignition cut off.
Anything else a beginner should consider?
Cheers
From looking at a few sites, there seems to be a massive range of cars involved too, from Minis and XR2s through to single seaters.
What sort of car should I be looking at to be fun and allow me to be competitive with a bit of practice? First thoughts were to find a 106 Rallye, 205 Gti or similar hot hatch with great handling, and low weight. The idea being to allow as many sets of tyres/repairs as possible in budget.
No point buying a 400bhp Impreza if a). I won't make the most of it, and b). every time out I need a new clutch!
I understand I need to get a non-race national B licence (take it this is just an application, rather than a tested licence??), a suit, a helmet and an external ignition cut off.
Anything else a beginner should consider?
Cheers
I've started sprinting this year in the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club, www.twmc.org.uk all circuits sprint championship and really enjoying it.
I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
andye30m3 said:
I've started sprinting this year in the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club, www.twmc.org.uk all circuits sprint championship and really enjoying it.
I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
Unfortunately I'm out of action for a few days buddy otherwise I would. Damn doctors gave me something that reacts with 20% of patients. I've got guts like ghengis khans lunchbox at the moment!I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
So this is the Tunbridge Wells Area is it? I'm in Canterbury, where are the rounds held?
ETA: Just re-read that properly, and I see you mentioned Lydden. Are many events held there? That could be mighty handy...
Edited by KingRichard on Friday 8th May 20:16
KingRichard - having raced at Lydden, I seem to recall that the TWMC run a sprint on the Saturday morning of most if not all race meets. See here for info:
http://www.semsec.org.uk/twmc.html
There is one early June for definite (the 6th?), I'll be out racing in the afternoon (green/orange Locoblade #76) - come on down!
http://www.semsec.org.uk/twmc.html
There is one early June for definite (the 6th?), I'll be out racing in the afternoon (green/orange Locoblade #76) - come on down!
KingRichard said:
I understand I need to get a non-race national B licence (take it this is just an application, rather than a tested licence??), a suit, a helmet and an external ignition cut off.
Yes (Yes), Yes, Yes and no. No requirement for external ignition cut out in the roadgoing category.Very first thing to do is to join a club that organises sprints near you and talk to people. It would also be a good idea to try to get along and marshal at one to get a bit of a feel for the way events operate, what cars look quick and so on (I actually recommend that everyone who competes should marshal at least once or twice a year as well because no marshals = no event).
I suggest you have a look at the championship classes and technical regulations for the regional association championship in your area as the majority of events local to you will probably follow them - differences is things like capacity splits and tyres allowed are possible. Some championships split out sports cars from saloons, some don't, so if you buy a 1900c Pug 205 you might find yourself in with the Elises (who you wont beat) and MGBs (who you will beat) in an under 2000cc class or you might not.
You could do what I did and start competing in your every day road car to get a feel for it before you decide if you want to spend the money on a car dedicated to competition. If you do start off by buying a dedicated car, better to get a roadgoing car to start with rather than jumping straight in with modprod / libre / racing cars.
KingRichard said:
andye30m3 said:
I've started sprinting this year in the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club, www.twmc.org.uk all circuits sprint championship and really enjoying it.
I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
Unfortunately I'm out of action for a few days buddy otherwise I would. Damn doctors gave me something that reacts with 20% of patients. I've got guts like ghengis khans lunchbox at the moment!I'm in the up to 2.0 standard production class in a clio 172.
Basically all I needed was
A non race national B license
Fire proof overalls
A helmet.
A sticker to say how to turn the ignition off
some yellow tape for the earth cable
Some race numbers
and that was me ready to go.
I'm sprinting at lydden tomorrow if your in Kent it might be worth poping along for a look, its on from 9a.m until 12ish.
So this is the Tunbridge Wells Area is it? I'm in Canterbury, where are the rounds held?
ETA: Just re-read that properly, and I see you mentioned Lydden. Are many events held there? That could be mighty handy...
Edited by KingRichard on Friday 8th May 20:16
Yeh the TWMC have 6 events at Lydden, 3 at Goodwood, 1 at brands and 1 at Cadwell park.
With the all circuits championship the elise's and exige's get moved into another class, so unless S2000's turn up hot hatches can do well.
Theres 2 events at Lydden on June on the 6th and the 20th as with today they are from 9 until 12ish.
KingRichard said:
I'm going to flog my scooby and get involved in a bit of weekend motorsport. Was just wondering what was involved in sprinting? Seems like a relatively economical way to get involved.
Don't work out the cost per minute, or per mile, else the "economical" point vanishes very quickly.KingRichard said:
Anything else a beginner should consider?
Sprinting's harder than it looks. You *will* get annihilated the first year, unless you're seriously talented. But it's bloody good fun.Zumbruk said:
KingRichard said:
I'm going to flog my scooby and get involved in a bit of weekend motorsport. Was just wondering what was involved in sprinting? Seems like a relatively economical way to get involved.
Don't work out the cost per minute, or per mile, else the "economical" point vanishes very quickly.KingRichard said:
Anything else a beginner should consider?
Sprinting's harder than it looks. You *will* get annihilated the first year, unless you're seriously talented. But it's bloody good fun.I turned up last year for my first event and laughed at how easy the competition was, Fiesta Xr2's 205 Gti's etc. On that event they beat me by 8 full seconds and I left feeling somewhat down hearted to say the least. What I didnt take into account is the way those cars were being driven by experienced and talented drivers. It has taken me a year to get on par and occasionally beat those cars.
Ive been sprint/hillclimbing for 9 years, and would agree with joing a club and spectating at a few to get the feel. Then narrow down your calss and championship and speak to people involved or driving those cars for the low down.
the machinery isnt as straight forward as it seems. In our championship, 25+yr old 'fast road spec cars on paper' are regularly slaughtering modern 911s, TVRs and ferraris, because small tweeaks to suit a sprint/hill format make a big difference. the 'correct' tyres and pressures etc make a huge difference, and someone competing in the class will give you an idea of the best types.
I often get asked by newbies which mods make the best advances in times and have to lie a bit (white lie with best intentions...) and tell them tyres, pressures, weight loss etc beacuse the truth of the main chunks of time in the 1st season coming from the driver isnt what they want to hear ;-)
its an odd discipline, having to go balls-out on a 'qually run' then sit for an hour and a half before another go. in changeable conditions this is a real skill that needs to be learnt. if you are using List 1B 'track day' tyres or slicks, the commitmnet needed to charge into the first corner on cold tyres just takes time to come.
i have many friends who sprint/hillclimb and circuit race, and all will atest its a different type of event, theres not 40 laps to 'catch up' for a mistake made, or multi laps to perfect your line. Horses for courses imho.
HTH
Craig
the machinery isnt as straight forward as it seems. In our championship, 25+yr old 'fast road spec cars on paper' are regularly slaughtering modern 911s, TVRs and ferraris, because small tweeaks to suit a sprint/hill format make a big difference. the 'correct' tyres and pressures etc make a huge difference, and someone competing in the class will give you an idea of the best types.
I often get asked by newbies which mods make the best advances in times and have to lie a bit (white lie with best intentions...) and tell them tyres, pressures, weight loss etc beacuse the truth of the main chunks of time in the 1st season coming from the driver isnt what they want to hear ;-)
its an odd discipline, having to go balls-out on a 'qually run' then sit for an hour and a half before another go. in changeable conditions this is a real skill that needs to be learnt. if you are using List 1B 'track day' tyres or slicks, the commitmnet needed to charge into the first corner on cold tyres just takes time to come.
i have many friends who sprint/hillclimb and circuit race, and all will atest its a different type of event, theres not 40 laps to 'catch up' for a mistake made, or multi laps to perfect your line. Horses for courses imho.
HTH
Craig
carl_w said:
Possibly. My gear is on back order at Demon Tweeks, and it also appears I should have registered for the Bentwaters sprint by yesterday. I've done a couple of track days there -- I used to work down the road at BT in Martlesham Heath.
given the poor entry numbers this season, I am sure your entry will be accepted right up to the day before as long as you have contacted B19 first.Zumbruk said:
KingRichard said:
I'm going to flog my scooby and get involved in a bit of weekend motorsport. Was just wondering what was involved in sprinting? Seems like a relatively economical way to get involved.
Don't work out the cost per minute, or per mile, else the "economical" point vanishes very quickly.I'd suggest the VFM probably isn't as bad as you think when you look at it like that, I bet you don't go through as many tyres as we do either!
been there a few years ago and the surface wasnt swept so practice left loads of pickup on sticky slicks :-(
tracks marked out with cones and not that many of them so dead easy to go 'wrong route' if ya not careful. Plus side theres sod-all immovable to hit and speeds are pretty high.
Ok but not a classic venue imho
tracks marked out with cones and not that many of them so dead easy to go 'wrong route' if ya not careful. Plus side theres sod-all immovable to hit and speeds are pretty high.
Ok but not a classic venue imho
Might not be able to make it this weekend at Bentwaters, which will probably make Lydden my first event in the AEMC Sprint Championship.
What's Lydden like for a novice? On an airfield (and I've done trackdays at Bentwaters) the runoff is just more tarmac. But on a race circuit it's kitty litter, and I'm competing in my road car...
What's Lydden like for a novice? On an airfield (and I've done trackdays at Bentwaters) the runoff is just more tarmac. But on a race circuit it's kitty litter, and I'm competing in my road car...
Edited by carl_w on Thursday 14th May 23:03
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