Racing / Track classifications?
Discussion
Can anyone give me an idiots guide overview of what cars fall into what classifications to make them admissable to the track/race categories.
I'd love to dabble in the classic racing scene - not to any great budget, just getting the chance to get out on track with similar cars and enjoy the thrill of some on-track action with like-minded people / cars.
My biggest problem is that I dont understand what series there are out there and what machinery limitations there are to enter.
For example: Is there such a thing as a 'Standard Class' whereby purely factory standard cars can be entered to take to the track with no race modifications. Perhaps split into groups by CC of vehicle and AGE of vehicle etc!?
Sorry, very vague, but Im looking for quite a broad general response.
Thanks in advance.
Dom
I'd love to dabble in the classic racing scene - not to any great budget, just getting the chance to get out on track with similar cars and enjoy the thrill of some on-track action with like-minded people / cars.
My biggest problem is that I dont understand what series there are out there and what machinery limitations there are to enter.
For example: Is there such a thing as a 'Standard Class' whereby purely factory standard cars can be entered to take to the track with no race modifications. Perhaps split into groups by CC of vehicle and AGE of vehicle etc!?
Sorry, very vague, but Im looking for quite a broad general response.
Thanks in advance.
Dom
as has been stated: sprinting will be your cheapest option, for racing you will need to either be very good friends with a suitable mechanic or throw a grand at a car to get all the safety requirements.
even for sprinting there is a fair old "start-up" cost. ok the car wont necessarily cost anything to prepare, but you will need a suit (basics are roughly £150) and a helmet (about the same as the suit, but shop wisely). these are the minimum costs and you can easily spend a lot more for safer equipment that is more comfortable for longer periods of time. but be aware that to do a sprint you cost you roughly £100 a go for the entry fee aswell as fuel etc, and you need to get a race license first (£38) and join a motor club (£15 upwards).
to do a trackday all you need is a helmet which you can get as cheaply as £30 but I would advise you spend more to get a safer one that fits well. and the trackday itself can cost anywhere from £100 upto £300 depending on location and time.
even for sprinting there is a fair old "start-up" cost. ok the car wont necessarily cost anything to prepare, but you will need a suit (basics are roughly £150) and a helmet (about the same as the suit, but shop wisely). these are the minimum costs and you can easily spend a lot more for safer equipment that is more comfortable for longer periods of time. but be aware that to do a sprint you cost you roughly £100 a go for the entry fee aswell as fuel etc, and you need to get a race license first (£38) and join a motor club (£15 upwards).
to do a trackday all you need is a helmet which you can get as cheaply as £30 but I would advise you spend more to get a safer one that fits well. and the trackday itself can cost anywhere from £100 upto £300 depending on location and time.
Hi and thanks for the responses.
I think I have a plan hatching, and a possible motor to put the plan in place.
Im looking at an old 944, and plan to abandon my desires to have a road use car as well. I can pick one up fairly cheaply, sell some parts which will also save some weight - get a bucket seat put in and get the suspension upgraded and lowered, then tootle along to some porsche events where they basically have an open track. I went to one at Spa recently which was great fun - despite not being able to take to the track myself.
This hopefully would also leave me with the option to dabble in hillclimbs or whatever with what is still a road spec car(ish) and not cost me a fortune in the first place to set up.
Is there somewhere I should know about for the racesuits / helmets - any links you guys can offer (I appreciate I need to try these things on for size but would like to have an online mooch round their store if possible).
Basically I spoke to my mechanic (here in Belgium) last night and he seems to think this is the cheapest way into getting a taste for the track. If it goes well I might consider moving eventually into a single seater (formula ford type thing) which he is also involved in, again not silly money and not aiming to go into a hyper competative arena, but go and mix it with some similar machinery on french and belgian tracks. Thats a way off anyway.
How did everyone else here start off - Im late to the game I guess with my first proper dabble at 37 years old!?
I think I have a plan hatching, and a possible motor to put the plan in place.
Im looking at an old 944, and plan to abandon my desires to have a road use car as well. I can pick one up fairly cheaply, sell some parts which will also save some weight - get a bucket seat put in and get the suspension upgraded and lowered, then tootle along to some porsche events where they basically have an open track. I went to one at Spa recently which was great fun - despite not being able to take to the track myself.
This hopefully would also leave me with the option to dabble in hillclimbs or whatever with what is still a road spec car(ish) and not cost me a fortune in the first place to set up.
Is there somewhere I should know about for the racesuits / helmets - any links you guys can offer (I appreciate I need to try these things on for size but would like to have an online mooch round their store if possible).
Basically I spoke to my mechanic (here in Belgium) last night and he seems to think this is the cheapest way into getting a taste for the track. If it goes well I might consider moving eventually into a single seater (formula ford type thing) which he is also involved in, again not silly money and not aiming to go into a hyper competative arena, but go and mix it with some similar machinery on french and belgian tracks. Thats a way off anyway.
How did everyone else here start off - Im late to the game I guess with my first proper dabble at 37 years old!?
I didn't start racing until I was 40. You'll be fine for a dabble! A 944 is a good choice in my view - strong, handle well & good spares availability. If you intend to race in the UK have a look at the Classic Sports Car Club's "Future Classics" series - 40 min races for one or two drivers with a compulsory pit stop. 944s do very well in the 2 litre to 3 litre class of this series. And the series will be racing at Spa in July 4/5th.
I dont know about suppliers in belgium, but there are a number of shops around the UK with large stocks of suits and helmets etc so you can try them on and get a feel for the items.
online shops:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ very large stock, but a lot of stuff can be found cheaper elsewhere if you shop around
http://www.gprdirect.com/OnlineShop/Summary.do?c=6 based at silverstone and in london
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/index.html based at castle combe and they tend to be quite competitive on price.
it is very difficult to get a feeling for helmets unless you try them on. each manufacturer makes them to a slightly different idea of "the average" head so it is common for people to find that one make doesnt fit them at all while others are perfect. find a shop that has a large stock and keep on trying them on until you find one that fits.
suits range from £150 ish up to £1500. Some of the cheaper ones may not be good enough to let you do all kinds of racing so check the "safety standard" and check the regulations of any race events you want to enter. apart from that the main advantages of expensive suits are that they tend to be lighter and allow greater freedom of movement.
online shops:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ very large stock, but a lot of stuff can be found cheaper elsewhere if you shop around
http://www.gprdirect.com/OnlineShop/Summary.do?c=6 based at silverstone and in london
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/index.html based at castle combe and they tend to be quite competitive on price.
it is very difficult to get a feeling for helmets unless you try them on. each manufacturer makes them to a slightly different idea of "the average" head so it is common for people to find that one make doesnt fit them at all while others are perfect. find a shop that has a large stock and keep on trying them on until you find one that fits.
suits range from £150 ish up to £1500. Some of the cheaper ones may not be good enough to let you do all kinds of racing so check the "safety standard" and check the regulations of any race events you want to enter. apart from that the main advantages of expensive suits are that they tend to be lighter and allow greater freedom of movement.
A 944 is a lot cheaper than people think 'a Porsh' will be, but I suspect there are much cheaper ways of getting on track, particularly if you're not planning to use it on the road.
The great strength of the front engined Porsches IMHO is the fact they're so practical and practical as road going sports cars. They are however, bigger, heavier and more expensive to maintain than all manner of more specialist machinery. With a similar power output from an off the shelf Ford or Toyota saloon engine a Lotus 7 style kit will run rings around a 944. You might not want to drive it to Scotland and back, but that's not a major concern on a track car. And although the purchase price might be less, you'll pay for a cheap 944 in the end.
Not trying to put you off - they're phenomenal road cars and more characterful than many mainstream cars, but they're not a budget option particularly.
I'd hazard a guess that the cheapest way in is a hot hatch - something like a 205 GTi or an AX GT. They're well supported in affordable club-level sprints and if you pick the right one it would be competitive in something like the 750MC Stock Hatch (race) championship.
The great strength of the front engined Porsches IMHO is the fact they're so practical and practical as road going sports cars. They are however, bigger, heavier and more expensive to maintain than all manner of more specialist machinery. With a similar power output from an off the shelf Ford or Toyota saloon engine a Lotus 7 style kit will run rings around a 944. You might not want to drive it to Scotland and back, but that's not a major concern on a track car. And although the purchase price might be less, you'll pay for a cheap 944 in the end.
Not trying to put you off - they're phenomenal road cars and more characterful than many mainstream cars, but they're not a budget option particularly.
I'd hazard a guess that the cheapest way in is a hot hatch - something like a 205 GTi or an AX GT. They're well supported in affordable club-level sprints and if you pick the right one it would be competitive in something like the 750MC Stock Hatch (race) championship.
Hi Chris,
I agree with everything you are saying... I suppose Im a sucka for the Porsche mark - as you can probably tell from my ID and car etc. But I guess the biggest influencing factors for me were:
I have a porsche specialist mechanic at the bottom of my road.
There is a cheap 944 sat there currently waiting to be sold which fits the bill. Thats aside from me liking the 944 for what it is anyway.
Rear wheel drive, front engine balance - and not so scary quick that Im going to scare myself stupid!
Over here in Belgium, I will have access to the Porsche days at Zolder and Spa etc (as I dont expect to be out every weekend in it, this sort of event with similar machinery etc appeals too).
And... as ever, there had to be some justification with the Mrs, which with this car is: to hand (no long trips looking at cars to buy etc), cheap, with local back-up and a number of people into similar stuff, and another punter inline hopefully wanting the seats and bits that will be stripped - which will help pay for any new bits and upgrades I need.
Well I was convinced by my own justifications anyway
I agree with everything you are saying... I suppose Im a sucka for the Porsche mark - as you can probably tell from my ID and car etc. But I guess the biggest influencing factors for me were:
I have a porsche specialist mechanic at the bottom of my road.
There is a cheap 944 sat there currently waiting to be sold which fits the bill. Thats aside from me liking the 944 for what it is anyway.
Rear wheel drive, front engine balance - and not so scary quick that Im going to scare myself stupid!
Over here in Belgium, I will have access to the Porsche days at Zolder and Spa etc (as I dont expect to be out every weekend in it, this sort of event with similar machinery etc appeals too).
And... as ever, there had to be some justification with the Mrs, which with this car is: to hand (no long trips looking at cars to buy etc), cheap, with local back-up and a number of people into similar stuff, and another punter inline hopefully wanting the seats and bits that will be stripped - which will help pay for any new bits and upgrades I need.
Well I was convinced by my own justifications anyway
Thanks for the links and supportive words...
Im hanging on like a school child waiting to find out if the car deal Im after is happening or not - Just wanna get stuck in to stripping some bits out and sorting the bodywork - ordering some lightweight bodywork panels - Checking out race suits and helmets (although im not sure I need a race suit to do the casual sort of track stuff Im looking at initially), and putting my own mark on the car - making it look a bit racey even if Im a bit of a mobile chicane on the track for the other drivers initially.
Im hanging on like a school child waiting to find out if the car deal Im after is happening or not - Just wanna get stuck in to stripping some bits out and sorting the bodywork - ordering some lightweight bodywork panels - Checking out race suits and helmets (although im not sure I need a race suit to do the casual sort of track stuff Im looking at initially), and putting my own mark on the car - making it look a bit racey even if Im a bit of a mobile chicane on the track for the other drivers initially.
Lightweight body panels? Save your money, at least until you bend the regular panels. (Not that I am wishing that on you.)
I am in my 40's and have been racing a Lotus 7 replica for the last year and a bit. For the first phase of your adventure in motorsport, do not worry about making the car go faster. If you are going to spend money, spend on making the car stop better, turn better or on making you faster.
Have fun - it's a big adventure.
James
I am in my 40's and have been racing a Lotus 7 replica for the last year and a bit. For the first phase of your adventure in motorsport, do not worry about making the car go faster. If you are going to spend money, spend on making the car stop better, turn better or on making you faster.
Have fun - it's a big adventure.
James
A911DOM said:
Just wanna get stuck in to stripping some bits out and sorting the bodywork - ordering some lightweight bodywork panels
Bear in mind that if you want to try out sprinting or hillclimbing those are exactly the sort of modifications that will prohibit you from running in the roadgoing classes. Then you'll be in ModProd or in with the stage rally cars which are often seriously prepared by people with a fair bit of cash.Thanks for the advice... wise words - thanks!
Im planning to very gently tidy the car (has rust along sill covers and on boot lid), then I think the suspension and brakes will be the next port of call.
Im looking forward to the challenge but also really annoyed with myself for not having gained more mechanical experience throughout the years.
You may think Im mad even entertaining the idea when I cant do even some of the more basic tasks myself - Im really hoping that I can meet a few more people that are in my location, with similar interests, and expand my knowledge and skills as I go along.
I was especially interested to read on PH that at the last spa porsche weekend, there was expert driving advice on hand from some experienced guys - As per the comments above, this is exactly what i could do with once I get there with my car to point me in the right direction.
Another question that crossed my mind this weekend is: Is there insurance available that applies only to track cars. So they know the car wont be used on the road anymore - but I dont want the bill for repairing the sections of armco at Spa as well as trying to sort the car again should the worst happen!!!?
Im planning to very gently tidy the car (has rust along sill covers and on boot lid), then I think the suspension and brakes will be the next port of call.
Im looking forward to the challenge but also really annoyed with myself for not having gained more mechanical experience throughout the years.
You may think Im mad even entertaining the idea when I cant do even some of the more basic tasks myself - Im really hoping that I can meet a few more people that are in my location, with similar interests, and expand my knowledge and skills as I go along.
I was especially interested to read on PH that at the last spa porsche weekend, there was expert driving advice on hand from some experienced guys - As per the comments above, this is exactly what i could do with once I get there with my car to point me in the right direction.
Another question that crossed my mind this weekend is: Is there insurance available that applies only to track cars. So they know the car wont be used on the road anymore - but I dont want the bill for repairing the sections of armco at Spa as well as trying to sort the car again should the worst happen!!!?
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff