What can I race in?

[RB Will]

Hi all.

I have at the moment a standard BMW E30 325I Sport. I dont mind spending a little money on it but was wondering where you think would be the best place to race it without having to go too mad with the spec.

Sprints and hillclimbs?
Any local circuit champs it would fit into?

Cheers

[fieldl]

You'll need it to blue book spec so as a minimum you'll need cage, cut off, fire extinguisher etc
Then it will be eligible for Future Classics, TTRS, Pre-93 Touring Cars off the top of my head. All without spending tons of cash. Kumho if you want to spend loads of cash.

Making it competitive however could cost a bit more.

[RB Will]

Thanks I will look into those. Any other suggestions?

[Truckosaurus]

The various regional multi-class "sports and saloons" series seem to have liberal entry regulations and such a variety of competing cars that'll you've find someone to race against whatever spec your car is.

[andy97]

fieldl said:

You'll need it to blue book spec so as a minimum you'll need cage, cut off, fire extinguisher etc
Then it will be eligible for Future Classics, TTRS, Pre-93 Touring Cars off the top of my head. All without spending tons of cash. Kumho if you want to spend loads of cash.

Making it competitive however could cost a bit more.

As mentioned above:

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/futureclassi...

[papercup]

RB Will said:

Hi all.

I have at the moment a standard BMW E30 325I Sport. I dont mind spending a little money on it but was wondering where you think would be the best place to race it without having to go too mad with the spec.

Sprints and hillclimbs?
Any local circuit champs it would fit into?

Cheers

Sprints and Hillcimbs run to much simpler mods to enable you to race than circuit racing; if in 'standard production' you won't need a cage. Not even sure you would in mod prod.

Get a blue book or even easier, go to a sprint/hillclimb and ask around, also ask Clerk and Scrutineers.

[stacy]

Where are you based?

S.

[RB Will]

I'm based in Swindon, Wiltshire.

[DavidY]

If you're in Swindon, then book into one of Gurston Down's Hillclimb Instruction days, that will tell you if you want to do hillclimbing

[stacy]

Hi,

Yes if you're in Swindon then Gurston Down isn't far. Neither obviously is Castle Combe who have their own circuit saloon series, although they are heavily modified.

As has been mentioned for a starter you could approach your local motor club for sprints in the area, and you'd not need to do a thing - aside put a timing strut on the front.

If you're into circuit racing then you'd need to cage it, fit an extinguisher, get your ARDS test done for a licence etc, probably do the brakes too - or at least pads/fluid, control tyres probably. All an undertaking, but doable.

All the series described are modified to some extent so you wouldn't be winning outright by some margin, but I was aware that TTRS (racingsaloons.com) were starting a production based class for 325's to take over from the 320's when they die out eventually. Not crystalised for this year I don't think but worth a thought.

The outright pace of TTRS, P93 and Future Classics is broadly similar, what changes is the number of cars on each grid, depth of competition, social circles, and with the latter you have pit stops etc.

Kumho outright is faster still.

Until regs get issued I have no idea whether I'll be joining you whereever you decide, but whatever you do - enjoy.

Hope that helps.

S.

[Incorrigible]

Stick a towbar on it and tow something about half the weight. Yes it will cost you more in he outset but it will be cheaper in the long run

[mat205125]

stacy said:

Yes if you're in Swindon then Gurston Down isn't far. Neither obviously is Castle Combe who have their own circuit saloon series, although they are heavily modified.

Prescott isn't far either, and nor are a number of venues used for sprints, e.g. Keevil and Colerne.

An E30 would be too old for the Combe Saloons, however it could run in the Special GTs where pretty much anything goes. The leaders would be passing you (at some scary speed differential) within only a couple of laps if your car was largely standard.

As well as the Kuhmos, I would consider the Dunlop Road saloons that try to organise their events as double headers (cuts the transport cost dramatically), and come to Thruxton, Silverstone and Brands (including the GP track!!).

With a number of sets of wheels and tyres, it is more than possible to build a car that can run in a number of series. If you have aspirations to start collecting silverware, however, you need to think about lots of testing, training and budget! That goes for any car, in any series.

[cytefx]

most of the Kumho are double headers, and this years provisional calender has us going to europe, and appearing on the telly at mallory, we also visit all the usual suspects, silverstone, thruxton, croft, snetterton, rockingham, not on the list this year is pembruy and donnington.