Decisions, Decisions...

[Mark_Karting]

I should be starting racing cars soon. Late this year, next year at the latest, with all the car preparing and ARDS testing etc. to be done over summer. I'm still stuck on what and where to race. I have narrowed it down to 3 and I'm looking for your opinions on which would be the best, or if there are any others i should check out:

Firstly the BTRDA Rally Championship if I go rallying. It's really cheap, the cars in the class i would race in arn't to expensive or hard to maintane and the car could be used in other BTRDA events such as Autotests and even Rallycross.

The PBMW championship, they seem to be good fun cars to drive, and I feel the championship would be a good first step into cars. I dont know about costs exactly but the cars seem in expensive

Finally, the SMRC XR2 Championship. Simple and close to home (I'm based just outside Glasgow). I don't like the idea of just racing at Knockhill for the whole year, more variation would be better.

Any ideas?

[pistol pete]

I know nothing about rallying, other than that there's less run-off & trees hurt, so won't comment on that.

PBMW is not very local. According to their web site, the nearest round to you is Oulton.

Scottish XR2's, I haven't see for a long time but used to be bumper cars.

What about Scottish Sports & Saloons, or Northern Sports & Saloons, based at croft. IIRC, they both use Knockhill, Croft, Oulton at least.

Whatever you decide on, get to a few races this year & see what the driving standard, comradery, etc is like before you make your mine up.


Pete

[S3Swiss]

hi - I may be able to highlight some differences/qualities of 2 of your choices...I rallied in the Scottish Champs in the '91 and '92 season and also raced in the 2009 SMRC XR2 Champs. Both are very different sports and I recommend you spend some time choosing which you prefer before committing one way of the other. For me, the rallying is easily the most enjoyable overall. Not found anything to compare with sliding sideways on a forest gravel stage on the rev limiter in top gear (only a 1300 Astra mind so not that fast!). However, it meant major organisation to bring together car, co-driver, service crew, me, plus a budget, all at a variety of locations across the country. The racing still gives me a great buzz, especially given the very close racing in the XR2s. Being mainly single-venue (although 1 away round at Cadwell this year), means minimal co-ordination - just me, the car, the van and my old man for tea and hammer duty! The racing is also cheaper overall even including far more car damage than I got in the forests. As they say, you pays your money and takes your choice...

[juliann]

Mark_Karting said:

The PBMW championship, they seem to be good fun cars to drive, and I feel the championship would be a good first step into cars. I dont know about costs exactly but the cars seem in expensive

2009 - annual registration £100 (no need to join any other clubs), entry fees - single race 15 or 20 mins £100, double race 2 x 15 or 20 mins £200. Only exception was Silverstone GP which was 2 x 30 mins @ £250

2010 won't be much different.

Lots of drivers use it as a first step, plus there's been some more serious National / International level drivers competing.

Edited by juliann on Tuesday 19th January 18:39