Road legal car motorsport?

[RacingJames]

Does anyone take part in any motorsport in a road legal car?

I want to get a small hot hatch that I can use in some form of racing. Ideally centered around the South East. I have found various hillclimbing and sprint events. Are there any on track events anyone knows of? Thinking like real life Gran Turismo.

I have found SEMSEC.org.uk where you can use a raod legal car, but there don't seem to be any involved other than on the odd occassion. Most of the class look highly tuned.

Any help?

[mrmr96]

Maybe have a look at Sprints? They tend to include different classes depending on how modified the car is.

[RacingJames]

Thanks. I'm struggling to understand what the difference is between hillclimbs and sprints, websites often seem to mention both. Do you have any links?

[RESSE]

Sprints tend to be on the "flat" and are held at these locations:
Abingdon
Aintree
Alford
Anglesey (Ty Croes)
Barkston Heath
Bentwaters Park
Bishopscourt
Boyndie
Brands Hatch
Brawdy
Carnaby
Castle Combe
Chivenor
Colerne
Croft
Curborough
Debden
Dunkeswell
Elvington
Golspie
Goodwood
Hethel
Kames
Kirkistown
Llandow
Longcross
Lydden Hill
MIRA
New Brighton
North Weald
Pembrey
Rushmore Arena
Silverstone
Snetterton
Thorseby Park
Three Sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lULVryqW1o

Hillclimbs held on undulating tracks with gradients:
Barbon Manor
Benbradagh
Bouley Bay
Bo'ness
Cairncastle
Craigantlet
Cultra
Doune
Drumhorc
Eagle's Rock
Fintray
Forrestburn
Harewood
Gurston Down
Loton Park
Llys-y-Fran
Prescott
Oliver's Mount
Longleat
Shelsley Walsh
Scammonden Dam
Tregrehan
Val de Terres
Werrington
Wiscombe Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7YChpkq10

Shelsley Walsh rises 328 feet (100 m) during its length, for an average gradient of 1 in 9.14 (10.9%), with the steepest section being as much as 1 in 6.24 (16%). This makes Shelsley a hill on which power is important, and on which the gap in times between the most powerful cars and the rest is greater than at many other venues. It is also narrow, being no more than 12 feet (3.66 m) wide at some points.

Edited by RESSE on Monday 28th November 11:56

[covboy]

Basically, a Sprint is a Hillclimb on the flat !


Have you looked at Mighty Mini racing. Used to be a number of Road Reg cars competing

[mrmr96]

Sort of. Sprints are also held on normal racing circuits, albeit sometimes with variations to the standard course coned out, sometimes including driving counter to the normal direction on that track. Whereas Hill Climbs tend to be on a single one way 'road', not a track.

[RacingJames]

Thanks for all the input so far.

I had a 106 Rallye, up until earlier this year, with the aim of joining stock hatch. I found it was just too much hassle for the time being. Travelling all over the country having to have a tow car, trailer, etc.

So my ideal would be road legal Stock Hatch. Where I can arrive and drive. Does anyone know of a club where similar class cars are popular in the hillclimb/sprint events? I really enjoyed the 106, so thought it'd make sense to stick to something similar as I'm still a complete novice, with just a few track days.

[RESSE]

RacingJames said:

Thanks for all the input so far.

I had a 106 Rallye, up until earlier this year, with the aim of joining stock hatch. I found it was just too much hassle for the time being. Travelling all over the country having to have a tow car, trailer, etc.

So my ideal would be road legal Stock Hatch. Where I can arrive and drive. Does anyone know of a club where similar class cars are popular in the hillclimb/sprint events? I really enjoyed the 106, so thought it'd make sense to stick to something similar as I'm still a complete novice, with just a few track days.

Links to results from my local club/hill climb for 2011 to give you and idea of class structure and number of runners:

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_96592...

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_64446...

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_32239...

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_81284...

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_57434...

http://www.hdlcc.com/images/uploaded/8464956_42706...

[velocemitch]

Another option, though not well served in the SE is Road Rallying.

Here's a sanitised version of what it's about. Read into it what you will, but be assured it's a lot of fun, cheap and can be done in a normal road car with a few modifications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_rally

[Coxyjunior]

The BARC SEC Tin Tops are running a new production class next year. Majority of races within an hour of London, cheap entries, strict driving regs and good people. I did three years with them and loved it.

Not sure if all the details are out yet but check out www.rodbirley.com or there is a face book page.

[andye30m3]

If your plannng on driving to and from events sprints are a good option as there seams to be a lot chance of the car finishing the event in a state where it can't be driven home. I've done 3 years sprinting in the south east and always managed to drive home only close call was when I hit a deer outside the gates go north Weald

Have a look at tunbridge wells motor club and Sevenoaks motor club as they both arrange championships and events in the south east. They also arrange autosolos which are even more relaxed and good value.

[slimboyfat]

MSV Trackday Trophy?

[Jerry Can]

RacingJames said:

Thanks for all the input so far.

I had a 106 Rallye, up until earlier this year, with the aim of joining stock hatch. I found it was just too much hassle for the time being. Travelling all over the country having to have a tow car, trailer, etc.

So my ideal would be road legal Stock Hatch. Where I can arrive and drive. Does anyone know of a club where similar class cars are popular in the hillclimb/sprint events? I really enjoyed the 106, so thought it'd make sense to stick to something similar as I'm still a complete novice, with just a few track days.

i have a stock hatch 106 rallye, and currently compete in the SEMSEC Meridian Challenge - which I won!
if they do it again next year this would be your best place to start. All the rounds will either be at Lydden or Brands, and generally there are around 6 starters per race. You may think that this is bks, but if you are driving you car to the event you do not want to be in the middle of a 30 car grid.

if you youtube SEMSEC meridian challenge 2011 you should see some onboard from my car.

I did the whole season for less than £900, entries were about £100 per race and I even got a free race during the season as well.

It is very relaxed, qualifying/racing doesn't start until 1pm so no early starts required even for me travelling from Oxford.

If you want any more help just pm me.

thanks.

[mrpink]

http://www.vtecchallenge.co.uk/

very friendly series and several drive to and from races

[RacingJames]

The VTEC looks interesting, but I wasn't aware of the Meridian Challenge, that sounds perfect. Looks like I was on the right website then, just couldn't find the ideal series.

I'm going to look into this more now. I've emailed the organiser to see if it's on again this year. Fingers crossed.

I'm also planning on trying a few of these sprints. Waiting to see the dates for 2012.

[eastlmark]

Best of both worlds if you do the semsec series, you can do the sprint in the morning and race in the afternoon.

[eastlmark]

Jerry Can said:

i have a stock hatch 106 rallye, and currently compete in the SEMSEC Meridian Challenge - which I won!
if they do it again next year this would be your best place to start. All the rounds will either be at Lydden or Brands, and generally there are around 6 starters per race. You may think that this is bks, but if you are driving you car to the event you do not want to be in the middle of a 30 car grid.

if you youtube SEMSEC meridian challenge 2011 you should see some onboard from my car.

I did the whole season for less than £900, entries were about £100 per race and I even got a free race during the season as well.

It is very relaxed, qualifying/racing doesn't start until 1pm so no early starts required even for me travelling from Oxford.

If you want any more help just pm me.

thanks.

Are you the guy I had one hell of a race with on the final Lydden Saturday?

Edited by eastlmark on Tuesday 29th November 18:33

[Jerry Can]

might be. do you drive a renault arachnid?

[eastlmark]

Jerry Can said:

might be. do you drive a renault arachnid?

Yes, thanks for livening up my 1st ever race!

[Nurburgsingh]

The winner of the 2010 CSCC future classics did it in a road legal 944turbo.

I dont think the question is whether there is a race series that permits road legal cars... its whether you want a road legal race car...?

Short of single seater stuff which race series actually says "must not be road legal"?

There is obvious stuff like tyres that you'll need to have a road set and a race set(s). But generally unless you are going for the uber-light weight strip down including lights and stuff then you'll find a series that you can race pretty much any road car in...