Sprints / Hillclimbs
Discussion
Hmmm...
Beginning to wonder whether this could be my ideal way of getting into motorsport. Seems to be more cost effective than circuit racing, and there are many more venues closer to where I live than I previously thought.
Its probably too late in the year to think about entering but I was thinking about heading to Loton Park (near Shrewsbury, very close to me) in the next couple of weekends as there are a couple of events on.
Are there any Pistonheaders who are likely to be there in the next couple of weeks? Would be great to get a feel for what is involved and see whether its something I could get involved in.
Beginning to wonder whether this could be my ideal way of getting into motorsport. Seems to be more cost effective than circuit racing, and there are many more venues closer to where I live than I previously thought.
Its probably too late in the year to think about entering but I was thinking about heading to Loton Park (near Shrewsbury, very close to me) in the next couple of weekends as there are a couple of events on.
Are there any Pistonheaders who are likely to be there in the next couple of weeks? Would be great to get a feel for what is involved and see whether its something I could get involved in.
snorkel sucker said:
Hmmm...
Beginning to wonder whether this could be my ideal way of getting into motorsport. Seems to be more cost effective than circuit racing, and there are many more venues closer to where I live than I previously thought.
Its probably too late in the year to think about entering but I was thinking about heading to Loton Park (near Shrewsbury, very close to me) in the next couple of weekends as there are a couple of events on.
Are there any Pistonheaders who are likely to be there in the next couple of weeks? Would be great to get a feel for what is involved and see whether its something I could get involved in.
The best way to try hillclimbing before spending money on race suit and helmet is to go to a hillclimb drivers school... http://www.hdlcc.com/Loton_Park_Drivers_School/Beginning to wonder whether this could be my ideal way of getting into motorsport. Seems to be more cost effective than circuit racing, and there are many more venues closer to where I live than I previously thought.
Its probably too late in the year to think about entering but I was thinking about heading to Loton Park (near Shrewsbury, very close to me) in the next couple of weekends as there are a couple of events on.
Are there any Pistonheaders who are likely to be there in the next couple of weeks? Would be great to get a feel for what is involved and see whether its something I could get involved in.
You are right to think about the "scene" before you buy / prepare a car as clubs have differently supported classes and you probably want to be in a class with other people in it. You can spectate at hillclimbs and sprints and then the paddock is open so there is no issue with wandering around looking at the cars. Since there isn't much to do between runs many drivers will be standing around or sitting next to their cars and are often happy to chat. Could be good to ask their advice. Some may even know of a suitable car etc.
Hi....
I took the plunge last year, bought a boggo clio 172 cup and haven't looked back. Tthe more south east based champs have a class specifically for absolutely standard cars, with no mods allowed, but the rest of the country seems to be taking a while to catch on. So, I think they still allow some mods and the choice of 1b tyres, in the road going prod car classes - but I might be wrong.
Having said that, first round of the All Circuit Sprint champs at Mallory last weekend had 12 in our class, so its definitely growing.
Like the guys said, head to an event, check out the class structure in your area, choose a class (I chose it based on how much I could buy a competitive car for vs. Ease of transport - I don't have a tow car or trailer, so it had to be a road legal class vs. The amount of competitors in the class at each round). So, for me, its the clio, an Integra r or an S2000. Give the orgs of a local event a shout and they will be able to give you the local champ regs and recent regs from one of they local events, that will help you choose.
Other than that, just add the licence cost, helmet, gloves and suit - don't think boots are mandatory yet, and off ya go...
Good luck - gimme a shout if you want any more advice - only in season 2, so far from a vet at the game!
Ta
Steve
I took the plunge last year, bought a boggo clio 172 cup and haven't looked back. Tthe more south east based champs have a class specifically for absolutely standard cars, with no mods allowed, but the rest of the country seems to be taking a while to catch on. So, I think they still allow some mods and the choice of 1b tyres, in the road going prod car classes - but I might be wrong.
Having said that, first round of the All Circuit Sprint champs at Mallory last weekend had 12 in our class, so its definitely growing.
Like the guys said, head to an event, check out the class structure in your area, choose a class (I chose it based on how much I could buy a competitive car for vs. Ease of transport - I don't have a tow car or trailer, so it had to be a road legal class vs. The amount of competitors in the class at each round). So, for me, its the clio, an Integra r or an S2000. Give the orgs of a local event a shout and they will be able to give you the local champ regs and recent regs from one of they local events, that will help you choose.
Other than that, just add the licence cost, helmet, gloves and suit - don't think boots are mandatory yet, and off ya go...
Good luck - gimme a shout if you want any more advice - only in season 2, so far from a vet at the game!
Ta
Steve
snorkel sucker said:
Thanks Chris. I spend some time yesterday evening reading your blog - very good read!
Some useful info on it all if you look hard enough. My current thoughts are possibly an MX5 - there seem to be a few entered which is good.
Glad you liked it! Just sold the car, was picked up this afternoon, looking for sometihng else now. Not sure what though. I thought about the HSA MX5 class which is a class within a class, really. It allows modifications which isn't what I wanted at the time. I think it would be a great car though. Some useful info on it all if you look hard enough. My current thoughts are possibly an MX5 - there seem to be a few entered which is good.
As a former hillclimb/sprinter (for 16 years) and now a circuit racer (last 5 years), I would say that you can learn an awful lot by hillclimbing, making good starts, pushing hard on cold tyres and generally being more accurate when driving flat out. However, if you really feel you want to go circuit racing then I would say, if funds permit, hillclimb for a couple of years to just get into the motorsport thing and then go circuit racing. I really wanted to go circuit racing and now that I have, there is no way I will go back to hillclimbing now. Just my experiences though as I know there are quite a few hillclimbers that don't want to do anything else. Also, it is surprising how many people who have only done circuit racing make crap starts in races!
Stevemcmaster said:
Like the guys said, head to an event, check out the class structure in your area, choose a class (I chose it based on how much I could buy a competitive car for vs. Ease of transport - I don't have a tow car or trailer, so it had to be a road legal class vs. The amount of competitors in the class at each round). So, for me, its the clio, an Integra r or an S2000. Give the orgs of a local event a shout and they will be able to give you the local champ regs and recent regs from one of they local events, that will help you choose.
Other than that, just add the licence cost, helmet, gloves and suit - don't think boots are mandatory yet, and off ya go...
Thanks Steve. I have already sorted out a trip to a local event - I want to get an idea of what sort of cars are running, and what the options are, class wise (theres only so much reading you can do about these things!)Other than that, just add the licence cost, helmet, gloves and suit - don't think boots are mandatory yet, and off ya go...
I am the same as you - I don't have a trailer and don't paticularly want a car that is track-only; it'll be a second car so some gentle modifications would be fine which, from what I can gather, seems to be acceptable within the roadgoing classes.
At the moment, I'm thinking MX5 or S2000. Both would get in the sub 2000cc class and are fun enough to add a challenge and be ideal for weekend road trips.
Martin B said:
As a former hillclimb/sprinter (for 16 years) and now a circuit racer (last 5 years), I would say that you can learn an awful lot by hillclimbing, making good starts, pushing hard on cold tyres and generally being more accurate when driving flat out. However, if you really feel you want to go circuit racing then I would say, if funds permit, hillclimb for a couple of years to just get into the motorsport thing and then go circuit racing. I really wanted to go circuit racing and now that I have, there is no way I will go back to hillclimbing now. Just my experiences though as I know there are quite a few hillclimbers that don't want to do anything else. Also, it is surprising how many people who have only done circuit racing make crap starts in races!
My ideal senario is circuit racing. However, I can't afford or justify (at the moment!) a race car, trailer and the other, generally higher I would say, costs that circuit racing brings.For me, it is getting into motorsport that really motivates me and I think that sprinting and hillclmimbing offers the novice a good route in.
Hi. Not sure of your budget but considering it's a second car a westfield or similar offers a great route into hillclimbing and easy to buy and develop a car that fits well into the class structure. Suppose £5k is starting point and offer real racer feel with power/weight ratio being good to start with + lots of options to improve if you have the desire/budget? Classes for this type of car are often the best supported for these very reasons so offer great in class battles with drivers of similar experience/budget etc..
Also don't dismiss single seaters, ( nothing else will offer same buzz ). The appeal of using a road car is obvious but at the same time consider having to drive the vehical there and back together with spares etc..+ the not unrealistic prospect of bending it and thus needing to trailer the vehical home anyway. If it's not road legalthen tax/insurance/MOT costs can be saved towards running costs.
Good luck with whatever route you choose. See www.uphillracers.com for plenty of info
Also don't dismiss single seaters, ( nothing else will offer same buzz ). The appeal of using a road car is obvious but at the same time consider having to drive the vehical there and back together with spares etc..+ the not unrealistic prospect of bending it and thus needing to trailer the vehical home anyway. If it's not road legalthen tax/insurance/MOT costs can be saved towards running costs.
Good luck with whatever route you choose. See www.uphillracers.com for plenty of info
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