Hillclimb Ford Puma

[tp_reading]

I don’t think that I have ever seen a Ford Puma 1700 on the hillclimb circuit. They have their own circuit class, are they not competitive on the hills for some reason ?

[AdeRacing]

What are the engine size rules in hillclimb like? One of the reasons why Puma's have their own series and are seen in large numbers outside of that is because the 1.7 engine often puts them in the 2 litre class. The ones that are successful (like my old one) in general series tend to be 1.6's.

[Truckosaurus]

Most events seem to have classes split <1400, <2000 and >2000cc.

I'm sure I've seen a Racing Puma competing, and they aren't too far off the power of the popular 2-litre Clios in that class.

Some clubs run a 1800/2600cc split which it would fit nicely into (a friend sprints a 325i Compact under those rules).

[tp_reading]

Truckosaurus said:

Most events seem to have classes split <1400, <2000 and >2000cc.

I'm sure I've seen a Racing Puma competing, and they aren't too far off the power of the popular 2-litre Clios in that class.

Some clubs run a 1800/2600cc split which it would fit nicely into (a friend sprints a 325i Compact under those rules).

That’s what I thought. There are lots of Clio’s competing at Gurston Down in the Roadgoing up to 2000 class. I thought I might have a go in a Puma next year, however I’ve never seen one on the hills so reasoned that they were uncompetitive. There are loads of good ones around for under £2,500.

[DarkMatter]

There was a Ford Puma at Gurston in August 2019, running in the SBD H.S.A. Hillclimb Championship.

Results here https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=sprint/2019/193...

[tp_reading]

DarkMatter said:

There was a Ford Puma at Gurston in August 2019, running in the SBD H.S.A. Hillclimb Championship.

Results here https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=sprint/2019/193...

Thanks for the info. The Puma times compare well with the MX5’s ,which was my other choice.

[df76]

Are you talking about a 1.7 puma with c.125bhp?? You’d need north of 200bhp to be anywhere competitive in the 2l class. Some clubs run a 1.8 class (in the south west), but you’d then be up against Elise’s.

[tp_reading]

It will have to be a Clio then I expect &#128553;

[Mr Red Barron]

You could always buy a 1.6 Puma?

[Noyzboy]

Or buy this one

[Galveston]

A Clio 172/182 does everything a Puma can do, a lot more besides, and won't rust.

I sprint and hillclimb a standard Clio 172 Cup. It's a bloody brilliant little thing. Fun, fast, reliable, cheap to maintain... perfect.

[LordHaveMurci]

Galveston said:

A Clio 172/182 does everything a Puma can do, a lot more besides, and won't rust.

I sprint and hillclimb a standard Clio 172 Cup. It's a bloody brilliant little thing. Fun, fast, reliable, cheap to maintain... perfect.

Just not quick enough to be really competitive (in the dry), not in the SW anyway with the 1800-2600cc class

Still a whole lot of fun though!

[df76]

tp_reading said:

It will have to be a Clio then I expect ??

Which events would you most want to do??

[tp_reading]

df76 said:

Which events would you most want to do??

I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!

[df76]

tp_reading said:

df76 said:

Which events would you most want to do??

I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!

You definitely need something with 200bhp+ then. The previous record holder would have had at least 240bhp in their Civic. Other than a 2l, Turbo 1.4 is an option. Or something very light - an Elan has gone well (little out of budget).

[darreni]

Noyzboy said:

Or buy this one

Lol, that’s a very long way from being a puma!

[confucuis]

Toyota MRS any good?

I'm in the same boat over here in Ireland. Looking at something besides my Punto for 2021. I always liked the look of the MX5/MRS/Elise sort of cars but that puts me into the class with the mega 2 litre Civics. I don't want a Civic but I do like the Clio so that is an option!

[Galveston]

tp_reading said:

I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!

For what it's worth, I've only done Gurston once and did a 41.8 in my bog-standard 172 Cup (on List 1A tyres).

The onboard video looks fairly sedate, so I reckon it could go a second faster with more practice and a bigger brave pill for Hollow. Let's say 40.5s with stickier tyres, and that looks mid-class in A2 on a typical day.

[tp_reading]

Thanks for the info. Looks like that’s the way to go for me. I shall start trawling Autotrader.

[Galveston]

I've uploaded the onboard video for inspiration...

https://youtu.be/mTuZ6pRKnbU