Rallycross Car in Hillclimbs?

[HrRACING]

So, firstly would a rallycross car be eligible, secondly, where can it be done in Wales / Midlands, and thirdly what licences so I need / etc etc all that sort of stuff...

[hillsprint77]

Hmm a how long is apiece of string question that one

You'll need to provide more details

The quick answer is that it is probably eligible to run it's just a matter of which category. Mod Prod or Sports Libre.

What sort of rallyX car is it? Does the drive go to the orginial driven wheels, or is it FWD converted to RWD or even 4WD. What engine is fitted? What other chassis mods have been carried out.

There are various veunes in the area you specified and you'll need a Nat B (Non Race) licence. The car will probably need to get a MSA Log Book from a scrutineer, plus you'll need the usual helmet and race suit for yourself

Here is a site with plenty of details of clubs and events
http://www.ukmotorsport.com/uk_speed.html

Plus there is the MSA's own page
http://www.msauk.org/site/custom/hom...asp?chapter=22

So tell us what you have and there'll be someone to fill in the details

[blackx]

Ken Simms runs an ex Will Gollop 6R4
IIRC he runs in Sports Libre over 2000cc

[HrRACING]

My car is a Peugeot 205, with basically standard 1600 engine, driving through the front wheels as original.

My car is MSA log booked.

I hold a Nat A Stage Rally Licence, would that be okay. How would you go about getting the nessisery stuff?

Thanks for help so far!

[HrRACING]

Also, whish venues would be close to me?

[rescue dude]

Loton park is near Shrewsbury. Shelsley Walsh is not too far from Worcester.
Prescott near Cheltenham.

Where do you live?

[Anuauto]

You do understand there is no 1600cc class anywhere in speed events?
The SW uses an 1800 split but most are split at 2000 above 1400.
All the venues mentioned are not necessarily ones that run the full spread of categories/classes at their events (and some might require rolling up a trouser leg to get an entry at all...).
The car you describe would probably be eligible for Modprod but would be hopelessly outclassed at most events with a std engine.
Sorry, but that's the way it is. Many have found it discouraging that the very nature of speed events (the short lenngth of tracks and 100ths mattering)means a car from rallying etc does not provide enjoyment when up against the highly specialised regulars.
The more popular tracks usually have hopelessly oversubscribed entries - made all the worse by organisers' persistent invitations to "one make" clubs that prevent regular championship contenders in the official regional classes getting entries at rounds of the championship they have registered for (a major row is brewing over exactly this aspect at the once a year Longleat hill climb as we write).
As you will no doubt discover on here, far too many people that do not know the true situation wear rose tinted spectacles when this branch of motorsport is raised.
Come to a wet, windy North Weald airfield sprint and you will be made most welcome.

[lifeof]

Anuauto - You are talking 'modified' rubbish in respect of entries. One venue, whilst usually being oversubscribed, does ensure that a proportion of 'novices' or 'new to the venue' are included at meetings.

[blackx]

Originally Posted by Anuauto

Sorry, but that's the way it is. Many have found it discouraging that the very nature of speed events (the short lenngth of tracks and 100ths mattering)means a car from rallying etc does not provide enjoyment when up against the highly specialised regulars.

Similarly many have found it discouraging the way some choose to visit this and other forums and slate the way certain venues conduct themselves..

[hillsprint77]

HrR, what Anuauto writes should not discourage you. It is true that in ALL branches of motorsport these days, to win you need a specialist car. The days of guys doing nav rallies on a Friday night and turning up at a sprint or hill the next day and winning their class has long gone. The same applies to autotesting, rallycross, racing and even Production Trials.

However, you have a great little car to start with, a recognised competition car that can be used in hillclimbs, sprints and rallycross. What you need to do as has been said elsewhere on this Forum, is to go and see an event, talk to the drivers, they are usually all very open about what they have, and find a series that best suits your car. Yes, in some Championships tin-tops are not seperated from the Westfields, but there will be others where your car will fit better., and you won't be left in the dust

We all started somewhere, ( mine was an MG Midget with a Fiat Twin Cam shoehorned into it that I bought for £250, and Yes it was a total bucket !!), so see what you want to do, be it sprints or hills. Have fun, get experience and then in a season or so you might want to move on to a different car.

The thing is that somewhere out there, there is an event that you can run in, get in a bit of driving and enjoy yourself.

[lifeof]

Try the hill or sprint training schools. There is one at Curborough in October run by the MAC which has Martin Groves, Simon Durling and Chris Merrick as the tutors. If you are not aware then Martin Groves is the current Hill-Climb Champion and the others are in the top 4 or 5.

[Pike]

Annauto, HrRACING is asking about hillclimbing and not sprinting which is dieing on its feet - I am going to a national round tomorrow which has very few entries compared to what a similar hillclimb would have. Plus hillclimb courses do have features unlike a dead flat dreary airfield........... I would also like to know when somewhere just off the M11 is classed as Wales/Midlands??

Depending what class/what meeting you can run in HrRACING, depends what licence you will require whether its a National A or National B Speed licence. As for prices etc your best bet is to look in the Blue book or contact the MSA, unless anyone on here can help........

I know I am not alone when I say this in that we enjoy marshalling hillcimbs - hope you can get into hillclimbing in the near future, look forward to meeting you then.

[rescue dude]

I'm seriously wondering if Anuauto has ever been to a hillclimb!!!!

All the venues i mentioned run " the full spread of categories " that you'll need Hr. Sometimes it's not easy to get an entry yes because you have to make way for "regular championship contenders in the official regional classes getting entries at rounds of the championship they have registered for".

Loton park run a members championship which is based on a handicap system and is something i'm considering entering next year in a basically standard 1.9 Peugeot 205.
Hope thats alright with you Anuauto?

At the moment a National B speed license is £33. My advice to you is go to a hillclimb near you and as said before talk to the drivers and they will i promise give you good sound advice.

There is a meeting at Loton Park on the weekend of September 30/October 1st. If you'd like to pay us a visit i'll be more than happy to introduce you to people who will help you. PM me for details.

[Fireblade]

Sadly my screen is at present covered in iron filings.
No doubt from Anuauto's freshly ground axe.

I don't know what speed events Anuauto attends but they are a world away from the ones I go to. Perhaps I should get a hair shirt and go to the "grass roots" events..

[ranoff]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

I don't know what speed events Anuauto attends but they are a world away from the ones I go to. Perhaps I should get a hair shirt and go to the "grass roots" events..

In my experience well over 50% of events at the three Midland Hills are grassroots so neither do I understand why Anuauto is wielding his familiar axe. And I have never had to roll up my trouser leg either, although some of us have been seen in shorts.

But beware the dreaded sports libre

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by Anuauto

The more popular tracks usually have hopelessly oversubscribed entries - made all the worse by organisers' persistent invitations to "one make" clubs that prevent regular championship contenders in the official regional classes getting entries at rounds of the championship they have registered for (a major row is brewing over exactly this aspect at the once a year Longleat hill climb as we write).

In the dim and distant days of my childhood cars used to sport stickers proclaiming "We have seen the Lions of Longleat".
Maybe the modern equivalent should be " We watched the Mod Prods at Longleat"

[b1ackcr0w]

Right, now that we've established that we don't neccessarily agree with Anuato, have we answered the query?

The point is well made that the car is an excellent choice for both Sprint and Hillclimb. My best suggestion would be to phone a few clubs and try and get the numbers of a few Competitions secretaries. My guess would be that they would be the people most able to give a definitive answer as to what classes you'd be eligible for, and more importantly, what the cometiton in those categories is. You will probably find quite some varience between clubs, but nothing that should put you off entering and having a lot of fun. And you'll be made welcome at ANY hillclimb or sprint I can think of.

[rescue dude]

Originally Posted by b1ackcr0w

Right, now that we've established that we don't neccessarily agree with Anuato.

[lifeof]

Pike - I know he wishes to go hill-climbing but my suggestion of the Curburough training day was to bring him into contact with the top people on the hills. I am sure that he would get some useful advice apart from improving the driving skills.

[HrRACING]

Thankyou for some of the helpful and not so helpful advice.

I will contact some clubs and find out more.

I find it sad that me asking a simple question has caused so many problems, and as an outsider from another form of motorsport this has seriously put me off sprints and hillclimbs. Almost been made to feel unwelcome by some posts. You wouldn't find this in rallycross, almost everybody has the well being of each other, new competitors and the sport as a whole in mind!

Maybe i'll stick to rallycross then...

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by HrRACING

Thankyou for some of the helpful and not so helpful advice.

I will contact some clubs and find out more.

I find it sad that me asking a simple question has caused so many problems, and as an outsider from another form of motorsport this has seriously put me off sprints and hillclimbs. Almost been made to feel unwelcome by some posts. You wouldn't find this in rallycross, almost everybody has the well being of each other, new competitors and the sport as a whole in mind!

Maybe i'll stick to rallycross then...

Don't be put off by people with an axe to grind!

The vast majority of Hillclimb and Sprint competitors are very welcoming.

As for being uncompetitive I have been running a 1970 Lotus Elan all this season in Sports Libre. I have had a great time chasing the clock and despite being off the pace of the specialist opposition I am still doing rather well in my chosen championship.

Do try Speed Events, you may eventually decide that Rallycross is better but if you don't try it you'll never know what you've missed!

[lifeof]

It is very sad if you have got that impression because the exact opposite is the case with drivers and mechanics helping each other, even when in direct competition. In fact it is the most friendly motor sport you could ever wish to find, please do not give up your efforts as you would be most welcome.

[rescue dude]

Originally Posted by lifeof

It is very sad if you have got that impression because the exact opposite is the case with drivers and mechanics helping each other, even when in direct competition. In fact it is the most friendly motor sport you could ever wish to find, please do not give up your efforts as you would be most welcome.

Couldn't agree more. At loton Park the other week one competitor's gearbox broke and more than one person in the SAME class took him to his home and fixed it for him.

That was in Mod-prod upto 2 litre.

That's exactly what our sport is about.

[b1ackcr0w]

Yup, what they said!

This thread has given off entirely the wrong impression of Speed events. It's true we have occasional squabbles like any competitive sport. But half a paddock swarming round a broken car, into the early hours to get their rivals back into shape is quite common.

If you're still not sure, take a look at the Hillclimb edition of "A Racing Car is Born", a TV seris that I think is endlessly repeated of Discovery channel or some such. That was an absolutely typical Hillclimb experience.

[Sheila M]

I've been asked to reply to this thread by the Chairman of BARC Midlands.

He has tried to register himself but is unable to because he only has a Yahoo e-mail address.

Basically, BARC Midlands would welcome any vehicle at one of their Curborough Sprints. The next one is on October 7th and if anyone would like to come and talk to us about getting their vehicle included in next year's sprints, please feel free to turn up at Curborough on Saturday October 7th, where any member of BARC Midlands committee would be pleased to assist you.

If there are more than 4 rallycross cars wishing to take part, a separate class could even be created for them.