Singleseater as trackday car?

[Chrome Orange]

I trackday my Elise but looking for the next step up. Have been considering a Radical but...
A) Very expensive to buy
B) Very expensive to run it seems with rebuilds every 40 hours being quoted.

I see single seaters at £3000 upwards with roadcar based engines and assume this could be a way of having Radical fun at lower costs.

That's the idea, anyone have any experience or advice. All would be appreciated.

thanks,

Chrome Orange.

[Hobson]

Don't quote me, but I don't think theres many (if any) companies that let people use a Single Seater as a trackday car, somehting to do with it being an open-wheeler. The only option for them are test days, costing ££££.

I'm sure someone will know the answer.

[Kicking-back]

That's certainly the policy of most.

Very much on safety grounds.

[tubthumped]

Donington allow single seaters on their track days.

[Chrome Orange]

Test days are expensive? More expensive than track days? I had heard the opposite. This doesn't sound good so far.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Liverpool Motor Club run two track days at Aintree and single seaters are always welcome. The club find a lot of racers and sprint drivers use these days as test sessions. Useful for running in engines etc.

Most track day businesses will not touch single seaters with a barge pole due to the insurance implications.

[Chrome Orange]

So it's sounding like some track days at some tracks, but test sessions too? Is there any forum/web site established for this kind of driving with this kind of car?

[MagnetON]

There's always the Sheane produced "Formula 5" which is a single seater based on standard off the shelf car components (VW I think) but has an optional clip on "sports car" body kit.

[andy97]

I am reasonably confident that the track days run at Donington by Donington Park's own team allow in Single Seaters - I've been there myself, although not for a while. I think that Bruntingthorpe will also allow single seaters to run. However, I think that most external operators prevent it now for safety/ insurance reasons.

Nevertheless, you are right that some single seaters can be bought very cheaply. I have a Formula Vauxhall Junior 16 Valve which cost me £5000 inc a scruffy but useable trailer, wets, slicks, petrol can, spare battery, quick lift jack etc. I get second hand tyres from the F Ford teams at £10 each (usually just 40 laps old). The engine in my car is a standard Corsa unit with dry sump and throttle bodies and kicks out about 140 bhp in a car that weighs just 530 Kilos, with me in it. Performance is excellent and a decent driver (not me) will lap Silverstone National at 94 mph and Mallorty at 98 mph.

What I am getting round to is that you could buy a similar car (I know where there are 2 or 3 cars available and there must be loads of F Ford Zetecs around), run a few track days at Donington/ Bruntingthorpe and then do your ARDS licence and go racing! Mallory Park test sessions cost £85 for a morning, every wednesday and you can race with the BARC-SEC on the Silverstone Stowe circuit for £110 (practice and 2 races). Also check out www.monoposto.co.uk - the Monoposto club is the one I race with and is excellent, or PM me and I'll happily give you more info.

[kickstart]

Its certainly true that testing can be costly - but so can track days at the best circuits. On average testing costs about £200 per day and there is non of that "nanny state" don't overtake unless the driver in front has slowed to 10mph and indicated.

With Radical clubsports being advertised for about £8k with rebuilt engines and spares that sounds pretty good value to me. 40 hours for a rebuild will give you at least a season of racing and testing. You can run them in the Semsec series based at Lydden Hill or things like the www.750mc.co.uk bikesports series where they should ge very well.

Personally if I was going to buy a car to use for messing around/trackdays/testing and maybe some racing then I would not get a single seater as there are less places to use them and you cannot take your friends out in one to scare them.

[Slippy Diff]

Originally Posted by kickstart

On average testing costs about £200 per day

Last time I tested at Mallory it was about 70 quid, a few years ago I admit.

[Slippy Diff]

To be honest if you have the sort of cash lying around that you could consider a Radical, why not buy a race car and go and do a few rounds of a race series? Buy a hot hatch series car or something or other and try some real racing.

[kickstart]

Chrome Orange,
If you are thinking about racing perhaps the best thing would be to come down and have a look/speak to people actually racing a variety of cars. The 750MC has its annual pre season test day at Goodwood on the 26th Feb - There would be all sorts of cars there from Formula Vees to Radicals to Stock and Hot Hatches, caterhams and slicks and wings single seaters. Most racers manage to go racing on a fairly modest budget.
If you fancy coming down just come over and say hello I will be in the Black Formula Renault no 45

[Chrome Orange]

Thanks for all the advice. Unfortunatly I don't have Radical money lying around - would be a squeeze for sure.

The idea of racing sounds like touble. I've loved outdoors karting but open car circuits and the time and repairs involved would be a put off. Let's face it, I'm afraid I'd love it too much.

Andy97's take on these things seems closest to my idea and looks really interesting. So much to think about! I like the idea of the 750MC day at Goodwood, but any simerlar but closer to Essex?

[gadgit]

Mallory was £80 last year for a half day in the morning. and to be fair, that enough for a day when you are starting out as we did last year.

We went the route of finding a single seater for track days, only to find that a year ago 99% of all track days would not have them any more!

You need to know that getting your race licence, Cat B will cost you, £43 for the info pack from the MSA, £120 for you medical exam (first year) then £200 for the ARDS test and then another £43 to send it all off to get the licence. its not cheap !

Oh and if you are over 45 years, a medical every year £120 and of course £43 each year to renew it, and it only runs to 31 dec.

The current crop of test days, Brands, Stett, for a half day is £135 so not that bad.

The great thing about testing, over track days, is seeing all the other great cars that
turn up. Last year at Mallory, just before Goodwood there was £££££££££££££££££ worth of cars turned up for testing, what a great day.

Testing can sometimes be more fun than racing (sometimes) its a great way to get into motorsport, and a nice relaxed day out. Oh and you can time your runs so you know how you are doing. Do that at track day, and it will be goodbye !!!!

Gadgit.

[bradenc]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

There's always the Sheane produced "Formula 5" which is a single seater based on standard off the shelf car components (VW I think) but has an optional clip on "sports car" body kit.

Sheane make vee's and formula sheane rover. Leastone make Vees and the bike engined "formula 5" that as you say have a can-am body available for it, http://www.leastoneracing.com.