24hr 2CV race still has places..

[Chris Y]

There are still some drives available for this year's 2CV 24hr race.

It's held on the bank holiday Sunday 27th through Monday 28th May 2007.

In case you've never seen 24hr 2CV racing, here's some of the good points:

• Great atmosphere. Racing through the night.
• Long stints in the cars (up to 2hrs).
• Friendly teams and superb camerarderie. Everyone helps others out.
• Free BBQ on Friday night for all competitors.
• Pistonheads/Autosport hospitality area, providing non-stop partying.
• Support package provided by BARC - MGOC, Caterhams, etc.
• Only in a 2CV can you crash, and even roll the car and then still carry on racing!
• Race results more often than not defined by reliability and consistency, rather than speed.
• Open to drivers of all ages and abilities. Drivers as old as 63 are currently competing. Some complete novices enter, and quite a few pro-drivers from other series too.

Celebrity drivers. There have been the team from Top Gear, Alan Gow (Mr. BTCC), Phil Bennett (BTCC), Ian Flux (BTCC), Rick Kerry (BTCC), and even Damon Hill (well, ok he didn't quite make the race, but he did have a 2CV painted up in Danka colours!). Journalists include Edd Straw from Autosport and a team from Practical Classics magazine entered a few years ago. Even '80s pop stars have had a go (Mike Lindup from Level 42 - broke his thumb in a 2CV!)

Backgrounds. You'll meet drivers from all walks of life. We have: bankers, internet consultants, salesmen, company directors, film producers, engineers, authors, car mechanics, financial consultants, surveyors, account managers, graphic designers, sales managers, radiographers, building contractors, topiarists, lab techs, florists, computer analysts, barristers, conveyancers, airline pilots, teachers, stonemasons, MOT testers, police officers, journalists, accountants, stockbrokers, and builders. Probably a few more too.

Foreign drivers. Drivers fly in from as far as the States, Germany and New Zealand to compete.

The cars. 2CVs are amazing vehicles:

• You can change an engine in under 10 minutes, plus the entire front end, including wings, headlights and bonnet.
• You can pick up an engine with your bare hands. 2 cylinder, 602ccs of throbbing power. Nearly 45 horsepower!
• Doors just open and slide off. Easy maintenance.
• Entire shell bolts to chassis with 9 bolts...
• From a standard car, they're stripped, lowered, steering geometry altered, engines improved, cage fitted, safety features added, etc. Most parts are still available and they're very cheap.

More info on the race:

• £1600 to enter (that's £400 per driver for a 4 driver team.. For a 24hr race. How much do you pay for a 20 minute race?)
• You get more than 1.5 season's racing in one event if you share with 3 other drivers. Based on an average 20 minute race in another series, you get 18 races' worth!
• Day qualifying will take place about 5pm Saturday (after the support package races finish that day)
• Nighttime qualifying (a part of the regs for 24hr races) will start after about 8:30. All drivers need to complete 3 laps during this period.
• The race will be run from 4pm Sunday 27th May and finishes 4pm Monday 28th May.
• Each driver needs a 2007 competition licence (obviously) of Race National B or above. At least one driver needs to be a BARC member (possibility of day membership). Each driver needs to be a 'day member' of the 2CV racing club also. (approx £30 each)

You can either hire a car and assemble your own team, or sign up with the website and join a team when a place is offered. Currently there are a few teams looking for drivers. There are also some teams that will bring in extra cars if the demand is there. Some teams will provide a full crew as well.

For more information, go here: http://www.2cvracing.org.uk/2007/sne...try-start.html

And the driver/team matchmaking service is here: http://www.2cvracing.org.uk/teams/07-team-list.html

[rcarr]

We signed up Allan McNish for charity to race our car before he became a Le Mans winner and F1 driver, when it was still being held at Mondello.

He phoned up while I was at school and my Dad was work. He left a message with Mum to tell us he was going to Austria to sign a contract so he would be unable to race for us. A few weeks later he had signed for Roock Racing to race a Porsche GT1 at LM.

His car only lasted 1 hr, ours finished all 24 hrs! He won LM the next year with the factory Porsche team!

[carrera]

Celebrity driver missed off the list - Daley Thomson

[GORDON STREETER]

Colin Stancombe told me he had a go and said I should give it a try as it was a bit of a giggle, but I said I couldn't afford to take the two days off that it takes !!! (never heard that before)

[MikeH]

That's the sort of thing I'd love to try some day - still brand new to racing (make my debut tomorrow!) but taking part in an event like that would be brilliant fun. Taking part in a 24 hour enduro just sounds like such a laugh.

[Robin_D]

If only I had that kind of money.

Chris, I may marshal it and then speak to you about doing it in 2008.

Definately up for it though.

[Chris Y]

It's one of the best meetings on the calendar to marshal, so I'm told! This year ought to be good too with the extra 'festivities' planned for marshals and spectators

[rcarr]

I've been a team manager 4 times (3 at Mondello and once at Snetterton) of various teams, I am very experienced at it if anyone wants to pay for a team manager? Anyone?