Practically Classics Forum

Hi Everyone!

Glad to see the forum's back up and running after being a member of the old one....

I'm throwing this out there for ways to enjoy your classic..... I'd love to be able to do some form of motorsport, however the cost for even the most basic forms of the sport, seems to be rather higher then my budget can stretch at the moment. I've tried researching other, less expensive types on the internet, but to be honest have drawn a bit of a blank.

My pet project would be a 1980s Audi Coupe GT for enjoying in this way (I can't afford a quattro) but apart from taking it to track days, there seems to be nothing else available in that elk that I can do.

Does anyone who has more experience of this sort of thing have any sugestions please?

Thanks!

I don't want to get into a debate over whether or not it's a classic, but... the Mazda MX5s have a series for the Mk1s (http://www.ma5daracing.com/) which I think was set up to be at the inexpensive end of racing (well, as inexpensive as a motorsport series can be, anyway). They don't allow any particular mods to the cars, so all are racing like-for-like cars, and you can pick up a tatty Mk1 for peanuts - well under £1k.

I've been along to a few of the races (I get in free as part of the owners' club) and the racing's always been very good. The teams in the pits vary between the driver and his mate who's along to help out in the pits for the weekend, through to more professional set ups, but it seems quite accessible.

Amy.

Hmmm that looks very interesting, thanks Amy! Did you go along just to watch the racing or did you take part? If you haven't taken part, have you ever been tempted to do so?

I'm a firm believer in any car being bought or run just because you like it, being enough, so thank you very much for your post!

Ian

That MX5 thing look awesome!
*opens ebay*

CHPD wrote:Hmmm that looks very interesting, thanks Amy! Did you go along just to watch the racing or did you take part? If you haven't taken part, have you ever been tempted to do so?

I'm a firm believer in any car being bought or run just because you like it, being enough, so thank you very much for your post!

Ian

I've not taken part, no - though the club do normally sort out a 'parade' lap for the owners' club vehicles (there are normally 100 or so there), and the last 'parade' lap saw us doing 80 down the straights at Silverstone...

And yes, we are quite tempted to take part. At some stage, preferably when we have less cars to finish working on, and a bit more space!! It certainly looked accessible enough for the average enthusiast to get stuck into, and the people I've spoken to in the pits have always been friendly so I reckon it'd be a good crack.

Try Autotesting, great fun driving round cones, parking in garages etc, it gets very competitive and is also cheap. I used to do it with my son, in a Mini, till he got too good!! I now do the marshalling


John Simpson

You could try Speed events - see http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/. I used to do this (May do again if ever I get time).

Driving in "Moderns" is very expensive (They keep being outdated) but they have classes (Even whole events) for other cars, from Edwardian and Vintage, right up to later classics. The HSA seem to draw a line at 1979, so far as classics are concerned. There are also one make series organised by owners' clubs.

The good thing about classic classes, is that they are usually handicapped, so you don't need an AC Cobra 427 to win the handicap.

So far as the Audi Coupe is concerned, I remember well, a standard Coupe, being entered at Prescott, when I was competing. At the time, it was not old enough to run in the classic class (At Prescott it still wouldn't be; their cut off is the end of 1971) and it was never going to beat Locaterfields but that didn't stop the driver enjoying his hillclimbing. It can become addictive so be warned

Both of those look like exactly the sort of events I am after, at the right price! Thanks very much one and all for your advice, I will now start looking into these in earnest and hopefully get an event or two under my belt this year!

Ian

Being honest i dont think there really is that much you can do in the way of cheap motorsport with your classic. As someone who has had racing cars in the past its not the cars themselves that are the problem but all the bits that go with it, the trailer, the place to store trailer etc that cost the time and cause the issues. Why not buy a go kart, from £500 upwards and have fun with that? Far cheaper and if you still want a classic to be involved buy a classic estate or get a little trailer and tow it with a classic car. Even things like the MX5 racing still needs mods before it could race and if you watch regularly you will see the damage that happens especially if you are running in midfield so the costs can escalate greatly.