RAOC in Motorsport

This is being discussed on the engine weight thread in general discussion but I think its about time we firmed things up.
Who would be interested in taking part in any of the following on a regular or Ad-hoc basis
Sprints at various locations around th country
Hillclimbs at various locations around the country
Drag Racing at Avon Park or Santa Pod
Brighton Speed Trials.

Feel free to add specific events to this list.

Peter you know what are good events up North, what should be included?

Obviously where the majority of people wanting to take part are, will determine what events are attended but the aim is to spread throughout the country.

We'll devise some sort of points scoring system - including incentive points for taking part, with some sort of prize for winner, most events attended, most improved etc.

We maybe able to piggyback onto some CAR events if they're willing and vice-versa - they have had a well run competition scene for a few years. Andy may also be able to sort out a foreign event or 2 for the calender.

So what do you think?

Top ..........How many points for marshalling .....
Would like to see some circut racing as well as sprints/hillclimbs

Yes, circuit racing too..

Maybe worth conjoining with the members from the RTOC as they do quite a few trackdays through the year with UKtrackdays.

Circuit racing would be good, but things start to get really complicated. You need to attend an ARDS course and actually qualify for a licence and the safety standars are a lot higher...i.e. things like plumbed in extinguisher systems, external cut off switches, 6 point cages. Sprinting and hillclimbing are straightforward. Licence (medical declaration only) £35, helmet £100, single layer proban suit £100, mark on/off next to ignition, working seatbelts, valid MOT and thats it for the production class (obviously you can do more stuff and I would recommend some form of gloves and boots)......moving up a class to mod. prod and the only extra things you need are a four point cage and harnesses.
Entry fees for sprints and hillclimbs tend to be about £70-100 each so a full season will only cost £1000ish (entry fees only of course....but even with the equipment and travel, food etc you are looking at under £2000)
circuit races start at £150 and go up.....and the fuel and other expenses will be higher.
The CAR championship is defunct because too few people did it.....I'm not sure that reviving their idea in what is essentially a smaller club would work.
How about setting say 2 or 3 dates for everyone to meet up and do 3 quality events. 1 North, 1 South and 1 in the Midlands....that way people might actually do the events. At the end of the year we could see if more could be added for the year after. We could all have some good weekends out without overstretching things.

Can't it be run as a track day type event ..........Don't want to many rules and regs, it's not a serious competition and I'm sure most will not want to risk damaging cars ,theirs or others Got to keep it cheap ,no one is going to turn up if they have to spend a fortune to play ...........

Can't it be run as a track day type event ..........Don't want to many rules and regs, it's not a serious competition and I'm sure most will not want to risk damaging cars ,theirs or others Got to keep it cheap ,no one is going to turn up if they have to spend a fortune to play ...........

I agree, I'd be circuit racing now.... if.... i had the time to do all the preparation.... get to the events etc .and the backing as it can cost an arm and a leg especially if you destroy an engine or gearbox! £1000s ( done it already) a fellow race spider owner has been pushing me to Join his race series for a couple of years now.... and I still haven't got round to it!

As Peter has said above you need to do an ARDS test..... plus you need to do 10 events and finish them! to get a full licence and get rid of your black cross!

I suggest also we start with a few track days and then think about something more complicated in the future...... walk before running theory comes to mind.... I think everyone in the club would love to go racing if they had the time and money but it just won't happen overnightor in a few months to be truthful.

Good constructive feedback, thats what I like. If we picked events with good facilities we could coincide a club meeting with some motorsport. I think a couple of trackdays (unofficially timed maybe) would have to suffice for circuit racing as the regs are much stricter for proper events. Sounds like a good day out. Sprints are pretty safe as long as you use a bit of self restraint and of course drag racing is safe as houses.

Who can recommend a circuit or 2, i've not much experience but Lyddon Hill is pretty good.

I did the Ty Croes (Anglesy circuit - as used by 5th Gear) track day a few years back, when CAR organised the tour of Wales. I thought it was a pretty good compromise for novices and pros alike. Not too long, but not too short either. It's fairly central and maybe quite handy for our Ireland members. No idea how much something like that costs to hire though.

[Alpineandy]

and of course drag racing is safe as houses.

Except for clutchs!

you need to find a circuit which is cheap to hire in the uk...... look for one which is not owned by Jonathan Palmer.....and hire it mid week..... but then you have the noise restriction problem..... varies from circuit to circuit... and if you're using a custom exhaust just hope it's not too loud!

UK trackday rules....... no overtaking on bends......etc sorry but very boring...too expensive. and ott with all the rules. you want something close to the race experience and able to use timing equipment you've got to travel out of the UK. and with the tracks being more abundant and cheaper to hire ...... you've got Zandvoot, Zolder, Croix, Abbeville, Dijon, Francorchchamps..... I could go on, you could hire the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans if you get enough participants (bring your own burger van though!)

I'm in the process of setting up some trackdays over here aimed at the british market for all types of sports cars, for some of the reasons stated above ( motorsport vision for one)

Or you could just come over here and go to Aghadowey circuit. (My mate runs a racing series and trackdays there)

Or you could just come over here and go to Aghadowey circuit. (My mate runs a racing series and trackdays there)

Got a website for it so we can see the layout Liam?

http://www.etracksonline.co.uk/Europe/aghadowey.html


Not the greatest layout map, but it's close enough. The back straight isn't as straight as it looks, and the turns are quite technical. The bottom corner is scary in the wet, cos it tightens quite a lot and before you know it you're facing the wrong way with a red face!

I could get us a class at the Teeside sprint on bankholiday Monday in May or August......I would need to be sure that enough people had the licences and were going to turn up. There would even be a trophy!!!!!

I am a little bit confused. When I have done track days in the past I have joined an alleged club, paid a fee and turned up for a briefing complete with crash helmet at some ungodly hour of the morning. After that there have been noise tests (especially at Goodwood) and then a number of cars have been let loose on the track for 15 minute sessions under instruction not to race ha ha! A serious lunch has been provided usually based on sausages and beans and in the PM we have perfected the process then gone home rejoicing (some if unlucky or foolish, on the back of a recovery truck). Seems like a good way to spend a day to me. Why can this not be done again?? Someone update me. . . .