Technical ESP off

[trackdayqueen]

I understand that. There is the Toyota Sprint Series, but the courses look like they are laid out for SLJ's (Straightline Junkies) and doesn't look to be all that much fun.

I know it's fun to have a bit of competition and I have certainly been asked a number of times if I want to do a bit of sprinting. But so far, it just doesn't look all that brilliant to me. It's also much better for my fiance because I was an absolute nightmare when I was racing. I just get too competitive.

 

[LeanMeanRacing]

Over-competitive? Perhaps sprinting would be good for you then?

Rather than trying to out-race other drivers, you are trying to improve your own time. If you cover the course [many sprints are held on hillclimbs, so definitely plenty of corners] quicker than last time out, you have been successful.

Jackie Stewart said that he wasn't particularly interested in 'beating' other drivers, but wanted to drive the car he had as quickly as it would go.

 

[Dan Friel]

I find hillclimbing much more fun than sprinting on a laid out "fake" cone course. And sprints at circuits tend to be very expensive.

A hillclimb at a fantastic venue is always a great day out. Nice relaxed atmosphere and you can enter an event for £70 upwards. The Panda is nicely positioned for the sub 1400 class, but if a well tyred / slightly modded car turns up you'd get well beaten. I'll be taking my standard road car to Wiscombe, no safety kit for the car needed. If it gets on ok, I might do some more next year. A cheap, fun day out and you could do a season for the cost of a single race meeting. All down to personal preference of course, but I'd rather be doing something than nothing at all.

Another option for novices would be AutoSolos. A cross between sprints and an autotest. Cheap to enter (£25ish) and no personal safety gear needed at all.

 

[trackdayqueen]

I'm sure hillclimbs would be a lot more fun than the mickey mouse affair which sprints often are, but my experience of motorsport is that, you end up tailoring your car to the apparent regs for your class.

Then all it does is cost loads of money as you look for ways to ensure your car is competitive. If your car is not competitive there is no point (for me) in taking part.

Tbh, I really think my car is getting to the point now where it is a bit too good for doing competitive motorsport. It's a daily driver, full loaded with aircon, interior etc and I've just had all the bodywork done.

I honestly wouldn't have dreamt of doing it in the 100hp when I had it.

Whilst it can be fun improving your times, I've got a fair few local friends who do a sprint series. It just seems to be an ongoing battle for maximum power over everything else. Really not my style.

I have seen autosolos, novice type events like this have zero interest for me.

I am quite happy to do 3 or 4 trackdays a year and enjoy my car that way as at least my fiance can enjoy it too and I can carry on giving him some tuition which I very much enjoy. I may also from time to time do the odd drift day as that's good fun, but would only choose the bigger places like Mallory etc as have done the car park type drifting before and it does hammer your car something rotten.

Going back a few years I did my racing, loved it and all that, but blimey the cost of it is just stupid. I say that and I never had to pay an entry and I was driving other people's cars'. Just not do-able unless that's all you are going to do. Or you happen to be loaded. It really is hard to beat racing against other cars on track, but the inevitable damage (there was nearly always some kind of mark or dent) from close racing at the sharp end, just adds more to the cost.

So, unless someone pops up and offers me a seat driving their race car, I've no current intention to return to competitive motorsport, I'm very happy just be out there on track enjoying my car with the other half.

 

[R1NGA]

I find hillclimbing much more fun than sprinting on a laid out "fake" cone course. And sprints at circuits tend to be very expensive.

A hillclimb at a fantastic venue is always a great day out. Nice relaxed atmosphere and you can enter an event for £70 upwards. The Panda is nicely positioned for the sub 1400 class, but if a well tyred / slightly modded car turns up you'd get well beaten. I'll be taking my standard road car to Wiscombe, no safety kit for the car needed. If it gets on ok, I might do some more next year. A cheap, fun day out and you could do a season for the cost of a single race meeting. All down to personal preference of course, but I'd rather be doing something than nothing at all.

Another option for novices would be AutoSolos. A cross between sprints and an autotest. Cheap to enter (£25ish) and no personal safety gear needed at all.

For what it's worth - I totally agree about the Hillclimb thing in terms of most fun for your pound. But, as mentioned above, I think the Road Car class is the best, as there's no motorsport prep needed (or specifically allowed - although a change of pads, an induction kit and maybe an exhaust are all typically allowed), so the challenge is simply to get the best from what you've got. I did Prescott Hillclimb the other week in a road car and it was absolutely great. A Panda 100HP would provide all you need for a very entertaining day out.

Phil G

 

[Dan Friel]

I find hillclimbing much more fun than sprinting on a laid out "fake" cone course. And sprints at circuits tend to be very expensive.

A hillclimb at a fantastic venue is always a great day out. Nice relaxed atmosphere and you can enter an event for £70 upwards. The Panda is nicely positioned for the sub 1400 class, but if a well tyred / slightly modded car turns up you'd get well beaten. I'll be taking my standard road car to Wiscombe, no safety kit for the car needed. If it gets on ok, I might do some more next year. A cheap, fun day out and you could do a season for the cost of a single race meeting. All down to personal preference of course, but I'd rather be doing something than nothing at all.

Another option for novices would be AutoSolos. A cross between sprints and an autotest. Cheap to enter (£25ish) and no personal safety gear needed at all.

For what it's worth - I totally agree about the Hillclimb thing in terms of most fun for your pound. But, as mentioned above, I think the Road Car class is the best, as there's no motorsport prep needed (or specifically allowed - although a change of pads, an induction kit and maybe an exhaust are all typically allowed), so the challenge is simply to get the best from what you've got. I did Prescott Hillclimb the other week in a road car and it was absolutely great. A Panda 100HP would provide all you need for a very entertaining day out.

Phil G

Afraid its not quite as restrictive as it should be.. Allowed to use 1B tyres and the road production regs state the following:

11.5.1. For Road-Going Series Production Cars, the cylinder block and cylinder head must remain in the original position and be of the original type and material. Induction is free (forced induction equivalency applies as in 10.3), as are exhaust systems, but must remain in the same capacity class as the original car or the manufacturer’s specified option for the model and engine.

Gives you plenty of options.. but not with the Panda!