56 replies to this topic

[NickB787]

talking about wings, have you fitted it yet?

Its ready for painting along with the ears

same here are there any comps we can enter a vx in I was thinking a harroped 380+bhp car and be competitive. Was thinking of building a pure race car with more than one driver involved. is it possible?

Some quick thoughts and I'll try and dig out some info:
1. Isn't someone already racing a VX and does a blog? If so what series? [Edit: here and here]
2. Wasn't there a mid-engined race series? Plans Motorsport may have been involved? [Edit: looks like their was a Mid-Engined Sports Car series in 2005 but can't find anything else. Plans are/were selling a car clicky (pdf)].
3. What's happened to the LoTRDC chaps who had heavily modified cars and now can't use them following the rules change?

I have a lot of reading to do, best when the ash cloud comes our way, SOON

You are walking into a minefield mate. Randy and his Europa, together with the Setters' in Randy's old Exige (bought for £40K ish) run in the GT Cup. This is a series for old playboys, mainly in GT3s, 360s and 430s etc. They are on the second rung of UK motorsport (in my classification - second rung is some totty, top rung is grid girls) Most entrants will be fully supported, with race transporters, awnings, motorhomes etc. Big money.

The guy who posted about his VX ran in a cheaper series, but you only have to compare his posts of DNSs and DNFs to appreciate the huge efforts Randy puts in to make a reliable car.

Running at 300+ HP is unrealistic without (finger in the air) a £20K budget.

2nd run do you mean we would have BA girls on our grid compared to Virgin girls

£20k ouch

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I spent £30 one season running nothing more sophisticated than a turbo charged old style Mini. Motorsport is not cheap especially when starting from scratch. I would have to find in excess of a grand just to get my little race car up to current specifications. I would suggest the trackday trophy as a good starting place. Find an old Golf GTI race car, buy it with a mate who wants to do the same as you and go racing. Should find a car this side of £3k that will fit the bill. Arrive and drive is good if you only want a sample as it is very costly to do on a longer term plan. Cheaper to buy your own car if you want to try something for a season. If the Renault was all mine, I would suggest we did a round of thr Trackday Trophy but sadly it is a shared car and would never get the permission of the co-owner. Racing a VX sounds fun but there are so few championships at club level that exist where the car would be eligible. Plus the cost of getting a VX to MSA Race spec is rather a lot. I think TMS spent many many thousands doing the Britcar 24 in their NA, in fact I know it was a five figure sum in total and that didn't include buying the doner car.

[techieboy]

that didn't include buying the doner

They got kebabs? Why didn't I know? I'd have been over at Silverstone in a flash.

[southpaw]

the Trackday Trophy

that sounds like a cheap entry for a taster race or two.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I meant to say £30k and donor car.

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

the Trackday Trophy

that sounds like a cheap entry for a taster race or two.

Geoff.... I'm doing my ARDS in July

[southpaw]

the Trackday Trophy

that sounds like a cheap entry for a taster race or two.

Geoff.... I'm doing my ARDS in July

Nice I'm on the 14th are you going to beat me to it?

[Pidgeon]

Here's a bit of close racing, but it is compulsory to turn off before six minutes



because you don't want to see anything like this

[southpaw]

How did your race go?

[Pidgeon]

I didn't! I had a function in Birmingham and needed to be back home for 6.30. Thanks to the PBMW organisation I entered the two races that would have allowed me to do that. With the tragic accident in GT Cup, PBMW was reduced to one race that started after 6.00. Racing was suspended for several hours and when we were informed racing would not commence before 3.30, I headed home. And before anyone asks, when you know a fellow racer is fighting for his life, money and frustration don't even enter the mind.

[southpaw]

Well that was fun took my ARDS today and am now a medical and a 1st class stamp away from my licence. The day was such excellent value for money and gave me so many firsts. 1) driving around Thruxton - they don't seem to do trackdays there 2) driving a caged and harnessed car for the first time 3) wet track day and seeing what ao48s are like when hussled through standing water

[southpaw]

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Bugger, I forgot all about this, I was meant to be doing this at Silverstone!!!!!!! Pop another link up as if I get my ards I can do test days at my local track pretty much any day of the week!

[System-G]

My wife and I are looking at doing our ARDS later this year at Anglesey. Can't wait About bloody time too - only 6 years of trackdays and 3 years of spannering race cars for it to cme about

[Boombang]

Well that was fun took my ARDS today and am now a medical and a 1st class stamp away from my licence.

The day was such excellent value for money and gave me so many firsts.

1) driving around Thruxton - they don't seem to do trackdays there
2) driving a caged and harnessed car for the first time
3) wet track day and seeing what ao48s are like when hussled through standing water

Ah so that was you with the charged VX.

I was the guy with his dad and out with Paul O'Neill.

Still find it amazing we got that day for £195, not even sure that'd cover the fuel (tank and a half!)

[southpaw]

Ah so that was you with the charged VX.

I was the guy with his dad and out with Paul O'Neill.

Still find it amazing we got that day for £195, not even sure that'd cover the fuel (tank and a half!)

What are the chances you could of held onto that nurburg ticket.

for the £195 - even without the ARDS bit I'd book another if there was any more spaces this year.

Did you get much out of the instruction bit? Given it was my first wet day he said 'faster' & 'full power' a lot and I made lots of excuses - it dried up nicely after lunch though.

[Boombang]

What are the chances you could of held onto that nurburg ticket.

for the £195 - even without the ARDS bit I'd book another if there was any more spaces this year.

Did you get much out of the instruction bit? Given it was my first wet day he said 'faster' & 'full power' a lot and I made lots of excuses - it dried up nicely after lunch though.

Bit of a coincidence, would've saved all that parcel tape

I'll definately be booking if I can again next year. Last 3 years have done the regular day, felt almost bad watching all those others stood queuing to drive the standard cars, almost.

Did get a fair bit out of the instruction but mainly in learning the circuit. Paul was absolutely fantastic and really positive, don't think I could've got better. He managed to tweak my lines a bit, and by second session was getting round in what I felt to be a pretty decent pace. Got quicker from there, but those damn Astras are seriously quick down the straights, would catch them into and through the corners, then watch them pull away soon as they got straight. Up the back section the Corsa really struggled too, just not enough power to keep pulling hard.

Feedback I got left me feeling really chuffed, have put it below. On the lookout now for either another Pug 205/306 track car, or if can find one something like an Integra DC2 - few hours have come up with nothing, but want to get something ASAP and book some more track time.