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Thread: Sprinting, and how to get started

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Sprinting, and how to get started


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    World Champion Decade Plus User markb's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quality link.. good info on there

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Dangerously (in terms of possible nugatory expenditure) misleading in places. There are no universally used roadgoing classes and there is a minefield of regional variations, not covered in the MSA Blue Book. The classes quoted seem to be those peculiar to the South West Regional Association only, the rest of the country using 1400 and 2000 splits. That sort of thing defines what car you chose and how you prepare it and could cost you dearly.
    It is pointless joining the local motor club if it is not one involved in speed events. Find one that is.
    Quoting Hullavington as a venue generates some grief as it is one last used for speed events over 20 years ago and now lost to the Track Day brigade.
    Please point all potential recruits to asking specific questions on forums, not relying on general articles or even the (inadequate) Blue Book. We are happy to help with up to date info.

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Fal, as you know its a minefield out there, i havnt got the time to do all the research for regional class rules, and each of my customers have had a car built as they like it, and will be out there for the fun,banter, competion against themselves, improving theirselves not the plastic cup, so it dosnt matter if they are in sports libre.

    That link was posted as it had info on it that shows you dont need a racecar to do sprinting, info on suits etc...

    Would you be willing to gather the relevent links to regional and national SR's and post them up, or indeed right up a detailed guide to starting in sprinting (once thats done you can do the links for the hills )

    The 3 forum users that are interested in starting up in sprinting will be joining Borough 19 as its locally based, kent,essex,suffolk,norfolk.

    Look forward to seeing an accurate guide and thanks in advance for helping others joing the "busy on sunday" crew.
    Last edited by Retromotorsport; 29-10-2005 at 01:32.

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    As indicated, happy to answer questions, particularly Escort/speed event related, in the quest to avoid anyone wasting effort/money because they believe what the MSA may tell them! Borough 19 is an appropriate club (and the Sevenoaks DMC site "Fast Talk" forum www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com has regular debate on speed regs).
    The moving target (major changes even in the previously stable South East this year, including controversial abolition of standard car classes) makes most guides a pain to maintain, hence the invitation to ask questions.
    For those unfamiliar with the regs, 1800 and 2600 splits are used in the ASWMC region (broadly, SW of a line from Bristol to Bournemouth) and 2000 elsewhere. Clearly this influences what engine you choose for an Escort. The nearest hill climb venue to the populous South East, Gurston Down, is the only venue not running some sort of roadgoing classes - but has a thriving "modprod" Escort scene.
    Further complication is the varying standards (occasionally non-existent!) of eligibility scrutineering in speed events. A number of clear regs (4 linking involving floorpan mods, reboring beyond class limit etc) seem rarely to be enforced - which causes grief for those who have abided by the written regs.

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    Racer Decade Plus User Dom's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by FAL
    A number of clear regs (4 linking involving floorpan mods, reboring beyond class limit etc) seem rarely to be enforced - which causes grief for those who have abided by the written regs.
    12.3.1 The chassis or unitary construction must remain to the manufacturer's original specification in construction and material within the wheel hub centres. Re-positioning of suspension points and engine mounts are permitted.

    So providing my 4 link boxes are made from mild steel flat sheet whats the problem lol?
    I posted! Another thread successfully ended then....

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by Dom
    12.3.1 The chassis or unitary construction must remain to the manufacturer's original specification in construction and material within the wheel hub centres. Re-positioning of suspension points and engine mounts are permitted.

    So providing my 4 link boxes are made from mild steel flat sheet whats the problem lol?
    er no strictly speaking a 4 link is illegal in mod prod, however there are quite a few 4 linked escorts out there competeing and unless you really upset a fellow competitor enough that they are prepared to stump up a big chunk of money to make an offfical protest (very unlikely at clubman level)

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    Mechanic windy's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Yes but protests are generally made to the scrutineers before scrutineering which then results in reclassification of your car into a different class for the event. Putting your money down on the table only gets peoples backs up further.

    There are some strange people out there who continuously nit pick over minor technical issues, especially where the MSA regs are poorly defined e.g for engines. Read the blue book for engines in mod prod then tell me if a VX engine is a production engine or not? Tell me also if a 20XE cavalier was a production car available through the normal commercial channels of a vehicle manufcturer.

    At the end of the day we are all there to have fun in what is essentially some light hearted and friendly competition. Some people take it too seriously.

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    Racer Decade Plus User Sideways's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    I've noticed they run a few sprints near me, namely three sisters and Aintree, and was toying with maybe having a bash at the odd one this year.

    Whats the average entry fee for these type of sprints/hilclimbs chaps?
    and what sort of milage do you get for your money, ie how many runs "up the hill" do you get? I take it you get so many practice runs then several timed runs?

    I already have a National type B licience (non race) for rallying and I take it this will be ok to do sprints?

    Its also something that I could drag the family along too and get them involved

    Cheers
    Steve
    Last edited by Sideways; 03-03-2006 at 14:11.
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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    sprints is 2 practise and 3 timed runs... think its the same on the hills... around 50-60 quid for the sprints.

    lickle plastic trophy if ya good..

    Aintree is 1.8 kms

    At Lyddens 1 mile track you do 1.5 laps

    North Weald is onlt .45km

    the new brentwaters park is 3.4kms

    so it varies on distance, the shorter ones being technical

    Have a read through section L in the "what can't we do " book (Blue Book)

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    Mechanic

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    I am thinking of doing some of the South Eastern rounds this year, and I dont really care which class I run in either, but I am wondering if I`ll be allowed to run at all.

    Opel Kadett with a supercharged 1600cc 16v, Turretted rear suspension, Izuzu Piazza 4 linked Rear axle.....

    What class do you think I`ll end up in as that may determine whether I have to run In date Harnesses / seats etc?

    If I cant run without a load of extra expense then I`ll stick to trackdays instead

    Cheers
    Dom

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Seat should be ok... but if fitted the harnessses have to be in date

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by cr500dom

    Opel Kadett with a supercharged 1600cc 16v, Turretted rear suspension, Izuzu Piazza 4 linked Rear axle.....

    What class do you think I`ll end up in as that may determine whether I have to run In date Harnesses / seats
    Dom
    gary is a bit wrong on the harnesses, for sprinting they dont have to be in date, racing and rallying yes, sprinting no, that said they do have to comply with blue book, but in most instances a std road 3 point belt does anyway, although few serious competitors dont have "proper" belts

    some of the events are closer to £90 entry, but there are a few £50 venues.

    i kind of suspect your Kadett wont fit in the roadgoing classes due to its modifications in which case it will have to have a MSA approved cage, and if it hasn't got the origonal block it would end up in sports libre, which is basically the anything goes class
    Last edited by Graham; 03-03-2006 at 21:08.

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Graham, thats why i mentioned the harnesses, if fitted, they must comply with the regs... ie date, and also for the cost of the drivers set, in date is always better.

    Yes the scruts let them go if the cars got a tax disc, but "safety first"

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    Racer Decade Plus User Sideways's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    sounds good Gary, but what are those distances in english

    I've lent my Blur book to someone so I cant have a proper look at the rules etc till I get it back

    but I've been doing some surfin and found out quite a bit, there are quite a few held at aintree and 3 sisters, so I think I may give one a try later in the year

    Cheers
    Steve
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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Steve, as your car passes scutineering in rallies you'll be ok in sprints and hillclimbs... you may want to take the spares out though, and drop the springs rates a tad on the shorter ones

    I bet you'll love it, as its a nice place to try out new settings

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    Racer Decade Plus User Sideways's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by Retromotorsport
    Steve, as your car passes scutineering in rallies you'll be ok in sprints and hillclimbs... you may want to take the spares out though, and drop the springs rates a tad on the shorter ones

    I bet you'll love it, as its a nice place to try out new settings
    Cheers Gary, The entry fees are a lot cheaper than rallies, but there again the milage is less and there is not much to hit It looks a good way of getting the family involved too, a bit more social than rallies


    I take it dropping the spring rates is to aid traction?

    btw the only spares I carry are fuses

    out of interest what class should my car be in? bearing in mind its 6 linked, but still has the std pinto engine (well standard'ish )

    Cheers
    Steve
    Last edited by Sideways; 09-03-2006 at 00:02.
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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by Sideways
    I take it dropping the spring rates is to aid traction?

    btw the only spares I carry are fuses

    out of interest what class should my car be in? bearing in mind its 6 linked, but still has the std pinto engine (well standard'ish )

    Cheers
    Steve
    The spares i was on about... Co-driver, seat, spare wheel and fuses..

    Traction, treat it as a twisty stage on a runway

    class C7 (modified production) Have a Look at Tel Donovans car.

    And your right, its a nice day out for the family, everyones friendly

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    Racer Decade Plus User Sideways's Avatar

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by Retromotorsport
    The spares i was on about... Co-driver, seat, spare wheel and fuses..
    Good point, I thought about the spare wheel, jack etc but not the co-drivers seat & harnesses, it all helps I suppose

    And your right, its a nice day out for the family, everyones friendly
    well you got to bring some one along to brew up, make the butties and pump the tyres up for ya
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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    Quote Originally Posted by Retromotorsport View Post
    Good info there i have just printed off a form for my local club

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started

    cheers retro that was really helpfull!!!was guna start a thread to ask for some info on the sport as im keen to get started in motorsport and thought that this would be the best place for me.
    im not overly fussed but what class would yi be put in the car i would like to run is my mk2fiesta thats fully stripped with a 1600cvh thatll be lightly modified with the usual suspension mods for fiestas?
    lastly would you happen to have any contact details fo my local motorsport club as im from south east kent?
    Thanks for any info its very much apreciated

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    Re: Sprinting, and how to get started


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