newbie here, xr2 champ info wanted please

[des]

hi folks, been doing trackdays for few years now and have been looking into the smrc xr2 champoinship for 2010, im looking for any info, help that anyone can give to help me along the way, costs for a season, car, etc, ive been on the smrc website but info from more of the experianced folks on here would be greatly appreciated.

thanx des

[Heinicke]

Hello Des, welcome to the forum. Glad to hear that you might join the club.
I am one of the characters on here that have raced in the XR2s but I'll let the more experienced hands take over from here. You will see that I have been fairly vocal on the forum and you will experience my views later on.
All the best,
Richard

Just noticed Des has his birthday the day before mine!

[stu39green]

Des, been doing the XR2's for a couple of years now. Good person to speak to is Ian Cowie (ICR Motorsport).

I'll send you a private message and you can give me a call.

If you are looking for a car I might be able to help

[XR2 Baz]

Hi Des,

Would be good to have you on the grid, it's a good championship and the cheapest way to get out racing. There's a huge amount of information we could give you to help you out. Do you plan to run your own car or have someone run and maintain it for you, and what sort of budget do you have (i.e. bottomless pockets or a shoestring!) Look through some of my other posts, there's one with a breakdown in costs for running your car yourself at the lowest realisitic cost.

There's presently a load of cars available to suit any budget, from this years championship winning car (and it's not the most expensive available) down to entry level cars that are still capable of running in the top ten if you are!

Baz

[des]

thanks for the help guys, im really serious about this, ive replies to the pm's

[s3swiss]

Also a newbie and have exchanged emails with XR2 Rep re racing in 09 champs. Will be trying to fit in looking at a few cars over xmas and new year. Could any of the current racers post info on what goes on at 'average' race meet? Looking for general feedback on what goes on when and also what people are doing re accom etc at Knockhill (currently got small camper van that I thought I'd use). My background is Scottish Rally Champs in early 90s so looking forward to not lying in the mud as often!

[XR2 Baz]

Hi,

Welcome to the XR2's, always glad to have another driver join us. Have you had a look at any cars yet?

Regarding accomodation, most drivers stay at home and just travel to and from Knockhill (myself included), but I suppose it depends on where you live as to whether that is practical, and if you've got a camper! Some people do stay at the circuit Saturday night so you won't be alone. The usual weekend is Saturday testing 2pm - 6pm, qualifying first thing Sunday morning then two races somewhere between 10am-ism and 5pm-ish.

See pm for my number if you wish to chat some more.

Baz

[aland]

assume that you will be using the campervan to tow the car to and from the track, I know for the 2 day meetings next year I will be towing my own nest box to the track for sleeping in and I think quite a few of the others do the same. Not that I am a racer, known mainly by my latin name marshaleous orangi, you may have noticed our bright orange plumage dotted around the track :-) we are friendly creatures though even when the mating season is on (BTCC weekend) and the circuit is invaded by the species bigtitus gridgirlus :-)

[dragonfly33]

Re:- accommodation,, there are a few of us in the xr2 grid that stay at the track on saturday nights after testing and get together for a few beers in the camper or caravan etc. talk over past glories and tell lies that sort of thing so, make yourself known and come join us. any questions you have just list them and they will get answered on the forum weve all done this at some point . If only i had listened ;D

main peice of advice buy a prepared car its expesive to build one with the wrong parts, as has happened before.thankfully not to me.

[s3swiss]

thanks for all info - had busy couple of days -popped to Bradford to buy s/hand trailer and after nipping in to ICR at Knockhill have now got an XR2 to go on it! No jan sales shopping for me this year (yet to tell that to the missus!). Just need to replace my old 90s rally helmet and overalls, pick-up the car for fettling, pass my ARDS in Jan or Feb (hmm, snow tyres anyone?) and turn up for race one...what could posssibly go wrong? Cheers to Iain, Charlie and the others for the advice.

[Mike Strong]

You may not need to replace your helmet/suit - if they still fit that is.

All the stuff I was using in the mid-90s was still acceptable when I started again late 2007.
I did change my helmet as the lining had started coming apart but I still use all the other stuff.
My suit is standard FIA 1986 and the helmet was BS6658 Type A - both are still acceptable for national racing.

[s3swiss]

cheers- helmet looks ok - just needs scrutineer's sticker (still has motorbike race approved sticker on). Getting some s/h ovies as my old rally ones are Proban and the zip has bust! Hoping to complete ARDS on tues 20 jan and pick up the car same day. Anyone recommend a gazebo for cover? Lots of different manufacturers but not sure all will survive a Knockhill 'breeze'!

[s3swiss]

bugger - ARDS today (20 jan) snowed off!