Yet another Newbie (with Questions)

[jenks]

Hi Guys/Girls

Just registered and sent away membership for SMRC.

I am interested in competing in 2010's XR2 championship.

My 1st question is how much track/racing experience do you think would/should be required before stepping in to a championship?

Obviously you need to pass the Test you need to do to enter it,but all I have done is the odd Go Karting race now and then, 2 trips to the Nurburgring where I acheived 5 and a half laps (water hose burst on my 2nd trip on my 1st lap ) and basically a Knockhill single seater experience a few years ago which really made me catch the bug for racing.

I am currently spending a fortune building a corrado trackcar but for the same money I could compete in a years championship which I think (imo) would be more of a challenge and more rewarding.

I know all about the Novice cup which seems a good class for beginners.

Ive noticed a few Newbie's seem to have racing experience from other forms of Motorsport.

So who started by throwing themself in the deep end with little racing experience?
How well did you do and would you advise it?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance
Michael

[martinbuchan]

hey Michael, good to see another new face to the XR2's

Id say with the track stuff you have done you'd be fine for starting in the XR2's as I did the same Knockhill experience and just public karting when i began last year.

At first I was nowhere but by the last race was in the 64's and got a top 5 and 6th place at the last meeting. Id defo advise it over a trackday car as trackdays just cant give you the same thrill as competiting and close racing.

Hope you manage to find a car and get on the grid for 2010. Any questions just give me or the other guys a shout We're always happy to help.

[Mike Hogg]

Dec 18, 2009 14:00:46 GMT jenks said:

So who started by throwing themself in the deep end with little racing experience?
How well did you do and would you advise it?

I did - was horribly slow in my 3 years of legends having done it with no previous experience of anything whatsoever but it was still a lot of fun (if a little lonely!)

[Blair]

Michael, welcome, and good luck for next year - hope you decided to enter XR2's.

In my case I had only done one driving experience at Knockhill before I went and sat my ARDS and then jumped into an XR2. Never had done karting or anything else before that.

I wasn't the quickest, but I find that no matter your level of experience, the skill levels of drivers is varied, there is always someone out on track who you can have a wee battle with, and thats the great buzz about racing cars instead of trackdays.

[emicen]

I'm going to be out in the Minis this year as effectively a newbie. I raced karts when I was a kid, but haven't done anything more than a single crail trackday in the last 14 years!

I figure sod it, go for it.

[jenks]

Thanks for the replies guys! Thats great that folk have the same outlook on it than me.

Next question: When is the actual deadline for entering? Bit anxious that I havent got long to sit test,find car, get to grips with it before it all begins?

Ive applied for my ARDS Starter Pack, now to keep an eye out for XR2's and track days at Knockhill that allow the XR2's for practising/testing really.

Also what sort of budgets would many set for a years racing after you have purchased car and trailer?
And what are the main requirements for overalls and helmets,etc and again what sort of money should you allow to purchase these?

Thanks for the warm welcome btw!

[emicen]

The clothing requirements are in the blue book you'll get with the ARDS pack. Main thing to note is there has been a change in helmet regs this year requiring a fire retardant lining whereas last year you could get away with a regular lining. Compliant helmets start at about £140. Suits, gloves, boots and balaclavas can cost as much as you want to spend really.

Season costs I'll leave to the guys in XR2s. I was looking at them and Blair was a good source of info.

[XR2 Baz]

I started with no race experience and little driving skill. I now have race experience ;D You've gotta start somewhere and XR2's can be cheap if you don't break or bend them...but expect to break or bend it at some point, then if you don't, be happy

Race entry closing dates are usually 2 weeks before each event though the away round will likely be earlier. Entry forms are all posted on the SMRC website, but probably won't be there yet.

How much does it cost, how long is a peice of string? This has been flogged to death on other threads, check some of my older posts. In short, anything from 2K (for all Knockhill rounds, 1 set of tyres, all race fuel, 2 sets of front brakes) to, well, whatever you can afford!

Baz

[mcintyremarshal]

It's so nice seeing so many new drivers coming into the 2010 championship especially in the 'current economic climate' - yeah that old chestnut

As a marshal I love seeing new drivers develop over the season. It's great watching someone have their first tentative race, trying to keep out of trouble and just finish etc. Then developing their skills and the speed over the course of the year.

Just try and keep an eye out for where the marshal posts are as it will be so easy to miss a yellow flag while your thinking about a million other things.

[jenks]

Dec 21, 2009 14:06:08 GMT mcintyremarshal said:

It's so nice seeing so many new drivers coming into the 2010 championship especially in the 'current economic climate' - yeah that old chestnut

As a marshal I love seeing new drivers develop over the season. It's great watching someone have their first tentative race, trying to keep out of trouble and just finish etc. Then developing their skills and the speed over the course of the year.

Just try and keep an eye out for where the marshal posts are as it will be so easy to miss a yellow flag while your thinking about a million other things.

Thanks mate, thats a good way of looking at Marshalling, the way the clocks ticking I may be doing some of this at the start as It would be good experience.................still waiting on my starter pack.

Thanks for all the replies folks.

emicen You have bought Chris's mini I take it?

Another question, I have a twin axle trailer and use of a few minibusses for towing, but I take it a van would be handy for spares and tools? What essential equipment/spares would seem necessary to get you through a race day? I appreciate it could be another "how longs a piece of string" question but it would be good to get a wee bit of feedback on this.

Thanks

[aland]

Jan 1, 1974 8:49:34 GMT jenks said:

Thanks mate, thats a good way of looking at Marshalling, the way the clocks ticking I may be doing some of this at the start as It would be good experience.................still waiting on my starter pack.

if nothing else spending time with us on the bank is a good way of seeing how the racing works and how incidents develop, i am firm believer that drivers should spend some time marshalling as it allows you an insight into our world and the work we do. one of the things that really gets right up my preverbial is the way yellow flags are interpreted by drivers and how we rely on drivers to adhere to them to give us some degree of safety while on the bank

see you at training then :-) (details on smrc website)

[porkie]

What gets on my proverbials are the comments that i have just read.Much more dangerous to be on the racetrack than on the bank when a marshal is not paying attention and fails to wave a blue flag or wave the yellow early enough.Happy to accept that there is fault on both sides.I think that in the ideal world all marshals should have had race experience.

[s3swiss]

Re kit needed for race weekend - I take (minimum) - fuel (large jerrycan), fluids (engine oil, brake fluid), tools (depends on your ability but at least a socket and spanner set with a few screwdrivers and a big mallet), ty-wraps, tank-tape, wheel-brace, good quality jack, and as many spares as you can get (e.g alternator belt). If you have spare wheels and tyres - all the better. Alternatively, just park next to someone with all the above like Haggis did first race last season! Most guys will lend you kit and spares as long as they don't need them that event.

[XR2 Baz]

I ran several season's out the back of a Cavvy then 626, started with few tools, feck all spares, obligatory fuel can, spare wheels but no spare tyres, and a jack. Have now just progressed to a van which makes life easier, a big gazebo which makes life very comfortable, more tools, more spares and more wheels. All the less common tools and spares etc. have been largely unused, but then the few which have have been good to have. Always better to bring it and not need it than leave it at home and be screwed for a race, but then you have to weigh that up with emptying the garage every race weekend You can always buy some bits whilst there, or borrow them on a return or replace basis, but bear in mind that a lot of people are either reluctant to part with anything till they know for sure they don't need it. You can usually borrow most tools, or there will be someone there who will do the job for you, though perhaps for a price.

Baz

[jxr242]

Most on this site will know me and know that Ihave not posted for quite some time but I still regularly read and enjoy the forum. Felt I had to post now to ask porkie to explain his last post. As it reads to me its got right up my proverbials (as that seems to be the phrase of the moment). Porkie if I have misunderstood what you were saying I will apologise later but it seemd to me you were just having a compleltely unneccesary pop at the marshalls.....