15 replies to this topic

[minidream94]

Dont know whether thi shas been raised before, which i expect it has So please dont bit my head off

Just wondering how man people either race autograss or go to watch/hep out? Toying with the idea of starting up if i can cobble together the funds and convince my dad to help me out just wanted abit of basic information really thats all

Cheers

Nick

[minidream94]

Somebody?

Anybody?

[mini-man-dan]

You're in Oxford, do the tarmac oval at Standlake Arena. Awesome fun, but by a car already built because it can become costly building your own. Guessing you'd be in juniors?

[Jak NS94]

I've raced Autograss in Juniors since 2008 and it's awesome, kind of a shame to see so many Minis taken off the road though. Mine was already built when we bought it, and had hardly been raced. For any info try http://www.national-autograss.co.uk/ and [url]http://www.yorkshire...de889561f242e8e[/img]

Junior cars share the same rulebook as Class 1, which is for over 16s. I'm 16 now and will be in Class 1 next year.

Costs are very minimal, about £25 per year for a Junior licence, and about £50 for an adult one. Race entry fees are normally around £5-10. Tyres are about £50 each, but our set have lasted 3 seasons upto now. Ready to race cars go between about £500 for a basic club racer, to about £2.5-3k for a national level car. They're supposed to be pretty much standard but there are tolerances and to get the fastest cars people take full advantage of these. You will have to put some money aside for maintainence and repairs, as Minis are hardly the most reliable machines, and although it is a non contact sport, accidents do happen, as I've found out.

I'm on my 7th engine, but the current one has lasted all of this season upto now, due to my Dad deciding not to race this year. We used to share the car and it would do 6-8 races per day, in mostly hot weather sucking all kinds of dust and rubbish in. Also we were using cheapo oils etc but now we have started to use high quality oil and reduced the workload of the car, the engine seems to be great still. By the way, only 998cc engines are allowed and we have found them to be really easy to come by and cheap, even sometimes free.

It's one of the most fun hobbies/sports for anyone to do, let alone people aged 12 upwards. I've had my fair share of 'moments' including a big roll in 2008, and a head on crash with a Citroen AX a few weeks ago, which bent and moved the subframe and even folded the scuttle panel over. Despite all this I'm still using the same car I've always used I'm supposed to be racing tomorrow, but I had a crash last Sunday where I hit a spun car hard and bent the subframe, floor, and wrecked my brand new front end panels that I'd spent £150 on a few weeks ago It's also split the seam where the floor meets the wheelarch and moved the subframe back a few inches, but it started first time straight away, although it is in a bad way :/

Minidream94, go for it, you'll have loads of fun, if there's anything you want to know, ask

Here's mine in happier times:

[minidream94]

Cheers for the information Jak NS94, very grateful. Just need to get a job and convince my dad to do it with me . Would you say that the mini is the best car to do it in? or would you recomend any other car?

Mini-Man-Dan - What is this tarmac oval you talk of?

Thaks for the info guys

[Jak NS94]

Well there's 3 cars that will definitely be eligible next season and they are the Minis, Citroen AX's and Peugeot 106's. They've been running 998cc 16 valve Nissan Micras as experimental cars this season and they may be eligible next season.

Minis have to be 998cc and the AX and 106 share the 954cc Peugeot/Citroen engine. There's quite a big size difference between the AX/106 and the Minis. The frenchies also have really soft suspension and have really bad bodyroll, whereas the Minis corner really flat. Parts for Minis are probably easier to get and cheaper than the AX/106 parts, we've never struggled for getting parts and prices are really reasonable for most things, secondhand or new. AX's and 106's are injection I think, which I guess makes them more reliable. There's not much in it between the 3 in straight line speed but Minis definitely corner better.

I've never really seen a top spec 106 or AX at the Nationals etc but there are hundreds of high spec Minis around, and there isn't as much knowledge out there about getting every last bit out of the 106/AX like there is with the Mini.

I'd go with the Mini every time out of the 3 choices available for so many reasons such as: It's a Mini , parts are easy to get, they don't end up rolling as a result of bodyroll, and they're really good fun to drive.

Hope this helps...

[minidream94]

Yeah cheers mate helped alot. If i do start i will wait till next year and see if the micra is allowed as i would probs use one of them, there quicker airnt they? and saves another mini being taken off the road ive seen acouple on ebay (micra's) that are under the £100 mark so will look at one of them if i do start .

Where abouts do u race?

[Jak NS94]

I think I may race a Micra next year, may race another Mini though. This is if they are allowed obviously, and like you say it saves a Mini.

I race mostly in the North West:

NS (North Shropshire) - Whitchurch

STAR (Shropshire Telford Autograss Racing) - Near Telford

NW (North Wales) - Near Broughton

LM (Leewood) - Near Manchester Airport

[minidream94]

Do u know of any clubs in or around the oxfordshie area? Also how much roughly does it cost u a season to race, if u dont mind me asking?

Cheers

Nick

[Jak NS94]

There's a list of venues here:

http://www.national-autograss.co.uk/


Cost wise, I'm not sure to be honest but I'll try and give a rough figure.

Ready prepared club level car: £600ish, often come with a trailer included.
Towcar: £1-2k unless you already have something capable of towing. (We use a 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero)
Tyres: about £50 per tyre but ours have lasted 3 seasons upto now (about 30 race meetings) The ones on the car already might have loads of tread left though.
Fuel: We probably get about 2 or 3 meetings out of a 20 litre jerry can.
Entry fees: £5-10 per person per meeting. Under 12s are usually free.
Licence fee: £25 for a junior, £50 for adult.
Car parts: You might be lucky and not break anything, but I'd say £150 should easily cover a season's worth of parts and maintenance items, as long as you dont have a huge crash or anything.
Racewear: Helmets are about £40 and you can use any overalls you like. I've got a Sparco suit that was about £100 though.

That's all I can think of, but should give you a rough idea...

[Mark_Pieman]

Hi
I used to race class one many moons ago, based on my experience, you'll want the following in the shed before you start:
2 pairs spare driveshafts
At least 2 spare wheels/tyres
2 sets engine mounts
1 pair steering arms
1 pair tie bars
Several head gasket sets
As many dizzy caps, rotor arms, points, plugs, etc as you can carry

Time is the real key, be prepared to abandon the pub (I didn't), work the car hard, you need the wheels to start moving as soon as the car is jacked off the floor, oil changed as often as you can afford (I knew a nice man at duckhams, so this wasn't a problem), lap valves in every few meetings, check and recheck settings (engine timing , tracking, tappets etc). Don't forget you will spend more time cleaning the car than racing it.

Be wary of the rules, the over-riding rule is that the car must be standard, allowing for the limited modifications deemed legal, eg. the pot joint for the speedo cable must remain in it's entirety, it serves no use, it weighs nothing, so there is no advantage removing it, but if it's not there, you can be in trouble.

The best advice I can give is pitch in, if another driver has broke their car, offer help, this will be reciprocated, and you'll find it easier.

Oh, and if you get to the first corner in the middle of the pack, just close your eyes and hope for the best!

Hope this helps

PS, use a mini, they're more developed and still the quickest out there

Edited by Mark_Pieman, 06 October 2010 - 06:06 PM.

[toyboy396]

http://www.tonghammotorclub.co.uk/

This is where Chip cut his teeth before racing National Ministox.. Great little dirt track. jrls80 on here races there too..
I'd personally steer clear of Standlake.

If your 16 now Nick i'd recommend Prod 'A'.. Cheap way of getting into racing.

[bobs]

I used to Class 1 it in a mini ages ago for Yate and Sodbury, we were only allowed 998 minis in class one back then.

Best fun you can have on mud racing, teaches you alot about safety and crash avoidance at the same time.

Of course, minis were alot cheaper to get hold of back then (£20 a shell, some were good for the road!!), I can see why they're allowing AX and 106's now.

Do it, but make sure you can spare the time, for me it was race one weekend, fix/clean cars the other weekend for the whole season, it was a full time hobby.

[minidream94]

Cheers for the guidance guys, really appreciate it. I'm going to have a long chat with my dad either this weekend or sometime soon, and see if we can sort something out.

IF, and thats a ig If, i do start up, evesham would be my nearest track as its only 30 odd miles from my dads. He lives in Banbury.

[project mini chris]

tarmac oval=standlake arena