33 replies to this topic

[[email protected]]

Hi guys, I'm currently restoring a 63 mk1, 850 pretty standard, and was wandering if there are any hill climb/sprint championships that people would recommend? 
thanks a lot

Harry Moore

[Moggyton]

http://www.curboroug...uk/sdccmain.htm
Join up to the club or go along to one of the sprint afternoons they do!

[Moggyton]

Theres also this to get you into hill climbing
http://www.hdlcc.com...Drivers_School/

[beaker the muppet]

A fairly decent list of sprint and hillclimbing venues can be found at:

 

http://www.hillclimb...o.uk/venues.asp

 

its a great sport to get involved in as its very competitive, fun and cheaper than other forms of motorsport.

 

you thinking of sticking to your local aria or going a bit further afield?

[[email protected]]

A fairly decent list of sprint and hillclimbing venues can be found at:

 

http://www.hillclimb...o.uk/venues.asp

 

its a great sport to get involved in as its very competitive, fun and cheaper than other forms of motorsport.

 

you thinking of sticking to your local aria or going a bit further afield?

anywhere uk based really :) it's not really the finance that is a problem it is more the experience, i don't really feel competent enough for any circuit racing at the moment :) 

[Moggyton]

Hill climbing takes a lot more skill than circuit racing in my opinion! Theres no room for error, if you ever go to loton park, walk the track, its terryifying!

[KernowCooper]

Gurston Downs is brilliant

[adamg1380]

For an 850 mini, your best bet is the Downton social club speed series: http://www.bjautobit...peed-series.htm

 

They have a class for up to 1100cc, where the standard MSA based classes usually start with up to 1400cc (so lots of 1380s!). They're down your way, rumoured to be quite friendly and some of the sprints are on fairly beginner-friendly tracks and layouts.

 

The events they run at are all all proper MSA sprints, so well organised. That does mean you need the right safety gear etc but that's an advantage IMO.

 

Phil Short (the ex rally co driver chap) wrote a decent book on hillclimbing & sprints if you can find a reasonably priced copy: http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/1845841034

[[email protected]]

For an 850 mini, your best bet is the Downton social club speed series: http://www.bjautobit...peed-series.htm

 

They have a class for up to 1100cc, where the standard MSA based classes usually start with up to 1400cc (so lots of 1380s!). They're down your way, rumoured to be quite friendly and some of the sprints are on fairly beginner-friendly tracks and layouts.

 

The events they run at are all all proper MSA sprints, so well organised. That does mean you need the right safety gear etc but that's an advantage IMO.

 

Phil Short (the ex rally co driver chap) wrote a decent book on hillclimbing & sprints if you can find a reasonably priced copy: http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/1845841034

it's funny I hadn't thought of the downton (dews) club, my fathers in it too!! thanks for your help guys

[[email protected]]

Hill climbing takes a lot more skill than circuit racing in my opinion! Theres no room for error, if you ever go to loton park, walk the track, its terryifying!

I don't doubt that, but the thought of hitting somebody else's car on circuit is hideous 

[beaker the muppet]

Yeah thing with circuit racing it helps to have more experience and you need a full race licence, in date equipment (seats, harnesses, overalls ect) whereas if your hillclimbing on a national B “none race” licence you can use out of date gear. Most of my stuff came from a friend of mine who runs a rally car...he has to change everything every 4 years.

 

And the key with hillclimbing is to learn. Every time you go up the hill you are out to beat your previous time not necessarily another competitor (though that’s always a bonus) so you experiment with different lines, braking zones and cornering speeds.

main thing is you can learn a lot.

[ace01]

For an 850 mini, your best bet is the Downton social club speed series: http://www.bjautobit...peed-series.htm

 

They have a class for up to 1100cc, where the standard MSA based classes usually start with up to 1400cc (so lots of 1380s!). They're down your way, rumoured to be quite friendly and some of the sprints are on fairly beginner-friendly tracks and layouts.

 

The events they run at are all all proper MSA sprints, so well organised. That does mean you need the right safety gear etc but that's an advantage IMO.

 

Phil Short (the ex rally co driver chap) wrote a decent book on hillclimbing & sprints if you can find a reasonably priced copy: http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/1845841034

 

 

Definitely friendly, we're a great bunch.

[Teapot]

+1 for the Downton bunch -- had a nice chat with them at Beaulieu this year and got some pix at our own Wiscombe hillclimb.

Check out Torbay, Bristol, Burnham, Haldon, Taunton and Woolbridge MCs too. Maybe also Plymouth.

[DanParsons]

Sorry to butt In the thread.. But, could anyone recommend a club in the Bristol area? I've heard about pegusus who do the castle combe spint but unaware of anyone else out there.
Cheers

[adamg1380]

And the key with hillclimbing is to learn. Every time you go up the hill you are out to beat your previous time not necessarily another competitor (though that’s always a bonus) so you experiment with different lines, braking zones and cornering speeds.

main thing is you can learn a lot.

 

Interesting, I've always thought of hillclimbing as a way to test myself and see if I really am getting any good. You get so little running in on a single day - I'm usually at Harewood which is quite long for a hillclimb but it's still only a mile, and some days there's only 5 timed runs in a day. That's 5 miles and just over 5 minutes of seat time. I use track days to improve and hillclimbs/sprints to compete and like I say, to put myself to the test - the clock doesn't lie, so if I want to get faster I've got to drive better.

 

I do like the fact that really I'm just competing against myself and trying to get faster.