Proper Motorsport for £10.

[theduisbergkid]

Full story here.

Like millions of others, I watched Sunday’s Top Gear feature on Rallycross and thought, “I’ll have a bit of that.” S2B2 has always championed any motorsport that’s accessible to cash-strapped petrolheads – having already run several MSFTP features on Rental Car Adventures, Road Rallying, Trialling, Banger Rallies and the like. Could this be our next challenge?

However, come Monday morning my enthusiasm for Rallycross had already started to wane by the time that bald Scottish whimsy was winding up Pop Master. The problem is that neither Clarkson’s, May’s or Hammond’s Rallycross cars were in any fit state to drive home after an event – and it’s doubtful they ever were to start with. Proper car transporter trailers are not cheap – and that assumes you have already own a powerful old bus with a tow bar that can pull it. Then you have your flameproof overalls (that snazzy black Alpinestars GP Tech Race suit worn by Hammond costs £750), gloves, shoes, socks, underwear, balaclava and helmet; even going with budget versions, they’ll be little change from a grand if you buy new. Race licence packs are around £300 for the one day course; added to that of course, are the race entry fees – for 2012 Rallycross events across the UK are priced at £235 per race.

Don’t get me wrong, we’d love to do it, and if you have the time and the cash then you should go for it – absolutely. My point is that if you wanted to turn up at the next meet and rag a similar old shitter around a Rallycross circuit, then you would be at least £3.5k lighter before you hit the start line.

Which brings me to my £10 foray into the world of proper, MSA approved motorsport. The day before TG did that feature I’d driven my baggy old MX-5 ten miles up the road to a disused airfield to enter my first Autotest. After paying my £15 membership fees for the year (which then dispenses with the need for MSA licences) it cost me only £10 to spend the afternoon sliding the Mazda around on the tarmac in the company of the local Motor Club. I know it’s not the same as on track wheel-to-wheel combat, but for 0.3% of the cost, it was an absolute hoot.

After a quick driver’s briefing, and a walk of the course, we were into our cars. The traffic light start gate went from red; to orange; to green and the first Caterham was off – christening the tarmac with its inaugural black-rubber 11. I was sixth up – as the light went green 115bhp of screaming rust and filler lurched towards the first cone slalom. The rest was a blur of overcooked handbrake turns, poorly executed drifts and embarrassing tank slappers- but it was bloody good fun; slithering to a stop astride the finish gate markers; it was a respectable first bash. I did get better as my confidence increased and I chipped away at the times. However, it became increasingly clear that over the last two decades my hairdresser’s express’s suspension had clearly lost most its damping. A cheap set of coilovers are currently sitting on my eBay wish list, and the hunt begins for a decent roll bar. For less than the cost of Hammond’s race suit I reckon the old Mazda could be a decent Autotest weapon. I can’t wait for the next meet.

However, the motors running were as eclectic as TDK’s musical tastes; including Fiestas, Focus’, a TVR Chimera, old skool Mini, various Lotus 7esque specials (the hardcore weapon of choice), BMW saloons and a 205 rally car. You really could do it in your everyday car – and I strongly suggest you do. I can’t think of a better way to test your cars limits – and the drivers – in a safe, affordable and competitive way. I have to admit, I was the slowest by some margin; but nobody cared, least of all me.

By Dr D Octane.

[cruiser647]

D'oh! Sorry............

Good one Mr!

[Biscuits]

When you next doing this?

[m4ttm4son]

Team TsN?

[theduisbergkid]

Dunno, actually, got some other 'motorsport for the poor' in the pipeline. Will try and give folks the heads up ahead of the next one.