Section : Car Preparation

Starting out

Posted By : Chris Davidson, 01-Jun-2007, 12:29pm

• Starting out

  Posted By : George Ralph, 01-Jun-2007, 12:53pm

  You could start by reading my guide in the Courier this month, I'm on a mission to get more TSSC members involved in these disciplines. Then come and see me at Stafford where I will be showing my car with the other competition club cars. My car is road legal and driven to events and I will drive it to Stafford. Happy to talk to you at length about Triumphs in Hill Climbs and Sprints (especially when plied with beer!). Actually, some would say the problem is stopping me talking!!

• Starting out

  Posted By : Andy Vowell, 01-Jun-2007, 01:24pm

  As George said, take a look at his article in the courier
  
  The basic regulations for hillclimbs as sprint are the the Motor Sport Association "Blue Book" which you get with your £36 licence, I'll take a look to see if I have a 2006 copy to send to you if you like. the MSA website for licence applications is http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentViewArticle.a...
  
  It is amazingly basic for a roadgoing car with only the follow (I think) being mandatory:
  
  Ignition labeled to on/off
  Seat belt (normal 3 point fitted in all cars is fine)
  Seat with headrest
  Catch tank or closed circuit engine breather system so fliuds are not dumped on the track.
  Battery terminals covered and earth lead taped up in yellow.
  Timing Strut (a 25cm piece of black flatbat verticaly mounted on the front of the car)
  Bulkheads between engine/fuel tank and driver compartment must be sealed.
  
  For detailed technical regulations for a champoinship then these will be issued by the club running the races, the MSA website also has details of your local clubs soworth contacting them too. The TR register (in which TSSC cars can run) regs are here: http://www.tr-sprint.freeserve.co.uk/
  
  Nice to haves are:
  Roolbar (with diagonal)
  Fire extinguisher (hand held @£35 or plumbed in @£95
  A decent "racing type" drivers seat and a four point harness (ask circuit racers if they have a harness for sale as the validity for racing runs out after 5 years but many are hardly used)
  Spare set of wheels with "semi slick" tyres
  
  Cheers
  Andy
  
  The same applies to track days except nothing is mandatory besides the car being in good condition.
  
  Cheers
  Andy

  • Starting out

    Posted By : George Ralph, 01-Jun-2007, 02:14pm

    Careful on the tyre front in roadgoing classes. Most championships state list 1A tyres for the roadgoing classes, sometimes allowing Yoko A048R/Toyo R888 form List 1B but not always. Often a bone of contentiion. Because of a complaint, the scrutes did a tyre check at Wiscombe the other week. You can get moved to a modified class.

    • Starting out

      Posted By : Chris Davidson, 02-Jun-2007, 10:46am

      Thanks for the reponses.
      
      Unfortunately wont be at Stafford to see other cars and discuss the car build.
      
      I read the Courier article alst night on the train but will have a proper read this evening.
      
      I was planning to hold off applying for licence as it may take me a while to build the car as I have a few projects on the go at the minute. Andy the offer of the 2006 blue book would be greatly received as at it will give me a bit of a guide to get going. IF you find it let me know and I get my address to you and cover the costs.
      
      I'll check the links and get reading.
      
      I'm sure I'll be back and forward with questions
      
      
      Thanks guys

      • Starting out

        Posted By : John Davies, 02-Jun-2007, 11:42am

        Chris,
        My cmtribution is to say - for goodness sake, before you put spanner to metal, visit some hill climbs and talk to the competitors.
        You'll find they are a very friendly bunch - but don't button hole them just before a run!
        
        If Andy can find you an old Blue Book, that contains a list of hill climb and sprint courses.
        The MSA site is almost purposely obscure, and although the Blue Book is there on line, you have to have an MSA licence before you can access it!
        Doh!
        So have a look at the HSA - Hillclimb and Sprint Association website. http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/home.asp
        That includes a list of venues.
        
        And you will find the Revington TR/TR Register Sprint and Hillclimb Championship 2007 calendar at the TRR website: http://www.tr-register.co.uk/news_diary.htm (Scroll down the page) I think this is the series George is in and as he says, at hill clmbs there are no bars between the TR and Spitfre/GT6 people. No doubt they are all on the same side of the bar!
        
        Good luck!
        John