Okie dokie, I've been giving more and more thought into getting into motor racing, I know a couple of people here have experience in some form or another, so really I am asking for advice as to where to start. I've looked into the national competition license, it doesn't seem too expensive considering, but I have no clue what to expect. Do they use their own cars for the tests and training?
I'm not interested in your sunday morning banger racing, or karting, Karts i'm to old to use as a springboard into anything and these local banger races end up leaving you with some crapped out ford sierra that you need to tow home. I want to get into something thats at least competitive and opens up possibilities of real speed and skill.
I know from the start I'm not going to end up going the same route as damon hill, I simply dont have the money, but I am hoping to have a new and rather well paid job pretty soon to at least maybe open up options in series like Formula Ford or Formula Renault, both of which I was reading, you can buy and run a private car in for a "reasonable" price.

Craig, I completed a racing school at Brands Hatch in the mid 90s with a view to entering national competition. I was looking at the Ford Fiesta series as a starter point. I got my national licence in a matter of weeks, actually it was easier than I thought.
The cost of racing put me off though. Firstly, and obviously, you need a car. Then you need a TEAM of mechanics, transport, accommodation at the event (a motorhome will do, some even make do with a tent) spare parts and bodywork, tyres, insurance (liability), your event entry fee (yes you're charged) and time off to achieve all this.
A middle of the road sponsor may help you in some of this but it really is an expensive hobby.
A Ford Fiesta in those days was upward of £10,000 just for the car.. add up what I mentioned above and you're looking at £50-60,000 at least for a single season. And that's not taking into account 3 or 4 write-offs, which will inevitably happen as a rookie..it needn't even be your fault.
You may be able to work up through the formulae if you're good enough through scholarships etc, but you have to be really good.

Good luck mate 

Cheers mate.
I know it's a difficult and hard to acheive goal. So what does the racing school actually involve? Was it an every day, full on dedication thing, or was it simmilar to your driving licence, couple of hours a week and test when your ready?
The numbers you quoted there are what a season in formula Renault would set you back, mechanics included. Fuel not included.

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Craig. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 5:50pm:


When I did it, bear in mind this was mid 90s, it was mainly made up of sessions on track, coupled with classroom sessions. The sessions on track were rev limited until you proved yourself at that limit then the rev limit was increased until you reached the required lap times. It was down to the driver to keep the revs within the limit, no gizmos were involved, I presume to get an awareness thing going (and to teach a bit of right foot discipline no doubt  ). The classroom sessions were more about the actual physics of motor racing, balance of the car, and flag recognition. Believe it or not, flags are one of the hardest things to get used to.. imagine fighting it out with a pack of cars, you've one eye on the three cars around you, one on the track, one in the mirrors.. and you're still expected to notice the little man with the yellow flag as you whizz past him at 100mph+ 

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Thanks CD.
The right foot discipline might be good in my case,  Did you use track cars supplied by the track and school? Or were they standard road cars with some modifications for the track?

Craig. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 6:07pm:


BMW 318is and Formula Firsts, both race spec and on semi slick tyres.

Craig. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 6:12pm:


I'd imagine race suits, fireproofs, helmets and boots aren't cheap these days. I never got that far. 

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From my Demon Tweeks Direct catalogue, which just happened ti be next to me:

Using the cheapest options:

Using Sparco (OMP were comparable, Alpinestars a little pricyer):

Suit £200
Boots £90
Gloves £30
Balaclava £20
Nomex Top £40*
Nomex Long-Johns £30*
Socks £10*

and at least £250 for a helmet (Sparco's, Bell's, OMP's and Arai's base models all appear to be in the £240-£300 mark).

So about £650 to £700 of kit minimum. Ouch



*more than one set needed, else no one will talk to you after one day!

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Or some eejit drops it...

Charlie wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 7:08pm:

That eejit would soon have said helmet wraped around the back of their head rather promptly.

I did some rallying with a friend years ago ...... luckily he funded it all and although he was from a rich family it eventually became too much even for his seemingly limitless budget.

I had another friend who went into Caterham racing ..... built the car himself from a kit and bought a decent engine for race days and an engine for day to day driving. Providing he didn't prang the car during a race he was able to drive to and from the meetings on the day to day engine and his dad used to drive the van with all the kit. He would camp at the tracks to save on accomodation and his dad was a mechanic and helped him tune the race engine. I don't think he ever did particularly well but he had great fun and all on a reasonable budget. His race engine was from a new  V6 Vauxhall Vectra and his everyday engine was from a scrapped Vectra.

What did you do for boots Ozzy? Asbestos sheet in your flip-flops?