Young Bloke Getting Into Motorsport..

[Marco-R34GTT]

Well...

I've had this on my mind ever since I graduated from high school at the end of 2005, however due to work/family commitments and other circumstances I was not able to realistically to get into any kind of motorsport untill now... I'm in WA and I'm aware that the west isn't exactly a hot-bed for motorsport in general, so I'm wondering what kind of motorsport could I compete in??? Obviously I would need a CAMS license of some description, and I have given this a lot of consideration.

I know that I'd need a car trailer if my car isn't road legal, I know that there would be an expensive initial outlay (car purchase, roll cage, stg1 upgrades, racing seats, tires, harness, helmet ect ect ect)... I would need to be able to sustain the racing by means of replacing broken components, tires and tuning...

My budget is close to 20k..

I've been looking at the WASCC website (http://www.wascc.com.au/) but I'm still not sure what category would be right for me, and also, what car should I be looking for... I've had an idea of placing either a V8 or a VG30 into a Datsun 260Z... However I'm still not sure whether that is the right way to go or not...

Just thought I'd ask for some advise from people that do/have competed at club level and share the same passion for cars and racing...

So yeah, please feel free to post away!

Thanks All..

[Snowman]

One of the best places to "start" in W.A. that I know would be both the sprint and auto test series run out of AHG at the Airport.

http://www.dtec.com.au/mc-motorsport/car-clubs.htm

The facilities there are great and safe and would be a good and cheap place to start and also to meet people in any car before you decide exactly what direction you want to head in motorsport.

The W.A. guys on here "generally" seem to be a bit quiet about motorsport but if you want more discussions / advice about real club level stuff I'd consider looking at the perth-wrx forums http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/index.php as they seem to talk about it heaps and it's guys with all cars (not just rexes) that are on there.

[Ant97GTR]

Speak to Paul your SAUWA pres or djr81...they'lll be able to point you in the right direction

[djr81]

It depends on what you are aiming at:

If it is racing (as in door to door etc) then the categories run by WASCC are where you need to look. Stuff like the formula vees/fords if you like open wheelers, street sedans (Falcon/Commodores) or Improved Production (Imports etc).

If it is motor sport you are looking at (ie kharnas, hill climbs, sprint events (time attack if you must)) then you can pretty much build whatever car you want & turnout whenever you want.

Places to try are:

www.speedeventseries.com

This is WA's premier hillclimb/sprint series & features just about every type of car you can think of.

www.nolimitevents.com

This will get you on track at Wanneroo with an instructor & then on you own. Lots of people from here attend.

www.motoringsouthwest.org.au

Links to the Collie track & the events held there.

http://www.dtec.com.au/

The AHG centre.

Most people get a level 2 speed cams Licence (Or the alternate bodies equivalent) which gives you enough clearance to do hill climbs/ sprints/ track days/kharnas etc. Most places want Cams stuff, AHG uses the other mob.

You then need to enter for a drive day or an event. Costs vary widely for these things.

Check the events section of the SAUWA forums for stuff aswell. Antilag have drive days too sometimes. For zeds try these blokes:

http://wazregister.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

You will find people friendly and helpful at the circuits so just bail them up & ask.

There is a hillclimb on at Jacks hill at Wanneroo on the 26th April for the Speed event series followed by Collie on the 4th May followed by Albany on the long weekend followed by the Wanneroo long circuit on the 19th July........

There is plenty of motorsport in WA, plenty.

Edited April 15, 2008 by djr81

[Kaido_RR]

Well...

I've had this on my mind ever since I graduated from high school at the end of 2005, however due to work/family commitments and other circumstances I was not able to realistically to get into any kind of motorsport untill now... I'm in WA and I'm aware that the west isn't exactly a hot-bed for motorsport in general, so I'm wondering what kind of motorsport could I compete in??? Obviously I would need a CAMS license of some description, and I have given this a lot of consideration.

I know that I'd need a car trailer if my car isn't road legal, I know that there would be an expensive initial outlay (car purchase, roll cage, stg1 upgrades, racing seats, tires, harness, helmet ect ect ect)... I would need to be able to sustain the racing by means of replacing broken components, tires and tuning...

My budget is close to 20k..

I've been looking at the WASCC website (http://www.wascc.com.au/) but I'm still not sure what category would be right for me, and also, what car should I be looking for... I've had an idea of placing either a V8 or a VG30 into a Datsun 260Z... However I'm still not sure whether that is the right way to go or not...

Just thought I'd ask for some advise from people that do/have competed at club level and share the same passion for cars and racing...

So yeah, please feel free to post away!

Thanks All..

Awesome topic Mark,

i have be spending the last 2 years getting my car ready for full time motorsport work. and in the last 6months i have been looking at what events i could enter etc.

I have one basic rule i want the car to stay street rego. I try to aim for this due to the fact that events like dutton rally and other tarmac rallies required the car to have a street rego.

I have wascc club membership ($250 a year) and cams level 2 speed ($80 a year). at the moment i only enter into drift events but i would like to move my focuses to more grip events.

I ideally would like to enter the "Improved Production" class, as its pretty open class which allows mods and has a control tyre BUT the car needs to be "mass produced and commercially available in Australia" which means my skyline is out So the only other class i could enter is the "Sport Car" Class which is extremely open with no control tyre, it means i would have to be racing against GT3 and similar high performances cars.

The next option is sprints and hillclimbs which have classes depending on the type of car you run. Which is a pretty good starting topic and my aim is to enter every event for one year and see how the car holds up and how rank compare to other cars.

events like dutton rally are good events but the cost is pretty high (i think its $2,000)

let us know how you go

[Kaido_RR]

If it is racing (as in door to door etc) then the categories run by WASCC are where you need to look. Stuff like the formula vees/fords if you like open wheelers, street sedans (Falcon/Commodores) or Improved Production (Imports etc).

i through you couldn't enter imports in the improved production class ? (e,g something like an r33)

[djr81]

Um Skylines are eligible for IPRA - you need to recheck the rules.

Also be aware that racing (as opposed to motorsport like sprint events) is much more expensive. Everything from licenses, to entry fees, to wear & tear, damage & consumables will cost you alot more over a season. Plus you need driver suits, proper boots, scrutineering.....

[Kaido_RR]

Um Skylines are eligible for IPRA - you need to recheck the rules.

Also be aware that racing (as opposed to motorsport like sprint events) is much more expensive. Everything from licenses, to entry fees, to wear & tear, damage & consumables will cost you alot more over a season. Plus you need driver suits, proper boots, scrutineering.....

thanks for clearing that up

my aim is for door to door racing but i want to get my skill up 1st so want to aim for min. 1 to 2 seasons of timed events 1st

[djr81]

Then you need to get the maximum seat time you can and some instruction from someone who knows their stuff (ie not your coulda woulda shoulda mates).

This can be done through WASCC & also the nolimitsgroup.

[Kaido_RR]

Then you need to get the maximum seat time you can and some instruction from someone who knows their stuff (ie not your coulda woulda shoulda mates).

This can be done through WASCC & also the nolimitsgroup.

thankyou for your input

i have been looking into the nolimits event and they are great price for what they offer

[djr81]

Point is that unless you are the next Marcus Gronholm invariably when you first start out you will suck. Badly. Everyone is the same & it is not a criticism just an observation. I sucked wang on my first few attempts (still do for that matter) but one of the best ways to learn & sharpen up is to practice. You notice it even on your first go back after Christmas. You just feel rusty.

The other half of the equation is to make sure your technique is right. This is where the instructor comes in. People like John Hurney to name but one can sit in the car with you & talk you around the circuit & talk you through your technique. Your mates can't if for no other reason than they aren't allowed out on the track with you. Ofcourse if you have mates like mine they just pour scorn on you anyway.

Edited April 15, 2008 by djr81

[Kaido_RR]

Point is that unless you are the next Marcus Gronholm invariably when you first start out you will suck. Badly. Everyone is the same & it is not a criticism just an observation. I sucked wang on my first few attempts (still do for that matter) but one of the best ways to learn & sharpen up is to practice. You notice it even on your first go back after Christmas. You just feel rusty.

The other half of the equation is to make sure your technique is right. This is where the instructor comes in. People like John Hurney to name but one can sit in the car with you & talk you around the circuit & talk you through your technique. Your mates can't if for no other reason than they aren't allowed out on the track with you. Ofcourse if you have mates like mine they just pour scorn on you anyway.

total agree.

Even though drifting is on the other scale compare to grip racing, i do notice that if i miss a practices the next time im on the track i suck badly and need some extra time to get back into it correctly.

practices makes perfect

[GTS-t VSPEC]

I agree with drj81, get down to No Limits, get some time racing around with qualified instructors to help you out. There are heaps of Motorsport events happening in WA as pointed out about.

IPRA is great is you have a relatively unmodified car, but for people like me who've already gone too far with mods then WA runs a Street Car class which is pretty open.

The only really cheap form of motorsport other than Go Karts is probably to go HQ racing, but the thought of driving something with drum brakes gives me chills

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Also join WASCC, as they have a number of open practice days for members.

[Duncan]

and buy a dedicated race car, don't track your regular street car.

street cars look cheap at first but by the time you break things, replace things and have your daily off the road it adds up very quickly. Plus you need 2 of everything street tyres/track tyres. street brake pads/race brake pads. street seat belt/race harness you get the idea. And you will want to mod it for track use, and by the time you are finished you will have a really bad street car

when you buy a dedicated race car someone else is built you always get a huge bargain. resale on race cars are terrible so for 5-10k you can get something that cost up to 50k to build. and if you bin it it doesnt matter.

[Marco-R34GTT]

Yeah, that is what I had in mind with the Zed idea....

I don't wanna really be trashing my Skyline... Maybe something like AHG for the R34 but no more, especially no door to door stuff...

[Kaido_RR]

and buy a dedicated race car, don't track your regular street car.

+1 i learned this the hard way, spent 15k+ of my street car to get it track ready and at the end of the day its still a street car with just alot of mods

any updates mark?

i'm about to start addressing my cooling issue in my r33 (hopfully only be off the road for a few weeks) then i hope to start getting some times down and working on the cars setup

Edited May 22, 2008 by [Michael]

[Marco-R34GTT]

Yeah...

Just going to do Autotest next season...

I am seriously considering the Zed idea, but trying to avoid financial peril at the same time!

Not an easy job, but yeah, if the idea can be done it will be done...

Probably going to use the VG30 as it is still sitting in my uncle's garage.. If that fails... Plans are for an infinity 4.5TT V8...

though, that would be a long way down the track... Power/Weight would be ballistic!!1!one!11!ty

[Amec]

if you're going to build a VG30DETT, build it with something like Eagle rods and ACL race series pistons. you will be happy with the life you get out of the motor, our race motor has been going since Feb 2006, motor is still going strong. we are leading the QR Top Gear sprints series this year.

for turbos I would suggest a pair of GT2860R for the best balance between power and response.

[aleks]

Like djr81 mentioned racing in door to door in a series is very expensive, plus the fact you want to build the car from scratch also expensive (you would easily blow 20K just on the build)

If I were looking into getting into a racing series, I don't think I would be able to look past karting on fun factor and price.

Edited June 30, 2008 by aleks