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| Introduction to sprinting |
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What are Speed Competitions? The performance of most cars these days is far above that permitted on the public roads but the good news is that there are alternatives open to Borough 19 Motor Club members, the most popular ones being Track Days, Speed Competitions and Prodution Car Trials (PCTs). Track days offer a safe environment in which a driver and a fast car can get to know each other a little better. If you find the prospect of hurtling round a track with a bunch of would-be racing drivers a little daunting, you should take comfort from the fact that these events are very safe and well organised with instructors available and so there is no reason why anyone with basic driving skills shouldn't thoroughly enjoy the experience. The important thing to remember about track days is that they are non-competitive. There are strict safety guidelines and the emphasis is on driving within your own limits and being courteous to other drivers at all times; racing and aggressive driving are simply not tolerated. Having got to grips with the car at track days it is understandable that some drivers will want an opportunity to drive more competitively. This is where Speed Competitions come in. What are Speed Competitions? Competitors drive individually around a course of about a mile against the clock. Courses vary from a lap of a racing circuit such as Lydden Hill, or a course laid out at an airfield such as Honington, to more specialised hillclimb venues which are more like your favourite twisty country lane, often complete with rather solid bits of scenery to catch the unwary. The hillclimb venues have the best facilities and are generally seen as more challenging. There are various prizes at each event, but the main reason to come along is that it gives you a chance to drive as fast as you dare without any worry about traffic jams, speed limits, flashing blue lights or some other idiot pushing you off the road. It is very easy to join Borough 19 Motor Club and new competitors are always welcome. For those considering having a go, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions: Is it Dangerous? Whatever the type of course, you are alone on the track so there is no danger of colliding with another car. Also, in the interests of safety, under MSA rules, rescue crews and paramedics must be present at all events. It must be noted that any time you drive your car at any motor sport event; there is the possibility of damage. Normal road insurance will not cover competitions of any kind but you can arrange specialist competition insurance at a daily rate if you wish. You may want to consider taking out this insurance if you're planning to compete in something expensive. Above all this is a low-cost, and relatively low-risk form of motor sport but competitors are advised to view safety as their first priority. Will it hurt my car? It should be said at this point that speed events are a form of motor sport and there is always the possibility of mishap. Misjudgements generally result in a spin or trip across the grass, but it is possible to make contact with the scenery, which is why some competitors take out competition insurance. Will I be Fast Enough to Compete? How Much Does it Cost? Where are the Competitions? The Borough 19 Motor Club - Speed Championship Championship Contacts Getting Started 1. Join Borough 19 Motor Club. The form can be downloaded from www.borough19motorclub.co.uk 2. Download a set of the 2009 Championship Regulations and entry form from our chatgroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Borough_19_Motor_Club or from our website www.borough19motorclub.co.uk/ 3. Send your Club Speed Championship registration form to NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. 4. Call the Motor Sports Association on 01753 681736 and apply for a National B Non-Race competition license. Alternatively, go on-line and apply directly through the MSA website http://www.msauk.org/custom/asp/home/default.asp In order to get the license you need to be a member of an MSA-recognised car club such as the Borough 19 Motor Club. 5. Go to your local motorbike shop and buy a 'type A' helmet. It must comply with any of the following standards: BS6658-85 type A or A/FR, Snell SA95 or 2000, SFI 31.1 or 31.2. Most good quality bike helmets comply with one of these standards. If you're going to drive an open-top car then a full-face helmet (i.e. a normal bike helmet) is recommended. Prices can start from around £100 but ensure that the helmet complies with the standards listed above. 6. Go to any nearby race accessories shop and buy a race suit. You can buy a fire-proof Nomex suit from about £300 from any of the suppliers are listed in Autosport or the MSA Blue Book (which arrives along with your MSA Speed License. Get a pack of stick-on 9" racing numbers while you're there. 7. Make up a timing strut to fit the front of your car. The exact dimensions are given in the MSA Blue Book, but basically when viewed from the side of the car it has to be twelve inches high and stick forward two inches, and be black. See section 4 for detailed guidelines for making one. 8. Mark the positive terminal on the battery with yellow tape. Car Modifications Tyres: To compete in a roadgoing car in the the Borough 19 Motor Club Speed Championship, your car must be shod with tyres appearing in list 1A or list 1B in the MSA Blue Book. Dampers: if you have adjustable shock absorbers you will find the handling improves if you stiffen up the dampers by about 25-50% from normal road settings. If you are replacing the dampers at any point, it is recommended you buy those that can be adjusted on the car. Harness: a competition harness is recommended as a safety measure, but it also holds you in your seat and improves your control over the car. Once you've tried one you'll never go back. Costs start from around £50 but be aware that some work is generally required to fit them and the best advice is to come and see how someone else has done it. Roll-over Hoop: these are recommended but not always easy to fit to open top cars. If you want to fit one of these you can expect to spend several days making one up yourself or a few hundred pounds getting a professional to sort it for you. Again, come and see how others have managed it. Seat: you are allowed to fit a competition seat if you prefer it. Many people get by with their standard car seats but they can be a bit slippery under intense cornering or braking. Seat Mount: the standard seat mountings used on many early cars do not meet the full MSA safety guidelines (because the floors were sometimes quite thin). Although the standard seat mounts are permitted, it is preferable to have them looked at and if necessary reinforce them to bring them up to the full MSA specification. Engine Modifications: engine modifications are permitted but you should consult the MSA blue book and the speed championship regulations to see what is allowed. Your First Sprint What to take with you:
If you're competing in a road-going car, you also need:
Or, if you're competing in a non-road-going car, you need:
What Happens On a Sprint Day? Then, competitors check their cars (tyre pressures, oil and coolant level etc) attach their numbers to both sides and fit timing struts. They're now ready to join the queue for scrutineering, which is a basic safety check of the cars, crash helmets and race overalls. At a competitor's first sprint the scrutineer will check that the new crash helmet is of an approved type and sell the entrant an "MSA approved" sticker for £1 to show future scrutineers that it's OK. Some clubs organise signing on and scrutineering differently so check the final instructions to see what has been organised. Having got all that out the way competitors are encouraged to take the opportunity to walk the track if there is time before practice starts. This is your chance to visualise your line through each corner, look for useful reference points for braking and turning-in points, and to spot any hazards around the course. By the time you get back the chuck wagon will probably be open for business so you can tuck in to build up the calories you're about to burn off. Top tip: Make sure you get back in time for the compulsory drivers' briefing where they'll remind everyone about how the runs are going to be organized and any special information or local regulations. At some events entrants get a chance to drive round gently in convoy so you can see what the track looks like from the driving seat. Try not to be too wild - it is considered very bad form to spin on the convoy lap! Then the driving starts. First there are a couple of practice runs (which are timed but don't count towards the final results) followed by the competitive runs. Make sure you know how many practice runs there are, and how many laps the practice and competitive runs are (they aren't always the same!). Official timed runs follow the same sequence: cars queue up in number order and are ushered up to the line one at a time. Once you get close to the line the start-line marshals will take control of the car and push it the last few inches until it is perfectly lined up with the timing beam. Don't try to help unless they ask you to. Timing is normally electronic. At the line you are faced with red light. A few seconds before your run starts one of the start-line marshals will direct your attention to the lights. The red light will change to green and you start in your own time but within 5 seconds of the light turning green. Note that the clock starts when the car breaks the timing beam and not when the light goes green. Times are generally posted a few minutes after your run, so you can see how well you did and figure out how you're going to go even faster next time. The day ends with a short prize-giving ceremony half an hour after the last runs. When packing up remember to take your timing strut and numbers off before you drive home - the police take a dim view of people driving on public roads with racing numbers on, and if you're reported your competition license may be revoked. 2009 Season At the end of the year, the championship awards are presented at our Dinner and Presentations evening in January. This is a fabulous social opportunity where we all meet to recognise each other's season's achievements. If you would like to come and have a go in 2009, please see the contact information below. If you have any questions you can write to Chris or John Sharp at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it If you'd prefer to just come along and watch, that's fine too. Championship Administrator Christine Sharp This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Borough 19 Motor Club Discussion Forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Borough_19_Motor_Club
Borough 19 Motor Club Website
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