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Introduction to Speed Competitions This guide is based on an article written by Peter Humphries and explains what sprinting is all about and how to start. I have made some additions to the material. Modern TVRs offer such huge performance that it would be highly irresponsible to use their full potential on the road. Track days offer a relatively safe environment to explore the limits of the car, but even here you are surrounded by crash barriers and tyre walls which can be quite intimidating (and don't forget that you're in the company of a group of people all driving faster than they've ever gone before). What we all want is an opportunity to drive at ten tenths, hear the scream of tyres and the roar of exhaust, go for those huge opposite-lock power slides and not worry about what happens if it all goes horribly wrong. Somewhat surprisingly, we are not the only group of people in the country who feel this way, and someone has already come up with the answer: speed or sprint competitions. Peter started competing in 1997 and enjoyed himself enormously as well as improving his driving skills and persuaded me to get involved in the middle of the year. He was a great help in getting me started and answered many of the questions that I had. For those who might want to join in, here are answers to some common questions: What are speed competitions?
Speed competitions are a friendly and low-cost form of motorsport organised by and for motoring enthusiasts. There are two types of speed event: sprints and hillclimbs. At sprints you drive individually around a course of up to a mile, against the clock. Courses vary from a lap of a racing circuit such as Brands Hatch, to a course marked out in cones at a disused airfield. Hillclimbs have a similar format but take place on a special-purpose course up a hill instead of on level ground. They tend to provide more in the way of scenery which make them more interesting to drive (and to spectate). There are various prizes at each event, but the main reason to come along is that it gives you a chance to drive like a hooligan without any worry about traffic jams, speed limits, flashing blue lights or some other idiot pushing you off the road. Speed competitions are an ideal way to enjoy the performance of your road-going TVR in a safe environment. If you enjoy driving fast (what TVR driver doesn't?) then you should seriously consider having a go. Many TVRs offer such huge performance that it would be highly irresponsible to use their full potential on the road. Track days offer a much safer environment and are an ideal way to learn the limits of the car -- and your own limits as a driver. However, you have to remember that you are not alone on the track; track days are definitely not the place for competitive driving or hooligan behaviour. Having got to grips with the car at track days it is understandable that some drivers want to see just how fast they can go. What we all want is an opportunity to drive at ten tenths, hear the scream of tyres and the roar of exhaust, go for those huge opposite-lock power slides and not worry about what happens if it all goes horribly wrong. Well, we are not the only group of people in the country who feel this way, and someone has already come up with the answer: Speed Competitions Is it dangerous? Some events take place on race circuits, which are similar to the environment found at track days. These have some corners with nice big run-off areas where it is safe to be a complete hooligan, and some where a little more discretion is required. Other events take place on airfield circuits with huge run-off areas and nothing to hit other than the odd traffic cone -- maximum hooligan mode is the norm here. Whatever the type of course, you are alone on the track so there is no danger of colliding with another car. Rescue crews and paramedics are present at all events but have a very boring job, you simply don’t see people getting hurt. Above all this is a low-cost, low-risk form of motorsport and none of us would be there if we thought there was a real risk of stuffing our pride and joy. Having said that, any time you drive your car there is the possibility of damage. Your normal road insurance will not cover you during competitions, but you can arrange specialist competition insurance from around £40 per day. You may want to consider taking out this insurance if you're planning to compete in something expensive. Many airfield circuits are so safe you might feel you can reasonably go without, but that's a decision you have to make for yourself. Will it hurt the car? Speed competitions involve a busy day with several runs of the course, but each run lasts only a minute or so. In that time the tyres and brakes have barely got warm. The wear and tear is minimal and should be no problem for the average TVR, no special preparation is required. Will I be fast enough to compete? Most sprint competitors are new to motorsport. Don't expect to simply turn up and win your first event, but before long you'll find you're keeping up with others in your class and even beating them from time to time. The truth is TVR don't make slow cars, you can enter in virtually any TVR and be competitive. That isn't a reason to enter, though -- the whole point is that we're there to have fun. You will meet people of all ages and driving abilities, some of us tend to be rather 'diagonal' on occasion but that doesn't stop us having a good time. If you take home a trophy once in a while that's a bonus.
How much does it cost? Protective gear for the driver will cost between about £150 and £300. Annual fees and subscriptions will cost about another £50. Finally, entry fees for each event vary between about £50 and £100. Where are the competitions? The largest groups of TVR competitors are in the Midlands and South of England, however there are growing numbers of TVRs competing in Northern England, Wales and Scotland. Wherever you are, there’s a fair chance you'll find TVRs competing nearby.
The TVR Car Club Speed Championship Regional Championships There are TVRs competing in several regional championships across the country. These regional championships use a variety of regulations and scoring systems and don't have many events in common. The TVR Car Club Speed Championship enables TVR competitors in the different regional championships to compete against each other in a single nation-wide TVR championship. It doesn't replace the regional championships. Registration in the TVR Car Club Speed Championship doesn't automatically entitle competitors to enter any events. Each competitor must register with the appropriate regional championship. Entry into the regional championship entitles the competitor to enter all the events in that championship's calendar. Some of these events are also included in the TVR Car Club Speed Championship calendar. The results from those events count towards the TVR Car Club Speed Championship as well as the regional championship. Initially the TVR Car Club Speed Championship is based on just two regional championships - the Midlands Speed Championship and ACSMC Speed Championships. It is planned to extend this to include other regional championships in subsequent years if there is sufficient interest. If you're competing in another region and want your championship to be included next year, let the TVR speed championship coordinator know how you're getting on. You can encourage others in your area to join in, by sending competition reports in to Sprint. This also makes interesting reading for the rest of us! Championship Coordinator The TVR Car Club Speed Championship Coordinator is: Peter Humphries (TVR championship coordinator) 01908 604595 (before 9pm) peter.humphries@greenv8s.freeserve.co.uk Calendar The TVRCC Speed Championship incorporates the rounds from the Midlands Speed Championship (in the Midlands) and the ACSMC Speed Championships (in the South) with the best five results to count. Handicap Scheme The handicap for each car is determined by the car's power/weight ratio, based on the manufacturers figures for the power and weight of each model and any subsequent modifications. At each event, the competitor's best competitive time is multiplied by their handicap factor to derive their handicapped time for the event. All the TVR Car Club Speed Championship contenders at the event are ranked according to their handicapped time and awarded points according to the number of contenders they have beaten. Getting started Here is a list of the things you need to do to join in the TVR Car Club Speed Championship:
Car modifications You may be tempted to get the car set up for competition to give you an edge. Bear in mind that there are strict limits to what you are allowed to change on the car. The aim is to stop anyone buying an unfair advantage. The TVR Car Club Speed Championship doesn't restrict modifications to the car, however all cars will need to comply with the technical regulations for their regional championship. You should consult the regulations for your regional championship for the definitive regulations, but here's a summary: For the Midlands Speed Championship the technical regulations for the TVR class are fairly liberal. However, for the ACSMC championships the regulations are much stricter. The standard production class is the most restricted class and is the one most TVRs will enter. Other classes allow more extensive modifications such as engine tuning and suspension/brake upgrades. Whatever your car there will be a class to suit you. The following modifications are permitted in the ACSMC standard production class:
Apart from that the car must be standard, nothing added and nothing taken away.
Your first Sprint You will receive an event application form a few weeks before each event. If you intend enter you should apply immediately - many events are oversubscribed and places are usually allocated on a first-come first-served basis. You should receive an acknowledgment within a week or so. In the week before the event you will receive a set of final instructions telling you what your individual competitor number is, how to find the circuit, when you should turn up and the order of events for the day. Preparations There are no special preparations, just the usual checks that the car has plenty of oil, water, and fuel. What to take with you:
What happens on the day People start turning up shortly before the signing-on time advertised in the final instructions. Unless the final instructions say otherwise, you can park anywhere you fancy in the paddock. The normal order of business is to start by going along to “signing on” where the event organisers check your paperwork is in order and ask you to sign an indemnity. Then prepare the car by sticking the numbers on both sides and fitting the timing strut. Now you’re ready to join the queue for scrutineering, which is a basic safety check of the car and your helmet and overalls. At your first sprint the scrutineer will check that the helmet is of an approved type and sell you a sticker for a pound to show future scrutineers that it’s OK. Some clubs organise signing on and scrutineering differently so check the final instructions to see if they’ve pulled a fast one. Having got all that out the way, take the opportunity to walk the track if you have time. This is your chance to plan your line through each corner, look for useful reference points for braking and turning-in points, and 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. Make sure you get back in time for the driver’s briefing where they’ll remind you about how the runs are going to be organized and tell you to be careful. Then you’re ready for the action to start. At most events you 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 "bad form" to spin on the convoy lap! Then the timed runs start. 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!). 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. Don't try to help unless they ask you to. Timing is normally electronic. At the line you are faced with red light, and a green light. These are normally both off. A few seconds before your run starts one of the start-line marshals will direct your attention to the lights. The red light will come on for a few seconds, then it will go out and the green one will come on. This is your cue to start. You start in your own time after the green light comes on the clock starts when the car actually moves and breaks the timing beam. Now’s your chance to give it some welly! 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 about half an hour after the last runs. 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. Useful Contacts Motor Sports Association (competition licenses) 01753 681736 www.msauk.org Egger Lawson (competition car insurance) 0115 941 5255 www.competition-car-insurance.co.uk Tower View Race Services (car preparation) 0208 452 6922 www.t-v-r-services.co.uk Peter Humphries (TVR championship coordinator) 01908 604595 (before 9pm) peter.humphries@greenv8s.freeserve.co.uk TVR Car Club 01952 822126 www.tvrcc.com ACSMC website www.ukmotorsport.com/acsmc Midlands Speed Championship website www.hinotori.freeserve.co.uk/ms.html Unofficial home of UK motorsport www.ukmotorsport.com Unofficial TVR enthusiasts website www.pistonheads.com
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