To single seater car owners

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Hi all,


I'm a kart racer (in England) of seventeen interested in making the transition to cars within the next few years.

I understand that there are people within this forum who run drivers in their own cars.

If possible I would like to get in contact with those people with a view to possibly test for them in 2005.


I live within fifteen minutes of Donnington Park, so it's an ideal test location for me, but obviously I cannot dictate a test's whereabouts.


Please contact me,


Alex

[ActiveMS]

Alex, just emailed you.

[andy97]

Alex, it would be far cheaper to test at Mallory Park on a wed morning than to try at DP.

[ss_collins]

If you are after a free test - well its unlikeley - though if you want to try a top car - I can arrange it at Mallory for £250.

I should point out that cost includes the use of the car etc..

[kickstart]

Welcome Alex, I hope you have a great deal of fun and enjoy single seaters. In terms of hiring cars, like most things, you get exactly what you pay for. If you are planning to do club racing for fun then rent a clubman's car but if you want to get into pro racing or you are quite serious about it, then you should probably spend your money on a test with a decent team. Comtec and Mackie Motorsport both contibute on this site and they certainly are pro teams.
By the way Donington Park is a great circuit but mega expensive to test at, last season they were charging £395 per day, hence the suggestion of Mallory at £80 for a 1/2 day.

[Triple J Motorsport]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

If you are after a free test - well its unlikeley - though if you want to try a top car - I can arrange it at Mallory for £250.

I should point out that cost includes the use of the car etc..

What cars that?

You must be making a lose

[ss_collins]

Formula Vee - and no we don't make a loss (in fact a profit), possibly why we are the biggest team in vee (up to 20 cars). The team is a car manufacturer also so is a serious outfit. Vee whilst lower profile than other series is bigger and more competitive than pretty much anything else. Also its low profile allows you to learn the tracks and adapt to cars without the spotlight being on you

[Triple J Motorsport]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

Formula Vee - and no we don't make a loss (in fact a profit), possibly why we are the biggest team in vee (up to 20 cars). The team is a car manufacturer also so is a serious outfit. Vee whilst lower profile than other series is bigger and more competitive than pretty much anything else. Also its low profile allows you to learn the tracks and adapt to cars without the spotlight being on you

Can I hire it next time Justin is testing

[Mackmot]

Alex, I PMed you and added you to my MSN

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Thankyou very much for your replies everbody. Your infomation has been very helpful, especially considering I knew nothing about single seaters before I'm not sure which series is right for me. However I suppose that sucess in any of the series available will equal a move up the ladder, the class in which I suceed will just govern the ammount of progress.

It does look like mallory will be the venue. Btw Donnington charge £150 for kart meetings, for which you get a 10min practise and two 8 lap races.

I am deadly serious about my racing career. My father was a very sucessful motorcycle racer during the 60's & 70's so I have in-family evidence that sucess in motorsport is very acheavable, which serves as a catalyst for my motivation. I would boast about my driving ability here, but I'd prefer to not say anything and let my performance during a test do the talking... but I will prove to be very very quick.

[kickstart]

Don't forget Alex that in addition to being very, very quick you will also need to be very, very wealthy or at least be good pals with someone who is. Good luck

[Alex Hodgkinson]

That I am aware of kickstart. I think I have some good contacts though


(Btw for this reason I'm also considering racing bikes because my dad's influence could definatly get me a long way)

[foreversideways]

Alex. To restate the old joke. How do you make a small fortune out of motor racing: Start with a large one. When you have got through a couple of hundred thousand in Formula Ford or BMW, make sure you have saved a couple more for Formula Renault. But remember to keep saving because you are going to need the price of a very nice house for you Formula 3 campaign. Then lets hope that your unknown granny has a million or so in her will for you because your gonna need it for you final push through GP2.
Still Santa is off on his rounds soon, it could be your lucky dayanta: anta:

[kickstart]

Being serious for a minute Alex and trying not to be cynical, if I were you I would spend my money on a few tests with first class teams in either FBMW or F Renault as you really need to know if you will be quick enough. Otherwise if you race clubman cars or do cheap deals with second class teams you will wonder how quick you might have gone in a really good car.
Don't forget that FBMW have a scholarship competition and the winners (I think there are about 4) each get £35k towards a season of FBMW. If that is what you are heading towards (for 2006) then you need to do as much racing as you can afford this coming season to get familiar with the circuits. The best and cheapest way to do that is to go FF1600 racing as you should be able to race everywhere plus the festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy.

Good luck

[foreversideways]

I understand Will Hoy's nephew has just won this scholorship and is doing BMW in 2005. Kickstart is right, you get an awfull lot of bang for your buck in FF1600.

[ss_collins]

FF1600 or Vee - bear in mind Vee you get lots more bang for your buck than you do in anything else. £6,000 will sort you out forthe season (between 14 - 28 races)

[foreversideways]

Now that sure is bang for your buck.

[blue nose]

I will take quality over quantity if you see what I mean.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Ok I've had a few words with people. I'm going to do as many tests as possible during the summer months, in different cars.
So Mackmot and ss_collins, will you be prepared to test me around that time?

[Tweed]

You have to have a National B license to test, presumably? Or can you, in a 'private' test, if there is such a thing, test without one??

[Barry Pomfret]

On a general test day at an RAC licenced circuit you need a current MSA licence, which is usually checked at signing on. If you do not have a licence it is possible to use somewhere like Bruntingthorpe.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

So I need to apply for a national b as well as my 'kart' national a this year.

[ActiveMS]

Alex,
Have a chat with the MSA next week (www.msauk.org).
Phone their main number and then ask for the licensing department.
They are normally very helpful, however the will be very busy over the next couple of months doing license renewals.

Rgds
Jonathan

Ps. Received your email and will reply next week. Happy New Year

[Triple J Motorsport]

Yes give them a call they granted me a race national B licensing after passing only the written test as I held an international kart license, this was about 5 years ago though and you only have a national a kart license but you could upgrade it by the summer.

[Driving Spanner]

They have stoped doing that now from what i am told, was told by the MSA 3 years ago that i would be one of the last people!!! so im affraid that you would need to take your ards test to upgrade to a race licence, which isnt a bad thing to do anyway as its experience!!!