what is the best sub 1400 road car for sprinting?

[Claypole]

Hi all,
just a quick question, a friend is starting out in sprinitng and wants to start in the sub 1400 road going class, what is the best vehicle he could choose?
I have suggested the 1400 puma due to being readily and cheaply availabe but also due to it's sublime chassis manners, but the seat arosa aport, has the the most outright speed, the ubiquitous series 1 106 rallye is hard to come by and not easy to find in an unmolested state,
Over to you?

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Claypole

Hi all,
just a quick question, a friend is starting out in sprinitng and wants to start in the sub 1400 road going class, what is the best vehicle he could choose?
I have suggested the 1400 puma due to being readily and cheaply availabe but also due to it's sublime chassis manners, but the seat arosa aport, has the the most outright speed, the ubiquitous series 1 106 rallye is hard to come by and not easy to find in an unmolested state,
Over to you?

Peugeot 205 Rallye is a good one to try and find - the earlier the better.

Suzuki Swifts seem to be popular in the South West where they go very well.

The Puma 1400 is one I have never seen out maybe they are too underpowered for the class?

The Pug 106 Rallye is very popular and another worth searching through Auto Trader for - have you tried the on-line version?

[Claypole]

All good suggestions Steve, availability will be the big issue and cost. The Puma will at least be easy to source parts for and will also be very available, Can't find unmolested examples either.
Swifts are equally difficult to source. Are there any "out of the box" suggestions though?

[bentimingstrut]

Maybee a Tigra. Ray Stone ran one for many years at Loton.They are very easy to tune.

[b1ackcr0w]

I'm thinking Saxo, although getting one un-chav-ised might be tough, the popularity with chavs should ironically help when tuning, finding parts and so forth.

[AndyMil]

VW Lupo, Fiat Punto, Toyota Starlet SR? not sure if these were 1600?

[Suze]

There's a variety that I have come across competing in the 1400 roadgoing class - Polo, Micra, Swift, old Honda Civic, Minis, Ka, Rover 214s, Arosas and can't recall what else. Would not like to say what's best as many people, like me, just use the everyday road car / whatever they have rather than having speciicially bought it for sprinting.

Might be worth looking at Enduro Rallying to see what they run? Cars are obviously competing on a different sort of event but they are limited to 1400s and can't make too many modifications as have to run in pretty much standard trim [Rover 214s are the choice there normally] so there'll be a wide suggestion of 1400s there.

[Claypole]

I take it you mean the mg zr 105, rover shape 105 horse car, hadn't thought of that, and will run it past my friend, thanks Suze and all others for their input on this,
Claypole

[Dan Friel]

Fiat Panda 100 HP must now also be a contendor..

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Claypole

I take it you mean the mg zr 105, rover shape 105 horse car, hadn't thought of that, and will run it past my friend, thanks Suze and all others for their input on this,
Claypole

Nope - I do mean a Rover 214, not the MG ZR.

[Claypole]

why Suze?
Claypole

[Suze]

I don't know....but asked someone else, who said that allegedly the MG ZR is supposed to be less reliable [electrics being one of the issues] and that's why many go for the 214.

[Claypole]

So he'd be trading wider tyres and more sports orientated suspension for reliability. that's a toughie, thanks.
Claypole

[Suze]

Every car will have it's pros and cons, so it's always a tough one to weigh up!

[Dan Friel]

MG ZR won't be less reliable than a 214 - but should be significantly quicker around the twisties. Both have the same 1.4 k series (and the 1.4 is how it was intended).

Also, a 1.9T diesel should really be cleaning up in this class. (Megane Sport, Ibiza must be there)

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Dan Friel

Also, a 1.9T diesel should really be cleaning up in this class. (Megane Sport, Ibiza must be there)

Assuming it runs in the 1400 class! Several clubs now run the 1.9TD cars in the 2 litre class - this is again something that needs to be standardised!

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Dan Friel

MG ZR won't be less reliable than a 214 - but should be significantly quicker around the twisties.

It's the electrics that are supposed to be the issue, and they do have completely different wiring - the ZR / 25s have BMW wiring which is less reliable [this is based on the experience of The Rover Centre in St Albans and what they've seen and recommend].

Claypole, if you did decide to go down the Rover route or wanted to talk to them about 214s v ZRs etc sure they'd be able to help, plenty of motorsport experience there!

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

Assuming it runs in the 1400 class! Several clubs now run the 1.9TD cars in the 2 litre class - this is again something that needs to be standardised!

I've seen a Bora IIRC in there somewhere and it completely cleaned it up. But then I don't think the diesel equivalency rules / formula are right anyway

I've only seen 1.9TDs run in 2 litre classes at autosolos, not sprints.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Suze

I've only seen 1.9TDs run in 2 litre classes at autosolos, not sprints.

In the Midlands and North West several clubs/championships do not apply the equivalencies so that the Turbo Disels end up running in their capacity class. I have also seen, on occasions, the 1.9TDs running in the Over Two Litre class where the Diesel equvalency has been ignored.

[Dan Friel]

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

In the Midlands and North West several clubs/championships do not apply the equivalencies so that the Turbo Disels end up running in their capacity class. I have also seen, on occasions, the 1.9TDs running in the Over Two Litre class where the Diesel equvalency has been ignored.

It's something that needs to be sorted as some standard 1.9TDs are pumping out well over 150 bhp..

[Claypole]

I haven't seen any diesels in the notts sports car championship this year, i would hope that with the modern diesel being very proficient, they would at least be in their capacity class.
Thanks Suze for the info.
Claypole

[snowen250]

Have you considered a well sorted Mini?
Something like a cooper with a 1380cc or even smaller wouldnt be left behind i am sure, and from experiance they handle sublimely.
They arent the most reliable........but parts are easy as are people to help.
I'm not sure where you are based but i can recommend some good places in the southeast.
Budget may also be an issue, a quick good sorted example ain't cheap!
Simon

[Claypole]

Simon,
that would put it in a modified class, and believe me, they are mighty effective, but as standard, they may not be as quick as a modern.
As an aside, I lost out in the classic trophy this year to a 72 renault alpine, it was in the standard class and beat all of the moderns in it, they retail these days for around thirty grand. What a great car though.
Claypole

[Moosehead]

The original 106 Rallye...........was made for the job. I used the missus bogo standard one when it was new ('94) and despite me being a front wheel drive hater turned out to be my most successfull H&S car ever.....class record at Curborough, chasing the 1.9 Pugs......a great little car.

[ChrisPage]

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

In the Midlands and North West several clubs/championships do not apply the equivalencies so that the Turbo Disels end up running in their capacity class. I have also seen, on occasions, the 1.9TDs running in the Over Two Litre class where the Diesel equvalency has been ignored.

In the NSCC it works that the equivelency for a Turbo Diesel cancel each other out? IE a Diesel engine is 0.7 of capacity, but Turbo 1.4 of capacity (or sums that actually add up!) so added together the two cancel each other out.