Conference terri::cars_uk

�    will obviously need reasonably priced (and safe) helmet, suit, racing
�    booties and maybe gloves. I'd appreciate suggestions as to reputable
�    makes, prices and outlets. 
    
    You may want to buy a copy of the CCC publication, out now :
    
    			Racing Your Road Car
    
    Not only about racing, but does describe 'grass-roots' stuff for
    people venturing into motor sport.  Plenty of adverts in that and
    the monthly magazine itself for suppliers of racing clothing, etc.
    
    J.R.

    
    Hi William,
    
     Where will you be hillclimbing ?? I started at Gurston Down last
    year. I needed the following :-
    
     RAC License + Membership of BARC South West       �50 + �30 ish
     Fireproof Overalls from Ripspeed in London  about �85
     Helmet from Ripspeed (with the right sticker)     �75
    
     Demon Tweeks are the other company who seem to offer good prices.
    
     Chris.
     
     

�     Helmet from Ripspeed (with the right sticker)     �75
    
    If you get a [RAC legal] helmet which doesn't have the sticker on it,
    you will be charged something like 30p for one, from the scrutineer
    (that's if the helmet *is* RAC legal - getting one with the sticker
    on it already is one guarantee of that!).
    
    J.R.

I'm not sure what the slang term for these are in the UK, but it's a foam
collar with a Nomex cover that you fit around your neck after you
put your helmet on.  It has a Velcro strip to 'tie' it together in front.
It keeps your neck movement down and can reduce neck injuries if you
find the car had suddenly stopped against something you hadn't planned
to use as a brake......

I used one when rallying, just from all bouncing around we did.  It kept
my head from being tossed side to side too much.

They cost around $20-30 here in the US.

Dave

ps - don't forget gloves

    On the subject of hillclimbing, the Bugatti Owner's Club run a very
    effective one-day course for would-be competitors.
    
    If anybody is interested, I can supply details.
    
    Gareth Mallet
    

�    On the subject of hillclimbing, the Bugatti Owner's Club run a very
�    effective one-day course for would-be competitors.
    
    Bugatti Owner's Club own the Prescott hillclimb course, don't they ?
    
�    If anybody is interested, I can supply details.
    
    Please do...
    
    J.R.

    Yes, they do own Prescott - a very picturesque course.
    
    I'll dig out the necessary details and get back to you.
    
    Gareth Mallet

    
    Yup,
    
    I got a day at Prescott for my Christmas present !! I've got the stuff
    in the Crescent if anybody wants a look ....
    
    How about hiring Goodwood for the day exclusively for testing ???
    
    Chris. 

�    How about hiring Goodwood for the day exclusively for testing ???
    
    Ken Bell did this at the end of last year.  Unfortunately, he couldn't
    fit me in.  Turns out the day was a real washout anyway.
    
    There is a 'performance driving school' of some sort based at Goodwood.
    I'd consider going on that before the next Alfa day there if possible.
    
    J.R.

    
    Just a quick note to thank everyone who responded. Aside from the
    detail on equipment, I'm interested in the instruction - I've never
    practiced getting a car off the line, and I'm more used to driving on
    wider circuits. Now where do I get the Bugatti?
    
    William.

For starting, they usually have a block to keep the car from rolling
backwards.  Since the hillclimbs are short, you'll need to get heat into
the tires as soon as possible, so smoking the tires at the start is
the order of the day.  You can try some less dramatic starts, but they'll
probably slow your times and they won't be as much fun!

Practice is the key, but you don't get many runs up the hill.  Just worry 
about the nasty turns, don't try to memorize every inch of the hill
right from the start.  *DON'T* use all the road.  At least don't commit
yourself to using all of it.  You can probably dip in deep at the apexes,
but leave a foot or so on the exit for safety.

Remember, you're going uphill so gravity is your friend when braking.  Also,
any rpms that you drop going into a corner will be much harder to get back
later on.

One trick I used on my VWs was to go to a very low profile tire just for
the hillclimbs.  Stock size was 185/60x14 so I put on a complete set of
175/50x13.  Quite a drop in size and it improved my times because I could
stay in the power range all the way up the hill (the shortest hill was .9
miles, 2 where 2.5 to 3.0 miles and one was 7.5 miles)

Dave

    
    Thanks Dave - valuable advice. While I think I can drive a line,
    I'll certainly have lots to learn about braking distances and
    standing starts. Hopefully the Ring School (Porsche's two day
    session at Nurburgring) will help, though I wonder how transferrable
    the skills involved are.
    
    William.

How many of us are still competing in sprints and hillclimbs or have we all been
rightsized??

Also, If you have never raced rallied etc and have fancied motorsport but find
it too expensive, think again. Sprinting and Hillclimbing at club level is
pretty cheap still and you can run shopping cars without hacking them around. 

If anyone wants some details as to where to start, mail me. If you are in the
North UK I can deal with it, in the south or Scotland (where there are some of
the best venues) I'm sure we can find someone to help you get started.

Mike