cheapest way to run first season

[mytzlflick]

I havn't bougt a car yet but have my heart set on a chev product, whats the cheapest way to run solo1?
what do i have to have to run safely?

[Theo]

1) Run your 318.
2) Buy a helmet
3) Buy R-compound Rubber
4) Go racing!

The car won't be overly fast, so the odds of stuffing it are reduced. It will be very predictable, so you'll be able to learn rather than having to sort out the car.

You'll need your own helmet anyway.

R compounds are cheaper to run that street rubber, and they are faster out of the box.

That's about all I have. (Other than the 318)

[alexb]

Mytzlflick
For you first year buy your chevy leave it stock come on out and have fun.At this level of racing the guy/girl behind the wheel has a lot more to do with how you place than your modifications.Spend a season on the track driving and learning at a level that is comfortable to you(this is just a start).It gets really interesting from here on in. IMO

[mytzlflick]

ok lets run the bmw seeing as I already have the thing, can i put in a full cage and still run in dead stock? what about a racing seat and harness? I plan to buy full safty gear and a halon system (as you can tell I'm attached to my life)
is it allowed to gut the doors for penetration bars as I sit right against the panel as it is now.

thanks for the help all!

[Dave]

You can put a full rollcage in stock class, but you can't touch the interior. In other words, the cage will have to work around all the interior trim. No gutting of the doors allowed either in stock. The whole idea behind stock class is that it's a low cost, very low prep class that will allow newcomers or budget racers to have fun, compete on an even playing field, and keep costs down.

Keep in mind that Solo1 is not bumper-to-bumper racing, the cars are well spaced out on the track, so you really won't need penetration bars in the doors. The chance of a side impact is extremely small, as close to nil as you can get in racing. On the other hand, rollover protection is always a good idea, although a full rollcage may be overkill if you're not planning on prepping the BMW futher and perhaps racing it door-to-door someday. Instead, I'd recommend you go with a 4-point rollbar. This will protect you in a rollover and costs much less than a full rollcage.

The other thing to keep in mind is that with a full rollcage you're required to use a SA rated helmet, which are considerably more expensive than a Snell rated helmet. SA helmets cost $400 at the very least, while Snell helmets can be had for around $100.

Race seats are no longer permitted in Stock class, and unless you're running a rollbar/rollcage which a harness seatbeat system can be properly attached to I believe we've made harnesses illegal as well. Harnesses can actually be detrimental in a rollover if your car does not have rollover protection.

I'm all tuckered out...
Dave
CCC Guy

[mytzlflick]

actually I hadn't realized solo1 wasn't bumper to bumper, how is it run then?
why are race seats not legal? seems to me they would be considered a safty item, must be better than my ratty old bmw seats.
is there a class available that is door to door?

[Dave]

All classes in Solo1 are run as time trials. There is no bumper-to-bumper in Solo1. In fact, Solo1 isn't really racing in a traditional sense, but rather is a form of competition driving where the fastest single lap time (of 16 timed 'hot laps' at an event) determines the winner of each class. Cars are spaced out so that they do not slow each other down nor pose any danger to each other. Normally there are about 4 cars on the track at any one time, but they're spaced out enough that none should catch each other. This allows the driver to concentration solely on driving the fastest lap possible.
At the end of the day the lap times for each class are ranked from fastest on down. That's about the best I do in describing it. We also do our own marshalling, so come prepared to spend 1/3 of the day waving flags.

If it's bumper-to-bumper racing you're after, you need to consider the CASC Regional GT series or the Ontario Championship Cup series. You're looking at a lot more expense to compete, your car will have to meet all the required safety regulations (including a full 6-point rollcage, fire supression system, full fire-retardant nomex racing suit and undergarments, SA rated helmet, etc.). Be warned that the regional racing series in Ontario is a form of bracket racing, where cars are classed based entirely on their speed (lap times) rather than on any particular characteristics of the car. This means that in any given class you could be competiting against FWD, RWD, AWD, 4cyl, 6cyl, V8, turbos, you name it. It all depends on how fast the driver makes his car go. I believe the reasoning behind the bracketing approach is to eliminate the need for any specific car prep rules (other than safety ones) so that cheating isn't a problem. You can do all the performance mods you want, you'll just end up in a faster bracket if you drive faster because of the mods. Despite any drawbacks to this bracketing system, it's still bumper-to-bumper racing and it sure looks like a lot of fun! I'm be giving it a try this year or next.

Hope this helps,
Dave

[Shaman]

I find Solo-1 more invigorating than bumper-to-bumper sometimes. It can get really intense in the car when it's right on the edge and you are sure you can't get more out of it. You don't do that in door-to-door because you have other vehicles around, and you probably need to save your tires etc.

[mytzlflick]

I can handle doing the timed laps thing for a bit, sounds like an awsome way to get track time and learn to drive, but I have a fixed idea of racing, door to door stuff just sounds more stimulating I guess.

anyone know the websites for cask or ontario reginal cup?

[Chris P]

Here’s CASC's website
I believe there's a link there to the Canada/Ontario Challenge Cup.

http://www.casc.on.ca



Shaman are you crazy ?
"I find Solo-1 more invigorating than bumper-to-bumper sometimes. It can get really intense in the car when it's right on the edge and you are sure you can't get more out of it. You don't do that in door-to-door because you have other vehicles around, and you probably need to save your tires etc. "

In regional racing which is MOSTLY spent races you should always be driving at the limit, if you don't then you will be left behind.
I bet driver could go a lot faster in a regional race WITH the other cars around then in a Qual session or SOLO 1. Reason being is that the other cars push you to the limit...........and beyond. You learn stuff from other people and adapt it to your own driving.

It's just that when you have somebody to draft or bump draft with you, the lap times come down......

mytzlflick

SOLO 1 is probably the best way to be introduced into the precipitating racing world. You get to learn the lines of the track, some of the rules/flags, appreciate a sense of competition, and get a feel for what's it's like to push a car and yourself to 110%.



It's just common sense to learn to skate before you go play a game of hockey..........

[Shaman]

Oh, I dunno. Maybe that's why I get my tank of a car to go so quick. Other cars slow me down by making me push too hard. :)

[Dave Barker]

Regional racing is I'm sure a thrill but probably not the fastest way around a race track unless you 're drafting with someone in a near identical car who agrees that you two are not competiting with each other . Frankly I'm amazed at the skill of good regional racers who can go well off line but still have a sense of how fast they can go even though they will admit this is not the fastest way around the track , its just that some one else if taking up the racing line .
In Solo1 there are no excuses about tires going off , being blocked by a back marker or getting bumped in a corner causing you to spin . It's just you and your car vs the track . Some of the best competition is against yourself ( no excuses about the other guy having a better car or spending the equivalent of his mortgage on it ) The other advantage of Solo 1 is that it costs WAY less and virtually never leaves you out of an event with a mechanical failure . If your car is drivable to the track it will likely be driveable home .

[Shaman]

Well, I trailer mine because I've had a history of breaking rear pinions and cracking rotors. However, otherwise you have my full agreement, Dave. Well put, IMHO!

[mytzlflick]

I can actually see advantages to both, solo would have the advantage when I want to know how good a driver I am cause there are no excuses about people being in the way, however running door to door just seems to be more interesting to me.
after much consideration I think I'll waffle and do both.

[Shaman]

Good answer! :)

Just don't forget that door-door can be a lot more dangerous than Solo. You had best be very safety conscious because receiving 2500 pounds of competitor in the side door can be rather jarring. In fact, I think that a lot of us have chosen Solo for that very reason.

[mytzlflick]

yeah not to mention the setup required may put me straight into a modfified class, but If I'm not racing door to door thats not such large concern.