ctcrc? NOPE PBMWC advice

[TouringTash]

Hi all

Anyone on here that races in this series, or knows the setup?
I thought about this years ago but the usual time, money and being a lazy arse meant it got no further than Grant Tourismo, but I've been getting ideas again and would rather be pouring fuel into a car than spending days on end with clay bars and dusting cloths spun from recycled knickers from a convent up a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

So any tips/ books to read or even the rough costs for doing a season. I would hope to look at about 10K including car, tyres,fuel transport etc. Or is this going to be a pipe dream.

As for time on track/experience apart from a few track days and they were on two wheels so I have none to speak of.
Goning to have a good read of their website and if I can coax the printer into life and read some of their fliers, Lydden Hill one looks good, well it does have a BMW on the cover.

Thanks for putting up with my drivel, maybe I should look at getting a maxi?

Jason

[Brian28]

Jason, if you were looking at the CTCRC Pre '93 series, you should also check out www.racingsaloons.com very similar except Pre '94. You should have plenty of change out of 10k if you are there to enjoy the racing and have a laugh. The issue with these series is that although they are "budget" in relation to something like BTCC or Clio cup etc, the regs allow a lot of expensive stuff so if you want to be competitive then you will end up throwing more than your 10k at the car. If you are thinking of racing an E30, then www.pbmwc.co.uk may be worth considering instead. A few ready built PBMW cars available, or if you are lucky with parts at the right price and do your own DIY you could put a fair one together for 4k ish. The regs are more restricted on what you can do, so the cars don't become such a money pit. Quite a few (probably between 1/4 and 1/3) of the cars are driven to and from races so cuts down on trailer hire/storage etc, a very friendly paddock and always loads of spare parts about and people ready to help out should the worst happen. Good luck
I have a Pre '93/TTRS 318is here if you are ever in this direction and want a poke around it to see what kind of prep has to be done, you may even recognise the drivers wing

Cheers
Brian

[billgatese30]

Jason, if you have little to no track experience in a car (or even if you have plenty) some wedge spent on some tuition (most good tracks days have it for a modest fee, or even for free) and that can be the most value for money you are likely to see, it would also be a good plan to have at least an hour or two prior to your ARDS in any case even if you can't afford loads of tuition

[TouringTash]

Cheers for the food for thought guys. Thankfully I've talked a couple of friends into a red letter day thing at brands, only indy so I'll, sorry we'll have a better chance at getting some corners half right.
I see there is a day organised at Brands for the end of January but I doubt My road project will be done by then and without uprated brakes, new bushes all round and new suspension I think it would be foolish to take on a track.

@ Brian, I was over your way, well Cornwall which distance wise is the same for a sarf London boy dropping off some seats for a lad and a roof for Chris in Plymouth, had a few funny looks with that on the touring. A more sensible set of restrictions sounds right up my street as like most money is tight but would rather do something like this than boozing down the pub and holidays jetting away.
I'll have a look at the pbmwc site (like the pic on the front page, E30 heaven) and I do have a thing about painted side mirrors

I would maybe look at putting a car together myself but not starting this till the spring so with luck I'll be sorted for the 2012 season. Would give me time to get to a few races first and see whats what.
If the weather wasn't looking so shabby I'd pop on down and see what I'll be taking on, but in the mean time I'll have to make do with looking at some photos and reading the regs. Thanks again for the offer I will take you up on that in the new year if all goes well.

Thanks guys for your advice I'll have a look at some sites for lessons and the production series and get so excited I'll think with this weather its Christmas eve.

[Brian28]

That's the spirit, you're only young once . And I didn't do it then so now do it as an old guy Seriously, I've never met anybody racing who has regretted it and said that they would rather have spent their racing money in the pub, holidays, better road car, etc etc. Forget the money and credit card bills, sitting on the grid with a big grin on your face and the adrenaline hit into the first corner - priceless

[TouringTash]

singed up on the Lotus forum, was that right? Haven't had a reply to my hello post

Was going to build a tidy 2.7 touring form my 94 318 but thats now going to stay oem and I'll blow my cash in a more constructive way.
I had a little look around the pbmwc site/ between printing off the regs, rules etc. and had a look at some driving schools to get me up to scratch. I found one that uses millbrook, but the 5 days of lessons comes to more than £5K :verybigGulp: any tips on where and what would be helpful as I've seen a little red car that would save my knuckles and back from a lot of grief

From having a read up It all looks like my kind of thing, competitive but once the chequered flag drops it's like a family, well families also have their moments.

Cheers for the pointers Brian.

[Brian28]

Have stuck a link on your Seloc post (Unless you want to talk for hours about Nitrons and how to stop leaking Elise roofs you need to aim for the Motorsport bit of the forum, then the Gaz PBMW sub forum). Race schools are (IMO) not really money well spent unless you are about 16 and just starting off. As somebody has said above, get stuck into a track day or two and some cheap or free instruction from the organisers and you are good to go. JimmyC (RPM on here) Black_Potato and a few other regulars are part of PBMWC so with any luck will be along shortly with useful advice about getting started. Opinions are mixed on whether to buy or build, there is a good argument either way. For obvious reasons I'd say buy one that is already built then use it for your track days/instruction, when the season starts in March you are ready to get on the grid.

Cheers
Brian

[TouringTash]

I'm coming round to the idea of your one but won't have the money till the beginning of January, but could you handle seeing your old car bringing up the rear each race?
I'll go and have a hunt on the Seloc post and get stuck it, we I am stuck in here already.

I'll look into the January Track day at Brands and see how I stand after that before looking any more into race driving schools. I did spend a good few years blasting about as a despatch rider so I'm not a complete idiot on tarmac.

[Brian28]

I'm coming round to the idea of your one but won't have the money till the beginning of January.

Will likely still be around until after Christmas as from conversations I've had quite a few people are in the same boat this year, recession has a lot to answer for . Planning to develop the TTRS car a bit for more poke as and when I've sold the PBMW car.

You definitely won't be at the back having spent a bit of time on a bike, helps on track in every respect from self preservation skills - forward vision/forward planning, being aware of the cars that are around you and what they are doing, road/track positioning etc etc. Hope the January day goes well

[AlpineAde]

Race schools are (IMO) not really money well spent unless you are about 16 and just starting off. As somebody has said above, get stuck into a track day or two and some cheap or free instruction from the organisers and you are good to go.

Very good advice.

Out here in Oz a lot of guys will run track/club days and take advantage of the instruction they can get. Every instructor I have done laps with has been very, very good and each had a profile in the sport: one was a National title-holder, for instance, another ran in the V8 Supercars. My point is that the cost was nil and the level of instruction/instructor very high. Do your trackdays and get the very real bonus of quality instruction as icing on the cake.

[TouringTash]

Brian do you have any more pics of the car? Any more info on it I may need?
How shocking is this? I'm asking a potential buyer on what I should look for


I'll pop down when normal services have resumed and whenever is good for you?

Also going to have to invest in a rompersuit and protection. Only just thought about that, I bet thats not cheap.

With the trackdays Jimmy C is talking about Snetterton in March, so just need to find one for Feb and I may have an idea of whats going on around me. Its been a while since my bike days and loads of people all around was unnerving, but most of them where straight line blast merchants and I used to wonder just how there brakes stayed man for the job.

Off for a play on Forza just hope I can apply the MSA blue books regs.

[Brian28]

Have sent you a PM rather than cluttering up your "getting started" thread. As a rule of thumb with second hand race cars, repaired big shunts are not usually a good thing. As with a road car, cleaner and straighter the shell the better. Decent cage rather than a DIY weld in lash up. Decent suspension. Extinguisher and belts in date. History/reliability. MOT if you are planning to drive it, not an issue if not. The rest of it, you can always tweak and fettle to suit yourself relatively cheaply as long as you are handy with DIY.

[imf119]

Just seen this thread.

I was in the same boat this time last year and got out and did something about it. Decided PBMW was the way to go for me. Had done trackdays but have had very limited tuition so accepted that I'd run at the back. I bought a completed car as I didn't have the time or ability to build one from scratch. General view is it's also probably a bit cheaper to do it that way.

You need to allow about £1,000/£1,500 for equipment (helmet, overalls etc) and getting your racing licence. I've done 19 races this year so had a pretty full season and think I've spent about £12k in total. That includes car and kit above + entry fees, fuel, parts etc etc.

I drive the car to the meetings (has the advantage of knowing if anythings wrong by the time you get there) and to date have managed to drive it home as well. Great buzz and I wish I'd done it 20 years ago.

Saw plenty of Brian's car at Brands Hatch last month, both in front and behind me. Very tidy and good value for what he's asking. He's put plenty of these together so knows what he's doing.

Seems to be quite a few cars around and there's always a few available that aren't advertised so if you post up on the PBMW forum on SELOC that you're after one you'll probably find something.

Go for it, you won't regret it.

[TouringTash]

Cheers for the info fella.
Going to try and get a few trackdays in and come along to a few meetings before taking the plunge, as I've had an engine go bang and may as well get a nice 2.7 for the old girl first.
I'll keep my eyes pealed for when the dates for the series go up and then I can plan my time off