First Hillclimb in a VX

[Lazydonkey]

[Victor Meldrew]

Now that was a top effort...


Kev..

I get you.. track days have lost a lot of there appeal. The time is all that matters..

[Mikie711]

I know we have a few hill climbers / sprinters on here, who will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't really get it. I have looked a hill climbing or sprinting in the past, and can't get beyond the mental block of paying £80-£100 for four or five sub one minute runs. Or to put it another way, spending £20 per minute.

If you are not planning on being competitive, there are plenty of other places to spend your money on going fast on track, where you'll get far more miles / minutes to the £. If you are planning on being competitive, as far as I can see, you'll need to throw heaps of cash at the car, to stand a chance in any given class. In which case, it's no longer cheap motorsport, and you may as well go circuit racing or rallying instead, where you'll get some decent amount of track time. IMHO.

I have been to a few hill climbs and sprint tracks, and had quite a few drives on them (including forrestburn), and have really enjoyed finding the best line / limits etc in the tight confinds of the track. But this was always at non-competitive events (like fun nights / track days), and as far as I can see, is the best way to enjoy these tracks. A couple of years ago I went to a few forrestburn club nights, paid £10, and managed about a dozen runs up the hill. I did not have a competitive car, and just wanted a go, so that seemed to me the best solution.

My 2p

If you don't get out of the car gibbering like an idiot, shaking like a leaf and sweating like a rapist then you weren't trying hard enough. If you do get out of the car doing all the afore mentioned then you'll understand and also be hooked on the whole hillclimb/sprint thing. At the moment I can still do that quite easily without going to Doune or Forestburn. When I can't then I'll be adding them to my list.
I supose you either get it or don't, but it is completely different than a track day.

[Dominic]

If you don't get out of the car gibbering like an idiot, shaking like a leaf and sweating like a rapist then you weren't trying hard enough. If you do get out of the car doing all the afore mentioned then you'll understand and also be hooked on the whole hillclimb/sprint thing. At the moment I can still do that quite easily without going to Doune or Forestburn. When I can't then I'll be adding them to my list.
I supose you either get it or don't, but it is completely different than a track day.

I know what you mean about the buzz of the run, which has a huge appeal. I have never driven Doune, but it does look awesome. My point was more about the cost per thrills in comparison with other forms of motorsport. Some of my mates who have competed at the Ingleston stages (tarmac rally event) get a lot more milage out of their entry fee + event costs than a hillclimb, and get the same thrills. As I say, I don't claim to be expert, but from pub converstaions, can't really see the value in it. Does not mean to say that I won't have a go one day!

[kevham]

Now that was a top effort...

No, John - it was just daft.

Fumbling with my helmet strap on my way up the hill didn't help matters but mainly it was just a complete lack of experience and skill that taught me to respect a place like Forrestburn. A girl in a Ford Puma did a very similar thing on Sunday but was much less fortunate than me in that she collided with several large rocks, broke a driveshaft and pranged the whole front end of the car on one of the embankments.

The thing is, these types of accidents are quite rare in speed events which means that whilst the cost per track minute is high, the overall cost of a season is relatively cheap. Circuit racing, whilst offering excellent track time per entry fee, runs a much bigger risk of season ending crashes and expensive repair bills. There ain't any race series you can do on the budget I have for a season of speed events (around £3,500).

Back on topic, I've decided not to enter the VX in any other events until I've a) Done a Walshy day, b) done a couple of trackdays (probably Oulton and Rockingham) and c) got a decent set of wheels/tyres.

[two4oneuk]

"c) got a decent set of wheels/tyres."

Just finished a season using Kumho ecsta V70 soft all round on the VX and was approx 1.5 seconds quicker doing both fintry hillclimb and boyndie sprint compared with previous visits using toyo 888's mediums. The car has been running sh*t all season due to intermittent misfire and still manged better times....

[Victor Meldrew]

"c) got a decent set of wheels/tyres."

Just finished a season using Kumho ecsta V70 soft all round on the VX and was approx 1.5 seconds quicker doing both fintry hillclimb and boyndie sprint compared with previous visits using toyo 888's mediums. The car has been running sh*t all season due to intermittent misfire and still manged better times....

got a new set of V70's ready for next year... but may be going to ACB10's.. either way, should be quicker.

[kevham]

I hear there may be some championship winning V70s for sale.........

I've just bought a trailer (what a cop out?) but wheels and tyres are next on the list, then shocks and finally a harness bar and I'll be ready to go.

I've still got a chance of winning my class in the TJ Services Northern Speed Championship in the MX-5 - last event is at Kames a week on Sunday. Only trouble is, I need to beat a 186bhp S2 Elise with Hoffman Nitrons AND hope that someone else can beat him into third place! Seems extremely unlikely

I can't believe that's the end of the season! It'll be my 21st event this year. Can I do more next year................

[Victor Meldrew]

I hear there may be some championship winning V70s for sale.........

I've just bought a trailer (what a cop out?) but wheels and tyres are next on the list, then shocks and finally a harness bar and I'll be ready to go.

I've still got a chance of winning my class in the TJ Services Northern Speed Championship in the MX-5 - last event is at Kames a week on Sunday. Only trouble is, I need to beat a 186bhp S2 Elise with Hoffman Nitrons AND hope that someone else can beat him into third place! Seems extremely unlikely

I can't believe that's the end of the season! It'll be my 21st event this year. Can I do more next year................

We need to sit down over a beer so you help me understand how the lowlands thing works and what events they run..

Any excuse for a beer..

[fd]

I know what you mean about the buzz of the run, which has a huge appeal. I have never driven Doune, but it does look awesome. My point was more about the cost per thrills in comparison with other forms of motorsport. Some of my mates who have competed at the Ingleston stages (tarmac rally event) get a lot more milage out of their entry fee + event costs than a hillclimb, and get the same thrills. As I say, I don't claim to be expert, but from pub converstaions, can't really see the value in it. Does not mean to say that I won't have a go one day!

Lol . . . time to buy a diesel polo, or even better a p(r)ious . . . maximum miles per pound . . . seems a strange objective right enough for someone interested in motorsport . . . perhaps you would get it if you did it . . . rather than relying on others opinions . . .

Fd