Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Anyone ever considered going into racing/rallying, im still young but its all ive ever wanted to do. I find the roads very restricting. Im considering a rally school or something similiar to give it a taster, anyone ever tried one? Anyone ever done road rallying? I know racing/rallying isnt cheap but at this stage im trying to consider that as an issue 
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Kyle T
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Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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I'd love to give it a go, but as you said, you need money.
Try one of those gift voucher me-dos that you can get from Argos. A few people on here have done it and rate it highly.
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Nic Barnes
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Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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yes
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Silverstone rally school do a one day course for £150, might give it a go.
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jamesvalver
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Registered: 21st Feb 03
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
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thought bout it n would love 2do some rallyin but i cost it up ages ago n just simply couldnt afford it.
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Nic Barnes
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Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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no
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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quote:
Originally posted by jamesnova
thought bout it n would love 2do some rallyin but i cost it up ages ago n just simply couldnt afford it.
how much roughly?
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bradfincham
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Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
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read my post!
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Just noticed that! everyones got to start somewhere. I read stig from top gears biography, dont know if anyone else has? He went from skint to f1 driver. I agree it makes me angry how rich kids can go straight into racing. Il book myself into rally school when i can get some money together, apparently the instructors will endorse drivers who show potential and point you in the right direction. If you've got talent money shouldnt be a problem theoretically because people sponsor drivers to drive if theyre good enough.
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bradfincham
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Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
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Ha Ha,
im afraid you have lots to learn,
motorsport these days is all about business and brand image. I know i study a degree in it!!
talented drivers still have to pay to race, darren could be driving f3 now, if he had 50k which is like 1/10th of a budget for a year!
NO team will just invest 20k or more in a driver etc for them to go up the ranks!!
if you want to race, i seriosuly think try karting 1st, its not about being fast you need race craft as well, you cant be taught that!
Karting will teack you the basics!
Also with rally schools etc, i have done 2/3 now, last one at silverstone i got 97% in my exam and he said im good etc, pay them 2k and i can enter the scholarship challenge!!
Nothings cheap and its years of hard work and agony unless you have 20k to waste racing a year
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Would've loved to have done it... the only prob is A) you need to start young ... B) you need financial security and C) it's not only talent, it's about how well you will represent the sponsers / team... So they don't want no average joe. Well not in F1 anyway.
If I could race any professional league I'd want touring cars from the old days.
Paul J
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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P.S. you considered just track days? you have a 106 gti don't you butler? take it out on track it's a good laugh 
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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il do whatever it takes tbh, it was my dads dream aswell, and although he rallied a few and co-drived mostly, he never really fulfilled it, im still young and you only live once  how would you rate rally school brad? i wont argue i have a lot to learn  but im willing!
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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quote:
Originally posted by Paul_J
P.S. you considered just track days? you have a 106 gti don't you butler? take it out on track it's a good laugh
yeah def, im waiting for one to come up at lydden hill im only down the road, only just got the car though and dont really wanna do anything to it to damage it! how much they usually cost? il be on the look out
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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just been on the lydden website and there was a trackday on sat just gone
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bradfincham
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Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
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yeh try one, if you want to go up in ranks then you started to late! if you want to do it for fun, then save up 10k and start 750 motor club racing!!
Rally wise, buy a decent car and do hillclimbs/tarmac stages
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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tbh id rather put money into trying to race than doing up a road car. brad how would you rate rally school? also, your SE, do you know of any track days at brands coming up at all?
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Brrmmm...
Once you spin you realise nothing bad's gonna happen.
My dad used to race motorbikes professionally when he was 19-21 ish a long time ago, though it was very different back then. He was pretty good but then had a big big accident, and fucked one of his legs which although is semi ok now, he could've lost if the doctor's hadn't of been able to do what they did. That kinda ended that for him.
He then did some motor racing in BARC, but more as a hobby.
Thing is when I was younger I did karting, but at the age of say 10 - I was scared of 'crashing'. It was only once I grew up I no longer had that fear and would go all out. Sadly however in my opinion if your 18 - 20 it's already too late too start - well for professionally anyway.
Thing is, you may have raw talent - but people who have been karting since they were very little have experience, and it may mean a lot, or a little - but even a few tenths a second lap difference will decide the difference between winner or loser.
Sure take it up as a hobby. Personally as brad said I'd look at karting, try to get in a karting league - see if you have what it takes. If you are really destined to be a racing driver and have more talent than everyone else, you'll get noticed. Sadly however I'd think it's A) a bit too late, B ) it's very different these days, it matters less about the skill and C ) IT'S ALL about money and if you have none - good luck trying to get anywhere professionally.
Paul J
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bradfincham
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Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
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www.bookatrack.co.uk
seriously i would do a few courses, such as brands race school in single seaters, rally school as well and see what you prefer!
Then get your racing liscense, go karting, or plough heaps into a car!!
But remember a car may cost 5k, but tyres, fuel, traveliing, damages, engine rebuilds, race apparel, entry fees will cost probably 10k to run that car
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Totally understand, theres a bigger market these days in motorsport and alot more people doing it hence it cost more.
I never really thought of taking it up with the hope of one day becoming proffesional but more as a hobby.
Track days sound like a great idea and il look into it, im sure it doesnt compare to actually competing though, but its a start.
Thanks for your advice, appreciated 
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Just found a better site brad http://www.trackdays.co.uk/calendar/car.htm
Track day at brands on 11th, is £180 a bit steep though?? What do you actually get for that?
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bradfincham
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Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
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a day on track - hence track day
any MSV owned circuit will be expensive as mr palmer needs to pay for his helicopter!
Look at bassingbourne, snetterton etc
track days are the cheapest way, if you want to compete for less that 5k a year go karting
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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yeah but i mean how long on the track generally lol.
Dont think karts really compare to cars! My dads really good friends with a guy whos in historic touring cars i think it is, in an escort mk2 rs2000, im sure he can offer advice. Although he is rich, which I am not.
Brands or lydden would be more convinient since they are closer, not sure where abouts bassingbourne is 
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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When I did a track day @ donnington and goodwood they had 3 groups... which generally = Novice, Normal, Pro ... though this can also reflect car's too. i.e. Pro were race cars and shit, doing pre-season practice.
Can't remember how much is was, but it was 20 mins per session (which is fucking ages when out there) - then the groups would rotate and you'd go out for another 20 etc...
So A does 20 mins, B queue's up, C sits in paddock..., B's go out for 20 mins, C's queue up, A's come into paddock, C's go out for 20 mins, B's go into paddock, A queue up... A go out for 20 mins ...
etc
so basically your only sitting in the paddock for about 20 - 30 mins... and then out on track for 20 mins... say 6 or more cycles of the groups in a half day... so full day 12 cycles...
240 mins  lots of time.
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Thats sounds ace. Still £180 is alot, considering petrol costs aswell. Can't be good for the tyres neither.
What would you suggest, a half day rally school, or a track day??
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