Forum Home / General / What car to buy?

05/02/2006 20:41:07
terrys
I,m hopefully after 30 odd year,s and after selling my road going MGB roadster taking up racing again preferably with another MGB race car and would appreciate any advice on what class ,specification,price car I should be lookiing for. I held a national racing licence
05/02/2006 21:56:53
Tony Crossley
Big question, but you are fortunate in that the MGCC have made the regs between championships pretty similar. As a broad guide (taking 4 cylinder cars first) You have stanard classes that mean nothing larger than around 1840cc with SU's standard cam, etc. But with modifications to the suspension. You then have road going modified which will usually allow full blown 1950cc race engines, more suspension and transmission mods and body mods to lighten the car. These two classes are usually on road rubber. The road going modified allowing list 1B tyres such as AO48R's and Dunlop Forumla R's Then there is full race which usually mean more freedom in chopping the body to lighten it and wider wheel/slicks Some of the championships will allow 'standard' MGB GT V8's to compete with the road going modified 4 cylinders. Then there are the wide arched, full race V8's you get in the MGBCV8 championship. Of the championships you have the MGBCV8 (All MGB's and C's)championship, the Total Butler (which allows MGF's, metros, midgets as well; and the Cockshoot championship (MGB's and midgets). I race in the Cockshoot currently, friendly, no argy bargy or ego's. Good fun. all based on more Northern circuits - IE: no Brands hatch. I prefer road going modified due to the greater freedome of mods and the better power you get from the engine (plus the sticker tyres). It will depend on what you fancy and the car you find/budget you have. Can't advise on car prices as I built mine from my road going car. But my 1950cc race engine originally cost a couple of grand. Tyres are around 250 for a set of four ,and last pretty well. If you more specific quesitons, let me know. I've also plenty of in-car video to show you what the racing is like (in the cockshoot at least). [url]http://www.justgofaster.com/gallery/gallery/tonys_mg/Cockshoot2005.wmv[/url] (Video from last season) or click on the 'MG' part of this page for some shots of what the cockshoot looks like: [url]http://www.justgofaster.com/Media/ImageGallery/tabid/71/Page/1/Default.aspx?AlbumID=408-7[/url] Tony
06/02/2006 16:40:52
terrys
[b]MGB Racing[/b] Tony thank,s for the information I live in the south so I,m thinking Total Butler or MGBCV8 4cylinder can you tell me the difference between AO48R,S and Dunlop fomular R,s and do you run with overdrive Terry
06/02/2006 17:15:20
Tony Crossley
I can't give you exact differences, except the Dunlops are about twice the price for the same size. Both are soft compound sticky tyres. I use the A048R's, a guy I raced against all season runs Dunlops. Our lap times were very similar - he finished first, me second. Hmmmm. I use to run with overdrive - until the overdrive clutches wore out. I've now swapped to a standard 4 speed - it's lighter and there is less to go wrong. I've not missed the extra ratios but my MGB has an extended rev range. The guy mentioned before with the Dunlops has a close ratio box and these does make a difference. I can see him pulling out car lengths on me due to the better gear spacing. Not cheap though.
06/02/2006 22:13:00
JP12
Here is a link to a MGB racer for sale: [url="http://www.beechhillgarage.com/detail.asp?DocumentID=92&Parent=cars4sale&ParentName=Cars%20For%20Sale"]http://www.beechhillgarage.com/detail.asp?DocumentID=92&Parent=cars4sale&ParentName=Cars%20For%20Sale[/url] From what I have seen a descent class B (road modified) car will go for around 7-9k. I got my car cheaper but it does need work to bring it up to front running road modified spec. I am using the old spec Dunlop Formula R's but I have never used the A048R's Tony uses so I don't know which tyre is best. My car has no overdrive and it never reaches full rpm in 4th on the circuits I have driven, although it does get close! Joe
07/02/2006 13:56:24
Alan Brooke
[b]tyre selection[/b] Don't forget your own personal driving style will affect tyre choice. Although I haven't myself tried both the Dunlop and Yokohama, comments made by other drivers suggest that although the ultimate grip is similar the Dunlop is a bit more progressive as you approach the limit of adhesion. The Yokohama doesn't seem to allow the car to be drifted round corners to the same extent. Depending on how stiffly sprung or compliant you like the car to be set up, one tyre may be more confidence inspiring than the other out on the track. The Toyo Proxes R888 is another list 1B tyre, it looks very similar in pattern to the 048R and O1J, and the pricing seems very reasonable. Alan