Anyone involved in car racing??

B4Dar

Hi all,

I’m looking to get involved in some form of car racing and would like to get some advice from people who are currently involved with regards to what the options are, etc.

I’m not looking to spend a fortune, just something where you can maybe buy a car and build it for €1000-€2000.

I’m located in Meath so not too far from Mondello and there is also a few stock car racing tracks not too far away either.

I’ve watched the stock car racing a few times and it seems quiet fun and I assume it can be done relatively cheaply. But I’m wondering what other options are out there, if there are any? I would ideally be looking for something where speeds are greater than that of the stock car racing and maybe tracks are a bit more ‘’adventurous’’.

Also, if you do stock car racing what are your thoughts on it?

Cheers

ScumLord

I don't know that €1000 - 2000 is going to get you much racing. Even the likes of go karting could suck that money up pretty quickly before you make it anywhere near a track.

There are cheap road car series but once they become popular they eat through that type of car making them rare and expensive again.


Another option these days is sim racing. The sims are getting to a level that professional drivers are using them. The latest batch have laser scanned tracks that are an exact digital replica of the real thing. They're getting real data from real cars, so the cars are very accurate. If you already have a decent Pc you can get into sim racing for around €400 and there are no running costs after that, unless you go for a sim like iRacing which has a monthly fee.

Of course if you get the bug you can end up spending real money on equipment, I'm on the cusp of spending stupid money on a steering wheel.


Everything you need to know to race on a real track works in a sim, you can practice and race whenever you want, you'll be racing against world class competitors.

The tops sims are iRacing, you pay a monthly fee but it's very well organised and your ranked globally for skill and safety. I've never used it, it seems very involved.

Assetto Corsa, an Italian sim that's as close to driving a real car as you're going to get in a sim, it's a game that makes you feel like you're driving a car. It's my favourite. One off cost you just buy it like any other game. These guys make simulator software for Ferrari.

Rfactor 2, very complete, loads of cars, well supported but it's expensive to buy (something like €60) and there's a yearly online fee. The company that make it also make the sim software for real race teams. I haven't used it in a while but it has a very strong following.

B4Dar

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't know that €1000 - 2000 is going to get you much racing. Even the likes of go karting could suck that money up pretty quickly before you make it anywhere near a track.

There are cheap road car series but once they become popular they eat through that type of car making them rare and expensive again.


Another option these days is sim racing. The sims are getting to a level that professional drivers are using them. The latest batch have laser scanned tracks that are an exact digital replica of the real thing. They're getting real data from real cars, so the cars are very accurate. If you already have a decent Pc you can get into sim racing for around €400 and there are no running costs after that, unless you go for a sim like iRacing which has a monthly fee.

Of course if you get the bug you can end up spending real money on equipment, I'm on the cusp of spending stupid money on a steering wheel.


Everything you need to know to race on a real track works in a sim, you can practice and race whenever you want, you'll be racing against world class competitors.

The tops sims are iRacing, you pay a monthly fee but it's very well organised and your ranked globally for skill and safety. I've never used it, it seems very involved.

Assetto Corsa, an Italian sim that's as close to driving a real car as you're going to get in a sim, it's a game that makes you feel like you're driving a car. It's my favourite. One off cost you just buy it like any other game. These guys make simulator software for Ferrari.

Rfactor 2, very complete, loads of cars, well supported but it's expensive to buy (something like €60) and there's a yearly online fee. The company that make it also make the sim software for real race teams. I haven't used it in a while but it has a very strong following.

I've just had a quick look into the sim racing, it actually looks quiet interesting. It's something I would definitely consider setting up for the laugh.

I think I would still rather the real thing though. A big attraction of car racing to me other than the actual driving is the whole process of building the car and maintaining it. I've built a few cars in the past which ended up being for show more than anything else as they never saw further than our lovely Irish roads. So now I would actually like to build a car and get the enjoyment of using it for what it was meant for.

I've recently bought another car along with a reasonably powered engine which should make for a decent race car for starting off. Between the car, engine and additional components required to carry out the conversion I expect it to stand to me for less than €1000.

My only issue is I'm not exactly sure where I take it from there. Do I keep it as a road/track car which will mean I'll only get to do the occasional open track day in mondello when they occur, or do I strip it and cage it out for some hot rodding.

It looks like I really only have two options so I am steering more towards the hot rodding as events occur more regularly.

Brendan Flowers

Would there be much difference in cost to entry the Irish Stryker Championship or Formula Vee? Eg. Buying the car, equipment, entry fees etc

Brendan Flowers

Anyone know?

Brendan Flowers

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Why don't you go to a race meeting and ask a Stryker driver? They would be happy to help out. Or ask them on there Facebook page? You will get a better reply in person though.

Yeah I intend to do that over the summer. Although Im sure the guys there will tell me that Strykers are the cheaper and better option compared to Vee's

Just thought it might also be good to hear from someone a little more 'neutral' here if they knew about the 2 series.

fastdriver

Hello did you decide on any form of racing ?