Motorsport thrills for classic cars
Motorsport thrills for classic cars
This Spring, classic car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to try motorsport in an immensely fun, yet low risk and affordable, way thanks to the innovative StreetCar initiative set up by Motorsport UK, the governing body of motorsport in the UK.
StreetCar is designed to allow even beginners to participate in entry-level motorsport disciplines with their road car. Multiple different forms of motorsport come under StreetCar, and all can be enjoyed with an everyday car and an RS Clubman racing licence, which is available free of charge from Motorsport UK.
Touring Assemblies are a great starting point. Run as entry-level motorsport events by local motor clubs, they are social events where participants follow a pre-determined, often scenic, route on public roads. Directions are provided, and participants must follow the rules of the highway code. Often, there are one or two refreshment stops, where entrants can socialise with other enthusiasts.
Treasure Hunts are likewise fun, social events. A driver and navigator are given a set of clues, or a list of items to collect, and all crews must determine their own route to reach the various plot points necessary within the time limit.
Similarly, Navigational Scatters are one step up from a Treasure Hunt and are a fantastic opportunity to build the skills necessary in more complex formats. Teams, each made up of a driver and a navigator, are given around 20 – 30 plot points scattered across a defined area, with a clue or question to solve at each point (the number on a particular telegraph pole, for example). Similar to orienteering but in a car, competitors locate points choosing their own route and meet up at the finish..
Touring Assemblies, Treasure Hunts and Navigational Scatters are excellent entry points to motorsport and another way to enjoy a classic car in a social, relatively risk-free environment.
Lei Mashiter of Wigton Motor Club, which runs Streetcar events, commented: “I honestly believe using a classic car for motorsport can be cheaper than using a modern hatchback…and it definitely gives you and others bigger grins!”
To find out more, visit www.streetcarmotorsportuk.com and register your interest. Your local motor club will then contact you with details of how to enter and obtain your racing licence.
