Motorsport covers more than just track racing and rallying, which appear to be the best known disciplines. Below are brief outlines of all areas you may wish to consider competing in.
Autocross
A circuit is on a grass surface, and cars compete on an individual basis against the clock. However, occasionally if the track is wide enough more than one car can compete at one time. This can get bumpy and there is a risk of car damage although most are specialist cars brought on trailers.
Requirements: A car with roll cage, extinguishers, fireproofing, a crash helmet and fire-resistant overalls, an MSA competition licence. Minimum age 16.
Autotest
One of the oldest forms of motor sport. Competing against the clock you have to clear a set route between obstacles doing lots of reversing and handbrake turns.
Requirements: Must be 14 yrs old to drive a production car autotest or 16 yrs old to drive in a “normal” autotest. You also must hold a valid motor club membership card or an MSA clubman competition licence.
Car Racing
Perhaps the most well known discipline. Involves cars competing against each other (i.e. F1) where the first person over the finish line wins.
Requirements: Get a “Go Racing” pack from the MSA, which costs £53 (as of 2008). If over 18 you need a medical certificate (form is in the Go Racing pack). You will need to complete a one-day MSA course for novice drivers, which is only run by ARDS (Association of Racing Drivers School) members. The car will need a roll cage, fire extinguishers etc. and you will need a crash helmet and fire-resistant overalls.
Drag Racing
This involves covering a quarter mile (440 yards) in the fastest possible time. Road cars can be used but the top fuel dragsters can do a quarter mile in around 6 seconds (as a comparison a Ferrari would struggle to do it in 12 seconds!).
Requirements: A roadworthy car, crash helmet and fire-resistant overalls, you must be at least 8 years old…yes 8! – for junior drag racers. Adult drag racers must hold an MSA competition licence.
Hill Climbing & Sprints
Both are very similar, one is up hill and one is on a flat – guess which is which…! You are competing against the clock and only one car runs at one time so you do not race directly with other competitors.
Requirements: Crash helmet, fire-resistant overalls, MSA competition licence (a non-race type) and you must be at least 16 yrs old.
Kart Racing
Perhaps the cheapest way to experience motor racing. There are many classes. Karts are divided into basic categories; those with direct drive, which tend to race on short circuits and those with a gearbox, which can race on both long and short circuits.
Requirements: You must be at least 8 yrs old. You will need a crash helmet and, except for endurance races, you will also need a medical certificate. To start you need a “Go Karting” pack from the MSA at a cost of £53.
Off-Road
This discipline covers a range of events such as trials, competitive safaris and team recovery competitions. These events take place over difficult terrain with specialist vehicles all of which usually have four-wheel drive.
Requirements: An off-road vehicle for starters! A valid motor club membership card and a full driving licence are required. For some events an MSA competition licence is needed.
Rallycross
This discipline came about after foot and mouth disease in the 1960s caused rally driving to be banned in forests and rural areas. Rallycross involves driving on a specially designed surface, which is part racetrack, part rally-type mud/gravel surface.
Requirements: Roll cage, fire extinguishers, fire proofing etc. You will need an MSA logbook and to be at least 16 yrs old.
Road Rallies
There can be a wide range of rallying from economy runs, to charity treasure hunts etc. This involves driving with a co-driver, tests navigation skills and is very cheap to take part in. And yes, you need to keep to the speed limits on any road rally!
Requirements: Any standard road car with two crew members with a valid club membership card and a large scale OS Map. Drivers need to be at least 17-years-old, with a valid full driving licence but the co-driver, or should we say navigator, must be at least 12 yrs old.
Special Stage Rallies
This is far more expensive than the above. This type of rally driving places a great deal more emphasis on driver skill – at very high speed. You compete against the clock and although part of the rally can cover public roads you do not need to observe speed limits while the rally is under way.
Requirements: The usual roll cages, fireproof clothing, etc. You need a co-driver and also a rally licence, which can be obtained by firstly getting a “Go Rallying” pack from the MSA at a cost of £53 (as of 2008). You need to be at least 17-years-old with a valid full driving licence.
Trials
This is the oldest form of motorsport. The competitive element is the ability to climb gradients of varying difficulty. There is no timing as the distance covered without stopping determines the winner. Production car trials are the best for a total novice; the only risk you run is getting your car covered in mud!
Requirements: A roadworthy car, driver must hold a valid club membership card. A person who is 15 or 16 yrs old or anyone who has not passed the driving test can compete as long as a holder of a full driving licence accompanies them.
Sporting Trials
This tends to have more specialised cars specially built for the sport. The tests are much harder than production car trials.
Requirements: Drivers must hold a valid membership card. If the driver is 16 or 17 years old and does not have a driving licence they must be accompanied by a person who does.
