caseys Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I know you've being saying about westfields Gaz, a friend has one, have you tried one? Can ask him for his honest opinion as it's also his track toy iirc Also if you need any sort of trailer built I'm good friends with my local trailer place which also has a car transporter or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 I know you've being saying about westfields Gaz, a friend has one, have you tried one? Can ask him for his honest opinion as it's also his track toy iirc Also if you need any sort of trailer built I'm good friends with my local trailer place which also has a car transporter or two I'm always up for hearing stories mate, especially reliability-wise. I've tried a few different ones but haven't found quite the right machine yet and I'm keeping my options open until I've done the ARDS test Very interesting about the trailer place. I may well give you a shout at some point... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I'm always up for hearing stories mate, especially reliability-wise. I've tried a few different ones but haven't found quite the right machine yet and I'm keeping my options open until I've done the ARDS test Very interesting about the trailer place. I may well give you a shout at some point... Ok I'll drop him an email, I assume he rates it as he kept it but sold his 911 gt3 and bought a 911 turbo to replace it! Sure, I'm sure they'd be competitive at anything you want to get, been going 30 odd years and good blokes there. Excuse my ignorance though... ARDS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 ARDS? http://www.ards.co.uk/ (I'm doing my National B race licence - should make work interesting ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 They do a wide body version for all the proper engines my mate had a good laugh as i tried to get in the passenger side of his westfield. i am sure its a wide body,but not wide enough for my body:d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Late eighties / early nineties single seaters were, on the whole, quite spacious. The later exotic stuff someone with shoulders like myself can almost forget That Reynard is such a good car, with such a nice history I am almost steeling myself to buy it and face the dragon indoors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 Do it If you buy it I won't have to bankrupt myself. I keep coming back to it. It really is a special machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 could it be used on "Public track days" alongside more normal cars ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 could it be used on "Public track days" alongside more normal cars ? No, but there's plenty of opportunity to use them on track. Could hill-climb too if that's your thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Yhpm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Yhpm Replied - thanks mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Small update - passed my ARDS test yesterday at Silverstone. Now looking into single-seater racing a bit more seriously after talking to a few of the instructors there. Formula Ford appeals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Small update - passed my ARDS test yesterday at Silverstone. Now looking into single-seater racing a bit more seriously after talking to a few of the instructors there. Formula Ford appeals. Top man, I keep meaning to do mine, how was it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Top man, I keep meaning to do mine, how was it Harder than I expected! Several people failed on the day. I did a bit of reading up and it seems Silverstone has the best instructors, but also requires the highest standards to pass. They're big on safety and don't want people racing dangerously. You really had to be on it to pass the driving part, especially since there were novices on track doing some Nissan event in GT-Rs. Around 95% of qualifying pace was what they were looking for, so make sure you've driven the track you take the test on beforehand. I hadn't, and learning all the points and lines on the day didn't make it any easier. Nor did the rain just after lunch and before the exam The written part wasn't too bad though. Just learn the flags and watch the DVD a few times and common sense will take care of the rest. I did an extended course, which involved drifting some Caterhams for a bit of fun too. Quite a welcome relief as I was pretty damn nervous after we were told that all of us definitely wouldn't pass first time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Think I might do it at Brands then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Sounds brilliant fun Gaz. I really want to be able to get into something similar when I'm a bit older and move settled to do it. Formula Ford would be good. Keep us up to date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Think I might do it at Brands then you'd be fine there mate. Sounds brilliant fun Gaz. I really want to be able to get into something similar when I'm a bit older and move settled to do it. Formula Ford would be good. Keep us up to date I will do I'm still undecided whether I want something with downforce or not, but I'm leaning towards Formula Ford-type cars so I can get the most driving development possible from it before adding wings for more cornering speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Well done, I am sure I'd fail even though I have an International race licence, these things sound easy to pass, as did my HGV test, until I actually tried it Formula Ford is a good starter formula, or Formula Jedi if you want something faster and possibly cheaper to run. Good luck, let us know what you decide to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Chris, would you say Formula Vee is a fairly cost-effective discipline? I know about the air-cooled engines, but it seems like a very cheap way to get into it. I like the Jedis too... this is going to be a hard decision! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Eughh! No thanks to Formula Vee They are like 911's, a triumph of development over design, but why choose to start with something so basically flawed. A Jedi would bury one, be cheaper to run, and far more fun. Plus most FV races have a large contingent of crazy mad Irishmen in them, who are still in JCB mode when on the track What sort of budget for the car are you looking at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 What sort of budget for the car are you looking at? I have £8,500 in the bank but I'd like to buy some safety gear with part of that. I need an up-to-date helmet etc. It's probably an idea to factor in actually using the car too, although I'm aware it's going to be tight on that sort of budget. So far I've been looking at things around the £6k mark... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 If anyone is interested in getting a racing licence, I've written a series of seven blogs about the steps involved. The first two links are here, and when the rest are published I'll stick them up too: http://www.podisode.com/blog/guest-blog-gareth-evans-learns-to-race-part-1 http://www.podisode.com/blog/guest-blog-gareth-evans-learns-to-race-part-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellonman Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 how much does it cost to get the licence estamated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 how much does it cost to get the licence estamated £50 for the Go Racing pack £100 for the medical £200-£500 for the actual licence test £53 for the card once you've passed It ain't cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellonman Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 i think i will stick with track days for now, running a race car does sound expensive but hell of alot of fun i bet ! good luck with it all have you decided on what car yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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