StevieB
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 10:47 AM |
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Any plans to add a new class to the locost championship?
With the growing problem of sourcing decent donor parts to comply with the locost championship, does anyone know if there are any plans to add a new
class for something like the Haynes roadster?
I'd like to have a crack at racing one day but sourcing bits look difficult and expensive (I know I could just buy an ex race car, but that
defeats the object to me)
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stevebubs
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 11:35 AM |
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http://www.750mc.co.uk/F-kit-cars.php ??
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MikeR
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 11:43 AM |
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a few years ago it was talked about, but the racers seemed to agree that they didn't have a problem sourcing parts.
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D Beddows
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 11:49 AM |
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What growing problem? everyone wants 1600 crossflows apart from Locost racers so 1300's go for nothing on ebay, there's always a couple of
sets of cortina uprights on there as well....... plenty of gearboxes knocking about as well - finding a straight axle case isn't as easy as it
used to be but it's not impossible..... and they're the only donor parts you need. As I've said before Locost racing clearly
isn't broken so it doesn't need to be fixed yet! 
750 Kits needs a bit of fixing though from what I can see...... so why not propose a Haynes Roadster class in that instead??
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StevieB
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 11:51 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
http://www.750mc.co.uk/F-kit-cars.php ??
Not really the same thing though, is it?
Costs will be much higher in the kit cars class.
I suppose the way to sort parts is to just buy anything you see when you see it, whether you need it at the time or not.
It's still more expensive though and maybe time to introduce a second classification to get bck to the locost principle.
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D Beddows
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 12:01 PM |
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there wouldn't be a little of 750 Locosts 'only' having a 1300 xflow about this would there? No other engine would be cheap enough -
you're probably going to suggest zetecs I'd imagine but blueprinting one of them (and believe it, people would!!) is waaaay more expensive
than a xflow and would far outway the slight cost saving in having sierra uprights rather than cortina ones and a sierra diff than an English axle
(although by the time you're done I doubt the sierra option is in any way cheaper)
[Edited on 7/9/10 by D Beddows]
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fesycresy
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 12:42 PM |
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Has anyone ever discussed a book locost / BEC class?
Chassis as book, with say a carbed blade or R1.
The only problem I can see is that the locost series is over-subscribed anyway and would they want to run another class?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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StevieB
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 12:54 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
there wouldn't be a little of 750 Locosts 'only' having a 1300 xflow about this would there? No other engine would be cheap enough -
you're probably going to suggest zetecs I'd imagine but blueprinting one of them (and believe it, people would!!) is waaaay more expensive
than a xflow and would far outway the slight cost saving in having sierra uprights rather than cortina ones and a sierra diff than an English axle
(although by the time you're done I doubt the sierra option is in any way cheaper)
[Edited on 7/9/10 by D Beddows]
Not even slightly. I'm fully aware of the costs of messing about blueprinting engines etc. and I'm not bothered about it
'only' being a 1300 - please don't be so presumptious about me.
I just think it would be beneficial to get back to the single donor build for the cars - it's no longer truely low cost. I think any series
designed to run on a budget basis has a limited life span because it'll reach a point where it's no longer a low budget sport (relatively
speaking). IMHO it's reached that point now and it's time to start looking at the basis for the next generation of locost cars.
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procomp
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 01:08 PM |
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Hi
Haven't got time to put a full reply up. But there is absolutely no new class going to be introduced.
And despite the fact than some people keep putting the rumour out about a class for the Haynes roadster chassis. It will not happen.
As it stands there are absolutely no problems with spares for the championship as many drivers are collecting many many parts to ensure there is
future supply for those who are genuinely entering the championship.
What we have with the Locost championship as it stands is one off if not the closest racing championships in the UK with full grids and what is
possibly one of the cheapest formulas to enter and run in.
Cheers Matt
Edit. With brand new cars ready to race being built for 8K using manufacturers kits and significantly less for those using home built chassis. I am
strugeling to see where the NON Locost point of view comes from. ?
[Edited on 7/9/10 by procomp]
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MK9R
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 01:26 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
Has anyone ever discussed a book locost / BEC class?
Chassis as book, with say a carbed blade or R1.
The only problem I can see is that the locost series is over-subscribed anyway and would they want to run another class?
You just stated class C in RGB, front engined car with 1 engine make series. Class is C is finishing in RGB at the end of this year as the cost of the
carb'd fireblade is becoming too high. Trouble with bike engones, other than the olf carb'd blade is that they aren't produced in
the same numbers as say a X flow, so the new regs coming in are to keep all cars under 1000cc with 2 classes front and mid engine. The old class C
cars can obviously still run in the front engined class, but no chance of a class win against the newer 1000cc screamers, hence the introduction of
the 919 cup for 2011 for the highest finishing 919.
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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StevieB
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 02:21 PM |
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It just appears to me that the donor parts are getting rare and therefore expensive (probably magnified because the MKII escort is a sought after car
in it's own right these days).
I was just wondering if there were plans to add another class is all - I wasn't damning the current series in any way.
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modee
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| posted on 7/9/10 at 06:26 PM |
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Hi.
I think it is a good idea to start throwing around ideas for the future, but at the moment the class is very strong. A small Duratec would probably be
cheaper to run in the long term but until there is a very strong demand for change I think we should keep trying to maintain the quality of the series
as it is.
Maurice
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steveiow
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 06:57 AM |
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I cant see the need for change to be honest. Its my first season in racing and it has been a thoroughly enjoyable one. Parts appear to be available
if you take a little time to look for them. With full grids at most venues I honestly dont think there is space for additional classes.
If the series was in decline or not achieving desired entry leveles then certainly it would be a viable option, but as said before, if its not broken,
dont fix it.
2012 Locost Race Car #12 - for everything Locost Racing: www.SEWC.co.uk
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TimC
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 07:14 AM |
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I agree with all of the posts relating to the strength of the championship.
I know that I could collect the necessary parts to build a 750MC Locost before lunchtime today if I wanted to.
Its true that you might have to pay £100 for some uprights and good money for an axle casing but these are still VERY low-cost items in racing terms.
The championship seems to be very much bucking the economic trend with new entrants and new cars joining the fun quite frequently.
It's one of the shining lights of UK club motorsport and if you got to the paddock yourself you'd see that there is no cause for alarm.
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iank
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 07:49 AM |
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For racing escort/cortina parts are still common enough to not be a problem.
The idea of a single donor car isn't a bad one, but if you want front engine RWD then MX5 is the way to go IMO. Sierra parts are now starting
to get harder to find and being a heavy and big car it's never been an ideal* for a 7, especially for racing.
750mc are still running classes for Austin7 based cars - now parts for those are hard to find!
* except in the tradition that successful kit cars have always used ford, beetle or mini donors.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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