Hi All
I am new to the forum and am looking to start a Locost build (on a budget), with a view to eventually entering some or all of the 750mc Locost series.

However I have a number of questions I hope someone will be able to help me with. Bearing in mind that I have no previous motorsport experience, I obviously want to research the subject as much as possible before I start.

So questions......please forgive me if these sound a bit stupid or naive!

1. If you enter the 750mc series do you have to enter all the rounds or can you just attend certain rounds on a sort of pay as you race basis?

2. Would it be feasible to build your own engine and car to a pretty basic standard a still race without being a nuisance / source of ridicule

3. If you were to build your own car without the input of a recognised supplier, is there a way of getting it checked over to ensure it sits within the regs before getting to race day?

I'm pretty sure I have other questions, but at this stage I need to be confident that I would not be wasting my time starting this project, if once it was complete the car just sat in my garage!

Thanks
Mick

Ask away, I was in your position not that long ago . . .

1. No, you can do as few or as many as you wish.

2. Yes, that's pretty much what I did (even my chassis is scratch built although TMC did my engine)

3. I managed to cobble together a car that had no issues at scrutineering using just the regulations and asking questions when I wasn't sure. Have you read the regulations? They're on the 750MC website.

Don't worry too much about this, there are lots of other racers/constructers that can answer questions and the scrutineers are not monsters. I thought lots of stuff mattered a whole lot more than it really does.

HTH,
Simon

Hi and welcome. To be totally honest with you, a new build is not the budget option - not for racing. You can buy a competitive car for about £4k. A race-spec engine, carb, exhaust, distributor and gearbox etc will cost you about £3k easily. You then need to add the rest of the car!

In terms of dipping in and out of rounds, that's no problem except that the series often has full grids so you may need to get in early for your chosen rounds.

Don't worry about nuisance or ridicule. I can think of one of the races last year where one unfortunate chap was miles behind everyone. He caused no problems but must've been a tad gutted.

You've found the resource to get your car checked out - here! Read the regs carefully. If you are determined to build your own car, then ask when unsure and post some pics as you go along. People are very helpful. You could get it checked-out more formally, but unless you find a friendly local, that is likely to cost some dosh - although not a huge amount.

One of the guys who started racing Locosts last year totally built his own car. I won't mention his name as he gets embarassed about my admiration. It's a well built car and engine. BUT, he has friends with good kit that have helped and is probably the exception these days.

Good luck.

As TimC said building is NOT the cheap option, you can find some real bargain second hand cars out there, cheaper to buy one and repair if need be than it is to make one from scratch. Good luck with it!

Mick,

You will find a wealth of knowledge on here but I would strongly recommend attending a race meeting and having a chat with the drivers, ALL of which are friendly and more than willing to answer your questions.

If I can be more help let me know
U2U sent.

Andy p

Thirded . . .

If you have all the tools you need and are careful you can probably build a kit for £8k. I spent about £12k on my scratch build, spread over 2 years, and that includes everything. Buying a mk2 Escort, welder, mistakes, bad choices, tools etc as I had nothing in the way of existing equipment or experience.

As has been said, even once you get this far and you arrive on the grid for the first time you can find all the other cars are much further along the development curve than yours. Once you take this into account a £4k second hand racer makes a lot of sense.

That said, I'm still glad that I did what I did. I enjoyed (mostly) the build and learned a heck of a lot on the way but I wouldn't do it twice . . . everyone's goals are different.

I built mine from scratch ! Albeit with a lot of help from a friend who is a competent mechanic, unlike me !

As ironsid says, you learn alot but it's not the cheapest option, nor, in my opinion, the best. I made loads of mistakes which cost time and money even though I researched alot. Since then I've spent lots of time and money getting those mistakes corrected to the point where I have something like a competitive car ( although not top 10 !). I still have lots of niggling little issues and if I was to do it again would certainly look at buying a car with some history or going new to TMC or Procomp. If you've got lots of racing knowledge then build your own but otherwise I'd steer clear.
As for being at the back I had a build deadline for the OUlton race Sept 4th 2005 as its was the mechanics birthday who helped me build my car. We made it but the engine was bog standard as we didnt have time to rebuild one. I got lapped by the front runners but had a great race with another member of this forum and got hooked. Lots of pennies later I dont get lapped anymore !!!! ( at least not usually !)

Craig.
no 63. Sadly not racing this year.

Hi, I started in a totally different way last year by taking up an arrive and drive package from TMC. This lets you concentrate on the driving and someone else concentrate on making the smelly bit at the front work. This way you can get a taste of racing in a competitive car (you'll need a licence, suit and lid) without getting into spending day and night in the garage and k$$$$.

I had a great time last year and really enjoyed the racing. So much so that his year I'm getting my own car built up, again run by TMC.

In would thoroughly recommend this approach as you don’t need the huge upfront investment in both time and money, especially as the season kicks off at Castle Combe on easter Monday!! Hope to see you on the grid....C

http://tmcmotorsport.co.uk/

Thanks very much for all the advice it is really appreciated. It seems that the consensus is that building is not the cheapest option, and I have to say that I am beginning to realise that as I start to look for parts.
However, at present I am unable to afford the £5000 or so for an already built car. So it looks at the moment as though building will be the way to go (Unless I get 6 correct numbers on Saturday!).
I am about to start on stripping and rebuilding my engine using the spec in the regulations. With that in mind does anyone have any suggestions as to what I need to be careful of. One question I would like the answer to is regarding the allowed rebore. Is this absolutely essential, or for starters would a standard (perhaps balanced) engine suffice??
Mick

Hi Mick,

If you haven't already, join the Locost Racing Yahoo group here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/locost-racing

There is a Novice Pack online there in the files section that answers a lot of these questions. If you U2U me your email address I'll send you a copy.

In short - although you don't *have* to do the rebore in order to be legal everyone does. It ups capacity to 1380cc.

[Edited on 20/3/10 by ironside]

[Edited on 20/3/10 by ironside]