Racing on a budget
4 posters
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Racing on a budget
Ok, so i've always fancied myself as a bit of a handy driver as i'm sure most of us have. And i've always fancied having a go at some proper racing. I used to play in go karts with a small team from marshalls but that's about all the racing experience i've had bar a couple of trackdays in various cars.
So after a bit of investigating i decided a bmw 318 could be had relativly cheaply and very few modifications are needed to enter a championship sponsored by Khumo tyres in the lowest class. My main goal being that to prove that this can be done competitivly at low cost (although i do realize i may fail) as this is often what puts people off having a go. Some of the guys in this class have spent 2k+ on coilovers alone!
Basically the engine and drivetrain remains standard, suspension is anything goes (excluding spherical bearings) as is intake and exhaust. So the main gains are to be had from lightening the car. Slightly boring but cheap!
Started off with an ebay bargain. £250 7months mot and 2 months tax. Black 318is coupe.
Immediatly began stripping it (hence no standard piccies) and collecting cheap parts.
As it currently stands
Started off on 16 inch wheels and sitting slightly higher on spax springs and shocks. Fitted 15s as required by the rules.
Fitted a set of jamex height adjustable coilovers £220.
Pretty much stripped evrything carpet and plastics wise from the car. Carpets were VERY heavy.
Made up my own floor to make up for tha gap left over from the inch and a half thick carpet.
Added a second hand race seat picked up for £40. Unfortunately will have to replace this as i later found out that the seat needs to be in FIA date. Not such a let down as it is slightly too large for me.
Home made brackets.
And a cheapo omp rip off steering wheel for £50 and boss for £20.
The boring engine bay. Complete with poor quality induction kit with piping down to hole left over from removal of front fogs.
Next job is awefull and i've been avoiding it but need to get it done before i can fit the cage...
Removal of sound deadening. Evil stuff.
Also got to strip the door window motors and find a way to bolt the windows up.
So costs so far;
Car 250
seat 40
wheels 40
steering W 50
boss 20
air filter 40
coilovers 220
harness 60
bolts 5
plates 5
New clutch 60
Will add and subtract from this list as i remember stuff and sell bits i've taken off.
Stuff still to do; Buy control tyres, brake discs/ pads, run brake lines inside, buy and fit roll cage (biggest cost i expect), poly bush, fire extinuisher, electrical cut off.
Took it to snetterton a couple of weeks back for a bit of testing. Not too far off the pace but suspect tyres will make up for what little time i am losing. Not to mention the addition i had of a passenger plus standard heavy seat. Video to follow soon. If i can find somewhere to host it.
So after a bit of investigating i decided a bmw 318 could be had relativly cheaply and very few modifications are needed to enter a championship sponsored by Khumo tyres in the lowest class. My main goal being that to prove that this can be done competitivly at low cost (although i do realize i may fail) as this is often what puts people off having a go. Some of the guys in this class have spent 2k+ on coilovers alone!
Basically the engine and drivetrain remains standard, suspension is anything goes (excluding spherical bearings) as is intake and exhaust. So the main gains are to be had from lightening the car. Slightly boring but cheap!
Started off with an ebay bargain. £250 7months mot and 2 months tax. Black 318is coupe.
Immediatly began stripping it (hence no standard piccies) and collecting cheap parts.
As it currently stands
Started off on 16 inch wheels and sitting slightly higher on spax springs and shocks. Fitted 15s as required by the rules.
Fitted a set of jamex height adjustable coilovers £220.
Pretty much stripped evrything carpet and plastics wise from the car. Carpets were VERY heavy.
Made up my own floor to make up for tha gap left over from the inch and a half thick carpet.
Added a second hand race seat picked up for £40. Unfortunately will have to replace this as i later found out that the seat needs to be in FIA date. Not such a let down as it is slightly too large for me.
Home made brackets.
And a cheapo omp rip off steering wheel for £50 and boss for £20.
The boring engine bay. Complete with poor quality induction kit with piping down to hole left over from removal of front fogs.
Next job is awefull and i've been avoiding it but need to get it done before i can fit the cage...
Removal of sound deadening. Evil stuff.
Also got to strip the door window motors and find a way to bolt the windows up.
So costs so far;
Car 250
seat 40
wheels 40
steering W 50
boss 20
air filter 40
coilovers 220
harness 60
bolts 5
plates 5
New clutch 60
Will add and subtract from this list as i remember stuff and sell bits i've taken off.
Stuff still to do; Buy control tyres, brake discs/ pads, run brake lines inside, buy and fit roll cage (biggest cost i expect), poly bush, fire extinuisher, electrical cut off.
Took it to snetterton a couple of weeks back for a bit of testing. Not too far off the pace but suspect tyres will make up for what little time i am losing. Not to mention the addition i had of a passenger plus standard heavy seat. Video to follow soon. If i can find somewhere to host it.
Bagaz- 125cc single cylinder
- Number of posts : 44
Age : 40
Location : Red Lodge
Registration date : 2009-12-03
Re: Racing on a budget
Looking at between 200 and 350 quid per weekend depending on where it is and if it's just a sunday or saturday too.
Khumo champ is supporting truck racing this year so might even get a bit of non mainstream tv coverage!
Khumo champ is supporting truck racing this year so might even get a bit of non mainstream tv coverage!
Bagaz- 125cc single cylinder
- Number of posts : 44
Age : 40
Location : Red Lodge
Registration date : 2009-12-03
Re: Racing on a budget
stevo_d wrote:wicked idea get some ctr stickers on it and go win lol
Good idea. Cheers stevo!
Bagaz- 125cc single cylinder
- Number of posts : 44
Age : 40
Location : Red Lodge
Registration date : 2009-12-03
Bagaz- 125cc single cylinder
- Number of posts : 44
Age : 40
Location : Red Lodge
Registration date : 2009-12-03
Re: Racing on a budget
Awesome.
I definitely fancy doing something like this at some point.
I definitely fancy doing something like this at some point.
Jimbo- 998cc 3 cylinder DOHC Turbo
- Number of posts : 320
Age : 35
Location : Cambridge
Registration date : 2008-11-27
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