Topic dedicated to HSA Speed Championship Class N

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Gerry Richards
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Topic dedicated to HSA Speed Championship Class N

Post by Gerry Richards »

Calling all would-be Imp racers and modifed Imp drivers!!

Following a couple of years enforced absence from Imp racing due to family circumstances and an intimate and expensive introduction to a wooden barrier at Shelsley, I've decided to do the HSA championship next year, and persuaded my dad that at the age of 63 it would be a good time for him to join me as a joint driver!!

Trouble is, checking the HSA website, only 2 cars contested class N, for road modified Imps last year - classes that don't get any takers often get pulled and I'm sure that Ben Boult expected more interest (although there always used to be 4/5 cars back in 98/99).

So here's my plea (a plea that's been sent out by others before) - if you've been thinking about going for it, go for it next year and let's have some competition. I'm hoping to do six rounds next year - we can use this forum to keep in contact, try to make sure we all enter the same events etc.

If you've got a hot Imp and you want to go hillclimbing or sprinting the HSA is the best championship, although I think a lot of people get put off when they see the entry fees getting up around the 100 quid mark!! (the HSA championship visits the top venues, some of which have higher-end entry fees) But remember, this is still much cheaper than circuit racing....

Anyone interested??
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Post by benwick3 »

Best of luck in drumming up entries. However, I think you hit on the problem with low entries with mentioning that entry fees are nudging £100.
As regards to being cheaper than racing I beg to differ. It may appear initially to be cheaper, particularly when compared with the cost of the Historic Saloon Car Series which has a thriving Imp entry - increasing every year, but don't forget there are other racing series available.

I've been racing for the past 15+ years in the 750MC Roadgoing Sports Car Series in my Clan. Last year entry fees averaged out at approx £150/race. Now whilst this is some 50% higher than Sprint & Hillclimb events look what I get for my money - 10/15minutes practice and 15minute duration race - considerably more that I could expect from a sprint or hillclimb. I also got to visit all of the major racing circuits in England and Wales.

So in closing I say if you want to compete don't write of racing as being too expensive - It's cheaper than you think.

Pete Richards
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Post by benwick3 »

Gareth,

Originally Roadsports car had to have a current MOT and consequently a good number were road registered and I know of some that were driven to the circuit. Current regulations require the car to be capable of passing a MOT. This year I did obtain a MOT for my Clan and taxed and insured it using Foootman James Classic Insurance for the latter. This has enabled me to undertake testing and running in of components on the road.

For your information modifications to a Clan to get you on the grid are minimal. Uprated springs and dampers, tyres and the necessary MSA safety regulations are all you need. Although a 998 or 1040 would be more competitive there's nothing to stop anyone using an 875. In this connection Phil Abbott, co-founder of Radical Sports Cars started racing in Roadsports with a 915 G15 although it wasn't long before it was changerd for an Ian Carter 998.

An alternative series to consider is the Imp based races run by the SEMSC at Lydden Hill.

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Post by Gerry Richards »

Good point about the relative affordabillity of 750MC entry fees Pete - much more reasonable than the HSCC/HRSR. If we're talking racing an Imp rather than a derivative we are effectively talking HRSR - as far as I can see the 750MC doesn't cater for historic saloons. (If they did I'd be sorely tempted)

I was also thinking about costs to get a full circuit licence (£300-ish), extra equipment like a full extinguisher, transponder, full cage, laminated screen etc., none of which are needed for speed events (although in some cases it still best to have them of course)

Also, all those extra racing miles take their toll on our little engines.... An extensive blow up and rebuild would cost me a prohibitive amount, unless I rebuilt the engine myself in which case the season would be over by the time it's ready!!!

Then with HRSR there's the little matter of £500 worth of control tyres which aren't road legal...... (not so much of a problem with 750MC)

And £250 for racing membership of the HSCC (again 750MC is much cheaper)

I'll spend £500 on entry fees next year, drive my car to the events (and hopefully back again) and take in the atmosphere of some of our best hillclimb venues. I always think my fee pays for me to be part of something, not just in terms of the time on the circuit (although I'd really dearly love to be doing the real circuit stuff with you boys)

Also, being naturally lazy I quite like the nice long gaps betwen runs - I find circuit race events a bit frenetic!!

And I like Gareth's analysis of £ per hour - trouble is by this measure, the quicker you get the less value for money it becomes!!
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Post by benwick3 »

Gerry,

One thing that comes out of all this detailed cost analysis is that there's no such thing as cheap motorsport. Also too much detail is not healthy for ones other half!

What it all boils down to is enjoying yourself and I think like me you've got the right attitude.

As an aside this little discusssion has reaffirmed my intention next season to try and undertake more racing on mainland Europe where officialdom and costs are more acceptable to the non-professional racer.

Pete Richards
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Post by pimpdriver »

Guys
Hillclimb & sprints are cheaper than racing( no entry fee last year was £100, average was £80), For a days motorsport it is quite a bit cheaper. On a mile per pound tho racing is a lot better value for money. Then again road rallies are even better value for than racing on a pound per mile basis.One major advantage for me is that you can share the car. You both have to pay the entry fees but the running costs are halved. As Pete says, none of it is cheap any more. I do think that there is quite a bit of difference between racing & speed events then just cost. Racing is about your speed over a long distance & developing the car to go consistantly fast, whilst dealing with all the other people on the track trying to stop you getting ahead. Most racing curcuits are big and wide for an imp or clan & you will spend a lot of time in the top two gears reving the 'onads off your engine.For most hillclimbs the track is only a couple of feet wider than your car & you probably won't get into fourth at all. In fact this year there have been no hillclimbs & only 2 sprints were we used top gear (llandow & MIRA), & thats with the lowest top gear available (100mph @ 9000rpm) . Speed events are all about getting a perfect run on a small track. One mistake in one corner will cost you time
you can't get back next lap. Effectively its the same as the f1 qualifying shoot out, you get one (well 2 actually) goes at it, no one in you way, no excuses, it's you and the peice of road. One other thing about the HSA championship is that they are not historic classes. You don't have to worry about if your mod was legal back in 1966. As long as it meets the safety regs & the production car regs, you are legal. Front rads, discs, turbos, fuel injection etc are all ok.
As a start in motorsport i don't think you can beat Hillclimbs & sprints, but then again not all people doing hillclimb & sprints are frustrated racers,
some of us actually like them for what they are.

Cheers

Eric
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Post by pimpdriver »

Did i just write all that!!!

What i meant to say, before i got a bit carried away, was that the HSA series is one of the best hillclimb & sprint championships, & don't just think of it as a cheaper alternative to racing, look at it in it's own right as a motorsport event, you will like it.

Cheers

Eric
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Lots of good points coming up here...

Gareth, not a can of worms at all - just a healthy discussion. Eric, I couldn't agree more, the events are really enjoyable in their own right, the precision required and the fact that everything's timed down to the wire is great - another point is that you can watch your rivals in action and compare lines through various bends etc. which is great, especially if you share the car. Didn't mean to imply that they're the poor relation, just that I've spent far too much time at Oulton Park watching Gerry Marshall and thinking 'wow'!! Then again, watching Andy Jones at Prescott on a summer's day is just as good. (it was their entry fees which I now think are 'creeping toward' the 100 quid mark - I didn't say they'd actually got there yet!)

Gareth, any decent road-going modified Imp under 1040cc will be accepted in class N, provided certain simple MSA regulations are met - this is one of the main attractions of class N, simple to get started but very few upper limits on modifications as long as it's below 1040cc and road legal on list 1a tyres. I started with a sport engine and went for the cheaper modification - rip everything out!!

Pay your 35 quid for a speed licence and you get the Blue Book, the MSA bible which outlines the basic requirements for a hillclimb/sprint car, which aren't that many really. HSA 2005 regs aren't out yet (correct me if I'm wrong) but you can always check with Ben Boult to see if there are any new regs specifically for class N.

Go for it -as Pete implies, just don't keep a total of the costs!!

Cheers

Gerry
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Post by imull »

if your after proper cheap motorsport, you want to get into Road Rallying. Anywhere up to about 200 miles for under 100 notes. At most probably about £15/hour. Serious amounts of effort to maintain a schedule for even the top boys (rarely a clean sheet at the end of the night)...

And an Imp/Clan etc is competitive against the Subaru's and high spec escorts. Bargain. A bog standard Metro regularly wins and was also beating Gwyndaf Evans in the Revival until they went off.

Also a totally bog standard car is allowed, you dont need to even have a roll cage, though if your wanting to push a bit it is advisable.

Plus you dont get dizzy going round in circles :wink: :P
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Post by pimpdriver »

Hi
Ih had a bad day yesterday - didn't mean to start anything 8) .
Well done Gerry for raising awarness. All forms of motorsport are expensive in that you tend to spend more than you can afford.
Imps are surprisingly cheap to compete with, & are always well received
with the spectators, And in racing they are really making their mark again.
I been to watch Pete race with his clan & it's great to see a 1000cc 30 year old car mixing it (and beating) much newer & bigger engined cars.
The only downside is that the numbers competing in Hillclimbs & sprints has dropped off in the last few years - it would be good if we could reverse that trend.

Gareth, how are the splinters :o The imp classes in the HSA championship are quite easy. Basically you need to run to Modified Roadgoing Production car regs with the extra restriction that it is an Imp (saloon/coupe) & it is less than 1040cc. The hard bit is making sense of the regs out of the MSA blue book (common problem to all competitors).. In a nutshell it has to be road legal (taxed & MOT'd), on list 1a tyres, which are standard road tyres.(toyo 660's, yoko a539 etc).for interest, list 1b is for exotic/race type tyres that are still road legal, yoko a008r types. The engine block & head must be as the original car (sunbeam b1 (930) blocks are allowed to be used), & the suspension type
& general layout must remain the same (no fitting herald front suspension)
The body work should remain as standard but all windows (except windscreen - has to be laminated) & opening panels (doors,bonnet,engine lid)can be replaced with a different material (i.e. perspex & fiberglass).
The interior can be removed and the front seats can be replaced with racing seats & harnesses (well recommended). A rear roll cage is not actually required but is well recommended.

Any questions just ask me (or Gerry) we will try to help.
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Post by Useless Eustace »

This isn't to hijack this thread which I find most interesting BUT all the comments seem to be relevant to our Southern brethern. Now I'm in deepest Scotland I.e. North of Hadrian's and there aint much about up here that I'm aware of.

There's Knockhill but Clan or Imp.........What class even if there's a race.

Hillclimbs at Kames & Doune. There's also a Tarmac championship using airfields but that could get pricy using Imp/Clan
SO
I've been thinking of a general purpose everything car (Perhaps not races) for hillclimbs, sprints, occasional road rally etc.
(Probably NOT Mull Sandy !!)

What think you and which would be best. Imp/Clan/Davrian etc.

I have a G15 but don't intend to use that. It's too good.

I have been looking for a good (affordable) Clan for some time but things just haven't worked out. So I'll keep looking but it's not looking too hopeful. Comments appreciated however on the way to go.
Corsa/Nova/Peugeot/Citroen Etc :twisted:

Cheers
B
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Post by Gerry Richards »

benwick3 wrote:
What it all boils down to is enjoying yourself and I think like me you've got the right attitude.
Absolutely Pete - we don't do it for the money after all. It's costly but the thrill of driving right on the limit, way beyond what any sane or rational person would do on the roads, takes some beating - whether in a sprint, a hillclimb or a race.

The upgrading of speed licences to a race licence mentioned earlier isn't strictly correct. It may have been possible in the past, but now you can only upgrade from Speed B to Speed A - I had one, theoretically allowing me to drive an over 2-litre single seater in the National Hillclimb Championship - oh yeah, I wish!! Nowadays you need an ARDS course to get a circuit race licence.

As an aside, I've applied for a stage rally licence this year - as an existing speed licence holder I can get one without having to take a rally school test, which are being introduced for new licence applicants. Not that I intend to do stage rallies in the near future but it'll save me a packet if I do, and I can do National B sprints and hillclimbs (i.e. HSA) with my rally licence.
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Post by imull »

Isnt there a sprint championship running in Scotland? thought I had seen one that basically used all the same venue's as the scottish tarmac championship. There is also a fairly strong navigational road rally series in the scottish borders and. These arent too hard on te hcars if you can ind a decent nav.

As for other cars, I navigate in a 205GTi with a mate from uni and with a little thought (1.9 engine on 1.6 box etc) it is a rapid little toy that is capable of winning the fastest of road rallies.

Other saloons that may be of interest are the E30 shape BMW 325 as the 205challenge organiser has started up a similar one for them - in standard trim tehy have the slippy diff etc and the lovely 6cyl noise :) (think the reputed build price is well under 3K). RWD Corolla (AE86 I think) or maybe even a decent Nova/Corsa. Fairly cheap to play with and can be made very competitive for not much effort.
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Post by Useless Eustace »

Yes Sandy I'm thinking that Nova/Corsa/Peugeot could be the way to go. Certainly much cheaper than Imp/Clan/Davrian & if you wipe it out (Always a possibility with my driving!!) then it isn't going to cost an arm & a leg.

Like you I think that a Clan is a great idea BUT cost wise it's not so attractive. About £10,000 to build one from a shell & I don't have that sort of cash lying around.

So a Nova perhaps + a good hol in the sun is probably the way to go.

SORRY LADS :?

Cheers
B
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Post by benwick3 »

What rubbish - £10,000 to build a Clan. Get real if that's the case then I have £30000 sitting in my garage - must up the insurance.

If you were serious you would have checked out the Clan site for Clans for sale. Of the specialist Imp based cars they are the cheapest you can get. £2000 or less would get you a reasonable road-going car, probably with a 998. Conversion to competition use would be mainly safety related and as such should be possible for £1000 and include uprated springs and shockers and possibly a disc brake conversion.

As for repair costs should you damage it - all easily done at home as long as you collect the bits.

I've got 2 Clans that I'm in the process of converting to competition use. The first is my daughters and cost the grand sum of £120 as a shell with cage, doors and bonnets. Now a rolling shell requiring paint, fitting out and engine, box etc. Major cost to date has been fibreglass and filler.
and a lot of time in refurbishing imp components. The second is a rolling shell I aquired early last year, again fitted with a cage and this was expensive - £200.

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Post by Useless Eustace »

AH a difference of opinion. Well I've got news for you. I've actually costed accurately the build up of a Clan using new parts where possible to a good (100BHP) 998/1040 Clan.

Look at the various engine builders if you want the cost of an engine alone !! Scary stuff but those are the costs unless of course you want to do it on the cheap with the usual pitfalls & problems along the way.

Plus I've had a fair amount of corres with our Irish chums and the info is....it's going to cost a lot of Euros.

Plus I've spoken one of the well known Imp rally fraternity & he agrees that £10,000 is an extremely reasonable ball park figure for a top notch competitive car.

Much cheaper of course if you have some of the bits already, do all the work yourself & don't have any time limits on how long it's going to take. I can't go that road.

As for the Clan site I've checked out various cars this year ranging from £1,600 to £7,500. So please don't rubbish someones figures just because they don't agree with yours !!

REMINDER TO SELF
: Musn't get too bitchy at this time of year & musn't hijack other peoples threads. End of rant :wink:



B
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Post by chris »

Hi guys Iv wanted to do this all this year so next year i am!!
The only problems I have are:

1. Iv never raced b4
2. Don't know when the events/meetings are
3. Dont know what class to go in

Basicly I dont know where to start, but im looking to do hillclimbing cos I think it will be cheaper on the car i.e no other cars to crash in to!
I hope thats the case!

1 thing I have got is an imp with a roll cage, laminated front screen, bucket seat, harness spax shocks and hopefully if I ever get it sorted a turbo on the 875 engine.

what do you guys think I sould do???

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp plz :wink:

cheers

chris
Wanted..... FREE STILETTO...... PM Me...........worth a try haha :)
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Post by Keith 'Supaimpy' Laming »

Im hoping to be at wiscombe with the blue wonder. spent over a year now putting together all the bits, just odds n sods to finish up, then get it running.

Hopefully the rules havn't changed too much and what i've modded is racmsa and hsa acceptable, but its going in the road going class, its the car in my avatar,now fitted with 998 . cr box ,montes, fester discs.and a cage and harnesses hopefully I won't be testing those last two!

I won't do all the rounds due to the travelling but the most southerly rounds i'll be there. Just hope I can do Ray Paynes engine justice

just tyres , n crash helmet please santa

keith
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Post by Useless Eustace »

Hi Ed

Yes I know your rally prepared rolling shell. Unfortunately took ages to get on the Clan site & missed its sale (The ex Mike Curry Clan) What a bitch missing that one !!
AND
Missed your other Luff shell that you sold to Alan. I've seen what he's doing to it. Most Impressive. His second full bells & whistles Clan. What a guy !!

Like the sound of your engine & if I can find a decently prepared Clan I would be most interested. Unfortunately nothing on the reasonably priced half decent front at present.

Davrians...........Well a couple for sale in Impressions & on the Davrian site BUT looks like a fair bit of work involved. Yes I know that I could do this if I had loads of time, space and the expertise. Unfortunately I don't have any of the three.

Truth be told I want one now before I get too old and decrepit to get in the damned thing. I'm willing to travel & pay a reasonable sum (What's reasonable for a rally prepared Clan...........No please don't answer that)

Interesting thread though.

B
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Post by benwick3 »

Hit a sore point there didn't I. I'm not rubbishing your figures just stating that in my opinion, and based on 20 years of both rallying and racing a Clan, the figure you quote is not a true reflection on the cost necessary to prepare a competitive Clan. I think Eds comments would confirm my opinion.

One think I have found over the years is to not take as gospel what other people say in respect of costs. Another is that don't think that you will avoid all of the pitfalls by buying from specialists. I've been there, and seen the consequences along with the costs.

Anyway I won't comment further on this subject as I must get on with the winter rebuild.

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Post by Gerry Richards »

Three important points on costs-

What someone else has spent isn't necessarily a good guide to what you will have to spend - you need to know their full story.

What someone advertises a car for isn't necessarly what it's worth or what it will sell for.

If you start from scratch, all the little bits add up. Thing like Wills rings are the real bummer. I bought two sets last year, cost me more than the BVH they're on!! (which was a bargain it has to be said)


Back OT - sounds like a few of you fancy class N - fantastic!! When we get the regs, let's dicsuss who is going to do which rounds, as the problem is that there may be 5 or 6 cars registered for the championship, but only 2 might turn up at each round. If we can get over this problem we're sorted. Problem is the HSA championship is geographically spread out - I won't be going south of Prescott for example (for convenience, not that I've got anything against the south you understand) :wink:


Maybe we could even have a little informal group of 'classNers'. It's competition but we've always worked together. The HRSR boys are all the same - most of them were mates before they were rivals. In the good old days of '99 (cue violins) Vince Frost and I used to have great cameraderie - he used to repeatedly offer to buy me pints the night before Prescott in a vein attempt to maximise my hangover!!
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Post by Gerry Richards »

chris wrote: 1 thing I have got is an imp with a roll cage, laminated front screen, bucket seat, harness spax shocks and hopefully if I ever get it sorted a turbo on the 875 engine.

what do you guys think I sould do???

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp plz :wink:

cheers

chris
If you want to hillclimb, against other Imps, do the HSA championship with your modified Imp. Engine wise you have three options:

Leave it at 875 on carbs, have fun in class N against other road-going Imps up to 1040cc, but don't expect to win unless you're Charlie Barter.

Take it out to anything up to 1040, on carbs, and run in class N with a chance of winning.

Turbo it, go really fast etc. , but you multiply capacity by 1.4 which puts you in class P up against single seaters, spaceframes the lot, by virtue of having gone through the magical 1040cc barrier, even if your car is eligible for class N in every other way.

Stick to class N and have some fun in a road-going car!
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Post by pimpdriver »

Hi
Don't forgot us guy's in class P. We want to hang around with you lowly class N boys :D . After all were still imp based, ( and mine is still a 1968 saloon steel shell n' all). Us imp boy's at the events for the last year tend to stick together. If we camp at the hill we'll usually try an get together & eat at the local pub or sort out a bbq. What Gerry said about trying to sort out your calender for the next year is superb advice. Its much better to have 5-6 in a class at a meeting than 1 or 2 . All last year we tried to co-ordinate our events with Simon Benoy (our competion in the class). Ok he beat us on all but one occasion (i'd like to say by better driving - but the raindance worked :D ), but its better to compete against someone & lose than win a class on your own.
Keith, Hopefully we will be at Wiscombe again next year - lovely hill even tho' its 200 miles away (not cheap when the tow Scimitar does 18 mpg).
Camp on friday night - superb pub 1 mile from the hill.

On costs, Yes you can do motorsport 'on the cheap' but you do have to all the work yourself. If you pay for work to be done, it's going to cost.
I was 1/2 the service crew for the rally team who competed on the British historic rally series for the last two years. I know that car cost £10K+
to prepare. If you are paying £1000 a weekend to rally, (entry fee's, service crew's bar bill, accomodation, travel, petrol, ferries etc) you don't want to break down on the first stage. Some of the top cars (escort BDA's) are costing £50,000 to prepare. A 240 bhp bda engine will cost £20k if prepared by a specialist. A 200hp pinto will cost £10k. A 100hp imp engine say £5k, is cheap in comparison.
I quite like competing 'on the cheap' with a 1968 1 litre shopping car, to me that's half the fun. Other people are quite prepared to spend more on doing it more professionally, that's great as well. Each to there own, as long as they are competing. I can work on my car , others might not be able to do so, or feel confident to do so, or even have the time to so. That shouldn't stop you competing, it's just going to cost you more. :roll:

Cheers

Eric
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pimpdriver wrote: Keith, Hopefully we will be at Wiscombe again next year - lovely hill even tho' its 200 miles away (not cheap when the tow Scimitar does 18 mpg).
Camp on friday night - superb pub 1 mile from the hill.
Eric
Yer top place, is only 2 miles from my Girlfriend parent house!, they als have the trials around their house as well, some imps in that too

Si
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Post by pimpdriver »

Hi guys
If you are interested in the HSA Championship, these are the
provisional dates for 2005.


March 28th - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
April 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
April 24th - Wiscombe Park - Hillclimb - nr Exeter
April 30th - Werrington Park - Hillclimb - nr Plymouth
May 14th - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
June 18th - Llandow - Sprint - nr Cardiff
June 19th - Curborough (2 lap) - Sprint - nr Litchfield
July 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
July 24th - Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
August 27/28 - Gurston Down - Hillclimb - nr Salisbury
Sep 10/11 - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
Sep 17th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
Sep 24/25- Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
Oct 2nd - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
Oct 9th - Curborough - Sprint - nr Litchfield


Hope to see you at some of them

Cheers

Eric
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Well done Eric - nice to be able to plan a bit. Any ideas when they become official dates?

OK everyone in class N. If the dates remain as stated, I'm hoping to do:

Both Lotons
Both Curboroughs
April MIRA
September Prescott

Maybe another couple depending on the social secretary :wink:

How about this for an idea : when you've decided what rounds you want to do, post your intentions on this thread. I'll enter them into a spreadsheet which will then tell us who hopes to do what, so we can try to make sure we coincide as far as possible to ensure some competition. I could use a code such as I=interested in doing the round ; S=sent off entry ; C=confirmed. Maybe we could post the spreadsheet (Web browers support Excel files) on the site somewhere? If not I can upload it to the Impspeed site so prospective competitors can check who has entered which rounds.

Of course this idea is imperfect in some ways - not all prospective contenders will necessarily be accessing this forum for example. However, they could always notify us (me?) by other means and I could post the info to the web.
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Post by forum_admin »

pimpdriver wrote:Hi guys
If you are interested in the HSA Championship, these are the
provisional dates for 2005.


March 28th - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
April 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
April 24th - Wiscombe Park - Hillclimb - nr Exeter
April 30th - Werrington Park - Hillclimb - nr Plymouth
May 14th - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
June 18th - Llandow - Sprint - nr Cardiff
June 19th - Curborough (2 lap) - Sprint - nr Litchfield
July 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
July 24th - Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
August 27/28 - Gurston Down - Hillclimb - nr Salisbury
Sep 10/11 - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
Sep 17th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
Sep 24/25- Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
Oct 2nd - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
Oct 9th - Curborough - Sprint - nr Litchfield


Hope to see you at some of them

Cheers

Eric
Remeber you can now add these events direct into the website events cal!

http://www.theimpclub.co.uk/index.php?page=7

Use the 'Add Event' Button - remember the event will not show up in the calendar until I validate them..

Si
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Just finished planning which events to enter (class N):

March 28th - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
April 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
May 14th - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
June 19th - Curborough (2 lap) - Sprint - nr Lichfield
July 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
Sep 24/25- Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
Oct 9th - Curborough - Sprint - nr Lichfield

Plus my dad hopes to do 4 or 5 of the above as well.

Anybody else got their schedule sorted yet?
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Post by rootes »

Gerry Richards wrote:Just finished planning which events to enter (class N):

March 28th - Loton Park - Hillclimb - nr Shrewsbury
April 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
May 14th - Shelsley Walsh - Hillclimb - nr Kidderminster
June 19th - Curborough (2 lap) - Sprint - nr Lichfield
July 16th - MIRA - Sprint - nr Hinkley (Leicester/Coventry)
Sep 24/25- Prescott - Hillclimb - nr Cheltenham
Oct 9th - Curborough - Sprint - nr Lichfield

Plus my dad hopes to do 4 or 5 of the above as well.

Anybody else got their schedule sorted yet?
if you have time, could you add those events into the Events Cal?

Si
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Would be lovely to join you guys...

Post by ImpManiac »

I am new to this forum, but cannot prise myself away! I am a fanatical Impaholic, building up a 930cc sprint and hillclimb car with a view to having (a) a fun road car and (b) a potential road legal hillclimb competitor, whichever way around!

New as I am to all this, I shall keep an eye on the forum, bring the car to some events (when it's painted and finished - cannot wait!!) and watch and learn. My intention is, however, to join in road modified Imp sprints and hillclimbs to have a little fun. If I can afford it after completing the build, I would love to compete this coming season, probably in the HSA Championship.

Watch this space! As and when I get the car back from the painters and it is finished, I shall post some pictures.

I look forward to meeting some/all of you in the coming months!

IM :D
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Post by rootes »

Hey welcome to the forum,

the imp club is blessed with members that are up to all sortos things with there imps, from DIY EFi to customs, to full on racing - best bit is that all are helpful and friendly!

Si
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Calender Finalished

Post by pimpdriver »

The calender for the HSA Championship has been confirmed today (my entry regs arrived). It is as I stated apart from the Werrington round which is now on the 1st of May (probably my mistake). I've added them to this sites calender along with a short description of the event. If you are interested in competing it is always best to enter the events as early as possible to ensure an entry. Any help just ask.

Cheers

Eric
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Re: Calender Finalished

Post by forum_admin »

pimpdriver wrote:I've added them to this sites calender along with a short description of the event. If you are interested in competing it is always best to enter the events as early as possible to ensure an entry. Any help just ask.

Cheers

Eric
Great! I have validated them!
now on the calender
regards
Si
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Car not back yet...

Post by ImpManiac »

Hi pimpdriver.

Thanks for the offer of advice. The only problem with entering any events right now is that I don't yet know when I'll get my car back! :? I guess I could take a chance and enter it for some mid-season events.

Am I correct in my belief that all I need by way of licensing in a National B sprint/hillclimb license from the MSA? What about protective clothing? Do I just need an approved helmet and to wear garments with sleeves? The car has a full cage and has been prepared to comply with the regs, with the help of Barry Palmer at Impspares. He is doing the paint for me.

Do I need to enter the Chapionship to enter individual events?

IM :)
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Post by pimpdriver »

Im
You need a Nat 'b' speed non-race licence. Like you say you need an Approved helmet but you also now need flameproof overalls.
proban is acceptable, nomex is better but a lot more expensive. I would recommend a pair of racing boots, but they aren't essential. As a national 'B' driver you can only enter events that invite a club you are a member of. That means to enter any of the HSA championship events you have to be a member of the HSA or a member of an invited club.
The imp club as far as i know is not invited to any events so the only way you can enter them really is to join the HSA. You shouldn't have to enter the championship if you are just doing the odd event but you will have to request entry forms from the event organisers as you won't be sent them automatically. Also some of the events are usually overbooked so they decide entries by championship positions so by not being in the championship you might not get to run.

Hope this helps

Eric
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Calender changes

Post by pimpdriver »

Hi
A couple of ammendments to the HSA calender. The Wiscombe round
is on the saturday 23rd of April, not sunday 24th. Also i have been told
(although not 100% confirmed) that the curborough event on 19th of June
is going to be moved to the 12 of June. This is good news for me as the reason they are moving it is because its on the same weekend as Le-Mans, and i'm going to the big race in France this year.

Cheers

Eric
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hsa

Post by Keith 'Supaimpy' Laming »

eric see you at le mans then i'll be at maison blanche. whats the closing date fo wiscombe?

keith
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Entry list for Easter Monday Loton arrived today. Richards Jnr and senior both have entries (dad's first ever hillclimb, he's 64 in August!), as does Eric (have they put you in the wrong class Eric, or have you bought a road-going car to join us in class N?), Ibbo is there in the Dav, Andrew Till in his Clan. Why not go to Donington on Easter Sunday and then Loton on the Monday and have an Impy Easter?
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Post by pimpdriver »

Gerry
Opps, my fault entirely. I read the class list for the National ‘A’ events & entered the wrong class. I will contact them Monday & explain my stupidity. I could always draw some tread on the slicks & put pictures of an interior in the windows but I think I’ll get rumbled . I’m also thinking of going to Donnigton on the Sunday for a look - see you there as long as the car is ready for the Monday.

Cheers

Eric

P.S. closing date for Wiscombe is 7th of April.
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Nice to catch up with Eric and Ibbo at Loton. There's plenty to come from the car in terms of pure speed, but we drove there, did our 8 runs and drove home again and the car didn't miss a single beat all day, we literally didn't put a spanner to it - it was great to blast out of the gates at the end of the day while everyone was messing around with trailers in the paddock!

We ran in the pre-72 classic class against a 1600 Anglia, 1275 Cooper S, a 1700 TVR Vixen and a 1600 Elan Sprint on race tyres. The Elan was running on three cylinders, and I was quickest in morning practice in the damp and got given the lowest handicap time at 68.6, which is a good time for a G15 or a Davrian - how does that work!!?? Surely it should be taken into account that the Elan wasn't running right and the other drivers were taking it easy....

Anyway, the Elan got going in the afternoon and won (surprise), but the Imp was still quicker than the Mini and the Anglia 8) . Ironically, if I had entered road-going saloons up to 1400cc and not the classic class, I would have won the class by 2 1/2 seconds from a Nova 1400!! You live and learn.

Let's have some more cars out in class N later in the season
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Post by chris »

Hi all just in the middle of preparing my car with a 930cc t2 turbo engine and was wondering what class it would be placed in a hillclimb event?

Also im just doing the piping for the front rad and I was wondering if it would be acceptable (regulations) to use half silicon hoses and half copper pipes? and if a return fule pipe line can go in the car not outside?

Thank you

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Post by pimpdriver »

Chris
Unfortunately you can't be in class N (roadgoing imps) in the HSA championship as your engine will be classed as too big. The MSA have an equivalency factor of 1.4 for turbo's so your car will be classed as having a capacity of 1302cc (altho' i tink they are really 928cc so 1299cc). The cc limit in class N is 1050cc so that's out. Class P will take you tho' as there is no capacity limit, as long as its a imp engine, but you will be up against single seaters & clans & turboed Davrians etc (plus a little yellow Imp :-)).
Also the Classic classes will probably take you and the modified Production cars up to 1400cc will take you in gladly. There is always a class to take you somewhere, just be careful with your tyres for roadgoing classes.

Eric
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nearly ready for Wiscombe

Post by Keith 'Supaimpy' Laming »

awaiting my 2005 blue book, is the timimg splitter still the same dimensions 254 x 54 ?

think I've done the rest

afff extinguisher
twin throttlesprings
pump off on ignition
ign on / off marked
seat bolted in with 8mm bolts
harness fitted
yellow earth lead
coke bottle for catch tank
front bulkhead sealed

license, club card, mot, dvla log book,championship card, crash helmet and overalls

anyone know anything I've missed for the HSA Aldon championship
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Post by pimpdriver »

Keith.
Sounds pretty good.

Just a couple of things just in case the scrutineer is having a bad day :-)

Make sure the throttle springs, if they are twin webers, operate on the spindles, not just the linkages. The standard weber type throttle linkage has the return springs operating on the linkage itself, & a pushrod operates the sprindles. The argument is that if this pushrod breaks there is nothing shutting the throttles. The extra springs should be fitted to the outside ends of the spindles. The sctritineers love to see springs that actuate direct on the spindles. If you are using dellortos then you don't have to bother as you can see the standard returns springs (which are hidden on the webers so you don't know if they are ok. On stombergs or even a slowlex :shock: again make sure the throttle return springs operate onto the spindles, not the linkage & is quite visable.

If you have a standard seat (passenger or drivers) make sure it can't tip forward. make a clamp to hold it in the down position.

Your hand held fire extinguiser, make sure its got a quick release clamp around it holding it into its bracket. The last thing you want in an accident is a 2 kg lump of metal flying around the car :( .

If you have a roll cage fitted fit some protective padding to anywhere where you head could hit, use the proper stuff , not pipe lagging.

I have over the years fallen foul of all these things, at seperate times, but never been stopped from competing, just a "sort it out for next meeting".

At wiscombe, tell the sctutineer it's your first event, he'll treat you gently & suggest anything that will help.

See you in a fortnight

Eric
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Post by Gerry Richards »

Done two rounds now - Loton Easter Monday and MIRA on Saturday. Just me and dad out so far in class N - anyone else coming to join us in the Midlands? Regs are now out for the June Curborough if anyone fancies it.

Mixed day at MIRA - won the class winners run off but Tom had a big shunt in the Pimp. Fortunately he seemed OK on the day -any news on car and driver Eric?

Good luck at Wiscombe Keith - everything ready?
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wiscombe

Post by Keith 'Supaimpy' Laming »

just awaiting finals, and car going across to mr sykes tomorrow to check out carbs,

then its on the trailer and take some deep breaths all week

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Post by pimpdriver »

Keith
Unfortunately i won't be at Wiscombe this weekend as the car was rolled at MIRA last saturday. Car is repairable with a gallon of fiberglass & a new roof :roll: . The driver (not me) wasn't hurt but the car definately won't be out for a couple of months. Using our limited crash investigation skills, we think a rear tyre deflated whilst cornering hard, which with the very wide & low profile cross-ply slicks, meant the rim dug in & tipped it on its side where it slid quite happily until it ran out of track & then dug into the earth & flipped onto its roof & the tyre wall did a good job of stopping its wayward progress. The marshalls & medical staff were superb & Tom was fully checked over before he was allowed back to the paddock. Mechanically the car is undamaged, just the roof & all the righthand fiberglass panels are worn a bit thin in places, & a full set of new plastic windows required. The car was looking very tatty anyway so its probably time for a bit of a tart up session.
If you have any problems at Wiscombe, Andy Till in his clan is going so look for him, & my friends Ben & Wil Hamer are their with their Turbo Mini & they will gladly help you out.

Have a great day

Eric
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Post by cov_climax »

Eric,

Give me a call if you need any bits off one of the scrap shells i have; a complete roof or pillars etc., the roof is probably not good enough for a road car but might help you out, whatever you need to get the beast rolling again.

Cheers
Bri
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Post by pimpdriver »

Brain

"whatever you need to get the beast ROLLING again"

we'd rather not :twisted:

Eric
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Post by cov_climax »

Eric,

Figure of speach, i'll have a look at roof's tonight weather permitting.

BTW: you can spell my name right if you want :wink:

Cheers
Bri
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