Hill Climbing

[stevew]

After a number of year looking I've finally acquired a Midas Gold Coupe, and whilst the intent is for fun transport for me I intend to also hill climb it, so I'm particular interested in anyone’s experience with car preparations & set-up for any of the motorsport disciplines with either the Bronze or Gold. With family imposed limits on both my time and cash my bias is more towards the fun than the seriously competative side, and as a very social and non-contact sport hill climbing seems ideal to me.

Research so far has been via the excellent Hillclimb & Sprint Association site (http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk) and am going through the regs in the Motor Sport Association "Blue Book" (http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentvi ... ticle=1158). As far as class goes, the usual place for low production kit cars is the specialist production classes; either roadgoing or modified non-roadgoing. My intent this winter is to get the car back on the road & MOTed, making the required adjustments for the Road-Going Specialist Production class. My plan is to focus on the the suspension side and safety equipment side first, and later go onto the engine - which is a normally aspirated 1275 A+.

My car has had the Metro's hydrolastic system replaced with coilovers, so I'm interested in anyones experience with this approach and any advice setting-up. Also any experience with roll cages.

Many thanks, Steve

[stevew]

If I don't have an objective things tend to drift for me, so I've looked at the events and have identified Apr 26/27 at Wiscombe Park as the one to aim for (www.wiscombepark.co.uk/events/events.htm). Wiscombe Park is south of Honiton (EX24 6JE) and is only 45mins from wher I live - it's lovely course in a picturess setting, good for family walks & picnics (got to work all the angles in selling this to the family!). The Wooldridge MC is running the event and has a good advice page for 1st time entries which is worth a look (www.woolbridge.co.uk/speed-events_new_s ... _class.htm). Anyone else interested?

[Geoff Butcher]

Don't forget your wellies! I've known some horrendously wet early season meetings at Wiscombe, in fact one year the big boys decided it was too wet to run and went home. The paddock is very steep and I've seen cars sliding helplessly down it with all wheels locked - highly amusing unless it's your car in the firing line! Not that I'm trying to put you off at all... Then there was the time when a friend got upside down in his Ginetta at Bunny's Leap, luckily without personal damage. We never let him forget that...

[kelvink]

I've been to Wiscombe too, similar distance from me also.

It is indeed a pretty steep sided valley with everything on a slope but then it is a Hill /climb venue Might bookmark that date and pop over as well

[davidj]

Hi All

I have competed at Wiscombe in the dark ages but not in a Midas. When I was there the weather was hot and sunny and the hill was good fun. Well worth a visit.

The problem with trying to compete with a Midas is finding a class where you can have a reasonable chance of fair competition. I suspect that most organizers will try to lump you in a class containing highly tuned sporting vehicles simply because you do not fit anywhere else.

The nearest that I have found to competing is taking part in charity events such as Prescott and Dyrham Park. At these you have between two to three runs up the hill for about £20 to £40, untimed but of course you can time yourselves. The only equipment required is a decent helmet. You can read more in the MOC joint magazines published over the last couple of years.

There is a fair chance that MOC members could take part in the Marcos Curborough Sprint in the Midlands held around mid year. If anyone is interested please contact me and I will try to find out more from Roger Garland.

[stevew]

Have had a look at the classes, and the Road going Specialist Production Cars & the Modified Limited Production Cars classes both which have and engine size cut-off at 1400cc. This takes most of the the Westfield and the like into the next class, though remaining are the highly tuned Minis with many running at 1380cc, so am expecting a bit of a spanking to start with and will just have to embark on some engine work as things progress.
I'm interested in the Marcos Curborough Sprint in the Midlands, but at over 4 hours drive may be on the limit for travel.

[kelvink]

I have come to a similar conclusion too Steve. I've got a couple of engine ideas but first off I'm also leaving the engine alone to kick off with.

I tend to like tracks more than a few seconds of a blast so I'm looking around for events which facilitate more time going quick, I've got 3 good local clubs (DEWSC, Woolbridge, and Bournemouth and District Car Club) and a number of nearby venues one of which I'd like to suggest to the clubs as a new venue as its an old disused air field with peritrack. There's some trials and auto tests which are open to all I've taken part in before around Blandford which have been fun.

Curborough is a long way to go to for me too but given it's a group of folk with very similar cars I think I'd be up for going along to that as it should be fun.

[stevew]

Kevin, Blanford is only an hour away and auto testing sounds fun and I bet good for developing driving skills. Do you have any dates for 2014?

[kelvink]

Hi Steve,

There's one this Sunday at Blandford (The Cracker Slalom) but a bit late for entry into that. Then there's one on 5th Jan though no details available at the moment on that one.

[stevew]

Kelvin,
Many thanks for the responce, unfortuinately these are too soon for me as haven't got to car sorted yet - expect March time. Do you do many of these events?
Steve