At Class Racing CIC we have a number of cars we can use, they are prepared and maintained by Class Racing our training company. There are many different kinds of motor sport below is a summary of how it is organised.
You need three things for any kind of motor sport:
- A race track or circuit
- An organiser of the competition
- Competitors with a car.
Race Tracks
There are different kinds of track Karts race on short twisting tracks, where the skill is braking and cornering. There are ‘oval’ tracks that as the name suggests are usually oval in shape although they can vary slightly, ‘Daytona’ in Florida is a tri oval meaning it has 6 corners or turns. Generally the entrance and exit of corners at ovals are each called a turn. Indianapolis also in the USA is a 2.5 mile quad oval comprising two long straights and two short straights with 4 corners. The worlds first ever purpose built race track was an irregular shaped oval in Surrey, UK called Brooklands. It held its first race in 1907. The short circuit ovals, quarter mile, are home to a form of motor sports known as short circuit racing. The closest to us is Arena Essex Raceway. This kind of racing provides close competition and some series allow contact. The advantage to a spectator is that the whole track is visible all the time. Short circuit oval racing has a great atmosphere and energy. Roman chariot racing must have provided similar entertainment over 2000 years ago!
There are national circuits where unlike ovals corners can be left or right handed. These tracks are generally longer, typically around 1 to 2 miles as they turn left and right on the way back to the start finish line. National circuits usually run in a clockwise direction but there are some circuits that are anti clockwise such as Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, in Sao Paulo, Brazil where they hold the Brazilian GP. The closest national circuit to us is Brands Hatch in Kent. Some national circuits are big businesses with many facilities on site.
Finally there are road circuits where the race takes over the public highway for a weekend. The most famous of these is probably Monaco but the 24 hour Le Mans race is also held on public highways. Road racing is very popular in the USA where the many rounds of the Champ cars series are contested on the streets.
Organisers
There are different levels of organisers, essentially the organisers set the racing rules, the technical specification of the cars and promote the event. However one organisation does not necessarily do all of these things, for example Formula 1 races involve the following organisations; the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) which set the rules under which the race takes place and the technical specification of the cars, Formula 1 Administration is the promoter who owns all the TV rights and must negotiate with the track owners to stage a series of events and a World Championship. In the UK our national equivalent of the international FIA (Formula 1 takes place in many countries) is the MSA (Motor Sports Association) and there are a number of organisers who organise club level motor sports. The Formula Vee championship that we contest is organised by the MSA and the 750 Motor Club. Where the MSA sets an overall set of rules known as the ‘Blue Book’ and the choice of race tracks, rules and technical regulations are organised by the 750 Motor Club.
Competitors
That could be you! Ok so your Dad does not own a motor vehicle repair business and your mum may not have thousands to spend on a car, transport, clothing, maintenance and equipment but Class Racing could get you started. Firstly you will need a car and there is no such thing as cheap when it comes to racing cars. You either need cash or skills. Skills can be learned. You need to get some track time and you need to get your car to the track. All this is expensive even in the cheapest kinds of motor sports so a community racing team may be your only chance.
