2016 a good year
- Thread starter MartinN
- Start date
Hi all, just a few words that should have accompanied the pictures about my motorsport season last year.
I have been competing in a regional sprint and Club sprint series for 4 years with my Z3’s.
I say Z3’s as my first 1998 M44 model was cruelly written off after spending quite some time getting it sorted for competition, the last 2 years I have used my replacement 6 pot 2.0Ltl model which is standard at present.
Sprinting is very much at the grass roots level of motor sport, you can compete at club level with a basic MSA licence and minimal safety equipment and in standard cars. We use Airfield tracks and race circuits. The cars are grouped into CC bands, up to 1600cc, 1600 to 2000cc ETC and multiplication factors for turbo/supercharged and rotary engines. Don’t be put off by the regulations. What you will need is a Helmet with the approved rating, fireproof overalls & gloves again with the correct rating. The only other specific items are a timing strut, you will see this on the front of my car in the picture/s, and the tyres must be from a list in the MSA handbook. That said mine have never been looked at by the scrutineers .
What I have found is that advice from a local motor sports club is invaluable. I joined Herts County Auto & Aero Club who run 2 events and are affiliated to other clubs in East Anglia & London who are members of a regional group. This gives access to a range of events. My regional association AEMC has a good web site for reference.
Success story 2016.
This season has been a great success for The Z & me. We competed in 8 events in the Essex Extreme Sprint Championship from Curborough to Goodwood with some decent results which enable me to get a class win in the championship and a 3rd overall in my club championship.
Highlights were a class first at Snetterton and a very competitive second at Goodwood and another very tight second at my club sprint at Debden. I find I have to peddle the Z pretty hard to compete with more modern machinery, the likes of Mazda RX8, Honda Integra & other hot hatches but this makes the competition more fun.
We also had a great day out at Shelsley Walsh with the BMW Car Club.
I drive the Z to all of the events and it is a standard 2.0ltr six apart from I have fitted a pair of competition seats.
Picture below are this seasons booty.
Left to right: Memento trophy for 3rd in Club championship, Baseball cap class win Snetterton, the Blackley Fugle trophy 3rd in club trophy kept for a year, the first presentation of this was in 1954! Essex Extreme Sprint Championship Class A2 win 2016, Borough 19 Sprint Snetterton 2016 Class win plate.
If any prospective sprinters need a bit of encouragement I would be glad to help with any questions.
I have been competing in a regional sprint and Club sprint series for 4 years with my Z3’s.
I say Z3’s as my first 1998 M44 model was cruelly written off after spending quite some time getting it sorted for competition, the last 2 years I have used my replacement 6 pot 2.0Ltl model which is standard at present.
Sprinting is very much at the grass roots level of motor sport, you can compete at club level with a basic MSA licence and minimal safety equipment and in standard cars. We use Airfield tracks and race circuits. The cars are grouped into CC bands, up to 1600cc, 1600 to 2000cc ETC and multiplication factors for turbo/supercharged and rotary engines. Don’t be put off by the regulations. What you will need is a Helmet with the approved rating, fireproof overalls & gloves again with the correct rating. The only other specific items are a timing strut, you will see this on the front of my car in the picture/s, and the tyres must be from a list in the MSA handbook. That said mine have never been looked at by the scrutineers .
What I have found is that advice from a local motor sports club is invaluable. I joined Herts County Auto & Aero Club who run 2 events and are affiliated to other clubs in East Anglia & London who are members of a regional group. This gives access to a range of events. My regional association AEMC has a good web site for reference.
Success story 2016.
This season has been a great success for The Z & me. We competed in 8 events in the Essex Extreme Sprint Championship from Curborough to Goodwood with some decent results which enable me to get a class win in the championship and a 3rd overall in my club championship.
Highlights were a class first at Snetterton and a very competitive second at Goodwood and another very tight second at my club sprint at Debden. I find I have to peddle the Z pretty hard to compete with more modern machinery, the likes of Mazda RX8, Honda Integra & other hot hatches but this makes the competition more fun.
We also had a great day out at Shelsley Walsh with the BMW Car Club.
I drive the Z to all of the events and it is a standard 2.0ltr six apart from I have fitted a pair of competition seats.
Picture below are this seasons booty.
Left to right: Memento trophy for 3rd in Club championship, Baseball cap class win Snetterton, the Blackley Fugle trophy 3rd in club trophy kept for a year, the first presentation of this was in 1954! Essex Extreme Sprint Championship Class A2 win 2016, Borough 19 Sprint Snetterton 2016 Class win plate.
If any prospective sprinters need a bit of encouragement I would be glad to help with any questions.
That's a great achievement for both you and your Zed! Looks an absolute blast with like minded people. I doff my cap to you Sir.
Congratulations on your achievements nice to get accomplished in something that you enjoy.
Well done...
Well done...
Thanks Brian, competition a bit curtailed this season, hopefully 2 or 3 outings. Daughter getting married soon so my funds are being directed elsewhere for a while. I was looking at doing a national champs in 2018 though a few hill climbs & sprints, we'll see. Is that smart red roadster yours?
Fantastic, it's great to see that you are doing so well and enjoying your motorsport and all with a pretty much standard car . Totally impressed!
Makes me wish I was a bit younger, as I don't think I am quite confident enough to be throwing my car round a track.
Makes me wish I was a bit younger, as I don't think I am quite confident enough to be throwing my car round a track.
thanks. It's been a fun year, It's not just for the young UN's, im in my 60's and our oldest fella is well over 80 and drives a jag D type replica.have a go how hard you push is up to you. Take careFantastic, it's great to see that you are doing so well and enjoying your motorsport and all with a pretty much standard car . Totally impressed!
Makes me wish I was a bit younger, as I don't think I am quite confident enough to be throwing my car round a track.
Well done Martin and goes to show you don't have to spend a ton of money to play no matter how old!! JIM
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2014
- Points
- 181
- Model of Z
- Z4 coupe sport.
Nice one Martin, 
had no idea what you were up to, like to get together sometime as we're not that far apart. Missed out last year but Ill try harder this year.
Regards
RHA,Roy.
had no idea what you were up to, like to get together sometime as we're not that far apart. Missed out last year but Ill try harder this year.Regards
RHA,Roy.
Congratulations Martin. Keep up the good work in 2018.
Yes, picked it up last year.