Have Your Say: Tell Us Your Real World Racing Experience

[Tbear]

I started doing TSD rallies back in the 1970's in VW Bugs. Not long after, I bought an MGB and began doing 12 hour events in the dirt and autocrosses.

Because I was young and dumb I began racking up a LOT of speeding tickets "practicing" on the streets. After a court appearance for doing 87 through some little town, I decided I needed to take it on the track. I began racing Street Stock MGB's in the Northeast and within a couple years I had built my first dedicated E Production Car. I raced MGBs for about 12 years. I did the usual NE tracks, Bridgehampton, Summit Point, Bryar, Pocono (North ... I think that's what they call that little road course in the corner.). I had a moment in T2 (Hansgen) at The Bridge. Went off to the inside of the track, hit a dune, got launched through the air for about 30 feet and rolled it when it landed. It ended up on its wheels and I wasn't hurt but the car was a write off. I found another MGB and was back on the track in less than a month. Then I got married and that was that.

After all these years, the Bridge is STILL my favorite track EVER. lilski has the place absolutely nailed with his fine repro of that track. Although driving the bigger wizz-bang go fast cars on the sim is fun ... I enjoy racing the Mazda MX-5 Cup and spend most of my time in that. I find that it is very similar to my old MGB's. If you can carry a lot of speed and carve a good line, you can make that little car go pretty good.

 

[Joel Eckman]

I used to race in the 4-cylinder bomber class at a small paved circle track in the backwoods of Central Florida. Let's call it a cultural experience LOL.

 

[Jeff Huber]

I've never been able to race 4 wheels. But have raced motocross going on about 35 years. Was a teacher / trainer and ran a track for a little over 4 years. I still to this day ride and train as much as I can , as long as work and the weather cooperate.

 

[chrisracer]

I have been racing since 1976. I went to Jim Russell racing school at St Jovite (Mont Tremblant) in June of 1975. In August of that same year I went back for three days of lapping. In 1976 I earned my US competition license. I began in a G Prod Spitfire. I ran that for many years. I then built and ran a 1973 Honda Civic thru the 80's. In 1997 I began driving small formula cars. By 2000 I was driving small prototypes (D Sports in US). In 2011 I began driving a Sports 2000 which I drive today in Vintage racing. I also drive a Honda Fit in the B Spec class in the SCCA.
I don't know how to upload pictures?

 

[alexSchmurtz]

I don't know how to upload pictures?

You have 3 buttons below the box where you type in your message: hit the middle one, "Upload a file", and you'll be prompt with a window where you can browse too the picture in your computer. Once it is uploaded, you just choose if you want to insert a thumbnail or a full image and you're done.

 

[Rallycameraman]

So I bought my first rallycar back in December of 2015, a Peugeot 106 GTi.

I've had various issues with it so far, and of the 3 events i've done, i've only finished 1, and that was my first event where I finished 2nd in my class.

On my first 2 rallies, I was joined in the co-drivers seat by Paul Coleman, you know the Chief Game designer for DiRT Rally and DiRT4, and also the co-drivers voice in DR! My most recent event I was joined by friend and fellow rallying cameraman, and experience co-driver Jamie (he has competed on the safari rally as well as Wales Rally GB)

My first event I did, everything went really well, finding confidence in the car, and what the car can do, and we got to the end with no problems at all.

My second rally was my first, and so far, only venture on to gravel. Unfortunately we only did 11 miles before a driveshaft snapped, but it was the most incredible 11 miles of my life, i've never had to work so hard in a car in my life! It's just a shame forest rallying in the UK is so expensive as I would love to do more, but right now I just can't afford it!

My third event was my first event of 2017, we had a good start to the rally and I gradually built my confidence, despite sliding straight on into a bank and smashing my front bumper and bending the sump guard, the car survived. Unfortunately during the 5th stage the fuel pump started playing up, we managed to get it sorted eventually in service, but it took too long and we had ran out of time before the last stage.

Below is some incar video for you to enjoy and laugh at

 

[Steve Le Gallez]

I started at age 15 racing motorcycles locally in hillclimbs, triumph tiger cub 200cc , and also sprints (1/4 mile dash (Triumph 500 drag bike, hell that was fun!!) on a closed coast road) Sorry no pics as my laptop went tits up & I can't retrieve them
I then went to the darker side of cars ( I'm now 17 & old enough to get a licence)
My first was a Ford Anglia (Ex Broadspeed all fibreglass) with a Lotus 1558 Big Valve motor, lots of fun with a welded diff, steer it with the throttle
Then onto several other saloons including a Colt GTO, Rover SD1, and a Toyota Starlet which was great fun as we inserted a Rover V8 motor coupled to a Tran-x gearbox, that was the most fun I ever had with my clothes on !!
Then, in my wonderful world I decided to try a single seater, scoured Motoring News, & found a Terrapin up in Scotland, bought it, got it delivered & ................Hated it, turn the steering left & it turned left....WTF!! Bad move on my behalf, but still managed to beat Brian Walker with his rotory powered Norton at our National hillclimb
Now I officiate at all speed events here on our little island, I'm a licenced ACU Clerk of the Course & Steward, which means I have to be at all speed events on our island.
Thanks for reading this & I end with saying that I absolutely love racing online with all of you guys, & a big up to RaceDepartment for a cracking job that they do.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Crispin Williamson]

I grew up on a farm in Lincoln and my dad rallied MK1 escorts with Roger Clark back in the day.
For my 4th birthday got an italjet 50, drove a mk1 escort on my own at 6 on the farm. Got a kx125 for my 12th birthday (awesome).

My brother raced tkm karts and I did a bit with his old one at fulbeck. Been on track with Jenson button etc.
Then my brother started rallying and I was his co-drivers, we did the Peugeot rally cup alongside the British championship.

Then had a stint at karting again and remember going to PFI one Wednesday afternoon and the only people on track were me and Lewis Hamilton when he was about 10 in a cadet.

The fun really started when I did a few enduros and then tried supermoto, took to it really well, finishing the 2006 national championship in 4th place, got a bit of sponsorship and stuff. Loved it.
Bought a kart again a few years back but the family arrived

 

[MSKbeans]

Great Mixed racing carreer. Supermoto is nutz. Awesome pictures.

 

[Andy_J]

My only racing history is Kart racing in the Cyprus National Championships about 20 years ago for 3 years. And previously racing production RGV250 in club racing about 25 years ago.
But since then I have done hundreds of track days around the UK on my trackbikes. I still do trackdays regularly. Got Silverstone GP booked for September.

 

[Crispin Williamson]

My only racing history is Kart racing in the Cyprus National Championships about 20 years ago for 3 years. And previously racing production RGV250 in club racing about 30 years ago.
But since then I have done hundreds of track days around the UK on my trackbikes. I still do trackdays regularly. Got Silverstone GP booked for September.

Rgv, nice. I had an aprillia rs250

 

[Achim Demuth]