Question about racing for Australians

[Treffynnon]

Hello everybody,

I want to find my on to a race track or somewhere that I can drive the Sprint without indangering other peoples lives. I was wondering what the best way was to do this? I am assume that some sort of professional training would be an asset, but where would I go for that. I also have come to understand that a CAMs licence of some sort would be required (is this true?). I would only be entering at the lowest level, you know to have a little bit of fun without killing all the components in my car. I can't afford a new set of tyres after every bit of fun.

So is AROC Australia the way to go? Like go on a track day or something?

I have no idea because no one I know has ever down anything like this before.

Or should I just keep on dreaming and head on down to the local go kart track. By the way does any one know where the nearest one is to Berwick, Melbourne?

I am only 18 and I am running on my P's would this be an issue?

Also I have never particpated in any form of motorsport before. Except for go-karting in which I treated my friends to a good caneing on a couple of my birthdays.

Thanks for your help in advance,
Simon

[southern75]

You should have Pm'd me,

First you need to be in a club,

AROCA way to go, there is usually some generic clubs but inveriably they tend to laugh at alfas naughty
AROCA will generally try to have a training day, it is in their consitiution somewhere that they encourage motorsport in all its forms.
That is worth doing as they will teach you heel and toe, mind you as a sprint driver you can probly teach them i know i did!!! (75 is quite a bit harder to do, but it does sound much better)
They will also teach you about the best race lines and car setup tyre pressures etc.

If AROCA don't do one do on of the John Bowe ones as the Benica Boys are instructors and beilve me they know alfas.

Then you will need a CAMS licence, you will need level 2s which will allow you to supersprint, motokhana and hill climb. It will also allow you to partake in navigational rallies.
Other licences such as C3 (circuit racing) with cost you upwards of 400 a year and will require ability observation.

Also you will need to do a bit of car prep.
(i scruitineer so i can tell you what you need to do)

But you WILL need a helmet. I would get a full face helmet and it must meet AS 1698, there is other standards too but AS 1698 is standard motorbike standard laughing

First things first JOIN AROCA

[Damon]

Simon! about time, I thought you were never going to ask!

Sounds like a great idea. There are no AROCA events in Berwick to my knowledge, although the closest tracks to you (and me) are Sandown and Philip Island, which are great tracks.

Schedule for events this year in Victoria are on the AROCA Vic website,www.alfaclubvic.org.au the next event is at Winton on 12 July, otherwise 23 August at Philip Island.

Alfa Club driver training appears to have been cancelled this year due to the closure of Calder park causing the Winton booking to be rescheduled into a sprint day.

Track days usually cost $100 to enter plus the cost of the cams level 2 licence (just filling out a form and paying your money) you need to be a financial member of a recognised club (eg. AROCA) first though.

P's are no problem, one of the AROCA vic members isn't old enough for a driver's licence yet but is quicker than me in his GTV6!

Scrutineering is easy if the car is roadworthy, you will really only need a helmet, metal valve caps, taped lights, a battery triangle and fire extinguisher with metal bracket. Your sprint should already have twin throttle return springs and as the bonnet is front hinged you don't need an extra strap.

You will be grouped up with slower cars first up and can get instruction through the club as a first timer.

If you don't want to kill your tyres and brakes, that is no problem, you only need to drive as hard as your self control will let you! If your wheel alignment is set up properly and your tyres are reasonable you should be fine, Winton is probably the hardest track on tyres for Victoria, is you do Philip Island you will be fine.

Anyway, just do it!

[Treffynnon]

Thanks for your replies. I think I had better look in to the club further.

Simon

[drew]

dude, you in berwick? i live in pakenham....

if ya ever see a 33 with a mccr windscreen sticker on it, thats-a-me!

im gunna join aroca soon

[Treffynnon]

Yeah I am going to Monash out here.

[southern75]

you don't really need metal valve caps, if a scrutineer hits for for that one tell him to read his manual,

I will never knock a guy back for plastic valve caps as it is not in any of the schedules.
(metal is preferable)

Schedule C is the scrutineering schedule
Scedule E is the wheel and tyre schedule and neither specify metal valve caps,

While i am here an looking at schedules, schedule H states the fire extinguisher must comply to AS 1841 with at least 900gm of extinguishant(1841.2 is not permitted)
also it must be mounted in a suitable place,

but i must tell you this is a big point of contoversy when scruitineering, competitiors say that a boot is suitable, and the CAMS manual doesn't say otherwise, also other competitors have them cable tied in and there is nothing to say this isn't allowed.
The way to go is to get an extinguisher from Rev race gear or one of them type shops as the have nice metal brackets and they are reasonably priced, some scrutineer with hammer you for a plastic bracket but them manual doen't state otherwise

make sure your steering wheel is not made from wood unless it is an orginal one, (yes dumb rule)

But cover your headlight with contact or the new altex headlight protectors(worth doing anyway unless you want new headlights)

And just make sure everything is tight, seats, seat belts, steering wheel, wheels, sump plug etc

[drew]

out here? where not that far out!!!

[Damon]

Hi guys,

Glad to see a post with some aussie interest again. Interesting views on scrutineering, I generally don't try to argue the toss with scrutineers as I have struck enough cars thrown out for pointless things in my time!

As for the metal valve caps and fire extinguisher bracket these are laid down in the supplementary regulations so this is enforced. If the fire extinguisher is not within reach of the driver this can be difficult.

In my experience many scrutineers have absolutely no idea what makes a car safe or otherwise (I have had my car scrutineered by my (unqualified) customers on more than one occasion!) and if all the boxes on the scrutineering form are ticked then the car is ok!

I will keep an eye out for your 33, if any of you want to join the Alfa Club, the next meeting is at Bells Hotel in South Melbourne next Wednesday- of course I know that is a fair way "out there"!

[southern75]

I dare say scrutineering can be a bit of a joke,

hey i'm not a mechanic, but i have done the CAMS courses and practical assesments, i feel that supplementry regulations are often insufficient as well,

I have seen cars that have passed log book examinations that i wouldn't like to race in,

But i tell you the biggest joke is for supersrpinting, you aren't allowed to wear a drag racing suit (ANDRA approved) but you are allowed to wear jeans and cotton shirts,

But i believe competitors should try and abide by rules over and above the regulations as it is all safety things and it is in their own interest and that of their fellow competitors.

I have sent many cars away for little problems at a supersprint that can easily be fixed on site, but very rarely have i sent anybody packing and generally that is coz their being an arshole about it, like "i raced this car last weekend," yes but it may not have had a 3mm crack in the floor pan running through the point where the seat bolts in.

But i always try to let the person compete and give them tips for next time.

Also some scrutineers are idiots,
I had an argument with a scrutineer one day who knoed back a little corolla with a fuel injected 4a-ge (yes i'm kind of a toyota dude to, but they have no soul like an alfa) and he failed it for having no second carby return spring, and somehow he though the induction trumpets were attached to a carby, the injection rails and injection loom didn't compute with him.

So yep Damon I do agree to a certain extent, but mostly scrutineers are there to help the competitors, its just some are dickheads

[Treffynnon]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by southern75:
<strong>...is coz their being an arshole about it, like "i raced this car last weekend," yes but it may not have had a 3mm crack in the floor pan running through the point where the seat bolts in.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not referring to any particular incident are we?

Simon

[southern75]

No, that's a pretty generic excuse,(generally commodore drivers.)
My generic answer is "well it may have been OK last weekend,"

What they do forget is scrutineers can be legally liable

and.... how come they haven't got a finger up in the instant Gremlins bit and they haven't got a moon either that sux frown

[bazza]

You can still use the graemlins that are at the top. Right-click one, click properties and highlight and copy the address. Then click the image button at the bottom, and paste it in there.

http://www.alfaowner.com/forum/ubb/icons/icon50.gif

See?

[southern75]

ahhh i see, said the blind man, to the deaf man who didn't really give a shi : http://www.alfaowner.com/forum/ubb/icons/icon22.gif confused: t