Cheap way to race a Fulvia?

[Jackytwoshoes]

Hello, I've acquired a lovely '74 Fulvia coupe S3.
I'll post some pics of it shortly....

I'd like to keep it standard (ie, no roll cage etc) but I'd love to take it to the occasional race. I guess Hillclimbing must be pretty accessible but it's be great to go wheel to wheel!

Any suggestions for a tight budget?

[KeppelmanJ]

Don't know about the UK, but the best way to start here is going to a driver's school and you may find one which allow you to use your car. There you figure out if you like racing, like thrashing your car, etc. Then you choose your venue. I don't know of a venue here which would allow you to race (aside from club events which are hardy competitive) without at least a roll bar.

[philm]

Look at the HSCC '70s Roadsports championship.

[Dave Simons]

Any suggestions for a tight budget?

Jack, there is one absolutely inviolate rule in motorsport - "speed costs money, how fast can you afford to go?"

Although I'm not in the UK, I don't think that 'wheel to wheel" racing is possible without at least a half cage and other safety mods - battery switches, fire ext etc. Don't forget the cost of clothing, helmet etc - it all adds up.

A 1.3 5 speed Fulvia is a charming car on the track- I hillclimbed and sprinted my wifes S2 when my Fanalone was U/S. I don't think I won much, but had a lot of fun.

My suggestion is hillclimbs and sprints - we call them lap dashes here. Only a few cars on the circuit, no overtaking, running against the clock. Fastest lap time wins.

But-and this is a big but - the cheapest way to improve lap times is professional instruction. I've done quite a bit of race driving instruction - we used to get guys with 911s who wanted to tip $30k into an engine to get 2 seconds/lap. $500 spent on a good instructor was worth 3 seconds/lap.

As for mods to the car, dampers (koni) will make a huge improvement, as will good tyres (whatever is fashionable), and good brakes. By good brakes, I mean a thorough overhaul, new seals, good fluid and good fast road/low level race pads. The engine, unless there is something wrong with it, is the last thing to fiddle with.

[ecoangel]

Come and join us in the CSCC - they allow 1970s cars in Swinging Sixties

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/

HSCC also good as suggested above