Most common form of "grassroots" racing in the UK?

[RocketmanX]

I know you guys are all into motorsports and some know that I am as well.

What I'm interested to know is, what's the most common form of racing over there? What kind of events would I find and when? What kind of cars am I likely to see in peoples garages and yards as we see lots of different oval type cars here either parked on trailers or in someones yard or in there garages. All other types are somewhat scarce but local oval stuff can be found in every town at some house or another.

On another note, sad news last night on Speedvision. The SCCA sanctioning body that does almost all touring type road races over here is not going to be doing the Pro Rally series any longer That is a pretty new series that was hoped to be a competitor to the WRC over here as no one over here will put up the kind of money the FIA wants for a WRC race.
Too bad as I love Rallying and was hoping for some growth as I probably will never see a live WRC rally.

[Butuz]

Probably small car manufacturer-run challenges. Things like clio, seat etc they all run races that are reasonably affordable.

Butuz

[RocketmanX]

You mean stock only vehicles on a road circuit?

[dkmech]

Go-karting should not be forgotten. Thats as grassroots as it gets. Also rally-cross.

[IainB]

Grassroots - banger racing
"Run What Ya Brung" seems to be having a good revivial at the moment - judging my the number of people Ive seen in the fire up lanes - but we havent got the tracks that America has (and then they are only open on certain weekends - no night racing ) plus petrol is soooo expensive over here - not everyone likes having 7+ litre engines
As for cars being on view..... I havent really seen many - most are tucked away under lock and key

[Flibb]

DOnt forget 4x4 events, lots going on all over the show. For spped thers comp safari, or thers slower stuff like trials. Very cheap to get in to as well.

[jon bda]

Grassroots - banger racing

I'll second that, banger racing then auto grass for the more advanced...

[Zak33]

I'll second that, banger racing then auto grass for the more advanced...

thirded......when you are a kid, there is ALWAYS some form of Banger Racing...

and for the US party, who wont know what we mean (poor sod, English language is so badly used in motorsport)

a Banger is an old car.

and inevitably you get lots of old cars, drive round an oval or even a Figure 8 and pound the hell out of eachother

basicx safety....very basic....overalls, helmet, roll cage made with scafolding poles.....

ready stready ....go

band crash wallop

love it

Karting is NOW the best place to learn race craft tho.

[Zak33]

Zakky got carried away....and then got carried away

Jon;s right \/ down there.....you heard me the first time

[jon bda]

Its okay Zak, we heard you the first time mate...

jon bda, to fat to fit in a kart!.

[Stoo]

Real grassroots racing?

Around here it seems to mostly consist of 4 spotty oiks in a nova doing donuts in Tesco's carpark

[Shad]

There aren't enough places in the UK that you can just turn up to on a saturday in a car and go silly with it.

On a similar tangent, are there any autocross places in the UK? Sprinting is quite popular too but seems to be mainly in the south west.

[TiG]

Grassroots i'd have to say karting as well, I respect rear wheel drive cars so much more after going karting in the wet

TiG

[dkmech]

Hillclimbs! Just remembered Although thats probably same as sprinting now that i think of it.

[Shad]

Hillclimbs! Just remembered Although thats probably same as sprinting now that i think of it.

Kind of, but there's a hill involved

Also sprints are usually based on a circuit design though don't normally do a complete 'lap', where as hill climbs are normally point-to-point.