Start Racing

It's a lot easier, and almost certainly more affordable than you might expect:

1. ARDS Test & Race Licence (Click To Expand)

a) Buy a Go Racing Pack from Motorsport UK (£107): This will include a Race Licence Application Form, a Medical Form to be completed by your GP and a useful DVD outlining some of the things you will come across in your ARDS course.

Buy A Go Racing Pack

b) ARDS course (From £200): Most of the race circuits in the UK run one-day courses which include multiple choice theory tests of your basic knowledge of motor sport (flag signals for example) and a practical 'test' of your ability to drive safely around a circuit. Typically costs betwen £200 and £400 depending on location and whether any pre-test tuition is included, the questions covered in the theory test are all covered in the Go Racing Pack DVD, and the practical is a test of competency and safety not competitive pace - a straightforward affair for anyone who has done any form of karting, trackdays, or just the pre-test tuition session.

ARDS Test Provider - Bookatrack (Donington Park)

ARDS Test Provider - The Motorsports School (Mallory Park)

ARDS Test Provider - MSV (Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park)

c) Medical (£55 approx): Less daunting than it sounds; a basic medical is required to apply for your first licence. If you are under the age of 45 then it is a one-off and does not need to be repeated each year for the 'National B Race' licence required to compete in the UK. Some regular GPs are happy to offer the service, but prices can vary from £50 to around £150. If prices are high or your GP does not offer the service, then there are various third party medical providers with locations around the UK such as the following, typically around £55. The annual Autosport International Show at the NEC also tends to have a medical service available during the exhibition each January.

Motor Racing Medics

D4Drivers

Getting A Medical

Drivers Medicals

Fit2Driver Medicals

d) Apply for National B Licence (£64): On the assumption that you pass your ARDS course and the doctor is happy with your physical condition, you can then send the two documents off to Motorsport UK and apply for your National B Race Licence - the 2019 cost is £64.

2. Join the 750 Motor Club (Click To Expand)

All competitors must be a member of the 750 Motor Club. This costs £25 for 12 months and allows access to a huge range of discounts from motorsport parts/preparation companies - including 10% off at Demon Tweeks.

Apply Online

3. Register for a Championship/Series (Click To Expand)

750 Motor Club currently manage 21 formulae, from single-seaters to hot hatchbacks and endurance events, so there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. We also offer two different formulae that allow two drivers to share the racing (Roadsports and Club Enduro) and therefore split the budget. Each formula page has respective links to results, photos, videos, registration and formula-specific regulations.

A 'Series' is 'a series of races' throughout the year, each classed as separate events running to the same regulations, whereas a 'Championship' accrues points for each round, with an overall champion at the end of the year. However, other than a slight difference in registration fee each season (typically £85 for a Series and £130 for a championship), there are no other differences and no obligation to do a certain number of rounds - whether you do one or seven events a year is up to you and what your budget or time will allow. We can even offer a one-off registration fee of £25 for a trial or if you just plan to do one race in a season.

Choose Your Formula

You will be required to have the correct safety clothing (overalls, gloves, FHR, helmet), and bear in mind that the standards for these are reviewed each year. It's probably advisable to wait until you have your copy of the current 'Blue Book' before committing to the expense; it also ensures that you are not sold something which is not eligible in car racing – helmets are a prime example.
More information about FHRs and suppliers can be found in the 'Guidelines' section below.
Consult the Blue Book and your chosen formula regulations for more information, but car safety equipment will include an electrical cut-off switch, plumbed-in fire extinguisher (with up-to-date service stamp), roll cage (unless integral), tow straps/eyes, a race harness (in date) and race seat.
You will need a race transponder fitted to your car - more details can be found in the 'Guidelines' section below.
If working on cars isn't your cup of tea then there are various teams, individuals and companies working in and around 750MC formulae who will be able to provide support - from help on race weekends to complete 'arrive and drive' packages. Please contact the 750 Motor Club office to find out more information.

The fun part. Perhaps you already have a track day car that you have gradually converted to race specification, but if not there are two main options. You could either build a car to regulations, whether from scratch (as has always been popular in championships such as 750 Formula), or by converting a road car with bolt-on upgrades (such as our Clio 182 Championship). Alternatively, there are always plenty of race cars available for sale secondhand, and the 750 Motor Club have a formula to accomodate just about everything. The first port of call is the our own website classifieds, with other external options including Paddock42.com, Race Cars Direct, Motorsport Ads and even eBay.co.uk.
If building or coverting a saloon/hatchback (usually known as a 'tin-top') yourself, the mandatory upgrades required for safety are as follows, which will be checked in pre-race scrutineering: Roll cage (approved bolt-in or weld-in to Blue Book specifications) (from £650), bucket seat (required to be in-date in UK) (from £100), harness (these are required to be in-date) (From £100), electrical cut-off switch (able to be operated from inside or outside the car) (approx £30), plumbed-in fire extinguisher (likewise) (from £140), high intensity rain light (approx £20).
You will also likely need race-spec brake pads (from £100), a set of upgraded suspension (from £500), and a set of race tyres (from £300 new or £100 used) but most modifications beyond that are often not essential to get you on the grid.
If you are in any doubt as to what is required for general/championship-specific regulations or safety gear, then don't hesitate to email racing@750mc.co.uk or call the 750 Motor Club team on 01332 814548 for friendly advice. Remember, there's no such thing as a silly question - we're here to help!
Don't forget that race cars don't tend to make very good road cars, so you will need to budget for a trailer and make sure that you have a suitable car/motorhome/van with which to tow it. All of the above motorsport classifieds sites are a good source of secondhand equipment.

One-Off

MSA 'Go Racing' Pack - £107
ARDS course - From £200
Race Kit - From £500
Racecar - From £3500 secondhand ready to race - see classifieds
Trailer - From £700 secondhand - see classifieds
Transponder - From £76 - either subscription, buy or hire from 750MC each race - see more info below

Annual

MSA National B Licence - £64
750 Motor Club Membership - £25
Formula Registration - Typically £85 (Series) or £130 (Championship)
Race entry fees - £240-£330 approx (per double-header race weekend)

The 2019 Motorsport UK 'Blue Book' - containing all general rules and regulations
750MC Marshals Site - The crucial other side of the fence; motorsport would not be possible without the orange army of vunteer marshals at each event. We can never have too many, so why not volunteer to be a marshal at a 750MC race meeting on-line and learn more
Facebook - You can find the main 750 Motor Club Facebook page linked here or at the top of our website, and all individual formulae have their own respsive pages - click the 'Social' button on your formula page of choice to join in discussion and reach drievrs directly.

1. Race Kit Guidelines (Click To Expand)

Saftey kit required includes an approved helmet, an FHR ('Frontal Head Restraint' - varioius versions available but generally known as a HANS Device), fireproof suit, gloves, boots and balaclava. Fireproof underwear is not mandatory but highly recommended. Buying safety kit secondhand is not recommended, and any damage/tears may fail scruntineering.

MSA Guidance Sheet on FHRs

FIA Approved FHR Systems

FIA Advanced Helmets

FIA Premium Helmets

FIA FHR Compatible Helmets

A wide range of FHR systems and helmets are available from Demon Tweeks, where 750 Motor Club members also receive a 10% discount.

2. Transponder Guidelines (Click To Expand)

It is the competitor's responsibility to equip their car with a fully working transponder, and this must be fitted in a suitable position. The regulations for 750 Motor Club series and championships previously stated that the required transponder is the AMB TranX 260, a unit available either hard-wired or rechargeable, known as the 'old red type transponders'. These are no longer available new and normally cost around £200-£275 secondhand. The 260 has been superseded by the MyLaps X2 (also now included in 750MC regulations), but the 750MC timing system will recognise both options. The X2 is a subscription-based transponder that needs to be activated and periodically updated for firmware - you can find full details on the MyLaps website and buy from Racetransponders.co.uk with a 5% discount as a 750MC member, with options starting from £76.

The 750 Motor Club does have a limited amount of transponders to hire at each race meeting (at a charge of £30 per event), however please be reminded that failure to return one may result in the offending competitor not being timed at the following meeting.

Download details on the correct placement of transponders at this link - please ensure they are followed so that your car is timed!

3. Race Meeting Procedure (Click To Expand)

Your first meeting might seem like a daunting affair in terms of paperwork and procedure, but the 750 Motor Club team are here to help. As a general guide, the following will apply to all of our meetings:

- Around one week before each race weekend, you will receive what are known as 'Final Instructions' (universally referred to as 'finals') through the post or via email (depending on the circuit), along with your allocation of entry tickets - this tends to be between three and six, depending on the circuit (who control the allocation). You may also receive a paddock pass for a support vehicle/tow car at some circuits. Final intructions will always be available to download from a 750MC home page banner (or via the Race Calendar page), and exclusively so (not posted) if the meeting is being run with e-tickets (distributed via email, and increasing in popularity per circuit). Extra tickets for spectators can be purchased on the gate, or often in advance via the respective circuit.

- These final instructions detail the arrangements for the weekend, paddock plans (such as where entrants in your formula should park), race day schedules (sign-on, scrutineering, qualifying and race times) and details on mandatory briefings required. For your first time racing at each circuit, there is an additional 'new to circuit' drivers' briefing - ALWAYS read your finals in full each and every time, and bring a copy with you and make yourself aware of where you need to go.

- As a general rule, access to a circuit is allowed from the early evening of the night before your race. Entry on a Friday night for a Sunday race is usually permitted with tickets, however it may be that your paddock formula space is reserved for another series/championship on the Saturday, so you may need to temporarily stay in an outer paddock 'Overflow' area until it is available on Saturday.

- It is usually the case that testing is available on the Friday before race meetings. Although there are exceptions, this is usually arranged to coincide with 750MC meetings. Testing is booked directly with the circuit (with the occasional exception such as Croft Circuit, which is via 750MC), and it is common for competitors to arrive on the Thursday night before testing and stay right through until Sunday for a double-header race weekend.

- The vast majoriity

- Signing on is usually available on Friday afternoons from 4pm until 7pm and certainly worth doing if you are on site to cut down on race morning administration time. The same goes for scrutineering on a Friday, usually from 4pm until 7pm, on a first-come-first-served basis. Your finals will confirm this for each meeting.

- There are usually few limitations on staying in camper vans/tents around the paddock throughout race weekends, as long as the circuit's own rules are adhered to, with toilet/washroom facilities open throughout. The vast majority of 750MC competitors stay at the circuit, and you won't have to look far to find a barbeque, meet new friends, or a pair of helping hands or tools for any last minute car issues.

- Don't forget to take your race licence to signing on at Race Admin, after which you will be presented with a Scrutineering Slip. Take this slip along with your car and all your personal safety equipment/clothing/helmet to your scrutineering session (the location of which will be marked in the finals). This will be at a set time in the morning, apart from the aforementioned Friday evening session. Once approved, you will receive a small cardboard Scrutineering Ticket - this needs to be fixed inside your car and clearly visible through (or fixed to the inside of) a side or rear side window (in a saloon), or on shown in the cabin of an open car. Clear card holders are available from 750MC for £1 in Race Admin when you come to sign on.

- Your Scrutineering Ticket will be checked before you are allowed out on circuit to qualify, and a noise test will typically be carried out around the same time as you head into the Assembly Area. Listen for tannoy announcements and keep an eye on fellow competitors for when your session is called to assembly, as race meetings aim to run ahead of the marked timetable wherever possible. This is a good time to remember to take the pin out of your fire extinguisher.

- Details on race number sticker positions will be given in your regulations, and don't forget that a novice cross on the rear is required at first. As a general rule, saloons/tin-tops run day-glo yellow numbers in the rear side windows (large) and in the top left hand corner of the windscreen (small), whilst open/sports-racing/single seaters run black numbers on white backgrounds. All the above are the competitor's responsibility in advance, however they are always available to buy from 750MC at Race Admin if required. Formula sponsor stickers will also be available at Race Admin at any time - these are free and mandatory, and there will be a diagram available to show where they should be positioned. All decals need to be applied before scrutineering.

- If you are hiring a 750MC transponder, these can be collected at Race Admin when you are signing-on, at a cost of £30 for the meeting. Card payment is usually available, but please aim to bring cash wherever possible to help speed up the process.

- Race licence upgrade cards should be left at sign-on and collected at the end of race day. These need to be printed off from this link, and submitted with your details and a passport photo attached.

- All formulae will have a prize giving, usually aroun 45 minutes after the last race of the weekend but check final instructions or as at Race Admin. We encourage every competitor to attend regardless of race results; not only for the social aspect but also as many formulae have Driver Of The Day Awards, so you never know if there is a prize with your name on it!

- 750 Motor Club now operate an SMS messaging system at race meetings, so it is useful to have your mobile phone on you or with a helper whenever possible in the paddock. This may be to alert you to a transponder issue, remind you of a prizegiving about to take place, or something else.

- If you have any other questions about what to do over the duration or procedure of a race weekend, or have an issue that we may be able to help with, then don't hesitate to get in touch with the Club for advice and assistance. Call during office hours on 01332 814548, and our event mobile at race meetings is 07753 446592; this is normally in use from 9am onwards on the Friday of a race weekend.

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