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The 260 has been superseded by the MyLaps X2 and more straightforward TR2 (also now included in 750MC regulations), but the 750MC timing system will recognise both options.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! They MUST have a clear line of sight to the ground (no metal/plastic in between).
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.
- 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.
- Signing on is now done in advance through the website booking portal, and opens seven days before each race meeting. Check the Noticeboard page on the run up to every meeting,
via the 750MC 'Race Calendar' page, which gives details of how to sign on online for a race meeting.
- At the current time (due to Covid-19 guidelines from Motorsport UK), only a small selection of cars are chosen for physical pre-race scrutineering, and drivers chosen will be contacted on the Thursday or Friday before the race meeting.
- The Noticeboard will also show written drivers briefings (first time at the circuit and for all drivers). This page must be checked on the run up to each event, and when on site for updates.
- 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.
- 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.
< These are currently suspended due to Covid-19, and upgrades should be carried out by contacting Motorsport UK with your results.
- All formulae will have a prize giving, usually around 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! < These are currently suspended due to Covid-19, and trophies will be made available for collection instead.
- 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.