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MG Midget and Sprite General - Where to race a 1500!

OK thank you all for the advice on roll cages, now at Max's suggestion, where to race a road goingish 1500?
M.W Read

On the streat!

As far as I know(but who am I?) there are no specific midget 1500 races.
Most or not all are Aseries orientated.
Maybe with the Triumph spitfire scene?


Hopefully one of the racers out here will correct me and can help you.
Arie de Best

I Sprint my frogeye and love it, So Sprints and Hillclimbs might an option.
Try googling your local motor club.
Gary & Gaps

I think MGCC Peter Best ch'ship will have you as their aim is to provide racing for ALL MG models, with class rules by model to balance performance.
David Smith

1500s always used to have a home in the MGOC series. They outnumbered 1275s at one time. HSCC 70s Roadsports has just come to mind, too.

The Midget Championship is going through a period of change at the moment, and I don't think their discussions has even considered 1500s!

I think there is quite a bit of tuning info to be had from the Spitfire boys.

Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

Dont forget Deb from this bbs, I dont think there is something she doesnt know about triumph 1500 engines (and A-series).
She has her own tuningcompany and races herself.

She might pop in any moment now ...


or not. :)

Arie de Best

HSCC 70's roadsports is your best bet. Good company and some great tracks to race on. Check out their website where you can find information and regulations.
G Saunders

You could do MGCC Midget Championship Class C or even the CSCC Roadsports.

To make a 1500 reliable as a race engine is going to cost some serious wedge however.
Deborah Evans

There are also other options, Kim told me about the swinging 60s (which is probably the same as the one already mentioned!), as well as the MGCC/MGOC stuff - and, of course, you're going to need a nice cylinder head ..... and I've got one of only two that Peter Burgess made for the 1500 according to the Regulations, which I might possibly be persuaded to part from - at the right price of course :) Only possibly for sale as he's making me a mega-one instead ...!
rachmacb

Swinging sixties... the 1500 is from the seventies... is that not going to be an isue?


"at the right price of course :)"

Well, Rach is Scottisch afterall. :)
Arie de Best

<<..or even the CSCC Roadsports>>
no such thing, unless you meant HSCC Roadsports (which was mentioned in the post immediately before yours).
David Smith

it's very clearly a different model, from the 70s, so would not be eligible for CSCC Swinging Sixties.
David Smith

Not an issue - I think they just blanket all the midgets in the 60s - I had wondered that so double checked ;)!

Don't blame me - all monies raised IF I were to be parted from this head goes straight into Peter Burgesses' pocket for the new one ;) I'm in two minds though as this one is rather splendid and I had wanted to keep it "as a spare" as I was a tad lucky to get it ........ and it will do nicely thank you very much - it's just - well, I WANT BIGGER :P!
rachmacb

"no such thing, unless you meant HSCC Roadsports (which was mentioned in the post immediately before yours)."

I meant to say 'CSSC Swinging '60's'"


So TERRIBLY sorry for making a mistake. Sheesh.




"it's very clearly a different model, from the 70s, so would not be eligible for CSCC Swinging Sixties."

That doesn't matter, it is a development of a car built in the 60's and therefore eligible.


My 1972 1068cc 5 speed Ginetta G15 Mk III is VASTLY different to a 1969 875cc 4 speed G15 Mk I but is eligible.

However, at 1500cc a Midget will be in the mid capacity class and unlikely to be competitive.
Deborah Evans

David, sorry to openly contradict you, however there has been a 1500 competing in the Swinging 60's at the same time as we have, however it has run in the next Class to us in the over 1400cc's

Andrew
Andrew McGee

1500s are eligible for all classes in the Midget Challenge - Bill Lancashire used a 1500 to win the Class C Championship many years back. There are engine regs for 1500's in the Midget Challenge regs. Howard Vizor ran a 1500 Class B a few years back too

Having said that I suspect that the cost of a competitive 1500 would significantly exceed that of a competitive 1275 for whichever class you decided to enter - Deborah Evans would be better placed to advise on that aspect though.

There are other race series based on local circuits that you might consider - SEMSEC for instance runs a series for all capacities of sports cars based around Lydden and Brands Hatch

Regards

James
James B

I should add that converting a 1500 to run a 1275 engine (and gearbox) is a fairly simple conversion if you are unable to make the 1500 work as a reliable race engine...
James B

Of course, the inimitable Peter Hiley ran 1500's in the Midget Challenge also.

A.
Andrew McGee

Lol James it's £1500 for a gearbox now isn't it?!

Seriously, the major problem is getting hold of parts as they aren't as common as a-series engines (hence my earlier offer and the fact that they are so rare!).

In light of this then decide what series you want to do and build directly to the Regs.

Talk to the Triumph forum guys who know the engines alot more, after all, the Spitfire has raced with them for quite a long time ...!

Get together with other 1500 people to go to manufacturers to see what discounts you can get for bulk.

And above all, enjoy what you have and have fun :)
rachmacb

Not on a class C car - standard boxes only allowed...
James B

That was for a straight cut gearbox ...!

Oh well - no-one ever said racing was cheap .....:)!
rachmacb

Yes but it needn't be a rip off.

Memo, put prices up before Rach buys her racing overalls...
Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

Lol Max my barn is like a gearbox warehouse - including the ever rarer type 9 which I'm sitting in until it's worth as much as my racing suit :p
rachmacb

Rach

Its fair to say that racing gearboxes do come in expensive - but that is true whether you run an A Series box or a Triumph box.

Chris Groves says that his 1500 boxes are unbreakable, but they do seem to suffer from selection difficulties on the Class A cars I have seen run them - they are also not at all cheap...

A series dog boxes appear to made from unobtanium at the moment so don't seem to be an option, SCCR gearboxes (less than £1500 but not that much less) can be broken fairly easily and regularly by some drivers, and Type 9's don't comply with a lot of regs and are fragile in racing use by all accounts...

Answers on a postcard to...?

I am presently running an old but good Jack Knight SCCR gearset in the box in my racer - what happens when it breaks I just don't know...

Cheers

James
James Bilsland

I'm still looking into putting a 1500 box onto an A series; much cheaper, stronger (from speaking to the Triumph boys - they seem to use standard helical cut gears and dont break nearly as many as we do) and synchro on first. Bit of a gap between first and second ratios apparantly and a bit heavier. Have the bellhousing adapter set on a bench with a dummy engine but need to sort out the clutch slave.
Come out and play with the Midget Challenge. Lots of Midget tecnical know-how and great fun.
John Collinson

LOL James, as far as I'm concerned - ALL gearboxes are breakable - hence why I have at least 3, giving me 2 spares ....!!!! Selection is also something which seems to let them down, but, having said that, I'd not change it to the type9 for all the gold in the new mine in Scotland :)

You'll just have to look after it nicely :P

Has the original poster (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) Read come back yet????????
rachmacb

Its Mike and the last time I checked I was definatly male!!.
Thank you all for your advice, I think I will try midget challenge class C, I guess a 1500 isn't the best starting point but its what I've got.
Cheers
Mike
M.W Read

Welcome Mike and there's nothing wrong with the 1500 - it's different to the a-series but both have advantages and disadvantages and cost lots of time and money!!

If you want to talk about the head, then I might be persuadable to part with it, especially after last weeks vet bill .....
rachmacb

Hope you can wade your a through all this advice , Mike. There are as many "best places" as there are people on the BBS!

Have you discovered the Midget Championship forum, there will be some sound advice there.

Have you raced before? What with all the safety stuff for the car, plus the personal gear, it's an expensive old job getting into motor sport these days. Good luck! And keep us informed...
Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

Whereabouts in the UK are you Mike, I'm sure there'll also be someone who races who's not to far away from you who you can have a more indepth chat with.

A.
Andrew McGee

"especially after last weeks vet bill ....."

Rach, why a vet are they cheaper then normal doctors?
You Scots do anything to save money isnt it? :)
Arie de Best

Have raced but a long time ago and did Shelsey hill climb this year in a friends Maestro!!, so a bit of a novice again with a lot of out of date kit!!!.
I live between Banbury and Daventry.
Will probably have a go at Midget Challenge class C but I hate SU carbs and would love to run in something that allows Webbers.
Rgds
Mike
M.W Read

>>>>>>>with a lot of out of date kit

:-)

Www.Racewear.co.uk

Shameless, shameless plug!

Sorry.

Ish.
Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

LOL he's immune Max - I offered him a Peter Burgess rare racing 1500 head and he didn't even bite ... unlike Arie (and he's scared of the vet - not surprised if he bites ;)!)
rachmacb

Rach, I know what your vet can do, he is simply a sadist!!!
Poor, (male) animals... ;)
Arie de Best

Arie, you don't need a Vet for that, just two bricks!

[Evil grin]
Deborah Evans

Oh Deb, I was enjoying this thread until you made me wince.
M H Allen

Auch!!
Even just saying that hurts Deb. :)
Arie de Best

LOL you forget - I pimp them out, so, they all have them here :P!!!!!

You're more than welcome to a stable - but you only get fed and exercise - the money goes to me ;)
rachmacb

Arie ... two bricks only hurts if you get your thumbs caught between the bricks!
Geoff Ev

Arie, quick, get over to Rach for some "exercise", maybe there are some sheep around, so put on your wellies!
Alex G Matla

Hahaha - whoops - missed that one ....!!!! :)
rachmacb

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2011 and 08/11/2011

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