Help for a Newbie?

[Chris Green]

Hello!

I'm looking to get into 10th Off Road next season.

I recently gave up 10th onroad (only raced indoors). I am currently racing 18th scale offroad, and will be contending in the winter national series.

I'll be buying a 2wd buggy for winter racing (carpet). I'll put a post in the relevant section for advice.

Basically, I'm not sure how the regional / national system works. Will I have to qualify to enter either of these?

Will I need to enter regionals before nationals?

Also, how does the F1,2,3,4,5 grading work?

Thanks!

Chris.

[ashleyb4]

f1 is the best rating and f5 is where everyone begins.

The chances are you wont be able to get into nationals on your first year you will proberly have to do a year of regionals to gain a higher license grade. The license grades go on percentages of where you finish overall in the regional championship. Most people are saying to garantee you a place in nationals you will need to be a f3 or f4 license grade at the minimum. You start off with a F5 license grade. As for entereing regionals you have to find which reagion you are in enter the regionals and the best 3 count.

For nationals and regionals there is also a nominted tyre for each event. that applys to the rear axle only.

Hope that helps.

A

[Chris Green]

Thanks Ashley, that helps loads.

I'm from Hereford, so I will look to do the Mid-West regionals for a season then. Possibly some south west ones too.

how many sets of rear tyres can you get through in one days racing?

Cheers,

Chris.

[ashleyb4]

your only alloud to race and score points in one reagion. im a mid westie we have some ace tracks and some ace people.

With tyres its basically one set of tyres a meeting unless its wet where greens will last for ever. At nationals some peopel like ot put new tyres on for finals.

A

[markwilliamson2001]

At last someone from my neck of the woods!

I am in Ledbury, and am currently doing the 4wd regionals (Mid-West Region) this year, but due to the terrible weather have only managed to get to one meeting!

As Ashley says: you will start at F5 to begin with... I would stick with regionals until you are at least F3 grade, otherwise the nationals can be a little disheartening. Also there are plenty of great tracks to race on in mid-west without travelling massive distances.

Normally Dudley start winter indoor meetings on carpet/polished floor with jumps. You can easily get away with one set of tyres for a meeting indoors, and use this worn set for practice at the next meeting. I used a set for two meetings without problems on my B4 last year. The only tyres you really need are Schumacher Yellow and Green minispikes all round, as well as some BBG Green spikes (possibly all round, or rear only with schumey green minispikes on the front).

Not sure how popular the south-west meetings are, but it is regularly 50 drivers at mid-west regionals.

Hope this helps
Mark

[Chris Green]

Great, cheers for the replies.

I'll look into the indoor series events then. I'll come along and watch a few of them, and enter some when I get all my stuff together.

Mark, do you race at club level? if so, where?

Cheers,

Chris.