Thoroughbred Sports Car Club of Northern Ireland

 

Sporting Events

 

Autotests

Anybody can take part in an Autotest, in just about any four-wheeled car. At least, it should have four wheels touching the ground at the start!

There are eight classes, ranging from modern saloon to vintage, so drivers are competing against other cars of comparable speed and ability. The tests take place on private or enclosed premises, non-road-going cars may be trailered to the event and no special equipment is required - you don't even have to wear a helmet, and the "Fun" Class (Class 0) caters for any car not covered elsewhere!

Courses are laid out to give the most awkward route possible, which has to be memorised. Two runs (and a lot of burnt rubber) later, the course is reversed and you have to learn it all over again! It usually takes less than a minute to do the course, so agility wins over stamina. From a standing start, the timing starts when the front wheels cross the line. Five seconds are added to the time for every cone disturbed and, should the driver take the wrong route, maximum points (slowest in the Class plus 10 seconds) are awarded.   Timing stops when the car finally comes to rest with the wheels straddling the stop line, ten seconds being added for a line fault!

Autotests qualify for Championship points - the Multi-venue plus the best two scores out of the four or five additional tests organised counting.

Junior Class (Production Class Autotest)

14 & 15 year olds - Limited to the Production Car Class, which must comply with technical regulations 12 and E12  (MSA Blue Book pp. 78, 67 to 70) - standard saloons under 1400cc with 4 seats and no forced induction.  Cars must be MOT'd, taxed, insured and driven to the event. Drivers must be accompanied by a road licensed experienced adult Autotester.  Both occupants must wear seatbelts.

16 year olds - Either as above or TSCC Classes 4 (Mini and derivatives), 5 (Saloons pre 1975) or 6 (Saloons after 1975).  Vehicles must be standard, under 1400cc, have 4 seats and no forced induction.  Cars NEED NOT be MOT'd, taxed, insured or driven to the event, but they must be MOT-worthy.  Drivers must compete unaccompanied.

17 year olds and over not in possession of a full Road Traffic Licence - conditions as for 16 year olds.

ALL Competitors will be required to produce their Road Traffic Licence (Provisional or Full) before signing on to determine their Class eligibility. 

N.B.  All road-going vehicles MUST display a current tax disc, MUST be MOT'd if applicable and MUST be insured for the driver bringing it to the event. This is an MSA Licence requirement.                                                Diesel cars running on biodiesel qualify for additional Brownie Points!

 

Multi-venue Autotest

An annual all-day event of up to eight Different tests at six to eight different venues - a nightmare to organise. They may be on tarmac, concrete or scree, but the journeys between tests are not timed - clear directions are given - they are strictly at your leisure, so that you can take the family with you. Half the fun is watching the other competitors! Then it's back for soup and sandwiches whilst the marks are totted up. Entry fee includes food. It is a compulsory event for the Club Championship.

 

Hillclimbs

For the more serious competitor there is the hillclimb, two of which (Cultra and Croft) are organised by the TSCC and compulsory as part of the Championship, plus two others   - the best handicapped score counting. Both Cultra and Croft are serious and prestigious events, attracting entries from both GB and the South and involving 15 classes of vehicle, from the nostalgic vintage cars to the gut- wrenching single seat racing cars.

They take months of planning to prepare, involving almost every member of the Committee but there are never enough bodies to do all the jobs. Marshalls and other helpers are always in short supply, so members shouldn't be surprised if they are asked to take part. It is a good way to become involved in Club activities.

As with most other events, Croft usually manages to balance it's books, but any shortfall has to be made up with income from advertisers in the free programme handed out to spectators and crews.

A sponsor is badly needed to expand activities, including guaranteed television coverage.

 

Leslie King, taking Manor Corner carefully in the wet in his Rover V8 powered KVA GT40 - Cultra Hillclimb 2002

Photo: Colin McBride

 

Sprints and racing

Again for the serious enthusiast, this involves a specialised vehicle, equipment and qualifying. 

They are held usually at Kirkistown as part of the 500 MRCI (Motor Racing Club of Ireland) series.

The Club assists new drivers by subsidising, when funds allow, the gaining of a Race Licence.

Contact - terry@tscc.fsnet.co.uk

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