1. ARDS Test & Race Licence
a) Buy a Go Racing Pack from Motorsport UK (£104): This will include a Race Licence Application Form, a Medical Form (if you are 60 or over) and a video outlining some of the things you will come across in your ARDS course. The cost of your first race licence is included in the pack.
Buy A Go Racing Pack
b) ARDS course (Typically £250-£400): 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. The questions covered in the theory test are all covered in the Go Racing Pack video, 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.
The Motorsports School (Mallory Park) (Midlands) | Anglesey Circuit (North Wales) | Thruxton (South West) | Croft (North East) | Silverstone (Midlands)
c) Medical: Only a vision test is required to race in the UK if you are aged between 14 and 59, or a basic medical is required if not. 750MC members are eligible for a discount from D4Drivers: D4Drivers
d) Apply for 'Race Club' Licence: On the assumption that you pass your ARDS course and there are no issues with the eyesight test or medical (if required), you can then send the documents off to Motorsport UK and apply for your licence. The cost of first issue of this is included with the 'Go Racing Pack', and there is a renewal cost for future seasons (currently £99).
e) Visit a 750 Motor Club race weekend: Whilst not essential, coming along to a race day in advance is a great way to see how the format works, meet drivers, 750MC staff and formula representitives - not to mention watching a day of great racing. Check out the full 750MC season calendar here.
The paddock is freely accessible at 750MC events and drivers are always happy to talk about their formula, car and racing itself. Contact us in advance and let us know if you are planning to come along. We can also arrange for a scrutineer to give your car a pre-meeting checkover if it helps for peace of mind in advance of your first meeting, and should you need a hand running the car (or even require a full 'Arrive & Drive' service) then we can put you in touch with suitable teams in our different series and championships.
2. Join the 750 Motor Club
All competitors must be a member of the 750 Motor Club. Racing membership costs £95 for 12 months (rolling, not 'per season') and allows access to a huge range of discounts from motorsport parts/preparation companies. Club membership is separate to championship registration as it allows 750MC to operate as a sporting club.
Apply Online
3. Register for a Series or Championship
750 Motor Club currently manage 25 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 one that allows up to three drivers to share (116 Trophy) 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, 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 (typically £100 for a Series and £150 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 (typically £30) for a trial or if you just plan to do one race in a season.
Choose Your Formula
4. Extras
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You will be required to have the correct safety clothing (overalls, gloves, frontal head restraint/HANS, helmet), and bear in mind that the standards for these are reviewed regularly. 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.
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More information about FHRs and suppliers can be found in the 'Guidelines' section below.
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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 (does NOT need to be in date for UK circuit racing).
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You will need a race transponder fitted to your car - more details can be found in the 'Guidelines' section below.
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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.
5. Your Car
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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 Sport 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 Race Cars Direct, Motorsport Ads and even eBay.co.uk.
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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 (not required to be in-date in UK) (from £100), harness (these are required to be in-date) (From £130), electrical cut-off switch (able to be operated from inside or outside the car) (approx £30), plumbed-in fire extinguisher (likewise) (from £190), high intensity rain light (from £30).
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You will also likely need race-spec brake pads (from £120), a set of upgraded suspension (from £700), and a set of race tyres (from £400 new) but most modifications beyond that are often not essential to get you on the grid.
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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!
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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.
6. Costs
One off:
Motorsport UK 'Go Racing' Pack - £104
ARDS course - From £250
Race Kit - From £950
Racecar - From £4000 secondhand ready to race - see classifieds
Trailer - From £700 secondhand - see classifieds
Transponder - From £85 - either subscription, buy or hire from 750MC each race - see more info below
Ongoing, annual:
Motorsport UK 'Club' Race Licence - £99
750 Motor Club Membership - £95
Formula Registration - Typically £100 (Series) or £150 (Championship)
Race entry fees - £230-£450 approx (per double-header race weekend)
7. Race Kit Guidelines
Safety 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.
A wide range of FHR systems, kit and helmets are available from the likes of
Tegiwa.
8. Transponder Guidelines
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 £300-£375 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 £85.
The 750 Motor Club does have 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).
9. Race Meeting Procedure
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, 'Final Instructions' (universally referred to as 'finals') will be posted on the
Race Calendar page. These detail the arrangements for the weekend, paddock plans (such as where your formula should park), race day schedules (sign-on, scrutineering, qualifying and race times) and details on mandatory briefings required.
- The circuits control the qualtity of tickets allocation, but this is usually four per competitor. Nearly all circuits now use e-tickets, which will be sent around one week before each event. You may also receive a paddock pass for a support vehicle/tow car at some circuits. Extra tickets for spectators can be purchased on the gate, or often in advance via the respective circuit.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pre-race scrutineering may be for all drivers or just a selection depending on current regulations - ensure you read emails and Final Instructions.
- 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.
- 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 must be
booked here (£30 per event) in advance no later than the Thursday before each event, and should be collected at Race Admin before you head out for qualifying.
- 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 prizegiving, 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!
- 750 Motor Club may 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.
10. Glossary
Note that formal defintitons are listed for many aspects of circuit racingin the Motorsport UK Blue Book, currently section B, p52. Some of the more useful general terms to understand when starting racing with 750MC are however as follows:
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Series: An unconnected series of race events in a season, with no points awarded.
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Championship: A set of races each season, with points awarded dependong on results. At the en of the season, the driver/team with the highest score is the champion.
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Membership: 750MC operates as a non-for-profit sporting club, therefore every competitor must be a club member. This lasts for 12 months, ratehr than 'per season'.
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Registration: Registration takes place each season for your chosen series or championship, or more than one if required.
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Race Entry: Once a driver has club membership and registration in place, they may enter a race.
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Sign On: Often confused for registration or race entry, this signatory agreement process is now done online in the seven days leading up to each event. Drivers are not permitted on circuit until this has been carried out.
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Final Instructions: Typically published one week before each event, these are the crucial details for each race event that must be read in full.
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Scrutineering: The process of inspecting a competition car, both pre-race (normally safety aspects, including driver race kit) and post-race (normally eligibility aspects).
11. Links