The StreetCar Festival heads to Dundee this weekend with a host of activities including autotests, a touring assembly and the FIA Eco Rally Scotland. All of these can be enjoyed in an everyday road car; no specialist motorsport equipment is required and each is perfect for beginners or those looking to re-enter the sport.
If this leaves you feeling inspired you may be interested to know that there are seven types of motorsport you can enter in a road car. Some fall under the StreetCar banner where no helmet is required, but once you have one there’s an even bigger world of motorsport to discover. Easy to access but tricky to master!
1. Autotest – StreetCar
This discipline is being showcased at StreetCar Festival Scotland with passenger rides available to book here and is a brilliant entry-level activity. Drive like a stunt drive around an obstacle course to test your driving skills or there is the faster, flowing autoSOLO alternative. Both are great fun and develop driving skills that can be applied to any discipline.
2. Hill climb
One of the oldest motorsport disciplines – Shelsey Walsh staged its first event over 120 years ago – attacking a steep hill at high speed is one of the biggest thrills for any driver. Best of all, there are classes for standard road cars and any volume production car built this century needs no modification. Competitors just need a crash helmet, timing strut and number stickers to take part – and one day you could be driving in front of thousands at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
3. Sprint
For those that prefer closed circuits without the risk of contact that circuit racing can bring, sprint events have classes for standard road cars. The class runs to the same regulations as hill climb, so you can choose between hills and circuits according to your mood – and there are dedicated sprint tracks as well as the more famous venues, the latter of which you’ll be competing on the same tarmac as many high-profile racing drivers.
4. Autocross
If you prefer rallycross to circuit racing then this is the sprint equivalent. Autocross is racing solo off-road around a marker course, usually in a field, so it’s cheap and fun to enter. All you need to do is add mudflaps to a standard car and you’re ready to slide sideways to you heart’s content.
5. Road rallying – StreetCar
This discipline takes place on public roads according to the highway code, so no special car preparation is needed at all. All you need to do is find a willing friend and you are competing in much the same way as rally drivers did before special stages were invented. There are several variations on this theme but the name of the game is navigating and keeping to strict time limits while enjoying the scenic route to your destination.
6. Cross Country Tyro Trials – StreetCar
Great for SUV owners, Tyro is an abbreviation of ‘Try Your Rover Out’. Not just for owners of Land Rovers, these events are specifically designed for standard road vehicles and perfect for the adventurous as they cover challenging terrain. From here a world of multi-surface, undulating events is at your disposal.
7. Trials
This is the gnarlier cousin to hill climb. Instead of tackling a tarmac route, you’ll be taking on rough terrain where grip is at a premium and navigating a course. Think downhill skiing in the opposite direction: that means keeping your wits about you as you preserve momentum and jiggle around for traction.
Head here to find out more about StreetCar Festival Scotland and here to find out more about StreetCar, including how to register and start your journey