Road-going

You can race a standard road car. The minimum safety equipment is a four point race harness, a MSA approved crash helmet and fire proof overalls. Standard cars need not be fitted with a roll-cage but I suggest you install a basic bolt-in rear bar.

To race you need to join a motor club and apply for a MSA competition license. All meetings are pre-bookable, you can’t just turn up and race.

Hot Hatch

I recommend you start with a 'Hot Hatch' in class A1 or A2 (Economy Standard Production Saloons). Up to 1600cc I would go for something like a Nova GTE or Citroën Saxo VTR/VTS. Over 1600cc the list of suitable hot hatches and sports saloons is endless. The car can be road-going or non road-going, if you take the car to the meeting on a trailer a MOT is not required.

Juniors

The minimum age is 14; juniors under the age of 17 must use a standard car with a maximum engine capacity of 1400cc. The Junior class is the big Autocross success story. It is possible the MSA National Champion this year will be a Junior. Autocross is becoming the natural training ground for aspiring rally drivers.

Modified Saloons and Sports Cars (two wheel drive).

Traditionally Minis and MK1 / MK2 Escorts were the cars to use. Nowadays the Mini is outclassed by newer FWD 'hot hatches' but you still see radically modified Mini's winning races. With older Escorts now fetching £20K on the classic car market, the cheap rally car for the masses is now too expensive for the masses. The only good thing to come out of this predicament is we are now getting a greater variety of cars and some interesting new innovations.

Most modified cars now fall into three main categories... front wheel drive, front wheel drive converted into rear wheel drive and mid-engine. The range of suitable cars is diverse; one layout doesn't have a significant advantage over another.

 

In my opinion modified production cars are the best fun to drive; the regulations allow plenty of scope for weight reduction, engine tuning and suspension tweeking, but most significantly you can fit a LSD. Modified production is split into 3 capacity classes, currently up to 1400cc, 1400cc to 1650cc and over 1650cc. If the car is lightened a roll-cage must be fitted.

 

Four Wheel Drive

Four wheel drive cars are not as popular as you may expect. Possibly because they are too expensive or more likely because they usually run under some type of handicap (or the threat of a handicap), either a 5% time penalty or putting them in the same class as the buggy's.

Autograss Buggy's

The only type of car you can't use for Autocross is NASA Autograss saloon (NASA and MSA roll-cage regulations are incompatible). Its a pity because it would fantastic to Autocross and Autograss the same car. (Mathew Leitch from ‘Up North’ is racing a mid engine Autograss Saloon. I will try to contact Mathew to ask how he resolved the roll cage issue.)

You can Autocross a NASA buggy, the roll-cage is part of the chassis so it’s not a roll cage. Newer Autograss buggies are designed to be unstable with a very short wheelbase and pro-squat trailing arm suspension. Older long wheel base buggies with more conventional wish-bone or Macpherson strut rear suspension are better for Autocross and can be found for as little a £1000. The best please to look is Autograss club forums or the classified ads in http://www.autograssreview.com/ 

Double Driving

Two people can share the same car and take turns to race. People either buy a car together and split the cost, or come to an arrangement whereby one owns and prepares the car and the other takes it to meetings on a trailer.

Breakdowns

The biggest worry for a road car competitor is 'how do I get my car home if it is damaged?' Firstly take-out Breakdown and Breakdown Recovery insurance. Most recovery company's exclude motor-sport so if your car suffers a breakdown get it towed out onto the road and call the recovery service from there (remember to hide your crash helmet a race overalls). In the unlucky event your car is more seriously damaged (wheels missing) someone will volunteer to take it home for you on a tailor, guaranteed. (Unless you happen to be racing something too big to go on a tailor, a Hummer for example, or you live in Outer Mongolia).

Conclusion

I wouldn’t recommend a buggy to a novice or a 4WD. I would start with a FWD Hot Hatch in the production class, then when I can afford a LSD move on to the modified production class. But I would consider other platforms. Front engine RWD, (Mazda MX5, Lotus Excell or an old style RWD saloon). Mid engine, (Toyota MR2, MG-F, Ginetta G32). Unlike Autograss you can race sports and glass fiber cars.