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| “So You Want to Race a Minisprint?” Congratulations, you are about to embark on what I and many others of the racing community believe is the most exciting, exhilarating, rewarding and affordable form of Motorsport you will ever find. After all, what else could be any more exciting than to be in control of a 375 Kilo rocket with 160 horsepower on tap, sliding through a left turn while navigating through traffic for that next position and doing this at speeds sometimes in excess of 140 Kms, while on dirt? The is no comparison like driving a Minisprint. So what is a Minisprint? A Minisprint is a scaled down version of the famous Sprint Cars seen on television and at many tracks across Australia and the US. Don't let the size of a Minisprint fool you. Modern Minisprints are simple yet brutally powerful. There is no dead weight on the car; if a part doesn't contribute to the car's performance, it's left off. The chassis is a minimal tube frame. A 4-cylinder, 4-Stroke motorcycle engine, or small car engine powers the Minisprint. A large wing mounted to the top of the car provides the much needed down force and vertical stability. Two huge rear tires of different sizes couple the irresistible force to the soft clay below. The driver sits atop the rear axle, to help get maximum amount of traction to the ground. With a great power to weight ratio, and a short frame, a Minisprint spends most of its time scrambling for traction, broad sliding around the corners, and some times on the straights, while the driver wrestles frantically with the steering wheel. It really is great fun! To start racing a Minisprint, no experience is necessary. There are many individuals racing that have no dirt oval track experience and they do very well. Regardless of your racing background, (or lack of one) the biggest asset one can bring is the desire to drive, race and learn. Certainly, what will help the beginner is to spend time with the drivers and their pit crews. You'll find that the atmosphere in the Minisprint pits is very down to earth, friendly and helpful. After all, the real competition is on the track not in the pits. While you’re in the pits, begin to familiarize yourself with the cars, the rules, race procedures and most of all; don't be afraid to ask questions. Remember, all drivers were once in your shoes. We're all here to help. Now what? Well, the first thing you need is a Minisprint (Duh). Ask the drivers and crew you spent time with if any of them know of any cars for sale. Check out the local clubs newsletter. Or if you are really adventurous you can build your own Minisprint (ask your local club for details). Now your probably asking, "How much can I expect to spend for a MiniSprint?" This area becomes a personal choice. The way I got started and a preferred way of many, is to buy a complete ready to race used car. Many times you can get a very good deal by finding someone who's getting out of racing and is selling the whole nine yards. Car, trailer, extra spare parts, wheels and tires, everything goes. What you can expect to pay depends on the manufacturer, age, motor type and condition. For a good complete starter car, less trailer and extras, expect to pay in the range of $4500 to $8500. For a top of the line car with the best of everything expect to pay $9000 to $12000. But before you buy make sure you've read and understand the rules of the organization you will be racing with. Don't buy a car thinking you got a great deal, only to find out the engine in your car is not legal to run with cars in your area. That's why it’s important to spend time with the other drivers in the area you want to race with before you buy a MiniSprint. OK, now you have your Minisprint, you have a trailer and a tow vehicle to get it to the track. Let's go racing. Well hold on, not yet. What about driver safety. In case no one told you during those driver and crew discussions, automobile racing can be dangerous and can result in serious injury or death if not properly prepared, but so can the daily commute to work. So how can you minimize your risk of injury while driving a Minisprint? Purchase the proper equipment for your form of racing. Minisprint racing is no more dangerous than other forms of racing. But, like all forms of auto racing, there are similarities and there are differences. Let's start at the top, your head. One of the most important body parts to protect. Protection to the head comes by wearing a helmet. Check with a driver or track official to be certain you have the right helmet. And if your buying a new helmet, buy the best you can afford. Remember the old saying a $50 helmet only protects a $50 head. Next a Nomex balaclava is mandatory. Continuing down, you’re going to need a neck brace. Neck braces help support the weight of the helmet and will keep your head from trying to leave your shoulders in the event that your car gets hit. I would recommend purchasing one that's covered with Nomex. Next is the driving suit. Probably the helmet and the driving suit will be the two largest investments of all the driver safety equipment. Like the helmet, the driving suit is an area you don't want to skimp on. Remember fire retardant clothing, such as Nomex, is to protect you in the event your car catches fire. That isn't meant to scare anyone. It's meant only as a reality check. The better the clothing material and the more layers there are of it, the greater your chances of getting out of the car uninjured. So buy the best you can afford. Now to the hands. You will need a good Nomex, multiple layer pair of gloves. Now lets look at our feet. You're going to need driving shoes. A pair of Nomex, multiple layer, high top racing boots would be best. Arm restraints are next.. You will not be able to legally drive a Minisprint or any Sprintcar without them. One restraint for each arm that includes a padded arm band that goes around your arm on the biceps and a strap that connects to the arm band while the other end of the strap gets connected to your five point restraint system. There purpose is to keep your arms inside the car in the event the car rolls. The remaining driver safety items consist of equipment that is attached to the car. The five point driver restraint system, or harness, are the most noticeable. If you purchased a used car, find out the age of the set that's in the car. Located on one of the straps there should be a tag that's been punched with the month and year of manufacture. Next is the drivers (or window) net, mandatory on the right side, it will also help hold your head up against the G-Forces while cornering. There you have it, pretty much all the driver safety equipment that your going to need to go Minisprint racing. So basically we are ready to go racing. In Tasmania we require that rookies start from the back the first three race meetings. Here's a good idea, volunteer to start in the back. Spend a few races getting the feel of the car. Learn how the car reacts in different situations, trust your equipment and stay focused on your driving. We're all out there to have fun, so lets have fun racing and stay safe. |
