After a layoff of 6 years, this popular owner’s club event is back!
Curborough is situated off the A38 trunk road between Burton on Trent and Lichfield in Staffordshire. Curborough Sprint Course needs no introduction; it is one of the country’s most famous venues.
Tony Thomas, past MX5 Sprint champion at Curborough
A sprint is not a race, it’s just one car on track at a time; a driver has the chance to drive the car to their own ability, with no fear of oncoming traffic or other cars on track to negotiate. Curborough is a tight technical sprint track well suited to the MX5, we will be using the short course, to ensure that all drivers get at least four runs throughout the day.
What do you need? Your car needs to be road legal and fit for purpose, tyres must be road legal, no slicks allowed. Track cars will be allowed but must be road legal. The club can supply helmets if you do not have one, free of charge. If you have not done a sprint before, you will be made welcome, with instruction and guidance given on the day. Noise checks will be carried out to 105db maximum so please make sure that your car is within limits. If you wish to share a car, that is no problem, you are paying for the car not the driver.
If you do not fancy driving, why not come along and spectate or have a passenger ride for a small fee of £5.00 paid on the day. Catering is available so bring some cash.
Terms and conditions, and how to book your tickets can be found at the club store on http://store.mx5oc.co.uk/curborough-sprint-956-p.asp . Please do not leave it too long as we only have 30 slots available and they are sure to go fast for this popular event. Once you have booked, you will receive an e-mail two weeks from the event with all the relevant information required.
If you have any questions please post on this thread so that everybody can see them.
Booked. Got to decide if its a good idea to go on a little sprint circuit on wheels with 5mm spacers, and standard studs. Never changed wheel studs before, so no idea if its an easy job or not. Get 7-8 turns per stud.
I am NOT a mechanical expert but I was told (when thinking I needed spacers & longer studs for my new alloys) that if the studs didn’t come off easily there was a chance that the hub (?) would be damaged in getting them off and that would be £££. Thankfully, I was also told that I had been incorrectly informed I needed the spacers for my back wheels, and so I was happy enough in the end.
Out of interest, just spoke to the Course secretary today, and among other things discussed I’ve been told the annual ‘Introduction to Sprinting’ day is being held on April 17th (a Sunday) which follows our event the next w/e. For anyone who “get’s the bug” this is a must if you want to take it further.
You get briefings from the competitions secretary, followed by an MSA scrutineer, and finish up with some Club sprint drivers who will give you one to one instruction, followed by a solo run on the track (the long track) Having helped out in the distant past I can say I’ve never seen so many grins leaving after.
That’s apart from the few embarrassed individuals who made a hash of it! - They always sit low in the seat-!
This event is applauded by the MSA, and is entirely free, you don’t need to book a place, turn up’s are welcomed regardless. There’s no obligation to continue, but don’t waste their time if you don’t want to think about it at least. The process takes about an hour, so time to do other things after. The day starts around 9 am and continues to around 3 pm at the latest - depending how many they need to get through the process.
One warning - Sprint events (if you participate on a regular basis) will cost you over a season, while I don’t know current admission prices for any event, I know they used to be at least £40 per course, and there’s wear and tear to think about too, plus petrol,food and lodging. You also need full race gear so you are looking at several thou of your well earned cash over a season.
