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The Club
 The SRCC was founded to further the cause of Sports 2000 racing by raising its profile and enjoyment for competitors and spectators alike. Whether you have a Sports 2000 sitting in the garage, or you intend to start racing or indeed you are already racing then the SRCC is the club to join to further your enjoyment of racing the ultimate affordable Sports Racing car. We have two main aims, firstly to bring back Sports 2000 racing to the ultra high profile series it was in the early 80's when they used to have over subscribed grids and supported F1. Our second aim is to bring back the 'FUN' into racing as well as bringing back the camaraderie amongst fellow owners not only at the race track but also socially. To achieve this the clubs activities include but is not limited to the following :-
To oversee and promote Sports 2000 racing.
- To produce a full colour high quality magazine.
- To produce a regular newsletter.
- To organise non racing events.
- To maintain an archive of all Sports 2000 literature, pictures and film.
- To source spares and co-ordinate requirements for re-manufacture.
- To compile workshop manuals and interchangeable lists for the various marques.
- To provide a technical help service.
1) Sports 2000 Racing
We have several objectives, firstly as mentioned above we intend to raise the profile of Sports 2000 racing as well as bringing back the "fun" element. Close and competitive racing does ensure full grids and the sight of 30 to 40 Sports 2000's having a close race is a sight to savour !!!!. So far we have indeed achieved full grids and close racing. Our average grid has been 36.
As a club we support and encourage the back half of the grid, as its no good having six or so very quick racers blasting away at the front with nobody behind them. Without the back half of the field there is no race or championship. To encourage racing throughout the grid there is 3 age related classes and the top 3 in each class win a trophy while the winners in each class will also be presented with laurels. It is important to reward all classes equally as the drivers of the older and slower cars can often have more ability than the overall winner!!!! The trophies themselves are very prestigious and varied at each race meeting. To improve the camaraderie and the "fun" element we have a hospitality unit at each race meeting where competitors can come in, sit down, have a drink or meal and chat with fellow racers. Competitors wives, girlfriends and helpers are also very welcome to use its facilities. The hospitality unit is also the venue for the award ceremonies and the competitors raffle. To help the majority rather than the race winner we discourage prize money for race winners instead for example with the Yokohama sponsorship we have a competitors raffle at each race with the prize of at least two half sets of tyres. That way everybody has a chance of benefiting from sponsorship rather than just a few. A video is taken of each round which includes driver interviews as well as the race. This year we will be supporting a variety of races such as F3/GT we will also have at least one non championship round in Europe and our 2006 race is at Dijon and for 2007 it will be Spa . We also run a team relay which we aim to build up to a 6 hour relay with teams from all over the world. 2004 saw the inaugural ?Lola Cup? for historic cars (1977 to 1982) and we hope to run more historic only races in the coming years in addition to the annual Lola Cup.
The presentation of all our cars which run in our series is always excellent and to keep them that way the SRCC has laid down a 'Driving Standard Code of Conduct'. This means that driving standards are such that competitors can drive side by side without being pushed off the track. Basically it means competitors drive as if they were driving a single seater and not a battering ram which was often the case in the old Sports 2000 days!!! Such kamikaze pilots find no home in SRCC events. The SRCC Driving Standards "Code of Conduct" is as follows:-
1) SRCC Driving Standards Code of Conduct:
You may only WEAVE ONCE in front of a car, that is to say you can only move left or right in front of the car, not both.
PUSHING OR SQUEEZING competitors off the track is strictly forbidden (i.e. reducing the available track width to less than a cars width)
OVERLY AGGRESSIVEDRIVING is also not acceptable and includes such behaviour as going for gaps that are not there, using other competitors cars as physical brakes or would rather cause a serious accident than be prepared to lift on the throttle.
If two cars approach a bend together (i.e. side by side), then the car on the racing line cannot chop the corner (i.e. cannot take the racing line). SPACE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CAR ON THE INSIDE. If you are approaching a bend and you do not wish the chasing car to outbrake you on the inside going into the bend then you must take a tight line into the bend!! ONCE THE CAR ON THE INSIDE IS HALF WAY ALONG SIDE (i.e. front wheels level with the driver) THEN SPACE MUST BE GIVEN TO THAT CAR. Although Sports 2000 cars have enclosed wheels the cars must be driven as if they are single seaters. You can go through bends side by side!
SRCC RACES ARE NON CONTACT RACES.
All these measures when put together ensure that we have close, fair, spectacular and most of all enjoyable racing. Being part of over 40 Sports 2000 cars doing battle at each of our races is definitely something to look forward to and it means that driving standards are paramount to keep away the red flags! To help on the driving standards front we have our own Clerk of the Course who overseas driving standards on the track and any miss behaviour will result in a drive through penalty. To help our Clerk we also have a driving standards panel which helps with advice and training especially with the novice drivers. We also run a safety car rather than stopping the race as this always results in a shortened race.
2) Club Colour Magazine
The SRCC issues a regular full colour high quality magazine, the content of this publication covers everything and anything associated with Sports 2000. Besides the racing coverage there are technical articles on individual cars, general setting up procedures, engine matters, the history of the manufacturers such as Lola, Shrike, Royal, Tiga etc. and complete production figures for each model, including the chassis numbers. There are period photo's and articles from people who were associated with Sports 2000 racing in the early days such as the drivers, mechanics and team owners.
3) Club Newsletter
The SRCC also issues a more frequent newsletter to keep our members in touch with each other and with the latest news, functions, spares, cars for sale, rule changes etc. The magazine will be more factual, containing material that you would want to archive for future reference while the newsletter is more for an up date of news and views on current regulations and procedures.
4) Non Racing Events
Like any club an important function is to organise "other events". What I have in mind are motor racing oriented activities such as trips to Grand Prix teams, indoor/out door karting events, seminars with ex champions or manufacturers from the Sports 2000 days etc. I'm sure you can think of other events that would appeal to our members.
5) Club Archive
This is another function of a club, often overlooked but is so important, that is, to establish, expand and maintain an archive for all material associated with Sports 2000's This can be so useful when searching for information about a particular car or events during a particular period of time.
6) Spares
Finding spares can often be a re-occurring nightmare. Where do you find that upright that's just been damaged? The club can undertake the important function of co-ordinating members who have the same car, to put sellers or buyers in contact with each other or where necessary re-manufacture obsolete parts or import them from the US or order in bulk to obtain more favourable prices. At least now you are not alone as our members are spread throughout the world. Somebody must have your spare part somewhere!!
7) Workshop Manuals / Interchangeable Lists
Although a Sports 2000 is not your average Ford Cortina think how useful it would be if you owned say a Tiga and you had access to a manual, listing what part comes from where etc. It's an aspect of the club which helps to make owning and racing a Sports 2000 that much easier and less stressful if something breaks such as a drive shaft.
8) Technical Help
Offering a technical help line to members can be a very important lifeline. If you can do everything yourself then you have no need of such a service but often a quick word with someone who knows all the answers can save you hours of frustrated searching.
If you would like to know more about the club then just contact me on the above telephone numbers. If you own or admire Sports 2000 cars and racing and would like to be part of the up and coming Sports 2000 Racing Car Club then fill in the contact boxes on this web site. You will then receive all the necessary application forms to join the SRCC. The cost of membership of the SRCC for one year is £20. This cost includes all the regular newsletters and colour magazine as well as being eligible to use all the clubs services.
What Championship to Enter?
There are currently 2 championships, the Pinto Sports 2000 Championship and the Duratec Sports 2000 Championship.
Sports 2000 Pinto Championship
The Pinto championship as you would expect from the title is for Sports 2000 cars using the Ford Pinto engine as the power plant. This is the engine that has been propelling Sports 2000?s for the last 30 years and the championship is a fabulous starting point for novice and experienced drivers into Sports 2000 racing. Cars on average start from around £10,000 to £15,000, running costs are very low at around £3000 per season which includes entry fees, tyres and petrol. Grids are rarely below 30 and if the track allows above 40, this means there is always someone to race against. To keep costs down we only have 8 championship rounds with the best 7 counting towards the championship. We have 3 age related classes Historic (1977 to 1982), Class B (1983 to 1986) and Class A (1987 onwards) and at our own award ceremony at the end of the days racing we award a trophy to the top 3 in each class and laurels to the class winners. The top 5 in each class have trophies awarded to them at our D&D at the end of the season. Only the best circuits are visited, the 2006 calendar includes such awesome tracks as Silverstone GP, Thruxton, Brands Hatch GP, Donington Park and Oulton International. With over half of the Pinto grid being ex novice drivers it is an ideal entry for those who have never raced before and we welcome such drivers, our competitors are always on hand to help. Race length is typically 20 min qualifying and a 25 min race. For 2006 only, Pinto cars can join the Duratec race for just £100 entry fee.
Sports 2000 Duratec Championship
After 30 years of service the Pinto has been now been replaced with the Ford Duratec engine which produces about 200bhp in standard trim. The whole concept of Sports 2000 Duratec was to get new cars made once again and to that end it has been very successful. Introduced just a couple of years ago the manufacturers have now latched on to the fact that our ?budget? formula has a global base. Already we have Ligier, Norma, Juno and Chiron looking at coming on board in 2006/7 with Lola, TSO Mallock, Panic and Motus bringing a car out early 2006 as well as new models from the Gunn, MCR and Van Diemen. Variety has always been a feature of Sports 2000 and the new generation is clearly no different. These new cars are allowed a sequential gearbox and alloy calipers plus a spec wing. The cost of new cars varies from about £25,000 to the priced capped maximum of £38,000. There are 2 classes, Class A for new purpose built Sports 2000 cars and Class B for converted cars from other formula or converted Pinto Sports 2000 cars. Running costs are no higher than the Pinto championship cars due mainly to the non stressed standard engine which requires no annual rebuild. Also practice at the circuit the  week before is prohibited from 2007 and agin we limit the championship to 8 rounds with the best 7 counting towards the championship.. The top 5 in each class have trophies awarded to them at our D&D at the end of the season. Typical race lengths are 15 min un timed practice, 30 min qualifying and a 30 min race. The minimum license is grade A and represents a step up from the Pinto championship as the competition is greater, the cars are faster and more fun to drive. Despite new cars and high profile the emphasis is still on fun, affordable close racing and represents the very best in CLUB RACING. We aim to keep it club racing where talent gets you to the front and not your cheque book. We have outlawed professional drivers and works teams as the championship really is for club racers. Like the Pinto championship only the best circuits are visited, the 2006 calendar includes the great tracks as Silverstone GP, Thruxton, Brands Hatch GP, Donington Park and Oulton International.
Historic Sports 2000 Championship
At present the historic cars enjoy their own race at the annual Lola Cup but should demand be there then we will be running a separate championship for these cars.
The racing membership is £150 and racing membership allows entry into all SRCC events. This fee helps to pay for our awards and hospitality at all SRCC rounds. The Technical Sports 2000 Racing Regulations will be sent with your racing membership. If you would like to receive a copy of these regulations in advance just send an SAE to the clubs address.
For information on the availability of cars to buy or hire see the relevant sections on our web site or contact Colin on the clubs phone numbers.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Colin Feyerabend
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