Start your engines: amateur racing isn't as expensive as you'd think

"Gentlemen, start your engines!" goes the saying before the start of every Nascar race. In South Africa we have a proud motorsport history thanks to the large number of club and regional racing competitors. South Africa's only Formula 1 world champion, Jody Scheckter, made a name for himself in local club racing.

He was commonly referred to as "Sideways Scheckter" for driving his Renault R8 Gordini spectacularly sideways (and with great success) in club saloon car racing in the 1960s. He went on to win the Formula 1 driver's championship and constructor's championship with Ferrari in 1979.

The world of amateur club racing is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of the top tiers of motorsport. Many drivers competing in these races do so with a shoestring budget and a friend or two to help prepare the cars. One has to be willing to get one's hands dirty and garner some mechanical know-how to succeed at this level of racing - or it could end your race day prematurely!

Luckily the community is a friendly one. Everyone is there to win, but the rivalries are on the track - not off it. When one needs a tool or spare part and the race is a few minutes away, there is almost always someone in the pitlane willing to help you out so your car can make it onto the grid.

There are clubs all over South Africa catering to the needs of passionate petrolheads eager to show their prowess on the race track. Each has its own rules. All cars have to comply with Motorsport South Africa's safety rules. These include the fitment of roll-cages, bucket seats with specified safety harnesses as the basics, along with safety wear in the form of a racing suit, boots, gloves and a helmet.

SuperHatch is a club run by Zwartkops Raceway offering an affordable racing experience to new drivers. The front-wheel drive, hatchback-only series is based on a power-to-weight ratio that determines classes, which means not much money is needed to be competitive.

There is a variety of cars competing in the series - from the ever-popular VW Golfs and Polos to Peugeot 206s, Honda Civics, Citroën C2s and various Opels. The cars have to use standard bodywork to maintain its road-car appearance. Standard brake calipers and standard shock absorbers must be used. Semi-slick racing tyres enhance grip.

Sports and saloons and modified production cars use lap times to class competitors. This means cars from different ends of the spectrum could be diving into the same corner lap after lap thanks to differing driver skills. There is no restriction on power, tyres, weight, which wheels are driven, or bodywork. It makes for spectacular racing, and the size of the fields prove it with over 50 cars often on the grid.

The easiest way to go racing is to buy a race car. Almost every component on a race car, whether an Opel Corsa or a Porsche 911, is subjected to forces much more severe than originally intended.

The basic costs of club racing aren't as exorbitant as many may think, with clubs adopting rules to make racing as economical as possible. A race-ready car suitable for the above-mentioned series can be had for about R30,000. A club racing licence from Motorsport South Africa which includes medical insurance will set you back R841 a year. Race entry is generally about R1,500, depending on the circuit.

Check your local race track calendar to see when there is an event again and go and support them! A day out at the track is well worth it. Some drivers have sponsors which would appreciate your business, but most drivers would just love to convince you to come and race with them!