Get into Motorsport

Whatever form of Motorsport you into, there’s a place for you in the Otago Sports Car Club. Pop along to an event or two and see what does it for you. Most events are advertised in the newspaper and radio, or on our website’s events calendar.

Whether you are a beginner, or into the higher levels of motor-racing, or simply want to help - we want you. We offer Motokhanas, Autocrosses, Hillclimbs, Sprints, Rally-sprint, Rallying and Circuit & Road racing. In some events (motorkhana & autocrosses) you can even use your road car without any modifications.

Basic

Motorkhanas & Autocrosses
Autocross is the ideal environment in which to learn or improve car control skills while at the same time having a lot of fun. It is an event that favours driver skill over outright horsepower. Autocrosses are usually held in a large grass or gravel area. Competitors compete in Autocross events individually against the clock.
Because the event venue is usually a wide open space, the risk of vehicle damage is low.
Motorkhanas are a slower form of Autocross, they are a cheap event in which to participate and perfectly standard road cars can be very competitive.

Quarter Mile Sprints
404 metres in a straight line against the clock.

Minimum requirements:
A safe car to at least Warrant of Fitness standards, an approved crash helmet, fire retardant overalls (ie at least 100% cotton with close fitting cuffs), a civil driver’s licence (arrangements can be made for under-age drivers)
Note: a roll-cage is compulsory for any open top car.

To enter most other forms of Motorsport you’ll need to
join the OSCC and get a competition licence from MotorSport New Zealand

ClubSport

Hillclimbs & Sprints
Hillclimbs are generally the highest form of motorsport that can be competed in using a normal road car. They are so named because the course must be mostly uphill. The Hillclimb course can be on a private or public road, with either a gravel or tar-sealed surface. Competitors compete in a Hillclimb individually against the clock.
Sprints can be Bent (like a flat hillclimb), Straight (ie ¼ mile drags), or on a Circuit or Street course. Basic sprints do not require a competition licence.
It must be remembered that they are considered high speed events, and with higher speeds also comes a higher accident risk.

Minimum requirements:
A safe car up to at least Warrant of Fitness* equipped with a fire extinguisher (with a metal bracket), an approved crash helmet, fire retardant overalls (ie at least 100% cotton with close fitting cuffs), and membership to a MotorSport NZ member club (eg the OSCC) and be the holder of a ClubSport competition licence**.
* check beforehand as some events may also require a roll-cage, & harness, etc.
** some basic sprints do not require a competition licence.

Rally-sprints
There are events primarily for vehicles prepared for rallies and are a great way to get into rallying without the expense. They are held on closed road venues. The course and the way it is organised is the same as for a rally special stage and give the competitors the opportunity to both learn and practise the skills and knowledge required for rallying.

Minimum requirements:
The vehicle must comply with MotorSport NZ’s stringent Safety Schedule A to rally levels, an approved crash helmet, double-layer fire retardant overalls, and membership to a MotorSport NZ member club (eg the OSCC) and be the holder of a ClubSport or Rally competition licence.

Rally & Race

Rally
A rally is an event made up of several high speed Special Stages sealed or unsealed, closed to the public ranging in length from 2 to 40 kms) over which each driver and co-driver competes, attempting to drive the distance in the shortest possible time.
Competitors start each Special Stage at 1 minute intervals. The role of the co-driver (navigator) is to read route instructions to the driver from a road book (provided by the organisers) which details intersections and some hidden hazards on the course.

Minimum requirements:
A fully prepared rally car, registered and with a current WOF, equipped with rollcage, full harness seat belts, protected fuel lines, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tow rope etc. Both crew must be at least 15 years old, wear crash helmets and double–layer fire retardant overalls, belong to a MotorSport NZ member club (eg OSCC), be the holders of a Rally grade competition licence and the driver must hold a civil drivers licence.

Race
Races can be over a variety of distances, ranging from just a couple of laps, up to as many laps as can be completed in a 24 hour period. Although motor racing can never be truly cheap, racing need not be prohibitively expensive.

Minimum Requirements (for clubmans level competition)
The vehicle must comply with MotorSport NZ’s Safety Schedule A, an approved crash helmet, fire retardant overalls, and membership to a MotorSport NZ member club (eg the OSCC) and be the holder of a Race Grade competition licence

Volunteers

Be it time-keeping a classic car race, flag marshalling, crowd control at a rally, or whatever - volunteers are always essential to events. Please let us know if you’re keen to help. Contact Mark Baxter on 477-6974.

Please feel free to contact the club if you have any questions.