Race Car market opens its doors….

The 2014 season is over, its seasons end and now the racing has stopped, the UK race car marketplace bursts into life. It’s this time between race seasons that sees the most amount of transactions.

The market is spurred on with drivers changing championships, new championships and the need for compatible cars to compete. From drivers retiring and hanging up their helmets to ‘green’ MSA license holders looking to buy their first racer and don’t forget those who have racked up the credit cards over the year with ‘another set of tyres’ and are needing to sell to pay it all off. Up and down the country deals are being done.

Racers and teams also make a few changes to their paddock set up, old race trucks are put out to pasture and new trucks bought. Trailers sales are busy most of the year but often a trailer suitable for one racer is just no good for next seasons car or maybe a covered unit perhaps, tyre rack, internal bunks..…there is plenty of choice.

Motorhomes, if you have the budget, make paddock living easy, people fed up of sleeping in the van, or those needing something bigger are out there shopping, other vehicles have been bought purely for the season and its time to get them sold and the finance paid off! They may be an expensive addition to the team but when your away testing and racing for 3 days, its driving rain or freezing cold, just being able to get out the weather, have a cuppa and a comfortable nights sleep makes them a worthwhile investment. You don’t have to have a super huge ‘Winnie’, an old camper will do, it just needs a tow bar…

“Motorhomes – just being able to get out the weather, have a cuppa and a comfortable nights sleep makes them a worthwhile investment…”

So what’s happening in the market? Well currently many historic race cars continue to go from strength to strength and remain a good investment, prices can often be varied and they don’t normally sell overnight. Word in the paddock is that some have had absolute fortunes thrown at them to get them go to the very best of their ability….we would like to see the difference in times say around Brands Indy for then and now. Of course some may look the part but that doesn’t stand for much out on the circuit, do your research; results are all over the web and get in touch with the clubs to confirm the racing history.

“You can go historic racing with a Porsche 924, one currently advertised for £2600”

Historic racing does not have to be expensive, right now on Paddock42 we have a cracking little Porsche 924 currently advertised for £2600 and it is eligible for the HSCC ‘70’s Road Sports championship. Plenty of stunning historic race cars for sale so if you are thinking about getting involved with historic motorsport have a peruse through our classifieds.

Club race cars are usually far more in reach and great to see some very well prepared cars being advertised in our motorsport ads from Formula Fords, Honda Civics and BMW Compacts. Prices for race cars will vary and can be anything from from £2k to £40k. There are so many championships that various cars can be eligible for – if you have the budget you can be out on the grid several times a month.

The Hillclimbing season is also now over and the quest for more power and tractability continues. Some owners will be coming to market with their cars as they look to up grade, giving new buyers the chance to pick up a car. Hillclimb championships are a great way to get into motorsport, there are classes from standard/ barely modified right up to fierce tarmac monsters. Entry fees are very competitively priced and if you are in a road going category you can drive your car to the meeting, compete and drive it home, just like the old days.

“Drive it to the meeting, compete, then drive it home, just like the old days.”

Rally teams, drivers and co-drivers can now also take a break with the season having finally finished. The historic rally car market is strong like the historic circuit racers (and classic car market !) but more modern cars are always available, scan our classifieds and contact the clubs. If you fancy a ground up build over the winter, listed in rally cars for sale on Paddock42, we have a Peugeot 106 Rallye road car needing some love (click here – only £400), getting a bit rare these days but it would be great to see this one sorted and battling the forests in 2015, it will be right at home.

Everybody knows that competing in motorsport requires you to spend a bit of your hard earned cash, but it is always satisfying to see drivers with exceptional talent and limited resources impress against better funded teams and drivers.

Happy shopping.

Main image snapped by JF at Brands Nov 14 – this racer is for sale view the advert here.