The Clubman is a class of prototype front-engined sports racing cars that originated in Britain in 1965 as a low-cost formula for open-top, front-engined roadgoing sports cars like the Lotus 7 , which had been crowded out of the mainstream by rear-engined cars such as the Lotus 23 .
20-614: The cars have evolved and specialised, but it remains a very popular class of racing. The Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship is organised by The Clubmans Register and currently races with Motor Sport Vision Racing (MSVR) and is a Motor Sports UK (MSUK) recognised club. The championship runs with four classes; CSP1 for cars up to 2000cc developing 200bhp from 4 cylinder road derived engines or motorcycle engines up to 1600cc. CSP2 for cars using sealed 1600 K series engines developing 125bhp. CSPA for Classic A cars built before 1981. CSPB for Classic B cars built before 1981. The class
40-401: A lower centre of gravity. These cars though were still very similar to their road going cousins with no attempt at gaining aerodynamic downforce being attempted or allowed by the rules. This period was replaced by cars that began to use upswept tails and full width sportscar noses to create more aerodynamic cars capable of producing some level of downforce. The final stage of this evolution before
60-637: A more upmarket image, the alternative formula was renamed National Supersports , but over the years grids declined due to increased costs. Many of the marques that made their debut in National Supersports now compete in alternative prototype series such as Britsports or VdeV , which provide prototype racing on a relatively affordable scale. Clubmans in the UK continues as a highly popular and affordable form of racing with two race series catering for "Classic" cars (up to and including 1980 running almost exactly as
80-463: A popular class in hillclimbing . Clubmans has remained a relatively low-cost formula with cars having a long life and stability of rules meaning that drivers tend to remain in the formulae and develop their cars. In a straight line, Clubmans cars were often almost as quick as Formula Three single-seaters. The formula acquired a reputation for close competition, varied grids, and a healthy social scene. Engine rules varied somewhat over time. Initially
100-533: The Lotus 7 , which had been crowded out of the mainstream by rear-engined cars such as the Lotus 23 . Before long, the cars rapidly evolved into highly specialised and very quick sports-racers – retaining the front-engined/rear wheel drive layout, but acquiring in due course wings and slicks. Unlike endurance-oriented forms of sports car racing, Clubmans tend to run at club-level meetings. Races were typically short (15–30 miles) and driver changes and refueling were not part of
120-798: The Supersports class which allows rear engines and motorbike powered cars where the original clubman class did not. Clubmans cars also compete in the US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Switzerland. British Racing and Sports Car Club The British Racing and Sports Car Club ( BRSCC ) is one of the major organisers of motorsport events in the United Kingdom . The club currently runs around forty track racing championships for cars as diverse as Caterham , BMWs and Mazda . Formed in Bristol in August 1946 as
140-456: The 1100cc cars as invited sportscars. These cars were not technically clubman class cars although very similar and because of that they had to run to Group A Sports Cars regulations. This meant they had to run doors for example, as opposed to the clubman cars which just had a cut-out to allow access. The Confederation of Australian Motorsport , who ran Motorsport in Australia, decided to change
160-415: The 1970s when both classes ran similar engines while being much cheaper. Clubman racing in Australia dates back to the 1950s but didn't emerge as a distinct category with its own set of rules separate to other sportscars until the 60's. at this point an engine capacity limit of 1100cc was introduced. However, alongside this class were 1500cc cars of a similar design and construction that would run alongside
180-591: The 500 Club, the organisation changed its name to the BRSCC in 1954 and now has its headquarters in West Malling , Kent . The 500 Club, as it was then known, was founded in 1946. The club promoted racing in 500 c.c. single-seater racing cars, later known as Formula Three . Motor Sport reported in 1947: "The 500 Club's Patron is Earl Howe, its President S.C.H. Davis , and its Vice-Presidents Messrs. Findon, Mays and Pomeroy-which speaks for itself. A stall will be occupied by
200-584: The Club at the next Shelsley Walsh hill-climb , and its magazine "Iota" will be on sale there." The name was subsequently changed to The Half Litre Club on becoming a limited liability Company. In 1954 Motor Sport reported: "The Half-Litre C.C. is contemplating changing its name to the British Racing and Sports-Car Club, in view of changed activities." In 1966 the BRSCC staged the seventh Racing Car Show, 19–29 January, at Olympia West Hall , London. By this time
220-529: The Ford units drifted into obsolescence, other units replaced them. Sports 1600 gave way to "K Sports" with a Rover K-series engine and the 16-valve two-litre Vauxhall temporarily replaced the 1700 cc Crossflow unit in 1993 for the short-lived rear-engined Supersports category. Rear-engined cars with the Vauxhall unit were admitted to the series for the first time in 1995 alongside traditional front-engined cars. Seeking
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#1732892158288240-504: The capacity of the open wheel classes to 1300cc and 1600cc for Australian Formula 3 and Australian Formula 2 respectively and with that the clubman class was changed to 1300cc to mirror the F3 car engine regulations. These regulations specified an engine of no more than 1.3 litres, single camshaft engine of production car origin. These new 1300cc engines were mainly sourced from Japanese manufacturers such as Datsun and Toyota. These engines outshone
260-399: The club magazine was called Motor Racing . Note this card may be combined at larger festival weekends or split over multiple weekends. BRSCC were the nominated organising body for these events until the year given. Clubman Sports 1300 The Australian Clubman, later known as Sports 1300 class catered for small capacity front engine rear wheel drive sportscars initially similar to
280-489: The formula used 1000 cc or 1500 (later 1600) cc pushrod engines that had to be based on Ford or BMC units – practically, the 1,000 cc units were detuned ex-F3 engines). For most of the formula's life, the engines were the 1000 cc ex F3 units and 1600 cc Ford Kents or Ford-based Holbay, and finally the 1600 Kent in Formula Ford spec ("B sports/Sports 1600") and 1700 cc crossflow units ("A sports") in high states of tune. As
300-401: The older style 1500cc cars and these became less popular. The class went through distinct but overlapping periods where new ideas on design or rule changes lead to new directions in car design. Initially clubman style cars looked very similar to their road going counterparts such as the Lotus 7 . This was followed by lower cars that were potentially more aerodynamic but probably just reflected
320-560: The original formula with classes catering for cars from most periods of the formula's history) and the Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship running in four classes CSP1, CSP2, CSPA and CSPB as described above. Clubmans has also been popular in Scandinavia since the 80s when Swedish car enthusiast Stefan Mumm bought a Mallock and promoted the formulae. The results of his enthusiasm are more than 20 cars registered in
340-428: The road going sports cars such as the Lotus 7 and to other Clubman series internationally. These cars were simple two seat cars based on widely available road car components in a purpose-built space frame chassis and simple bodywork using cycle guards over the front wheels. The basic features of these cars were These cars represented great bang for your buck and could even keep up with Australian Formula 3 cars in
360-574: The series. In addition to the ubiquitous Mallock, local marques such as Bodin and Phantom are now produced and are still being developed; in 2008 three brand new cars were produced. The Scandinavian Clubmans class uses 1800 cc Ford Zetec engine, and is one of the fastest sportscar series in Scandinavia. Australia has also had a thriving clubman class since the 50's known as the Clubman Sports 1300 class based on 1300cc engine cars. this has now morphed in
380-542: The strategy. Marques such as Chevron made their debut in the formula and the long-lived series of Mallock U2 cars came to dominate numerically (and often in terms of results). Over the years, marques such as Gryphon, Centaur, Bladon, Haggispeed, Phantom, Vision, Pulsar and Slique as well as specials like the St Bruno Roughcutter and the Hustler graced the grids with varying degrees of success. Clubmans cars also became
400-523: Was initiated by Nick Syrett of the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) and organised by the Clubmans Register which represent car owners, drivers and constructors. Clubmans evolved from categories such as the 1,172 cc formula for Ford-based specials and several of the 750MC 's entry-level formulae. It was intended as a low-cost formula for open-top, front-engined road-going sports cars like
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