One of the most common enquiries we get is "How do I go about entering my car in the Speed Trials?"

(The Brighton and Hove Motor Club manages car entries only. The motorcycles entries are managed by another club.)

First of all, you will need to be a member of the Brighton and Hove Motor Club. See our Membership page to see how.

The Speed Trials is a Sprint Event run under the rules of the MSA (Motor Sports Association).

It is a competition event, so you will need a competition licence. What level of licence you have decides what class you run in.

If you have never done any motorsport before, you can only get a 'Non-Race National B' licence. To get yours, go to the MSA site at www.msauk.org and download the application form.

It can take a while and if you get any part of it wrong they will send it back. Leave plenty of time, is my advice.

Once you have a licence you can see what class you will race in.

If you only have a 'Non-Race National B', then you must go into the Handicap class. This is limited to 60 cars, and has a wildly varied entry. It is also over-subscribed every year.

If you have a higher level of competition licence then you will go into the classes. You will then be in smaller groups, against more serious machinery, but machinery that is closest to your own.

More importantly, you will get one more run; those in the handicap get one practice run and one timed run. Those in the classes get one practice and two timed runs. While the handicap is over before lunch, the classes run well into the afternoon; its a full day instead of a half day.

To change your licence from a 'Non-Race National B' to the next level needed to enter the classes (a 'Speed National A') you need to collect four signatures from other events on the 'Upgrade Card' you receive with your licence. You get a signature for taking part in any MSA event using your 'B' licence. One of these signatures can be from taking a special test at a racetrack, called an ARDS test.

The Speed Trials counts as one of these events, so if you take part in three other events, or take the above-mentioned test and do two other events, next year you could be in the classes with us, have more runs, and have a longer day.

When you get your MSA Licence you will get a copy of the 'Blue Book' which has all of the details within. Feel free to ask us if any of this is unclear.

You also need a few other things, such as clothing and a helmet.

You'll need approved overalls (a 'race suit') and an approved crash helmet.

One of our members, Simon Cooper, owns the local tuning shop and can help with advice and ordering for both of these items. Contact him on 01273 552816 or through his website, www.f1btn.com. He also has a Facebook group here.

Do not assume that your crash helmet from your motorbike will be approved; most are not. If it has a sticker with BS6658 on it you are in luck; the older of my two Arai helmets (a 'Quantum E') does. The newer, a 'Quantum F', does not.

As of 2010 this will no longer be usable as BS6658 is being removed from the list of allowed standards, meaning I will have to buy a new crash helmet just for car racing.

Again, the 'Blue Book' has all of the details within for what is allowed and what is not.

Your car will need to pass scrutineering for it's class. Normally for road cars, the only modification neccessary is the fitment of a timing strut to the front.

Entry forms for the Speed Trials are sent to all members several months before the event. Entry is then offered on a strictly first come, first served basis.

The Handicap is limited to 60 cars and always fills up. Preference is given to those entering the classes with a competition licence.

Our club is always looking for people to join us and go racing in one form or another, hence the preference given to those in the classes with upgraded licences.

For instance, in my own car, I competed in the handicap at the Speed Trials and also in several other Sprint events at race tracks such as Lydden Hill and Goodwood (not straight-line 'drag-race' events like the Speed Trials). I then upgraded my licence so this year I will be in the classes.

As well as the Sprint at Goodwood run by this club, I also attended Sprints at Lydden Hill which were part of the All Circuit Sprint Championship run by the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club (www.twmc.org.uk).

Sprint Racing typically consists of a 'flying lap' or two from a standing start, and are great fun. You race the clock, not other people, so it is a relatively safe way of going racing without 'door-handling' with other cars on track at the same time as you.

You don't need a 'competition' car to go racing. There are classes at Sprints for normal and modified production cars. You can literally drive to the circuit, fit a timing strut and stick some numbers on the side.

Please get in touch if you need any help or advice with any part of this page, or more advice on sprinting, with us or other clubs.