You guys probably dont know me.. I just lurked for a while...

In July I went to germany for a 3 week stay on the otherside of the pond. I had an trial at driving formula cars in Germany.. The New BMW cars. Well I was fast.. but not fast enough for those guys! They invited me back in March to try again and they gave me some pointers.

Thoughts?

Formula cars are the ****!!!!!!!! NOthing will ever feel like one! The 140hp bmw accelerated faster than my 315hp one. Brakes like retina detachment is only millimeters away. Turns are the most fun of all. Your neck tilts like its boneless. Truely awesome!

Spent 4 days in the cars and kept getting quicker and quicker. It takes BALLZ to do that! Wow!

So now the hard part is finding a good US formula thats not crazy expensive but not lame with VW engines


Nice to meet you guys

 

You do know there is a U.S. version of the Formula BMW series, right? Unfortunately, even if you can afford it, you are right on the edge of the age requirements (they don't allow drivers over the age of 23).

And FVees aren't lame.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You do know there is a U.S. version of the Formula BMW series, right? </TD></TR></TABLE>

At $200K per year......

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Formula cars are the ****!!!!!!!! NOthing will ever feel like one! The 140hp bmw accelerated faster than my 315hp one. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yet another person learns it isn't all about hp

 

you can run the Formula BMW series if you are over 23.. there was some 39 year old at the USGP.. thing is you are not eliible for any of the scholorships they give out if you win.

the cars are $80k each.. blah.. there are only a few teams right now so i havn't seen any prices, but $200k sounds like a minimum considering what F2000 and such cost. ($150k-275k for F2000 depending on team, not including crash damage)

on the fun note of Formula cars.. of course. nothing like it. The wheels in plain view.. (depending on how low you sit) the feel, and of course the lap times you get to tell people.

Whenever i drive smomething with a roof, i always feel like something isn't right.

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

Its time for Toyota of Atlantic.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You do know there is a U.S. version of the Formula BMW series, right? Unfortunately, even if you can afford it, you are right on the edge of the age requirements (they don't allow drivers over the age of 23).

And FVees aren't lame.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ye... But Its too much $$.. not enough paid rides in the US

And the Fv's just arent cool in my mind.. They are formula cars but dont quite sound or look like em.. It wouldnt be the same from a Formula BMW

 

Formula Mazda is nice and fast, 1:14.9 pole at Mosport this year, with Ron Fellows in his ALMS Corvette at about 1:13.9 pole on same week-end. Plus it is a lot cheaper than FA. I have a friend who is thinking of buying a Formula Renault from last year's championship (nice carbon fibre tub, spec engine) for about 25k USD. It can run 1:19's at Mosport. Should be plenty fast for most guys.



http://www.starmazda.com/

 

shifter karts are always an option if strapped for cash to fully campaign a formula mazda / bmw season.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by black3door &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">shifter karts are always an option if strapped for cash to fully campaign a formula mazda / bmw season.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
south east doesnt have many tracks.. (besides fl)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

At $200K per year...... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, probably why there were only 12 cars when I saw them race at Cleveland this year. Wasn't sure if he could afford it or not but I mentioned it anyway.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITAcelica &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its time for Toyota of Atlantic. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Looks like there is a pretty good chance there wont be an Atlantics series next year. A real shame, it has been my favorite series to watch since they switched over to SPEED back in '02, and it has more history than virtually every other series in North America. I love the action and the cars, but they are perhaps one of the worst values in formula car racing.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ye... But Its too much $$.. not enough paid rides in the US

And the Fv's just arent cool in my mind.. They are formula cars but dont quite sound or look like em.. It wouldnt be the same from a Formula BMW</TD></TR></TABLE>

There aren't ANY paid rides in the US, unless your dad is hiring, excluding the top Champ Car seats and the engine manufacturer supported IRL teams. Formula racing is at the top of my "to-do" list once I graduate college, but unfortunately I don't think I'd ever be able to afford more than running Skip Barber events or find the sponsorship to go through the ladder.

I think the FVees are cool, they make for great racing with all the position swapping and such. Plus there is something to be said about racing with no wings. Probably not a series I'd ever be interested in running in, unless it was on someone else's dime.

 

From what I heard the mazda series isn't terribly expensive to race. I was quoted 60-80k for a come and drive seat with a team for a season. Still 50X more cash then I've got to spend on a hobby.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eHoward &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">From what I heard the mazda series isn't terribly expensive to race. I was quoted 60-80k for a come and drive seat with a team for a season. Still 50X more cash then I've got to spend on a hobby.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you talking about the new Star Mazda or the old one?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
south east doesnt have many tracks.. (besides fl)</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can road race shifterkarts. I'll be racing at Road Atlanta in November. That's right around the corner from you. Here are two major road racing karting clubs in your area:

http://www.bigsouthseries.com

Big South is putting on the event at Road Atlanta. They are also hosting the support race for the Rolex Sports Car Series at Barber motorsports park in Oct.

http://www.southernroadracing.com/

Southern Road Racing Series puts on events at their home track which is Roebling Road in Savannah, GA.

Unfortunately you need a certain license to race shifterkarts. It's easy to get if you have previous racing experience. If you don't have any, then you could easily start out with a Rotax and run Spec 125.

Good luck,

AJ

 

My problem with that is its like driving a golf kart down a highway.. Its soo small and the track being soo big I just wouldnt see that as fun.

NOt to mention I dont see it being too safe!

 

Soooo do you want to race or not? Sounds like you've already made up your mind not to.

 

You obviously have no idea what a shifterkart is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My problem with that is its like driving a golf kart down a highway.. Its soo small and the track being soo big I just wouldnt see that as fun.

NOt to mention I dont see it being too safe!</TD></TR></TABLE>
have you even tried? or is this just a self perceived uneducated conclusion.

walking out of your house have a certain degree of danger to it, yet you do it all the same

small karts + big track = lots of competitors + lots of drafting and strategizing.

certainly refreshing from the day in day out sprint tracks

not to mention it's not as tiring.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Formula Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My problem with that is its like driving a golf kart down a highway.. Its soo small and the track being soo big I just wouldnt see that as fun.

NOt to mention I dont see it being too safe!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, who would want to drive a dumb ol' shifter kart around a track turning faster lap times than anything that costs 10 times to run would turn...

 

Have you considered FF1600? Costs are not huge. Note that the one problem with the FF and carts is no real aero allowed and if the F-BMW have wings you really need to get experience with winged cars.

If aero is not an issue, carts are the best choice and drivers the world over get their start there. Many current F1 and CART drivers still run carts in the offseason to keep in tune.

 

Out here (california region) NASA runs Formula TR, and SCCA has a pretty strong showing of Formula Ford and Formula Continental, the options are out there if you've got the time & money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Spent 4 days in the cars and kept getting quicker and quicker. It takes BALLZ to do that! Wow!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Congratulations on your BALLZ. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't know.

I do covet your apparent disposable income, though..

 

Whatever the series was in 02.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are you talking about the new Star Mazda or the old one?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Those are the old ones. They don't have a pro series anymore. The new chassis cost $70k alone, so I doubt you'd be able to do a season for $60-80k in one.

 

ya i would with a shifterkart not cheap but fast enough since they do turn faster split times then indy cars at sum tracks. search around for a chassis called birel.(MRP) one of the biggest sellers. or u can go with a 250rs or sumthing and go like 170mph sounds good to me