As I undergo financial de-evolution, I am probably like any crack addict trying to make ends meet on a budget.

Maybe you've always walked around the paddock every race weekend of your life, pretty much looking over every kind of machine for whatever you might learn.

Maybe you've always avoided old small British cars on the theory that some things aren't worth knowing.

Maybe you've avoided looking at Formula Vee's for the same kind of reasons.

I recently mentioned thoughts about FV Tires + Stohr's FF Chassis + Honda CR500 motor for some kind of Formula Libre oddity that would simultaneously make me temporarily happy while perplexing anyone with a shred of common sense.

It's getting worse.

While looking over a Radical DSR a few weeks ago I saw the electric Reverse motor and mechanism. I was looking at Yamaha's new WR450 with Electric Start, and thinking about how I might adapt such a mechanism to a CR450's center cases. Then for some reason I got thinking about Snowmobile hardware and bought a magazine. After passing thru a variety of phases over the weekend - "I'm definitely going to XXXXX" - the shortest of which lasted fewer than about 10 minutes, I find that I'm now looking at F500 with a fairly open mind. F500 was previously a type of racing equipment that attracted no attention from me.

Maybe I'll take a look at the rules and see if they are something I could live within. I think it's a technically interesting class, but if there's a requirement for a live rear axle and watt's link then I might turn up my nose. The spec nature of the motor/clutch might be easy or hard to accept - can't tell yet, don't know enough about it.

I really like the idea of minimalism in race car design, but I'm also very keen on safety. The F500 light weight, plus the pods and foot box's provide some decent odds of survival - I'd feel way better in one of those than in an FF or a Kart.

The other thing is that F500 is for the time being a National class, so if I wanted to go to the runnoff's it's doable. The other thing being the size requirements for a transporter or trailer and tow rig are minimal - that's a very good thing as far as I'm concerned.

Scott, who's just thinking out loud...I'm always thinking...most of it's wasted thought energy I'm afraid...ah, wtf...

 

Scott's new favorite website

Warren


[Modified by Warren, 3:11 PM 3/31/2003]


[Modified by Warren, 3:11 PM 3/31/2003]

 

hey now - that's not funny. My name is Sebastien, and I am a graduate of one of these programs....

 

Thanks for the sponsorship lead Warren.

Ok, I've been reading over the F500 mailing list archive. They use some kind of rubber bumper for springs and actual dampers are illegal.

Hmmm. Could be a fun device to drive. Looks like you hafta drive them with both pedals. Somewhere I read something about 7 cars starting a race and 1 finishing. I'll have to poke around the paddock at the May National and see what the very small number of Portland F500 people have going.

I found some posts pertaining to Mumford links, so it looks like you can have some freedom in choosing rear axle lateral locating devices - that's good.

With the economy and used race car markets being what they are it would be pointless and stupid to consider getting rid of my ITR to run one of these things....which is exactly why I'm considering it (just kidding - I'd hate to ever let go of my ITR).

Scott, who will put in mostly rental kart miles this year...look out 2004!

 

As a make-believe doctor, I prescribe a month long vacation on an island in the South Pacific. This island will have no motorized vehicles of any kind, except for the occasional pink Mini-Moke with a white tasseled roof, which you will not have access to, under any circumstances.

...you will spend your days climbing coconut trees and stealing bananas from monkeys. Forgetting any notion(s) of motoring, racing, competiton, engineering, mortgaging your home, etc.




[Modified by Vantage, 12:57 PM 3/31/2003]

 

These cars use a "rubber" suspension. Basically, the suspension load goes into a cannister which contains a rubber foam pad inside. The stiffness of the rubber determines the "spring rate". There is no "damping" since traditional shocks are not allowed. Sway bar is also not allowed. You can change the rubber. Chassis roll angle or roll stiffness bias (vehicle balance) can be controlled by roll centre height or rubber stiffness.

 

Great little cars, but you REALLY need to get used to that swamp of buzzing hornets behind your head...

That is the most horrible sound coming from that fast of a machine...but a thrill a minute to drive, that's about all I could take however, so I went with a Formcar Vee.

Jeff