I'm looking into getting into Formula Ford and was unable to find any information with the search function. Anyone on hear do Formula Ford and what kinda setups are you running? Who did you go thru for purchasing your setup? Are you running in SCCA Solo 1 or 2 series? Please let me know

 

try Sccaforums.com also roadracejunkie on this site, he has one in is shop right know you may want to PM him

 

Thans for the advice I will PM him when I get activated. I have tryed to post on my Divisions site Cendiv, but no real luck

 

I started my roadracing in Formula Ford, still have it (thinking of turning it into a Solo II car)
Now my roadracing is in a Formula Continental. (formula ford, 2 liters instead of 1.6, and wings)

When you say "setup" i am going to assume you mean car and such. Mine is an 83 Van Diemen, i hauled it in the back of a cube van. 82-83 Van Diemens can be found for $6k or so needing some work, there are other choices also, depening on the budget.

I could ramble on for hours but I wont.. what you need to know is http://www.apexspeed.com

As a friend of mine says.. get some coffee, sit down and start reading the archives. (read also the f2000.com archives, lots of good newbie info there) That site has forums for Formula Ford, Formula Continental, Formula Mazda.. etc.

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

 

I spent last weekend in a FF, I can say they are very fun cars, a bit underpowered but have lots of corner speed. There seems to be a myth about the expense of owning/racing one, I am friends with a few people that run them and its seems to be cheaper than top running IT around here. I highly recommend one.

 

Hardest Parts are competitive engines, and their rebuilds. and then crash damage. because of limited stock parts, or limited production replacements (cranks) engine life is limited and parts are $$$. That was my biggest expense. The other hard part is crashing, suspensions are of course limited, tearing a couple of A Arms, rod ends and halfshaft/tie rods can easily add up to $600-$800 per corner.

Formula Continental is about the same in the suspension department (same cars basically) but then if you tear the wings off add a few hundred more dollars. In the same thing Radiators are up there in price for the newer cars.

But simple running costs are not bad. I was spending $350 or so out of pocket for running the Formula Ford (used tires though) Right now I am running the Formula Continental on about $1000 per weekend. (new tires every two weekends)

Down on power.. I didn't notice when i was in it, but i didn't step out of the car in Paul's avatar either (if thats where experiance lies) Once i drove the LMP 900s nothing feels fast to me anymore.

A few years back in a Test motortrend or someone ran a Formula Ford into the low 13s in the 1/4th So its not like its shabby for 120 HP. Cornering speeds.. yea.. well its a Formula Car

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

 

racerjon,

Under what circumstances were you able to drive an LMP900? And how do I sign up for that lottery?

Heck, I even have sports racer experience.

-Matt

PS - You taking the FC to the SIC?

 

Matt, after driving EP for a year for a Team out of charleston I was offered a seat at the 24 hours in a Porsche, it was a "bring your own sponsor" (or wallet) type deal.. as are 90% of them, and I went looking for the sponsorship. When I found it the Porsche team had filled its driver roster

I then hit the Grand-Am/ALMS boards looking for a team looking for drivers. One of them was Sezio Florida Racing, who campaigned an LMP 900 in ALMS, and the same car as an SRP I in Grand Am.

When i first talked to them i was just kind of kicking tires and seeing what they needed, and seeing that I was actually cautious about climbing in the car they figured i wasn't going to do much stupid stuff, so they invited me to test at Roebling Road. 9 of us hit the track for 2 days, i was 3rd fastest and the only one without LMP experience. They offered me the Seat for the 24 hours for "porsche GT $"

I drove Rolex for them and tested a couple times, but thats all the Sponsor $ i had..

I am planning on going to the SIC, this comming weekend I will be at Kershaw (you going?) If i do well there I will be in contention for the SARRC Championship. (new diffuser on the car, springs, etc.. should be a fun weekend)

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