Is Formula First the up and coming true low cost racing?

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond) 04/17/2019 at 16:53 • Filed to: None

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Cheap racing isn’t cheap, it’s just less-expensive than really expensive. Spec racing aims to cure that but how’s that for a fix? So far, It’s still not cheap. However, in looking at Formula first, we may be as close to the inexpensive goal as possible.

Questions come up about anyone who proposes such things. Popularity already in place. National level drivers. But what does it give us that the other classes don’t? Well the single thing that keeps new people from coming into racing is the cost. Cost of entry and cost to run an event.

That’s where a bunch of racers got together and looked at the most affordable classes in the SCCA and determined how expensive they truly are. Based on consumables; Engine reliability and rebuilds, how many sets of tires aused in a weekend, month, season. How much is it costing others in the same class to go faster with superior equipment? So they took the Formula Vee class and found the expensive parts and converted them to more cost effective items.

Formula Ford wheels and tires, but hard compound (R60) so they don’t just last a weekend, more like 25 heat cycles or more. That more than a whole season In fact. Wheel minimum weights so nobody spends crazy money for a quarter pound less un-sprung weight.

Inlet restricted type-1 1600cc engines. The 1200cc FV engines were getting spun above 7k rpm and built loose for low friction and used expensive parts. 7k revs made power but made rebuild frequency every 12-18 months depending on how much you raced in a year. On that note, 1200cc parts are more expensive than 1600 type-1 parts so a type-1 engine was selected but with a spec carburetor, intake manifold, spec compression and camshaft. An intake restrictor plate keeps useful revs to 6k and below, making the engine extremely reliable and retaining good power: 85hp/100+tq. All up in a car weighing 1100 pounds with driver. The result, is a proper FST race engine build is HALF that of an FV engine.

Trans-axle . Only one type allowed and one gear set allowed. FV allows multiple gear ratios making a team carry at least 2 boxes for long or short courses and really competitive/national level teams carry 4 boxes.

So already we have the difference between FV, Formula Ford even, and FST being much less equipment, less trick equipment, and much lower operating costs.

How low? How does under $300 a race weekend sound? That’s not including towing, gas, hotel rooms, beer and pizza, entry fees…. But on the other hand it’s less than FV and 8-10 times less than formula ford. For what though?

Well, for faster lap times than national level FV cars and hangin’ right in there or beating club ford/historic formula ford cars. Right now there’s near 50 cars out there in FST trim, several of them are converted FV cars and some are new chassis designed specifically for this category.

You can get a competitive car together with used bits and bobs for $10k. Build new for anywhere from $15-20k, again, depending on what you pick. Digital dashboards and data logging, etc will put you right up at 20k, otherwise, look around $15k for reality and enjoy the low low cost per race nobody around you on the grid does.

Here’s a 14-year old lad who set pole at 1:04, enjoying running costs a nice lawn mowing job could get any kid.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 16:59

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I don’t recall mowing lawns netting me anywhere close to 300 a weekend . I get what you are saying, though. I will admit it definitely looks cool.

But why wouldn’t they just kart instead?

Grindintosecond > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 04/17/2019 at 17:05

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I’m wondering how many kids or adults even race every single weekend...

How much is a kart cost to run? An FST engine costs $3500 new. How much are kart tires for a whole year? I’m not sure but you now have a car with minimum weight including driver that us grown ups can race for not much.

3point8isgreat > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 17:11

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I get that the engines are cheap and all.  But I can’t say I ever found the sound of those air cooled VW’s to be pleasant.  I assume using a motorcycle engine costs a lot more in maintenance.

Grindintosecond > 3point8isgreat 04/17/2019 at 17:13

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Yes, especially if you plan to string them out at high rpm for long long times...

Which is what the 2-stroke F500 class did, making the F600 class but also inlet restricting the 600cc hondas to produce nothing useful after 12k and saving the engines. ....but...they do sound nice.....and have less corner speed than FV.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 17:14

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No idea. Outside of a few autocrosses a year I don’t have budget to visit tracks anyway. I had presumed the costs of karting is around 10k annually after the original hardware buy-in.

Grindintosecond > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 04/17/2019 at 17:17

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I saw a quote of this car running at $270/race weekend. I would just add on hotel costs and food and towing. I’m sure 10 races could be done at as low as $5,000 if camping is involved. There is contingency money for doing well on the tires, etc. Not a bad way to go.

Darkbrador > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 17:44

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This looks fantastic ... “affordable” fun. 

tromoly > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 21:16

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Comparing apples-to-apples you’re looking at the LO206 class, which is dirt-cheap to run. $200 set of tires that lasts an entire year (several years if running MG IRs like my local track). Engines that are spec, sealed, sub-$900 fully dressed and last several seasons. Minimum weights that actual adults can hit. Pretty much just fuel and engine oil costs all year then tires over the winter, it’s pretty cheap and a lot of fun.

nermal > Grindintosecond 04/17/2019 at 22:45

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$300 / weekend is completely doable for a lot of people. The realistic $ 2k+ per weekend cost when everything else is factored in, not so much. That doesn’t include the purchase price of the car, a truck and trailer, or any needed gear either.

Even when it’s cheap, it’s still expensive as shit. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Grindintosecond 04/18/2019 at 00:24

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Depending on your region, but for most folks a full road race season would be 5-10 weekends spread throughout your division. Entry fees vary, but expect $350-$600 for a double regional weekend. Running an event at a fancy track like COTA costs more, as does something like a majors tour event. If you win your class, you do get a bowling type trophy (or maybe a jacket with your name on it), and if you did really well in enough big events in a national class you could get an invitation to runoffs.

Grindintosecond > nermal 04/18/2019 at 00:30

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The buy- in was always the hardest part of any racing endeavor . This particular buy in cost can be cheaper than i stated . Given how converting an FV is not only viable but competitive, used F formula cars can run cheap and especially as rollers. I’m looking at the SR racing site now and see a XTC converted vee to FST and the guy wants it out of his Kentucky garage for $3100 as a roller with only needing an engine/fuel cell/body/shocks...which makes a very competitive car for $7500.

Now, depending on how far your towing this thing plus entry fees...$2k might be a safety number but the reality could be less. I’m looking at $350 entry fees in my region if I did this for the weekend, plus motel/camping and food and gas. IS that + $1400? Not so sure. But that’s also just a half days drive for me.

Grindintosecond > tromoly 04/18/2019 at 00:31

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Yeah that sounds pretty good!

Grindintosecond > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/18/2019 at 09:19

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tru dat. so given the fixed costs like that, whatever can be done to reduce the car expenses is definitely better. Especially if one doesn’ t have to bring lots of tires and spares and can tow with a tacoma or old ranger and open trailer.