I have been reading with some interest the discussions here and have to say I am learning that what I thought about doing with my Formula First might be more looks than function but what I figure It's my car, my design, and I really don't care if the established experts like it. I want to make it and race it.
My take on this class is it is for folks that are comfortable with the VW format but are not really content with the FV as we know it. I chose FST because I believe you should stay with what you are comfortable with.
A little personal history I am a 52 year old fabrications designer that has played with volkswagens my whole life. Since I was a wee lad I was rebuilding VW's and I have a deep seated love for the flat four. I was a SCCA member for years and was at one time the NEDIV chief of tech. I autocrossed a beetle, an opel GT, a pinto and then a Auto D MK4. Took a couple drivers schools and then my racing took a different direction I went dirt racing in a spec class called Pro Truck, I also raced a dirt modified. most recently I raced and autocrossed a legends car which I qualified for the INEX national race in Vegas.
I tell you this because I have come full circle, to my roots, the 1600cc VW beetle motor and the SCCA.
My Formula First will be the first race car that is all my design and handywork the only thing that I have not done on this car is bend the main frame rails as I hadn't finished building my tubing bender at the time I wanted them done so I asked the dirt modified builder Bicknell racing to bend them for me. My design is loosly based on the 80's Van dieman FC but it has evolved over the years. It is built for the larger racer as I have tried to wedge my butt into a Protoform and ummmm well there would be no speedy exit from those cars.
Thank you all for developing this class I do not have the deep pockets that is required for national FV racing. I am just a guy that likes to race and has a design stuck in his head screaming to get out and be built.
G.