Formula First Northeast

[Dasher]

Hello All,
I’m looking to get into racing and I’m on a lower budget than most. From what I’ve read, the concept of this class seems appealing. Is this class alive and well in the northeast? I have a friend that races SRF and he says the formula fields at the SCCA races are minimal and suggests another class.
Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[BLS]

Someone more FST oriented should be along to answer. Meanwhile, if not the FST cars, look into FV Challenge Cup and the North East FV Association. Both are alive and well. Comparing Spec Wrecker Ford race counts to anything else except Spec Miata is going to look bad.

https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/for...nge-Cup-Series

[FVRacer21]

Formula First never took off in the NE. Too long a discussion for now but the short is, with a large established base, it is harder to get the whole group to switch. With a spec tire and disc brakes an option now, less pressure to change.

If you were out in Western PA or Ohio maybe a different deal. Lots of great people to help out there.

Your finding that unless you are going for a National Championship, all classes are tending to be regional - that is where the strength and car counts are.

ChrisZ

[jpetillo]

Dasher,

Where in the North East are you located? If in the upper corner (MC, CA, NY, NH, VT, ME, RI, etc.), please check out NorthEast Formula Vee and get in touch with one of us through that site or PM me. We have the largest regional SCCA FV fields in the country and at times more cars entered than Spec Miata.

John

Yes, I see - NJ!

[rgu]

Sorry I’ve had a few medical issues so I haven’t logged into Apex recently but I thought I’d like to say a few things about Formula FST which is very much alive and getting better each year. We have a series called the Hoosier Tire US Formula First Championship. Whenever possible we like to piggyback with FRP (Formula Race Promotions) . This year we are two races at Pittrace and two at Mid Ohio. The others are maybe too far from NJ (Autobahn and Road Atlanta).

Formula First was started by old Formula Vee Guys, Butch Deer, Larry Campbell and Jim Schings with supportive input from Bill Noble and Bob Lyberger. The idea was to sort of bring FV up to date with the rest of the world and thus use the general VW aftermarket which was and is robust. The second objective was to get rid of specialized machining endemic to FV (no PIA taking many Lbs off of 1200 crankshsaft. The third object was to toss out the $1200 intake manifolds and the carburetors with throttle shaft made in some machine shop. The fourth objective was to ditch the drum brakes and use VW rotors and calipers. The fifth was to get rid of the sticky slicks and the $800 concomitant tire tuneup. Sixth was to make the cars more amenable to today’s larger bodies thus the raising the weight to 1125 and increasing the wheelbase 2 inches (they should have gone to 90!) Seventh only one transmission was needed and it was the one that was easiest on the motor.

When Greg Rice told me about the FST I got really excited. When I read about the Aussie move to phase out FV 1200 and g totally to 1600 in couple years I felt this was the way.

What they may have not anticipated was the sunk cost argument FV guys used. Drivers said things like I gGot two good FV engines which cost 8K to fully replace, got 28 slotted wheel, 10 rear smoothy drum etc.

Yup there was a learning curve about what parts really worked, (anything named SCAT was good. The fully counterweighted crankshaft was way better but that led dry sump systems which in retrospect was the best thing we ever did. Yes it was possible to build a great wet sump oil control system but no one made one for sale.

So if you are willing to travel a bit FST is a great alternative. I still know of a couple complete cars still available for sale.
If you are still considering FV look at Challenge Cup which is a great venue too. Talk with Ray Carmody first. Also look at the divisional vee entries close you.

[Dasher]

Sorry I’ve had a few medical issues so I haven’t logged into Apex recently but I thought I’d like to say a few things about Formula FST which is very much alive and getting better each year. We have a series called the Hoosier Tire US Formula First Championship. Whenever possible we like to piggyback with FRP (Formula Race Promotions) . This year we are two races at Pittrace and two at Mid Ohio. The others are maybe too far from NJ (Autobahn and Road Atlanta).

Formula First was started by old Formula Vee Guys, Butch Deer, Larry Campbell and Jim Schings with supportive input from Bill Noble and Bob Lyberger. The idea was to sort of bring FV up to date with the rest of the world and thus use the general VW aftermarket which was and is robust. The second objective was to get rid of specialized machining endemic to FV (no PIA taking many Lbs off of 1200 crankshsaft. The third object was to toss out the $1200 intake manifolds and the carburetors with throttle shaft made in some machine shop. The fourth objective was to ditch the drum brakes and use VW rotors and calipers. The fifth was to get rid of the sticky slicks and the $800 concomitant tire tuneup. Sixth was to make the cars more amenable to today’s larger bodies thus the raising the weight to 1125 and increasing the wheelbase 2 inches (they should have gone to 90!) Seventh only one transmission was needed and it was the one that was easiest on the motor.

When Greg Rice told me about the FST I got really excited. When I read about the Aussie move to phase out FV 1200 and g totally to 1600 in couple years I felt this was the way.

What they may have not anticipated was the sunk cost argument FV guys used. Drivers said things like I gGot two good FV engines which cost 8K to fully replace, got 28 slotted wheel, 10 rear smoothy drum etc.

Yup there was a learning curve about what parts really worked, (anything named SCAT was good. The fully counterweighted crankshaft was way better but that led dry sump systems which in retrospect was the best thing we ever did. Yes it was possible to build a great wet sump oil control system but no one made one for sale.

So if you are willing to travel a bit FST is a great alternative. I still know of a couple complete cars still available for sale.
If you are still considering FV look at Challenge Cup which is a great venue too. Talk with Ray Carmody first. Also look at the divisional vee entries close you.

Thank you! I’ve been looking at cars and continue to look.
While FST, FF and F5 are all options, F5 seems to be grabbing my interest.
FV is a viable option.
FF is also a viable option depending on class.
F5 seems the most viable based on budget and future advance possibilities.
I looked at SRF, but with sequential gearboxes and the price of Gen 3’s, I think they are no longer an option as entry level racer.
While I have not pulled the trigger yet, I’m thinking F5 four stroke might be the best bang for the buck.