Just wondering how many FE's there are up in the SCCA Northeast division.
Also, what other classes do you guys run with on track if you don't have your own dedicated class races.
I'm considering sell my FF1600 setup and picking up a FE to just tinker with in the Northeast or Formula Libre/Solo 1 up here. I helped build about 9 of the damn things and really appreciate the relatively low cost of operating one.
Justin
I run one out of the Buffalo area. In the regional races state side maybe 2 or 3 FEs, gen running with FC, S2000, DSR, CSR and some Atlantics. At the Nationals you may see 5- 7 cars also in the mixed run group as above. The southeast, and Cendiv are real strong.
Good luck
Ed
__________________
"The visibility at the best of times is liable to be a bit hazy due to clouds of ignorance"... Carroll Smith
Just wondering how many FE's there are up in the SCCA Northeast division.
Also, what other classes do you guys run with on track if you don't have your own dedicated class races.
I'm considering sell my FF1600 setup and picking up a FE to just tinker with in the Northeast or Formula Libre/Solo 1 up here. I helped build about 9 of the damn things and really appreciate the relatively low cost of operating one.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Justin
I'm out of NYC. In my limited experiance (3 regional races), the FE's will get grouped with the other winged formula cars and maybe the sports racers and FF. At an event at NJMP, I was the only FE. At Watkin's Glen, it was me and Ed. And at Summit Point, there were three of us in total (along with some Indy Lights cars that ran in Formula Super and just drove around everyone).
Thanks for the info, maybe I'll hold of on pulling the trigger until there's more people running the cars up here.
It's a shame they aren't as popular here.
Be a trend setter, not a follower. If everyone sits back waiting for others to make it popular, it will never get there. I can think of 8 FE drivers in NE that have been doing nationals and there are several others that have only been doing regionsls, and there are 2 new guys that got cars at the end of last year that we are hoping start coming to nationals this year.
If we could get all the guys doing regionals and the people that only do the national race closest to their home out to more of the nationals, we could get some nice fields that might entice others to get new cars as well. Of course, time and money puts a crimp on making it to all the races.
car counts have varied over the last couple years, we have had some people running one year, then taking some time off or selling the car for financial, work or personal reasons, changing to other class, etc.
most regionals we are with big formula and csr/dsr/s2000, fv and f5 are normally in their own group due to size/speed differences.
at nationsls we are with large/winged FA/FB/FC/FM. The CSR/DSR/S2 usually have their own group, or some/all of them join the large formula group, and at some they get moved in with SRF. FF/FV/F5 are together at most venues. it comes down to actual entries, while certain groups start off with certain classes, they may get combined to make more efficient use of track time.
i picked up my FE for the 2006 season when we were still a regional only class and ran all the WDC regional races as the only FE (running as an FA) and along with another WDC member who has had the car since they came out, the FCM series that used six regional races in each of the divisions as a pseudo national series.
for 2007 we were made a national class, andwe picked up 1 more WDC regional car for the year and a third one for part of it as well as a couple nationals. in 2008 only 2 of us did regionals, and all of us made it to at least a couple nationals.
for the last 3 years, we have had the following counts:
Well, I guess waiting is one way to go though, there are some outrageous deals out there on new FEs. As you previously mentioned, the relatively low cost of operation is hard to beat. There are are about 7 or 8 FEs around in the NE with more coming online. (Based upon what I have been told.) You will likely not see as many as you will at nationals. Keith is correct in his statistics as well as his initial mantra. Better to get in the game rather than sitting on the sidelines. The class continues to grow each time someone actually steps up to the plate.
As to classes we run with, usually you can count on a "Wings and Things" type of conglomeration. The FE's will usually be in the upper third of the mix given their speed and handling characteristics. In my experience, I have mixed it up with other FE's, FC's FM's, S2's and other C/DSR's (I'm not sure which ones honestly) within the race group. For the most part, all have been great to race with.
If you have built about 9 of them, you have all the skills necessary to maintain one. Go build/re-build one for yourself.
Look forward to seeing you on the track. . . in an FE.
Two years ago the New England Region opened the season with the April regional at New Hampshire Motorsports Park with 11 FEs. People have since left the region, the sport or changed class so that several times this year I was the only one at the regional races. But I hear there are a few more coming on line for next year.
Well, I guess waiting is one way to go though, there are some outrageous deals out there on new FEs. As you previously mentioned, the relatively low cost of operation is hard to beat. There are are about 7 or 8 FEs around in the NE with more coming online. (Based upon what I have been told.) You will likely not see as many as you will at nationals. Keith is correct in his statistics as well as his initial mantra. Better to get in the game rather than sitting on the sidelines. The class continues to grow each time someone actually steps up to the plate.
As to classes we run with, usually you can count on a "Wings and Things" type of conglomeration. The FE's will usually be in the upper third of the mix given their speed and handling characteristics. In my experience, I have mixed it up with other FE's, FC's FM's, S2's and other C/DSR's (I'm not sure which ones honestly) within the race group. For the most part, all have been great to race with.
If you have built about 9 of them, you have all the skills necessary to maintain one. Go build/re-build one for yourself.
Look forward to seeing you on the track. . . in an FE.
Steve
I should add that even in the races with limited other FE's, the other cars are typically close enough in speed to provide for real racing. In my experiance, a fully up to date FC with a good driver is faster than an FE. But a mediocre FC with a good driver or a mediocre FC driver in a good FC provides a good parity point for an FE. Same thing with many of the sports racers.
The different types of cars actually make the racing pretty enjoyable. At Watkins, I was behind a pretty modern FC for quite a few laps. I had more torque, he was a little quicker in the turns. Took some planning to get by him.
Well I am waiting to get a national license and some more seat time so I can work you guys over, but first I need to work out my own issues but I think I am on my way .
It sure was a fun 1st season with my FE and the group of fast guys at The Glen have provided plenty of racing and usable advise. The FC guys at The Glen are a very good bunch of guys and pretty damn fast too.... however
While the FC guys are tweaking shocks and calculating gear ratios I am filling the tank and having another burger. My advise is if you want to race an open wheel car and can afford an FE, buy one and don't worry about the rest, get out and race it. When the laps times are right run a few nationals along with regional and you should be a happy camper.
just my .02 after first season
Ed
__________________
"The visibility at the best of times is liable to be a bit hazy due to clouds of ignorance"... Carroll Smith
FE in the Northeast?
