FF 45th at Barber: Who is going?

[swiftdrivr]

I think the weekend at Barber [minus the test day, unfortunately] is now official. So, who is going to be there?
I.ve run the the track once, and it is a ton of fun, and I'd expect a pretty good turn out. I plan on being there!

[farrout]

If you cannot make the 45th at Barber, there will be a SEDIV race at Barber on Labor Day weekend. Both SARRC and SECS (National) points with a Time Trial which can be used for practice time.

[swiftdrivr]

Looks like my odds of a podium are going up! NOBODY else coming?

[Roel Blok]

They mention 3 classes of Formula F. Anybody know what they are?

[Swift17]

Formula F - Club Formula Ford - Vintage Formula Ford ..............

Ok as #2 - we are in ............(unless Jason's work interferes)
Pics from the 40th attached [Thanks to Dennis Valet....again]
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[Earley Motorsports]

http://www.scca.com/news/index.cfm?cid=51776

F500 and F600 also.
Graham

[Will Velkoff]

The press release wasn't clear-are all sessions for Formula F cars going to be by theirselves? As in Modern FF, Club Formula F, and Vintage all running together only for the whole weekend?

[RussMcB]

Three classes of Formula F machines, representing the beginning of Formula Ford through the modern day National Championship contenders, will be joined by SCCA Spec Racer® Ford, Formula Enterprises, and Formula 500 machines on the anniversary weekend.

****

It will be interesting to see the full event schedule.

[formulasuper]

Also will be interesting to see how many total entries they will get with it being restricted to those classes.

[GT1Vette]

I covered this elsewhere, but five groups on Saturday (not in this order):
. Runoffs-eligible FF
. Vintage FF and Club FF
. SRF & SRF3
. FE
. F500 (which includes the F600 Pro cars)

Saturday schedule (since there's no Friday test day):
. 20-minute practice sessions for each group
. 20-minute qualifying for each group
. 30-minute timed races for each group
. Participant party

Sunday schedule will have six groups (SRF3 splits out):
. 10-minute combined group warm-up sessions
. 50-mile (or 45-minute) "Feature" races for six groups

And yes, it WILL be interesting to see how many folks show up with just these classes invited. This will give us a major data point on whether the "Festival/Invitational" concept is viable in a Club Racing environment.

[Jon Jeffords]

Very tempting. A few days ago, the wife and I started drafting plans for a vacation in Nashville for the weekend of Aug 9th! Perhaps we load up the DB1 and head just a little farther south. Very tempting, indeed.

[RussMcB]

Very tempting. A few days ago, the wife and I started drafting plans for a vacation in Nashville for the weekend of Aug 9th! Perhaps we load up the DB1 and head just a little farther south. Very tempting, indeed.

You definitely should. Really impressive track and you must visit the museum (I know you're a bike guy).

I'll bet David Livingston (DB-3, Nashville) is planning to go.

[mike g.]

If things don't break much in the next month or two, and I'm still employed it sounds like a blast.

Growing up in the FL panhandle - man, its gonna be hot as hell there! I imagine no sleet like we generally get at Road America that time of year, eh?

[cff96]

Mike:

It will be a blast either way................................


Cindy
Have you driven a Formula FORD lately?

[Raceworks]

We should be there with both cars.

[FV90]

The Hampton Inn is closest to the track
Hampton Inn
310 Rex Lake Road
Leeds, AL 35094
(205) 702-4141

[sauce_racer]

My Dad and I will both be attending as of now.


Hope to see a lot of cars there!

Meg Sauce
SowDiv FF10

[Wes Allen]

I'm in! Can't miss this party! We'll be in the Merlyn Super Club Ford! Or just maybe the Eagle will be done???

[Joefisherff]

What are the groups for Sunday?

Sunday schedule will have six groups (SRF3 splits out):
. 10-minute combined group warm-up sessions
. 50-mile (or 45-minute) "Feature" races for six groups

[GT1Vette]

Six groups on Sunday (not in this order):

1. Runoffs-eligible FF
2. CF & Vintage FF
3. SRF
4. SRF3
5. FE
6. F500 (which includes the Pro F600 cars)

[Jon Jeffords]

I'm obviously too old for the internet, as I can't find a link to the registration for this event. Has the Saturday and Sunday schedule been published yet?

[GT1Vette]

We've got a meeting in Kansas next week (May 12-17) to finalize some details, but look for registration to open on MSR around the first of June.

[schiconst]

Anna and I were thinking about going. There's a double SARRC that weekend at Daytona which is real close. 50-50 chance right now of going. John Schimenti

[skiingusa]

I'm going!

Barber is a great track. There also is a great museum. It is definitely a MUST SEE. Mr. Barber has the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of motorcycles. If you can spare a few hours during the weekend, go to the museum! He also has a bunch of formula cars and Lotus race cars.

If you can't make the FF Fest, we are holding a Double SARRC there on Labor Day weekend. It's only three weeks later.

[sauce_racer]

I heard a rumor that registration opens this month… Any idea what the exact date is?


Meg Sauce
SowDiv FF10

[GT1Vette]

Working out the final details and hope to open registration by the 15th or so. I'll certainly post here when it happens...

[skiingusa]

Here is the link to the registration page in MSR.

I have updated this to be the "correct" link.

[farrout]

That particular link is for our Barber race on Labor Day weekend. Of course, everyone is welcome to come to that race as well.

Butch does not have his open yet.

[skiingusa]

Yes it is. Oops. Got a bit ahead of myself.

[andyllc]

I fear this will be a low turnout event which will then cuase hesitation to have stand alone formula car weekends again in the future. I was likely going to do this race but my dad is racing the weekend before in Pittsburgh and I have a wedding to attend the weekend after the 45th and weekends are my busy time for work so hard to leave. Don't know that I will be attending.
Anyone else planning to go? I imagine a fair number of CF's that race up north likely won't come down because of the DUFFUS race the weekend prior. Hope I am wrong and it is a big turnout!

[Jonathan Hirst]

Andy, I agree.

We are spoilt for choice for premium weekends (SVRA @ Indy, Toronto Indy, Canadian GP, Summit 45th, Barber 45 th) this year, full series (f1600, toyo series), and mini series (Duffus, VRG) to attract our $.

While a good sign in general, the lack of coordination of the avenues to coincide on a single weekend means that there won't likely be a mega turnout (60 +) for any one in particular.

Jonathan

[swiftdrivr]

Andy,
I think the low turnout is more due to the lack of a test day. That is usually half your track time, but the time-off / towing / motel cost are about the same. My friend that I am coordinating with this season doesn't want to do it because he hasn't run the track, and no test day to learn it. Stand-alone open wheel is great, but unlikely to make it without the test day, IMO

[GT1Vette]

I'll post this in the general events section as well, but registration is now open:

www.msreg.com/FF45th-BMP

More information about the weekend can also be found at:

www.SCCA.com/FF45th

Invited classes are FF, CFF, VFF, F5, FV, and Spec:Race Atom.

Hope to see y'all there...

[NoLimits]

I hope to attend. But I'm in the same boat as some others. Never been to this track and no test day worries me.

[GT1Vette]

Our inability to secure a test day is why we're starting Saturday morning with 15-minute "station wagon" tours to give people a chance to see which way the track goes prior to turning a lap in anger. Those are then followed by a 20-minute practice session for each group (yes, FV and F5 are combined) before the first timed sessions of the weekend.

No Friday test day also means one less night of motel/food expenses, but I understand that's important to some more than others.

[NoLimits]

I understand the 15 minute tour will help with the possibly of "turning laps in anger" (well said, btw). But it's hardly enough for me to feel confident I can be competitive. I'm just not at that point yet as a driver. I'll probably go anyway just for the experience and meeting new people (I'm probably one of the newest with only 1 race under my belt).

[FV90]

Working with and being an event organizer I have noticed several times that the additional test adds a lost revenue day to the picture. Being an open wheel driver has never stopped me from going to an event because of no test day. Event organizers are placed in a never ending struggle to make an event at least a little profitable. Trying to keep entries fees low enough to gather participation and not go too high to discourage. Have a test day and (in my years of experience) lose money or lose entrants because of no test day. We know how quick people exit just with a 40% chance of afternoon storms forcasted 7 days before the event. Plus we have those who don't enter events because of the combined open wheel/sport racer groups after they themselves don't show up for events as they whittled down to a FV, CF, FF, and a F500 for a race group. Basically this is an effort to try and establish that open wheel weekend can have a fun, safe weekend that could build into something more. SEDIV has had successful 45th/50th FV weekends and it was so successful Hoosier bought the Friday test day both years and it was no cost to test (Unless you hit a tree like I did at the 45th).
So what is there to say that this couldn't happen in future events with FF? I think it depends on you.

[Raceworks]

Looks like I won't be going. Looks like I'll be heading to Daytona to see if I can crack the top 3 in SARRC points the same weekend.

[Joe Henslee]

Hey Butch,
Sorry to see FE was dropped.......picking up new to me FE car Friday. My Z10 is in active restoration as of two weeks ago, after being shelved in 1990 , but can't finish it in time for the 45th. Thanks to all the open wheel cars at Roebling a few weeks ago for re-stirring my fire (I was in a touring BMW). Haven't slept much in the last two weeks ....... and the DREAMS !!!!!!! .......
Look forward to rejoining the fenderless crowd.

Thanks to everyone on the forum, Joe Henslee, Eastern Tennessee Region

[MattFV61]

It is hard for me to believe that at this point in time there is only 18 total entries for this event.

Of this there are only 6 FF.

Is the FF community that disinterested in this event?

Matt