Calling all Formual Ford / Monoposto racers!!!!

[CaptiV8ted]

I'm fact finding at the moment, with a view to going racing next year. I have read about several series and have narrowed it down to stock hatch, 750MC or monoposto. Single seaters is where I'd rather be, but have to consider £££££. I have looked through the classifieds, which I appreciate are mostly out of date but have spied a couple of Jedi 600s and FF1800s that financially make sense. My main question is now, how long will the slicks they run on last? I accept there are lots of variables, but on short races and about 10 a year, am I gonna be devouring tyres or would a couple of sets last the year? I don't expect to be a front runner any time soon...

Thanks in advance for your help.

[lanan]

Hi Nick,
I think you could scrape through on three sets for a ten race season.
Try to get the car as good as it needs to be, allowing you to concentrate on learning to get the best out of the car. On the other hand you don't want to throw loads of money at a car that you can't maximise the benefit of. It's a balancing act.
Graham

[CaptiV8ted]

3 sets. That would be about £1500? If the costs are too high I will have to lower my sights a bit ad go stock hatch. I bet any racing is good, but single seaters must be hell of a buzz!

[andy97]

I raced for a while in Monoposto 1800 (in a Vauxhall Junior 16V) and later in Monoposto 2000 in a modified Vauxhall Lotus. I always used second hand tyres - F Ford tyres on the Vauxhall Junior and F3 tyres on the F Vauxhall Lotus.

You can pick up these tyres from the National F Ford Teams or F3 teams for about £5-10 per tyre (F Ford) or £15 per tyre (F3), particularly if you go along to a meeting or a test session and get them off them at the circuit. A set can then last about 3-4 races. OK, its not ideal and you won't win but it can be done and plenty of people in Monoposto (the vast majority, I'd say) use second hand tyres. Its a big budget saver and you'll pick up plenty of experience and have plenty of good races whilst you save up for the occasional set of new tyres!

BTW, I really do recommend Monoposto as the way to go if you want to try single seaters - and I don't regret it even though I wasn't very good! I also have a contact that buys and sells race cars, particularly to the Monoposto type racer if you want a contact. PM me, if interested. I take it that you have looked at the Monoposto Racing Club's web site?

Edited by andy97 on Monday 26th November 21:15