Formula Ford 1600 startup
Discussion
refoman2 said:
if i was you stick to karting as unless you have a big budget in any form of car racing your not going to win anything!
sad but a fact of life im afraid!
True! I remember standing on the podium at Snetterton (2nd!) and the winner, who'd just won for the first time, said "65 grand that's cost me..." I nearly fell off.sad but a fact of life im afraid!
speak to Graham Brunton at knockhill, he has been prepping the championship winning cars for years. knows hsi stuff and can sort out a good motor. The tool of choice in srmc has been the trusty van diemen but there is a gew ray GSR 08's appearing, look great and in the right hands are jolly fast
I race in the NW FF1600 championship (although a house extension has rather curtailed things this year...).
The advice that you've been given from the other contributors to this thread is all good in terms of people to contact for further info. I've got experience of running a car myself plus also using a team.
I'd definitely recommend NW FF. the participants are all very friendly and the racing is very competitive and closely fought no matter where you are in the field. It's all rather addictive though...
Feel free to PM me for more info/chat.
The advice that you've been given from the other contributors to this thread is all good in terms of people to contact for further info. I've got experience of running a car myself plus also using a team.
I'd definitely recommend NW FF. the participants are all very friendly and the racing is very competitive and closely fought no matter where you are in the field. It's all rather addictive though...
Feel free to PM me for more info/chat.
your best bet is to go to oulton park or knockhil land actually talk to the drivers and mechanics, teams etc, they will be happy to discuss it all with you. pesonally i would buy a car that you have seen running at a track, you'll pay more but you know its sorted.
check the regs, some championships allow zetec cars fitted with kent engines like wide track van diemens, other championships only allow pre 98 cars etc etc. a championship winning engine is going to cost you at least £5k on top of talent and time in the car. dont think that becuase the cars are old and its a local clubbie series the racing is not hugely competitive.
loads of info here: http://www.thekentlives.com/index.php/tech/engine/...
check the regs, some championships allow zetec cars fitted with kent engines like wide track van diemens, other championships only allow pre 98 cars etc etc. a championship winning engine is going to cost you at least £5k on top of talent and time in the car. dont think that becuase the cars are old and its a local clubbie series the racing is not hugely competitive.
loads of info here: http://www.thekentlives.com/index.php/tech/engine/...
I have driven a vast number of FF1600 since 2002-Swift SC93, Swift SC95, Van Diemen RF04, Van Diemen RF92 and our own Ray GRS07.
All are capable of running at the front (except the SC93), what is key is to get one that has proven recent success-that should be a good pointer that the car is well sorted. The big advantage with a newer car is that, well its new! Racing cars have a hard life, so you have to assume the newer the car, the less thrashing it has had over many years!
Our Ray is for sale and open to sensible offers.
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/44795/2007_r...
All are capable of running at the front (except the SC93), what is key is to get one that has proven recent success-that should be a good pointer that the car is well sorted. The big advantage with a newer car is that, well its new! Racing cars have a hard life, so you have to assume the newer the car, the less thrashing it has had over many years!
Our Ray is for sale and open to sensible offers.
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/44795/2007_r...
As before the best thing is go to Knockhill and talk to the drivers/teams.
I was genuinely shocked at how much it cost to run a midfield car it made the 8k a year you can pay to minimax to support a mini seem a bargain, there is a lot of money to be spent to be at the front and even more for tracks down south as you need alternate gear ratios etc. One guy reckoned he was spending 60k a year for his son to race Knockhill and do the FF festival and a European festival. Also Knockhill has a load of drives who only drive knockhill so it is going to be hard to competitive
I was genuinely shocked at how much it cost to run a midfield car it made the 8k a year you can pay to minimax to support a mini seem a bargain, there is a lot of money to be spent to be at the front and even more for tracks down south as you need alternate gear ratios etc. One guy reckoned he was spending 60k a year for his son to race Knockhill and do the FF festival and a European festival. Also Knockhill has a load of drives who only drive knockhill so it is going to be hard to competitive
I.ll be driving only KH for a start and dont have the finances to spend even close to 8k py, that must be an exageration I hope. I refuse to think in the formula fords they spend that kind of dosh. And thats from speaking to some of the drivers. One example is tires, regulations say 3 sets can be used but by mutual conscent they all used 2 sets to save cash. I sincerly doubt it will be that expensive. I will need to include costs of travel, hotel for Sat and possib.y renting a trailer. So getting minimal sponsorship will be a must.
2 sets of tyres - £1K
Engine refresh - £1-2K
Gearbox refresh - £250
2 sets of pads - £150
1 set of discs - £100
Wheel bearings all round - £100
Entry fees for 6 rounds - £2K
Fuel for races - £200
Oil change £50 x 6 - £300
Testing x 2 - £600 inc fuel
Trailer hire x 6 - £450/buying a trailer £1000
Getting to circuit x 6 - £...
Hotel x 6 - £...
Then, one off costs: buy a car (£5-10K), pass your ARDS (£400 by the time you buy the pack and have a medical), buy a transponder (£300), buy a helmet (£400), boots (£100), overalls (£300), gloves (£50), underwear (£80, some basic tools like a quick lift jack, corner weight gauge, chassis stands, camber gauge, maybe a lap timer, ratios for Knockhill (£500 - £1.5K)
So, assuming you have no tuition, no breakdowns, no bodywork damage, and nothing other than consumables is replaced, you'll spend £6K before you get to and stay at the circuit. If you are looking to win the series, you can probably double the engine figures. That's without any team support, running everything yourself, not buzzing an engine, not breaking a dog in the box, not knocking a corner off the car...
Re sponsorship - its out there, but its hard to get. I'd be suprised if more than 10% of club racers have any genuine sponsorsip.
Racing is awesome. I'm not a rich bloke, but I manage to compete. I'm not trying to put you off, but as Count Johnny says above - £8K is easily spent.
Engine refresh - £1-2K
Gearbox refresh - £250
2 sets of pads - £150
1 set of discs - £100
Wheel bearings all round - £100
Entry fees for 6 rounds - £2K
Fuel for races - £200
Oil change £50 x 6 - £300
Testing x 2 - £600 inc fuel
Trailer hire x 6 - £450/buying a trailer £1000
Getting to circuit x 6 - £...
Hotel x 6 - £...
Then, one off costs: buy a car (£5-10K), pass your ARDS (£400 by the time you buy the pack and have a medical), buy a transponder (£300), buy a helmet (£400), boots (£100), overalls (£300), gloves (£50), underwear (£80, some basic tools like a quick lift jack, corner weight gauge, chassis stands, camber gauge, maybe a lap timer, ratios for Knockhill (£500 - £1.5K)
So, assuming you have no tuition, no breakdowns, no bodywork damage, and nothing other than consumables is replaced, you'll spend £6K before you get to and stay at the circuit. If you are looking to win the series, you can probably double the engine figures. That's without any team support, running everything yourself, not buzzing an engine, not breaking a dog in the box, not knocking a corner off the car...
Re sponsorship - its out there, but its hard to get. I'd be suprised if more than 10% of club racers have any genuine sponsorsip.
Racing is awesome. I'm not a rich bloke, but I manage to compete. I'm not trying to put you off, but as Count Johnny says above - £8K is easily spent.
Carnage, a very good break down, apreciate this! As i already have some of the equipment / ppe & stuff , I think i will manage to get a full season.
Say an early 90s VD or Swift, narrowed it down a little, what else should i look for in particular when buying?
I will spectate to the WHT on Sunday so a good oportunity to see some cars.
Say an early 90s VD or Swift, narrowed it down a little, what else should i look for in particular when buying?
I will spectate to the WHT on Sunday so a good oportunity to see some cars.
would add to that list a few sets of wishbones as any contact and they are bent useless, ditto steeering arms
for dossing you have 2 options, spend a fair bit on hotels or the doss on site, either camp in a tent (under £100 for full kit I.E tent, airbed, sleeping bag and brewkit) or a transit van you can doss in, a tranny will also tow the trailer, cheapo tranny from the auctions, sofabed from freecycle, brewkit and a porta potti/bucket with lid and you are sorted. you can stay in the paddock and there is loos and braw hot showers there plus with a tranny you have a bothy for between races etc when it is wet, put a tarp on the side and you have cover for working. I have also seen folk get a f-ford inside a lwb tranny using narrow wheels made from wood (dont laugh)
for dossing you have 2 options, spend a fair bit on hotels or the doss on site, either camp in a tent (under £100 for full kit I.E tent, airbed, sleeping bag and brewkit) or a transit van you can doss in, a tranny will also tow the trailer, cheapo tranny from the auctions, sofabed from freecycle, brewkit and a porta potti/bucket with lid and you are sorted. you can stay in the paddock and there is loos and braw hot showers there plus with a tranny you have a bothy for between races etc when it is wet, put a tarp on the side and you have cover for working. I have also seen folk get a f-ford inside a lwb tranny using narrow wheels made from wood (dont laugh)
Anybody close enough to go look at the car below and give an impartient view :
http://www.racecarwarehouse.co.uk/car_details.php?...
Looks like its been through the wars and not been raced much at all in the last 10 years, very amibous history. But i think it would make an good project if itwas to go low enough.
Race Car Warehouse
Bolney Grange Business Park
Hickstead
West Sussex
RH17
http://www.racecarwarehouse.co.uk/car_details.php?...
Looks like its been through the wars and not been raced much at all in the last 10 years, very amibous history. But i think it would make an good project if itwas to go low enough.
Race Car Warehouse
Bolney Grange Business Park
Hickstead
West Sussex
RH17
so looking at a set of ratios for the box as snett is way different to the hill, discs, pads and tyres all round, fire bottle service, possibly belts plus a engine full service. if you can get it for 6 grand it will be alright, dont forget spares, as any contact at the hill will bend wishbones and steering rods, better budget for some spare tyres as there is a set of wheels. know with road car/trailer tyres i scrap at 6 years no matter the tread
looks clean enough assuming she is straight
looks clean enough assuming she is straight
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff