Hello guys,
I know some of you expressed interest in building a low cost formula car a while back on this forum. F500 is currently the only class available in the SCCA where one can construct their own chassis and have a nationally competitive car for under $15k. However, many people are put off by the two stroke snowmobile engine and CVT transmission. Some went ahead and installed 600 cc motorcycle engines in these chassis, in the hope that these modern drivetrains would one day be allowed to race with existing F500s.
Based on their efforts, and input from the SCCA CRB members (club racing board, which makes technical recommendations to the Board of Directors), a low cost open wheel car class has been proposed. This will be separate from F500. The outline is as follows:
- 4-cylinder 600 cc motorcycle engines - Stock internals with piggyback ECUs are allowed.
- 80-90" wheelbase and 55-60" overall width
- Inboard suspension with coil-over shocks - Rules will be aggressively worded to prevent expensive triple and quad adjustable shocks. Option of running rubber springs and friction damping is available.
- One piece solid axle rear axle with chain drive
- 10" or 13" wheels with racing slicks
- Between 875 - 925 lbs min. overall weight (i.e. with driver)
- Full side-pods to prevent wheel entanglement
-
Sports racer style or
Formula car style noses
- No tunnels or other underbody aero devices are permitted
- No wings are permitted
Many of us think this could be the holy grail of low cost open wheel racing here in the US. A nationally competitive car can be put together for about 15-20k. There are already about 10 cars running across the country, based on converted F500 chassis.
The CRB is currently accepting letters of support or otherwise, in order to make a recommendation to approve the class for next year. If such a class exists, it could be the hot ticket for builders and drivers alike.
If you strongly feel that such a class needs to exist, please do write a letter expressing your support to the CRB.
Click here for the form (choose category as F-SR and class as FS).
Even if you are not an SCCA member, you should write a letter expressing your willingness to join and build/race a F600 car if such a class were approved.
For the proposal, please
click here.