Formula Ford 1600

[groomi]

Hi Guys & Gals,
Currently thinking very seriously about finally doing what I have always wanted to do...... go racing!

Have been given quite a bit of advice already, so have basically decided to find an old FF1600 with a few spares, get a trailer and a towbar and head for the tracks.

Getting a license and clothing should be around £300.

Looking at spending around £5k on an early 80s car.... I believe there is a '74-'82 championship I could enter?

Estimating a closed trailer would be around £1k

Thinking of around £1k pa for test days, £3-4k for racing and repairs.

Only looking to get started with an initial taster year so not too worried about getting the best machinery to be at the front of the grids.

Would appreciate any advice regarding suitable races for a novice to enter and help in calculating expected costs.

Cheers,

Iain

[mutley]

Having a quick look, depending on the age of the car.

www.barc.net/champ.htm
www.motorsnippets.com/750mc/
www.brscc.co.uk/default.asp?page=championships

Have you thought about sprints and hill climbs?

[groomi]

Thanks Mutley,
I didn't know about the BRSCC before.

Like the idea of sprints and hillclimbs - will definately be doing some of those!

[Graham]

I would recommend you try the race intensive course at silverstone.

its a full 4/5 day intensive course and includes your ards test, race suit and one proper race. giving you 2 signatures on your licence if your successful.


The course isnt cheep at around 3k but the experience and knolwedge you gain will cost you a lot more to gain on 3your own, and more importantly will make sure you are safe on the track.


The coaching is done by people like robin liddel, rob barf, phil bennett ect...

If you do do the course i'd go for the formula firsts as they are a lot cheeper and you still learn the same amount.

in the course you spend plenty of time in the single seaters ( and race them) as well as getting time in other machinary


G

[anonymous-user]

lots of placers to find cheap ffordd 1600s. have a look at the classifieds on ph.com, racecarsdirect.com, fastroadandtrack.co.uk and 750mc.co.uk

have you considered a few hire drives first? teams advertise in the back of autosport et al if they have any drives available and they can be quite good value as you turn up and drive, all the prep work is done for you which for your first few races, could be really advantageous. i'm still a great believer in turning up at test sessions and chatting to the people there. phone yuor local circuit and find out what days general testing is, then go along and ask questions!!!

I would also say do a single circuit championship for starters, you can spend time developing a set up for the circuit and not worry about "learning" new circuits. plus, unless you live in the centre of england, travel and accomadation costs are reduced.

[Hughesie2]

The best Bang for Buck racing you can get.

I did a few seasons in the Late 90's at Castle coombe, Great track, brilliant people.

The pre 90 championship there has a good grid and you mix it up with the post 90 cars as well.

Pop along and check them out !!

[daydreamer]

Just a quick second to what Graham said re the Silverstone Intensive course. Fantastic grounding, and even if you don't pick up everything that the instructors are saying whilst you are there, their words come back the first time you make a tit of yourself on the track, and help you not do it again.

I'd also sign up for the second race - two signatures at the end of the week - or the option for an incident in the first.

Rich

[groomi]

Thanks Guys, this is all great advice.

Looks like I'll be popping along to the next race or test at Brands Hatch (only 15 mins away so hardly a hardship!).

If anybody is testing or racing an FF1600 soon, then let me know and I'll pop along and say hello!