Van Diemen RF87

[Fan]

I'm thinking of racing a Van Diemen RF87 in the South F/Ford championship. Does anyone here have one. If so, how good (or bad) is the car? I've raced various F/Fords before but never a Van Diemen....

[darcym]

I think RMR (10/10th's username) may still have an RF89 that is quick for sale.

What made you pick an RF87 ?

[Fan]

A friend of mine owns it - he's invited me to race it.

[Tiptop]

I race a RF88 which I find very driveable, although it does tend to twitch in various directions when braking....I put this down to car set-up as I haven't changed the setup since the purchase.

I'm not sure how much difference there is between a RF87 & RF88 but I like my car very much!

[RMR]

cheers for the plug matt. sold it in oct and brought the sc93. good luck fan in the 87. think there good cars. dont really see many about these days?

[JohnMiller]

I started out with a cheap RF87. It was a good learning car but is not renowned as a great car as it is a bit too long - this was the first year the driver's feet have to be behind the centreline of the wheels - na dthey just made it longer than the RF86. The RF87 was also the first VD FF1600 not to have rocker suspension all round, being pushrods at front/rockers at rear.
So, overall - cheap value - good fun - not going to win the series!

[JNWRF01]

Car was first of the "feet behind the front axle" FFs - apparently they weren't the best balanced of cars and in 87 we shown up by the 85/6s - I remember Richard Dean going very well in a 85 against the works cars in 87.

If its a free drive, drive the wheels off it..otherwise I would go for a something like a 89 or even an 86

[Tiptop]

whats wrong with the RF88 ? everyone seems to miss this car out ?

[JohnMiller]

Last car with the Mk9 box - otherwise it's as good as the 89 which has the better 'box - the LD200. There is a narrow track-set up 88 and a later (89-spec) wide track version which is generally accepted as better. Note the main difference between these and later cars is the width.

[eltong]

I ran a RF87 in the 99 SuperClassic series. Finished 5th. In the old Duckhams colours. Looked great!!!!

Great car, very easy to drive. Although mine was a wide track version so it was mega stable under braking.

I managed to give some 92/93 cars a run for there money when I took it out for the odd race in 2000.

Still got some set up info round somewhere. Let me know and I'll try and dig it out.

[mattray]

Arent the rockers at the back of the 88 a different ratio to the 89 as well?
if not they certainly look different!

[JohnMiller]

Might be, but didn't think so - maybe wide track version etc?

[mattray]

I dont think it alters the track at the back, its the distance from the pivot to the shock that looks longer, what with the shock being inside the casting and further in.

[JohnMiller]

Lost me now but, perhaps importantly, another reputation that the RF87 has is needing a VERY FULL spanner check every time out.

[smoojie]

I started in an VD 87 a while back and i thought they were a great car for begginers. From my experience it was extremely easy to drive on the limit without it throwing you off the track, just remember to widen the track all round as the standard track is way to narrow.