Formula Ford is 37 today!

DALY · 2 Jul 2004, 08:58 (Ref:1023447)

This day in 1967 the first Formula Ford race was held.

Are there any other manufacturer backed championships that will have over 200 registerd competitors in 2037?

What makes it survive this long?

Discuss.
(but don't forget to enter the Edwina race Aug 8th at Mallory!)

jminsh · 2 Jul 2004, 09:35 (Ref:1023487)

simple cars ,straightforward rules ,reasonbley priced parts and great fun to drive.

JohnMiller · 2 Jul 2004, 09:43 (Ref:1023502)

Interesting chatting to Matt Howson at mallory on Wednesday who has raced FF1600s, Renaults and Zetecs on his opinion sof which is the most fun to drive and which is also the most skilful to drive, expecially in the wet.

StephenRae · 2 Jul 2004, 10:09 (Ref:1023539)

Stability of tech regulations has a lot to do with it. If the RAC had not allowed Swift and Van Diemen and later Reynard to slip under the wire with exotic aluminium castings the gap between older and newer cars would be less pronounced now.

Andrew Kitson · 2 Jul 2004, 10:27 (Ref:1023558)

Who else was there at Brands that day? I was at 8 years old - remember my father telling me that this was a new Formula as they lined up on the grid.

darcym · 2 Jul 2004, 12:11 (Ref:1023629)

you certainly have a decent motorsport history Andrew

PaulSands · 2 Jul 2004, 13:55 (Ref:1023735)

Interestingly the Historic FF site linked from the HSCC site has the date as being July 12 1967...I checked the calendar though and that would've been a Wednesday

heel'n'toe-no · 2 Jul 2004, 16:19 (Ref:1023864)

I think that is just a typo on the web sites behalf.

....Many MANY happy returns FF1600.

Mines a lager.....taa

diz · 2 Jul 2004, 22:00 (Ref:1024122)

Quote:

Originally posted by DALY
Are there any other manufacturer backed championships that will have over 200 registerd competitors in 2037?

Yes Peter, many happy returns to the best single seater class [FF1600 that is] there has ever been and is ever likely to be.
I take issue with "manufacturer backed " though, as FoMoCo has put exactly four fifths of not a lot into it over the years, except for a few engines [less than twenty] at about 25% discount to get it off the ground in 1967. Oh and some very occasional, half hearted series support since.

"over 200 registerd competitors" is UK alone, with Classics and Historics, that is over 300 UK active cars. It still survives in many other countries worldwide and there will be a few hundred more active there. Add in a few thousand more in storage and the whole thing was [and is] massive.

Kicking-back · 2 Jul 2004, 22:35 (Ref:1024159)

This is probably the last year of FF Zetec as a series for "career drivers", but it's great to see the thriving FF1600 scene as a great place for club racers.

blue nose · 3 Jul 2004, 11:48 (Ref:1024650)

They can still be converted to Kents and have years more racing in them.

Nick Brown · 5 Jul 2004, 09:46 (Ref:1026477)

can anyone tell me of a site that has ffords/ arp f3 for sale please, any help would be greatly appreciated.

andy97 · 5 Jul 2004, 12:54 (Ref:1026671)

Quote:

Originally posted by blue nose
They can still be converted to Kents and have years more racing in them.

There's absolutely no need to spend a fortune converting them to Kent spec; FF 1800s can be used in Monoposto 1800, 750 MC F4 & the BRSCC Clubmans FF 1800 series without any changes. There's years of racing in these categories too.

andy97 · 5 Jul 2004, 13:02 (Ref:1026687)

I have no desire to run FF 1600 down as it is obviously (rightly) very popular and very competitive but Zetec cars are probably cheaper to run than FF1600s, so Mono 1800 & F4 are very viable series for club racers, & likely to be for years to come.

andy97 · 5 Jul 2004, 13:06 (Ref:1026692)

Quote:

Originally posted by Nick Brown
can anyone tell me of a site that has ffords/ arp f3 for sale please, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Try www.racecarsdirect.com or www.racecarwarehouse.co.uk

Triple J Motorsport · 5 Jul 2004, 13:08 (Ref:1026695)

Avon National Clubman championship is the place to race your FF1800! Cheaper than FF1600 too so why convert??

RMR · 5 Jul 2004, 13:15 (Ref:1026703)

more than 10 people to race against?

blue nose · 5 Jul 2004, 13:26 (Ref:1026711)

Plus the racing is not dull to watch,People do enjoy FF1600 so go ahead and convert.

andy97 · 5 Jul 2004, 15:46 (Ref:1026862)

Quote:

Originally posted by blue nose
Plus the racing is not dull to watch,People do enjoy FF1600 so go ahead and convert.

The racing in Monoposto is certainly not dull. There seems to be a groundswell of opinion that anything that is not Kent engined is not worth doing. I suppose I should expect that from this thread but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the principle of FF Zetec IMHO, as a career formula it just needed more backing whilst at club level, FF 1800 cars are easy to run and fast enough to be enjoyable. They can even be easily modified into excellent F4/ Monoposto 2 litre cars if required.

Given that, even within the ranks of the FF1600 competitors, there seems to be a significant number who think that the Zetec based cars should not be allowed, perhaps FF1600 should have a max age restriction applied whilst Zetec cars continue to run in other (equally worthy) clubman formulae. There must be hundereds about.

For the career minded, F Ford in the future could still be a viable career formula for young drivers to learn car control if the next generation of chassis was fitted with the more powerful (& lighter) Duratec motor and provided with headline sponsorship & support (easier said than done, I know).

Sorry for intruding, I'm an FVJ driver after all - I'll get my coat!!!!!!

JohnMiller · 5 Jul 2004, 17:45 (Ref:1026986)

A Zetec FF is not as much fun to drive and does not require as much skill as an FF1600, IMO. Too much weight, too high up.

Walshy · 5 Jul 2004, 19:49 (Ref:1027123)

I'm gonna start a new Thread on this.........

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