Classic F2/F3000 Championship seasons (Pre 2000)

**chunterer** · 25 Mar 2010, 11:14 (Ref:2659749)

Part of a little series i'm going to build further, following on from the F3 classics...

F2 was close to most people's hearts probably up until the late 70's after which it becamse a bit of a Honda benefit!

In the 'olden days' F1 drivers regularly entered F2 rounds and many many stars came through the ranks right up until the series end in 1984. The late 60's and early 70's was a fine period for the category, then many top liners on the way to F1 continued to appear in the late 70's/early 80's.

The advent of F3000 in 1985 brought a breath of fresh air and much more competitive racing for most of the categories life, the very first season saw a 3 man battle go down to the wire!

Again i'm going to limit this to seasons pre 2000.

So who's got some favourite examples and top memories to share?

Fire away everyone!

JohnMiller · 25 Mar 2010, 11:40 (Ref:2659762)

It is 25 years since the first F3000 race.

Yesterday, 25 years to the day, I took my programme from that first weekend to show Roberto Moreno, who signed it for me exactly 25 years earlier!

**chunterer** · 25 Mar 2010, 13:34 (Ref:2659812)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMiller

It is 25 years since the first F3000 race.

Yesterday, 25 years to the day, I took my programme from that first weekend to show Roberto Moreno, who signed it for me exactly 25 years earlier!

Ah yes, in that case it's excellent timing for this thread!

Moreno was in the Barron Tyrrell that weekend IIRC?

JohnMiller · 25 Mar 2010, 13:54 (Ref:2659833)

First car home that started on slicks.

Barman1963 · 25 Mar 2010, 17:15 (Ref:2659949)

I used to love the Easter F2 meetings at Thruxton.

One of the fondest memories was of getting Derek Warrick's Pirelli cap as he walked down from the podium...but the abiding memories are of the impact the European girlfriends had upon the hormones of a 16 year old pit marshal !

Mike P.

Oh yeah, and I loved the Maurers.

**chunterer** · 25 Mar 2010, 20:42 (Ref:2660081)

Yeah the Maurer was more like a mini F1 car of the time and that black livery was sooo sinister. I've always liked midnight blue or black liveries, very intentful appearance.

Thackwell had it early in 1986 with the Hotz Lola, Barbazza on the Crypton Leyton House in 1990 and McNish's strangely decal free 3001 Reynard in 1992... all were hard chargers as well coincidentally.

Also coincidental that 2 of my favourite F3000 seasons were 1990 and 1992!!

bigears · 25 Mar 2010, 21:04 (Ref:2660088)

I am a big fan of F3000 from 1986-1990 because of the Birmingham Superprix years.

The simple Formula was a sight to watch from videos and photos. I have always liked the ORECA, Onyx and DAMs cars because of its Marlboro liveries although they all looked the same!

Thundersports · 25 Mar 2010, 23:15 (Ref:2660146)

I'm fairly keen on the proper F3000 cars.........

driftwood · 26 Mar 2010, 05:01 (Ref:2660228)

Im keen on anyone owning reynard f3000 cars and using them!!
To me F3000 will never be as "mystical" as F2
Bernie fkd that up a she owned 50 DFV created F3000 killed off f2
F1 cars didnt work as f3000 cars the first f3000 cars where really f2 cars with bigger fuel cells fited except the Lola which was Indy car based= bulky heave and ugly
F1 cars in F3000
Tyrrell 012
Arrows A6
Williams built 2 FW08 cars for F3000
RAM 03 turbo car was converted to run dfv
March 85B was F2 842 with bigger fuel cell area
Ralt was the previous years RH6 car with bigger fuel cell
Minardi converted 1 M284 f2 car to run dfv but it was not any use and minardi where busy with the F1 project at the same time

does anyone have Duke video of 83/84 f2 season
i have the 82 season

Barman1963 · 26 Mar 2010, 17:32 (Ref:2660538)

I think it was the variety of cars that appealed to me. My first F2 race was, I think, 1978, so I'm only really aware of the seasons thereafter. The Minardi and AGS cars always stood out, the Mauers looked wonderful and the Mezarrio just looked slow. I fondly remember how accessable the teams and drivers were, the availability of stickers for a awe-struck teenager and the ease with which autographs could be obtained.

saddelbags · 28 Mar 2010, 10:12 (Ref:2661615)

I have a cup awarded to the winning car at the 1st f3000 race at Silverstone

Alan Brown · 29 Mar 2010, 10:18 (Ref:2662536)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barman1963

I used to love the Easter F2 meetings at Thruxton.

Could not agree more. Stunning drive by John Watson in the Lotus 48 until he crashed (1969?).

Great variety of cars and good entries at Thruxton in the F2 days.

I also remember the bitterly cold winds at some of those Easter meetings, sitting on the bank at the Complex!

driftwood · 2 Apr 2010, 23:13 (Ref:2665636)

watson 1969 are you not ashamed at showing your age?
i was 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alan Brown · 7 Apr 2010, 11:52 (Ref:2668189)

When I was 4 I was taken to Thruxton! The first ever car meeting there in 1952 and two more in 1953. Then nothing until BARC opened up the present circuit in 1968.

**chunterer** · 7 Apr 2010, 12:08 (Ref:2668197)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brown

When I was 4 I was taken to Thruxton! The first ever car meeting there in 1952 and two more in 1953. Then nothing until BARC opened up the present circuit in 1968.

Crikey, you were younger then me there then Alan!! I thought I was young attending my first meeting (also Thruxton) when I was 5.

I'd loved to have seen the place in the 50's and 60's, always associated with F2 I suppose?

Alan Brown · 9 Apr 2010, 14:20 (Ref:2669509)

There was a FII race at the August Bank Holiday meeting in 1953. The winner was RRC Walker's A-type Connaught driven by APR Rolt. That was the year Tony Rolt won a big race in France (with Duncan Hamilton)!

driftwood · 13 Apr 2010, 13:56 (Ref:2672008)

1953 comes once a day for me just before 5 to eight
i cant think of anyone i know of going to motorsport events before 1964 ish

Alan Brown · 13 Apr 2010, 15:55 (Ref:2672078)

I'm still young and attractive. Until I wake up!

driftwood · 13 Apr 2010, 18:19 (Ref:2672178)

like my 46 second lap in the wet around mallory in a FFord!

**chunterer** · 13 Apr 2010, 19:06 (Ref:2672217)

Can we look back and say that the era when F1 drivers entered F2 was any bertter than latter day F3000 seasons?

I wasn't around in F2's golden period, but I still think that some of the late 80's and early 90's F3000 action was some of the best I have ever seen, or will ever see.

driftwood · 13 Apr 2010, 20:43 (Ref:2672289)

My view is the 68-72 era f2 1600cc F2 was the glory days of graded drivers racing in F2 against up n coming guys & privateers which you will never se eteh likes of again
The 2 litre era had in 73-75 some graded f1 drivers running but ineligble for points BUT it did have the real pro i wanna be an F1 driver racer showing the world what he could do
The F3000 era sadly allowed way to many $$ drivers to be in a top flight formula and a greasy stick and a dog would never meet.
How many F2 drivers ended up in F1?
How many F3000 drivers ended up in F1
the other advantage of F2 2litre over F3000 is the number of constructors involved
F2 had March Ralt Lola Chevron providing customer cars plus smaller 2 car teams and even 1 offs
F3000 was not that way inclined
I will admit i never went to the F2 races other than seeing them on TV or the Donington 82 3 4 races when we where there as a support race but my heart is more into F2 than F3000 hence why i own and raced an F2 car and i do have to sit on my hands to stop buying more of them!
I have owned ( never driven!) many F3000 cars but if i was to add 1 to my collection it would probably be a 95D Reynard as it is the last of the genartion of free F3000 cars and i have many spares for them !

Thundersports · 13 Apr 2010, 22:57 (Ref:2672365)

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftwood

My view is the 68-72 era f2 1600cc F2 was the glory days of graded drivers racing in F2 against up n coming guys & privateers which you will never se eteh likes of again
The 2 litre era had in 73-75 some graded f1 drivers running but ineligble for points BUT it did have the real pro i wanna be an F1 driver racer showing the world what he could do
The F3000 era sadly allowed way to many $$ drivers to be in a top flight formula and a greasy stick and a dog would never meet.
How many F2 drivers ended up in F1?
How many F3000 drivers ended up in F1
the other advantage of F2 2litre over F3000 is the number of constructors involved
F2 had March Ralt Lola Chevron providing customer cars plus smaller 2 car teams and even 1 offs
F3000 was not that way inclined
I will admit i never went to the F2 races other than seeing them on TV or the Donington 82 3 4 races when we where there as a support race but my heart is more into F2 than F3000 hence why i own and raced an F2 car and i do have to sit on my hands to stop buying more of them!
I have owned ( never driven!) many F3000 cars but if i was to add 1 to my collection it would probably be a 95D Reynard as it is the last of the genartion of free F3000 cars and i have many spares for them !

driftwood F3000 had at least 5 manufactorers and some one offs like the Ballabio "Monaco" or the German thing that turned in to a group C car. Agree a Reynard 95D is a very very desirable car and would be competitive in the Boss/Libre formulas even today against newer F1 machinery.

driftwood · 14 Apr 2010, 07:46 (Ref:2672501)

F3000 makes
Ralt Reynard March/ Leyton house Lola all pre 1990
Williams Tyrrel RAM Arrows all ex F1 cars re configured to race as F3000 cars
Japan had Dome and Footwork Shrike
F2 had a lot more "charisma"

Alan Brown · 15 Apr 2010, 07:53 (Ref:2672999)

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftwood

My view is the 68-72 era f2 1600cc F2 was the glory days of graded drivers racing in F2 against up n coming guys & privateers which you will never se eteh likes of again
The 2 litre era had in 73-75 some graded f1 drivers running but ineligble for points BUT it did have the real pro i wanna be an F1 driver racer showing the world what he could do
The F3000 era sadly allowed way to many $$ drivers to be in a top flight formula and a greasy stick and a dog would never meet.
How many F2 drivers ended up in F1?
How many F3000 drivers ended up in F1
the other advantage of F2 2litre over F3000 is the number of constructors involved
F2 had March Ralt Lola Chevron providing customer cars plus smaller 2 car teams and even 1 offs
F3000 was not that way inclined
I will admit i never went to the F2 races other than seeing them on TV or the Donington 82 3 4 races when we where there as a support race but my heart is more into F2 than F3000 hence why i own and raced an F2 car and i do have to sit on my hands to stop buying more of them!
I have owned ( never driven!) many F3000 cars but if i was to add 1 to my collection it would probably be a 95D Reynard as it is the last of the genartion of free F3000 cars and i have many spares for them !

I tend to agree with Drifty about F2. Through living near to Thruxton and being a student in South-east London (access to Crystal Palace) F2 was the international class that had the greatest impact. There was always variety of chassis in F2, including at least one front-engined one and there were star (graded) drivers.

What was the front-engined car? I am assuming that there was only one type; a certain “notorious” person did not qualify for the final at Crystal Palace in 1967 in one.

Looking at my programmes I find the following numbers of different chassis manufacturers:
Crystal Palace (1967) – 8 plus 1 non-arrival (does not include the Parnell which was a Lotus 33?).
Thruxton (1968) – 8 plus 1 non-arrival.
Brands Hatch (1984 the last “proper” F2 race) – 5.

And for contrast Thruxton F3000 (1985) – 4 plus 3 converted F1 chassis.

Did the introduction of pure racing engines, instead of being derived from a production engine, from 1976 affect the costs and hence variety?

JohnMiller · 15 Apr 2010, 09:05 (Ref:2673019)

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftwood

F3000 makes
Ralt Reynard March/ Leyton house Lola all pre 1990

AGS? Dallara?

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