I always suspect alternative reasons for things the SCCA does. The SCCA is currently working towards reducing & consolidating classes across the board. SCCA now has too many formula classes. I suspect that F1000 will race with FCs & then be combined into a common class in a couple of years after they manage the competition level for a while.
Perhaps this issue of allowing 600cc engines in an alternative class that MIGHT be combined with FF is an effort to force the F500 guys to consider alternative 4 stroke engines. It is my opinion that F500 is too close to the bottom of participation numbers & that we cannot afford another formula class or a combined class that would draw off competitors from F500. We need to INCREASE PARTICIPATION & we simply cannot afford to lose ANY F500 competitors to any other class. Perhaps the long term solution might be to merge FF & F500 with close to the current rules. It is clear that the top runners in F500 can run with the Fords. I am not saying this is a good idea but it may be something the SCCA has some thoughts on. Class consolidation might look like this: 1. FAtlantic, Pro Mazda, FSCCA with additional engine mods 2. FC, F1000, Star Mazda, FSCCA 3. FF, F500, F500 with 4 stroke, F600 4. FV This would certainly reduce the total number of Formula classes to 4 from the current 6. I am not saying this is a good thing, but I am certain that the SCCA may be considering this as some sort of viable alternative to the current situation of multiple low entry classes. If we want F500 to be a stand alone class we will need to increase entries by at least 50%. The same holds true for FF although they are doing better from a car count perspective. Perhaps Stan knows some of the inner thoughts of the CRB. Stan?? Thanks ... Jay Novak -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric D Christensen Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 11:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [F500] Editorial: How did F1000 go wrong? On Sat, 2006-08-19 at 09:24 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Again, I am opposed to bike motors in THIS class. I am not opposed to > motorcycle powered cars. I just cannot afford them. A good story there David, and probably not too far from reality. Reminds me a bit of the switch to AMW from Kawasaki. > I will NOT remain in this class if bike motors are adopted. Out of curiosity, where would you go? I'm not trying to pick a fight here.... just asking the question... what other options are the out there for a relatively low cost formula car? Or would you desert to the doors and fenders crowd? I'm going through this exercise myself... looking for some other formula to run in, just for a change. I'm NOT abandoning F500, but there aren't any other F500s running in AZ right now, and I don't have the time to prep or tow right now. So I'm searching for an arrive-and-drive to run a few races for fun and to get my national license current again. > Personally I believe the SCCA would > oppose it on grounds that it is contrary to the intent of the class. You may be right there too David... or not. Sufficient positive feedback to the CRB & BOD has been known to prevail in changing a classes direction. I've been around SCCA long enough to recognize that nothing is cast in stone. I think the reality is that there will be 600cc bike motors in SCCA sooner rather than later. They may end up in F500 chassis, they may end up in FF chassis, or there may be a new F600 class created. My worst fear is that a F600 class gets created with similar chassis as F500, but with shocks and 600 bike engines. OK... that's FSAE. But if it becomes a viable formula it could be a very attractive alternative to F500. IMHO we would be better off adding 600cc bike engines to F500 than adding another competing class. I think it's more likely that the 600 engines are going to end up in FF chassis. If they limit it to older outboard suspension chassis (like Club Ford / Spec Ford) it could be a very cost effective class to run. I expect that would attract some people who would otherwise run F500. On the other hand if they stick 'em in modern Swifts, the cost of the chassis would probably scare a lot of people off. -- Eric D Christensen Proadmin, Inc. ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
