I apologize for the length in advance - not my original intentions. I'm participating again nationally this year in the SE after a year off, however, others here have left and I don't think are coming back (at least not in the near future). Honestly, this will probably be my last year as well. Don't get me wrong, I love racing 500's. I can't think of anything that is so challenging while at the same time more fun (fun driving them that is). I haven't spoken out on this but here's my two cents in what I've observed in this discussion, as well as from conversations with fellow current/former 500 drivers over the past year. To put my comments in context, please take into account that myself as well as many others I race with are not mechanically inclined and have very time consuming business/personal lives. Therefore, we have to rely on others for car prep/maintenance and the extra money this service provides.
1. Clutching. Extremely difficult and even time consuming/expensive to do various setups even at the track. 2. 2 Cycles. 494 vs. 493, limited availability of suppliers (which is understandable due to the size of the class), can be costly and maintenance continual (although I realize not as much as engines in other formula cars). Based on my feedback, it's as simple as that. Has nothing to do with shifting gears, needing shocks, adding wings, larger tires or needing to change any other parts of the car. A certain segment of current F500 family members have proposed at least investigating the use of a 600cc motorcycle engine with sequential transmissions thus addressing the two issues above. Even to the point of having them as an alternative to the current setup and with allowances to make sure there is no advantage either way. Simply an alternative choice and I know that there are many issues that would have to be resolved for this to happen. However, rather than having productive debates regarding this, it seems that this idea is a non-starter with certain other participants here. So as a result, it seems that there is more discussion on addressing the negatives of this rather than trying to keep an open mind in order to find a solution for it. I don't know if the reason is political/personal agendas, resistance to change, advantages to some in the regions (Central, NE) of the country where the majority of our car's components come from (rather then the SE, SW, West co! ast, etc.), or that certain people would have to abandon setups that work great and that they've invested a lot of time and money to perfect. I can honestly understand the last two. Hard work should pay results and I admit that many in the regions I have listed have probably done more for the class, have very competitive cars and are great racers - they should be comended so I'm not trying to bash anyone. But sometimes it takes drastic measures for things to change for the good of the class, if this is truly what everyone wants. If not, then there will be a handful of people running F500's regionally. Looking at the current formula cars emerging, I think there is a high demand for an affordable 600cc powered formula car. The F1000, FSCCA, etc. are just too expensive - I've looked into moving to them. There is a market for this and we have the ideal platform for it. Sooner or later, someone is going to fill it. And some of us have begun researching this. Our findings prove that it should be less expensive and easier (especially for the mechanically challenged like myself) which would allow current participants to stay in/race more and new ones to come in at the same if not cheaper price point. Probably more fun b/c less time will be spent working on the cars during the race weekend and just being able to relax and enjoy it. I hear that even NASA is investigating opening and expanding formula car classes and this could be a possibility. Are there challenges, YES...I don't deny that. But so far, I've seen more negatives regarding this subject than an open debate to ! determine if this would be a viable alternative. I've also got a Spec Miata and I kind of see this solution generating the same type of success for F500. Bang for the buck is relative in terms. Is F500 more fun to drive...no doubt about it. I love formula cars with a passion so I'm competing nationally in my 500 rather than my Miata. Does it take less time/effort to race (prep/maintenance) my 500 vs. my Miata, not even close. Is the Miata less costly (purchase price & cost to run), yep by atleast l/2 if not more - plus I can provide my own track support. So...is the overall enjoyment of F500 so much greater that I'd continue with it...hmmmm..that's the decision I've been contemplating over the past year. With the Miata, I still get to ultimately do what I love, cheaper, against more people and with less hassle. Once I have the finances to move to a higher priced formula car, I will. However, if we had a similar setup to what I've described here, I doubt if I'd even have to think about these things, much less own a ! SM. I don't know if what I've written here is the solution but I have encountered a desire to openly and honestly explore the idea from a fairly active F500 region. I challenge everyone to just simply ask around to current/former F500 participants and autocrossers about this. Even better put an anonymous poll (emphasis on anonymous) on the F500 site that asks this question. "If there was a formula car with a 600cc powerplant & sequential gearbox for under $18-$20K, would that be a class you'd be interested in learning more about and racing?" OR "Assuming a spec class under the GCR where all cars have the same guidelines, would you prefer a $18-$20K formula car with a 2 cycle engine/CVT or a 600cc motorcycle engine/sequential gearbox?" Sometimes when you're making strategic decisions, you have to define the end goal first with a clean slate (Goal: Growing the biggest bang for the buck national formula race class), and then work backwards to achieve it. Although you have to address the current situation and an affordable/realistic transitional path, you don't focus on the necessary changes to the current situation first. The US automakers could learn from this as well. I know that this class has the ability to do this b/c there are a lot of talented, creative, and hard working people that contribute much more than I do. Others like myself will follow and there are far more drivers (not mechanics & drivers) to recruit from. I would like to believe that there is a solution that will benefit the majority of former and current F500 desires. And let's be honest, when you strip away all of the minutia, unfortunatly we all want or at least try to serve our own agenda. Jay Stroud SE Region #25 -----Original Message----- >From: GHG Motorsports <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Mar 10, 2007 10:22 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [F500] Official 2007 participation data > >I am shocked no one even responded to this. > >Stan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Year-to-date totals for all National >classes...to be updated monthly. > >http://scca.com/_FileLibrary/File/2007%20National%20Class%20Participation%20MASTER%20for%20website.pdf > > >--------------------------------- >Get your own web address. >Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > > > >--------------------------------- >Need Mail bonding? >Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. ________________________________ 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! ***
