<<<I haven't seen much response to Richard's post, but I think he
captures the current reality pretty well. >>>
OK, I'll bite. I'll respond on a couple of these points:
<<<1.) The cars are too rough to handle due to the limited
suspension.>>>
This may be true compared to FV or the older Fords, but a competitive,
current-vintage FF is pretty stiff, too. What makes the car more
challenging to drive is the solid rear axle, not the suspension. This
can be learned; every go-karter in the country knows how to do it.
<<<2.) These are not real cars they are just large karts with a
body.>>>
There are more people road-racing karts than cars today. Even if this
were true, I don't see it as a problem, per se.
<<<3.) The exhaust is too noisy and will cause problems with both
autocross and racing.>>>
I have heard this MANY times from the SM crowd. The 2-stroke buzz is a
real turn-off to many in the paddock.
<<<4.) A used FF is a better investment.>>>
Only until your first shock replacement or engine rebuild.
<<<5.) The engines are obsolete and hard to get parts for.>>>
Not hard to get, but single-sourced. Tried to buy pistons or a
crankshaft for a FF lately?
<<<6.) Two cycle engines are mysterious and hard to maintain.>>>
What?!?!?! 2-strokes are easier to tune, maintain, and repair by a
long shot, not to mention far less expensive to rebuild. Just the lack
of the valvetrain should make this clear.
<<<7.) Class participation is small.>>>
Chicken and egg at nationals, but this is clearly true at the regional
level. However, there aren't that many FFs at regionals anymore,
either. Open-wheel in general is suffering at the regional level. I
believe that we have priced ourselves out of the market, and the
newbies are going to SM instead.
Marshall Mauney
WDC Region
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