Yes it got through, can Jim send it to eformulacar??? CR
John Walbran <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 2:15 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [F500] F500/F600 Proposal I am not sure whether or not this e mail is getting through to the class so I will send it again. If you have already recd it I apologize for the duplicate. In regards to the survivial and growth of the F500 class some major changes have to occur. I agree it should be a 600cc motorcycle engine with 6 speed sequential gearbox. I agree with Jack Walbran that the dyno work should be done so as the speed performance is in line with where we are now with the 493/494 if not a little stronger. Clints 493 is running down top run off Fords in a straight line. I would also like to see a spec shock spring and I would take Jacks suggestion one step further and allow 13" wheels. This would bring the Goodyear compounds back into play. The cars need to look larger to be more appealing to bring in new drivers, and some of us are growing sideways and need some more room. All of the larger Formula cars, FSCCA , F1000, FC are all in the $50,000.00 range. We need a car that is not much more than what we are paying now with no wings as an affordable entry level car and still be the best bang for the buck. Our Invaders were over $20,000.00. Of the 7 Mike sold, 6 were to us. 5 are for sale now and I am not getting any calls which is why we are having this discussion. There is no interest from new drivers. There was a lot of talk on Apex concerning the F1000 because the cost immediately went too high and eliminated lots of prospective buyers thus the need for an affordable wingless formula car. Our present manufacturers without too many changes could make these changes and do it affordable. A 600cc Honda will fit in the Invader with only changing the rear shock location. 13" wheels and tires are only 1 or 2 inches more in overall circumference to our 19" tire. Having been active in this class since 1989, even though it is the biggest bang for the buck, it has not drawn enough new participants to keep the class alive and the reasons for that, as I stated above, the cars are a little too small, you cannot shift them and they are extremely high maintenance vehicles. We work on them constantly while at the track. I have been asked thousands of times, why are you guys always working on your cars? A massed produced motorcycle engine, transmission chain drive to a solid axle would make it a lot less tedious during the weekends, maybe we would even make it to the social for a cold one. Going along the F1000 rules, any 600cc motorcycle engine can be used in stock configuration with limited modifications, to the oil pan for clearance purposes and an open air intake system. I agree the dry sump system is the best but I presently have a Dsports with a modified oil pan for wet sump and he has run it for 2 years with no problem and just received brand new Stohr F1000 with a Billet oil pan wet sump also. Right now you can only buy Formula Vee or Formula 500 for under $20,000.00. Formula Fords are over $30,000.00 and we go faster than most of them and then you jump up to the $50,000.00 range. If we could get a car as fast as the top F500 guys are running, which is faster than most of the Fords this packaged with a low cost mass produced motorcycle motor, the option of a paddle shifter and no CVT to work on you would attract a lot of newcomers who cannot afford $50,000.00 for what is available now. Projecting out a few years I see only these Formula Classes at the runoffs, Formula Vee, this new class F5/6?, F1000, Formula SCCA, FC and FA. Without some major changes you will be racing against 1, 2 possibly 3 other guys at regional events only. I have always been a strong supporter of this class but there is no fun in it when you are only racing one other person. At our first 2 winter nationals we had 3 starters at Sebring and 4 starters at Homestead. These numbers speak for themselves. At our first regional at Sebring there were only 3 F500s, 2 of which were Dolphins. The 3 F500s out qualified the Spec Racers but they split started them because there were 45 of them so they put us in the back with the 6 Formula Vees. The spec racers are doing something right. These cars are over $30,000.00 and are a lot slower than ours but continue to attract new people. All they do is gas and go all weekend. For $30,000.00 I would rather be driving an F600. And by the way, the young driver who works with us , Matt Strand, did pass all 45 of the Spec Racers to get the overall win in just his second race. As for advertising we have advertised heavily in print as well as e magazine s and got little response from the karters. They were not interested in F500 once they turned 16. If they could afford it they went into wings and things not 500s. All this being said does not end what is presently in place. If those who want to run what we have now 493/494 CVT thats ok too, but lets try something new. The present package only appeals to a few. We need to attract new drivers. And remember, nothing changes if nothing changes. P.S. Check out www.formulajedi.com its a F600 class in the U.K. Jim Elder Dolphin Motorsports --------------------------------- Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with theYahoo! 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