im looking to make the leap to open wheel , i have been ice racing for 6 years, road for 2 seasons , i started off with a ITB vw scirocco , now running a ITA integra , i know that the costs are more , but really how much more? and what other pros and cons? i d post this on apexspeed, but they will just tell me to do it , i hope to have some honest input here
formula ford vs IT?
- Thread starter fonzy
- Start date
As in everything, it depends on you and your desired level of participation.
Would you be happy in Club Ford? If so - and you don't wreck - it would DAMNED cheap to go racing, relatively speaking. Fuel, probably one or two sets of tires all season, haul it on a small open trailer behind a lightweight mid-sized pickup, rarely wears of break anything, and anything that does is not too expensive.
Wreck, though, and parts can be a pain to find.
Gotta go National Racing with the pointy-end of the field? VERY expensive engines, many sticky tires, lots of track time to learn to drive that thing at 10/10ths.
I drove a CF for a short while in the 80's, decided I liked door slammers better. But, I know CF can be done on a budget...
Would you be happy in Club Ford? If so - and you don't wreck - it would DAMNED cheap to go racing, relatively speaking. Fuel, probably one or two sets of tires all season, haul it on a small open trailer behind a lightweight mid-sized pickup, rarely wears of break anything, and anything that does is not too expensive.
Wreck, though, and parts can be a pain to find.
Gotta go National Racing with the pointy-end of the field? VERY expensive engines, many sticky tires, lots of track time to learn to drive that thing at 10/10ths.
I drove a CF for a short while in the 80's, decided I liked door slammers better. But, I know CF can be done on a budget...
gran racing
Super Moderator
Have you seen the front of his bumper? 
(Actually, I guess I shouldn't talk. Finally getting an opportunity to bump draft Ray at Mid Ohio was a highlight of my season, even if I did hit him a little harder than I meant to.
)
(Actually, I guess I shouldn't talk. Finally getting an opportunity to bump draft Ray at Mid Ohio was a highlight of my season, even if I did hit him a little harder than I meant to.
)Ah, they're just giving me grief because I like to "rub" on other cars...which is probably why I like door-slammers better... 
Regardless, lightweight formula cars are MUCH cheaper to drive than production-based cars, as long as:
- Replacement parts are readily available (or easy to fabricate), and
- You don't wreck often.
Regardless, lightweight formula cars are MUCH cheaper to drive than production-based cars, as long as:
- Replacement parts are readily available (or easy to fabricate), and
- You don't wreck often.
supersmile
New member
I'll second Greg on this one. Formula cars are much easier to work on than production cars. Most parts last a long time, although you'll probably go through lots of gearbox parts while you learn to shift the thing properly. Brakes, clutches, etc seem to last forever. Fuel costs are pretty minimal relative to everything else; I use a gallon of race gas every 10 minutes on the track. Tires if you want to be competitive will require replacements every two or three weekends. Formula Ford engines generally need to be rebuilt yearly, you can go longer on a Formula Continental or Formula Mazda. Take a look at the Pegasus catalog if you want an idea of parts costs. Most (but not all) open wheel drivers are very aware of the bad consequences of car to car contact and will give more room than the closed car drivers do.
On the down side, you'll tend to break things if you go off track, including sometimes just dropping a wheel into the dirt if there's a steep dropoff. Hit something, and you will be replacing suspension pieces, noses, whatever. You will probably need to change gearing for different tracks, which doesn't take long to do once you practice a bit but it is one more thing that takes time. If it rains, you will be very wet and wish you had a windshield with wipers and a roof. I've been bump drafted in a Formula Vee at Pocono, it was not a fun experience.
On the other hand, you can't beat an open wheel car for the feel of speed and the absolute joy of driving a car built for only one purpose, racing.
supersmile
New member
Sad, but true. I meant to mention that in my first post. In many areas of the country, open wheel participation has fallen off dramatically in recent years.
Of course, that means you can pick up used cars for good prices!
Of course, that means you can pick up used cars for good prices!
I've done both....my first response would be; what fields are healthy in YOUR REGION?
Is it the speed that is going to give you grins or the race? If it is the speed you can overlook the answer to the above.
No matter what I've raced; karts, roundy round, IT, EP, FF, FV and now on to FProd my budget has been very very similar. It has been my level of competitiveness that has fluctuated. FF and ITA would be very similar in cost to be competitive at a Regional level. Money just going to different places.
Front of the pack FF motors are expensive. Maybe not BMW ITR/ITS expensive, but definately not HONDA/MAZDA/TOYOTA/NISSAN/VW IT class cheap.
Travel, entry fee and tire costs will be very similar (depending on your regions rules)
If you choose the right chassis body parts and suspension components are very easy to obtain. Crossle 30 series parts are the easiest to come by and they are a very competitive Club Ford.
Good luck in whatever you decide!
Is it the speed that is going to give you grins or the race? If it is the speed you can overlook the answer to the above.
No matter what I've raced; karts, roundy round, IT, EP, FF, FV and now on to FProd my budget has been very very similar. It has been my level of competitiveness that has fluctuated. FF and ITA would be very similar in cost to be competitive at a Regional level. Money just going to different places.
Front of the pack FF motors are expensive. Maybe not BMW ITR/ITS expensive, but definately not HONDA/MAZDA/TOYOTA/NISSAN/VW IT class cheap.
Travel, entry fee and tire costs will be very similar (depending on your regions rules)
If you choose the right chassis body parts and suspension components are very easy to obtain. Crossle 30 series parts are the easiest to come by and they are a very competitive Club Ford.
Good luck in whatever you decide!
RacerBill
New member
If there is ever a second race car for me, it's going to be something that the bodywork pieces come off with four or six zeus fastners each! (Having then EVERY bolt possible off my Shelby Charger!)
And I second everything that has already been posted. I drove a Ford with Skippy many years ago.
And I second everything that has already been posted. I drove a Ford with Skippy many years ago.
thats part of the problem ,in my region(wcma canada) there is only maybe 13 or so open wheel cars , and my home track right now has 4 , where is last time i was there , we had 30 some sedans and most of those where in my class something like 13 IT2 cars? ( IT2 is our version of ITA)
gran racing
Super Moderator
Have you driven an open wheel car yet? If not, I'd suggest renting one for a HPDE / open laping day.
Someday I'd love to get into an open wheel car for an HPDE! Now you got me thinking about looking into a rental. LOL
Someday I'd love to get into an open wheel car for an HPDE! Now you got me thinking about looking into a rental. LOL
My first time on track was an intro Skippy class in the F Dodge. Great fun.
http://www.skipbarber.com/racing_school/in..._to_racing.aspx
dickita15
New member
Well it’s like Bill said, unibody cars are a pain in the butt, but around here that is where the great racing is. I would love to race a sports racer or a Gt car but there is no one to race with.i have driven a f2000 reynard on a fast solo 2 course , and i have solo2 a formula vee , but thats about it ,funny i thought you guys would flying the IT banner a little higher?
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There is "nobody" to race with because all of you guys bought IT cars because there was nobody to race with
I sold my FF because I felt, in my extremely competitve club that to run at the pointy end required more of a commitment than I was willing to make....both with time and money. FV was MUCH cheaper and had similarly healthy fields so I bought one.
I like the concept of the FST class. Faster than a FV, a tad slower and cheaper than a FF. However, it is a new-ish class and I am not going to buy one to be in a class of 2 or 3.
I sold the FV because even though there was a large group of cars in most of my races, there wasn't really anybody to race with....not being challenged I decided to move on.
I am now building a FProduction car that isn't "The car to have" because I need to challenge myself.
Figure out what will give you grins and go with that. Who cares how fast/slow/sexy/ugly UNLESS you do?
I sold my FF because I felt, in my extremely competitve club that to run at the pointy end required more of a commitment than I was willing to make....both with time and money. FV was MUCH cheaper and had similarly healthy fields so I bought one.
I like the concept of the FST class. Faster than a FV, a tad slower and cheaper than a FF. However, it is a new-ish class and I am not going to buy one to be in a class of 2 or 3.
I sold the FV because even though there was a large group of cars in most of my races, there wasn't really anybody to race with....not being challenged I decided to move on.
I am now building a FProduction car that isn't "The car to have" because I need to challenge myself.
Figure out what will give you grins and go with that. Who cares how fast/slow/sexy/ugly UNLESS you do?