ARP Formula 3

Good idea, bad idea?
I like them, but i think that they are a little bit like a small Boss Formula, for overpaid people, who arn't bad drivers. Just not great.
For those who do not know it, it is basically a chance to race Formula 3 but without the massive expence associated with F3. I think that the cars have to be a minimum of 3 years old? Could somebody tell me if that is true?
It isn't really the sort of formula that would attract a driver who is serious about climbing the ladder, but good fun if you can afford it!

The only time I saw this series was at a Formula Boss meeting back in '99. The racing was quite good really!

As for it only being popular with drivers who can afford it rather than those who are trying to climb the ladder, possibly! Indeed when I went Scott Stringfellow was one of the drivers.

But then I guess that the same could be said of BOSS?

Not so sure, Earl Goddard said that he is using the Boss formula to try and get experience for F3000

i think that they are a little bit like a small Boss Formula, for overpaid people, who arn't bad drivers. Just not great.


I fail to see the problem with these types of series - it has always been part and parcel of the sport for these type of guys to run the cars. It's kinda like slagging off our own Mr Mallett for racing his Capri - simply because it's old, and he should be trying to get himself into the BTCC or something. If they're having fun, and can afford it, what's the problem ? (i'm sure Brett will track me down and post the reason here... :p)

Don't get me wrong, I also see nothing wrong with people with lots of money racing.
I am a big fan of the Boss formula, and also the ARP series. It's just i am not sure what people think about them.
There would be no racing at all if there was nobody with lots of money spending it!

As I said I found the race I saw quite good.

And quite honestly, if i 'ad the cash I would be in there!

ARP is really good stuff - although the cars do sometimes catch out the skills of the drivers in the odd occasion. You need bags of cash to sort out a bent F3 car!!! But let them be raced rather than end up on a scrap heap or doing hillclimbs....

Scott Stringfellow still races the same car as he did back in the 1980's, I think he was pretty good in about 1988 - I have the video of that year - and he was taking on the likes of Lehto, Hill, Donnelly, and Irvine and not looking stupid!!!

ARP F3 is good. You can't really get much more speed and handling for, what, 1/10th the cost of a proper F3 seat(?)

It's the blokes with cash that enable us to see those Group C cars again - and old F1 Ferraris, D-Types, Bentleys, ...

I just wish they didn't have such huge RVs - I'm bloody jealous! :)

I did 2 years, on and off in ARP with a 1987 Reynard 873, with a VW engine, and am trying to raise the budget and find the time to get out this season in a Dallara F396 Mugen. I have the car, a basic spares package, but am short on time and money.... It's as dear as you want to make it, the Reynard was the cheapest to run, most reliable race car I have ever had, I maintain that the cars are built to do a lot of testing, and fairly long and arduous races. Maintained sensibly they are very reliable, and the build quality is amazing. It should be, they cost about 50K for a rolling chassis, new! I also feel they are safer than an aluminium tubbed car, or a spaceframe. Spares range from very sensible, to an arm and a leg, depending what you need, whether new or used is satisfactory, and where it is sourced from. Dallara are superb at shipping stuff from Italy, and specialists sell used spares over here, as well as stocking commonly needed bits. I do all my own maintenance though, including engine and most gearbox stuff, so that helps check costs.

I am no ARP expert, but have had hands on experience, so if anyone wants to know anything, ask away. I did it very much on the cheap, with my wife as my sole pit crew on most occasions, and could neither afford the time nor fees for much testing. I did enjoy it immensely though, and as has been said in this forum, what else for the money does similar lap times and looks like a proper race car?

Originally posted by fatbloke
[quote]
It's kinda like slagging off our own Mr Mallett for racing his Capri - simply because it's old, and he should be trying to get himself into the BTCC or something.


So what's new. You stopped slagging me off then?;)

Hi Basil and welcome to Ten Tenths, I enjoyed reading your post and would like to know more about how your forthcoming campaign is going.