Proposed Pre90 FF1600 Pilot Series

[MarkG]

Judging by Croft turnout, it seems there's just no interest in a pre90/post82 FF series ??

[JackN]

In theory it should be good! I commentated on the racing at croft, and the top 4 in Qualy were only seperated by 0.4seconds. The race was pretty decent too, but as you say with these size grids I imagine it's not very viable...

[MarkG]

But the pre90 grid was Classic FF cars getting a bonus race wasn't it?
Formula Ford (Kent) now seems to have firmly settled into Historics, Classics, plus the Castle Combe & NW/Oulton series.
Seems a shame that people have gone to a lot of effort to try and establish a series for the many 83-88 cars that must be out there, probably in response to a demand, but that demand appears to have been just hot air.

[schuey57]

could just be an unfavoured circuit/wrong time of year etc etc, clubs need to entice drivers these days, no longer can they just assume ppl will enter, look at urs grids these days.

[nigel grant]

My son Callum was driving the orange Merlyn at Croft in the pre90 race and although there were only five cars on the grid he really enjoyed it.he hadn't raced a car before as he only turned 16 the week before.He appeared to have the pace to win it but decided to throw it all away by clipping the tyres in the complex and bending the rear wishbone ,game over.
The people in the classic ff1600 club were brilliant towards him and I would have no hesitation in reccomending anyone to run with them.It appeared to me to be good old fashioned club racing with real people.
I really hope that more people can be tempted out and support these races.

[JNWRF01]

There are 4 of us with 87=>89 Reynards in various states of rebuilds waiting for bodywork/wheels/new shinny anodised bits that don't make the car quicker but look nice etc etc...

All four of us have bought these cars with a view to running in this series as/when we can. Either way, unless I was running in a series to win it - I would not be going as far as Croft as I simply don't have the time. I will hopefully make the Oulton round in time to get my ar$e handed to me on a plate by Old Man Loebell in his pre-84 hotrod special....

I am sure this series will take off - but most of these cars need recommissioning - which is time consuming and expensive. See you out there!!

[sebring115]

Well, should hopefully have my 84 Jamun finished in time for Oulton on 20th August, (as long as no teething troubles). Should be an opportunity to make it into a realy good race as there will be plenty of eligible cars at Oulton in the NW FF that could join in (and classics too)!! Anyone else got their car finished ready to play!!

Mark

[diz]

Yep
Pre90 in the North is booming. Full 32 car Pre90 grid plus 3 reserves for Oulton this weekend.
Also 20 Post89 cars, so that is 55 cars out at one meeting.

Now if I could only get some of them to venture down to Brands Indy on Sun 14th August for a one day double header and probably the last Indy FF1600 race before the FF Festival

[pd88]

How many entries are there for Saturdays' race?

[rayspeed]

Hi guys I have a laser hd86 I am trying to get in race trim to help make up the grid. I am stugling to find out what the rear wheel bearing assemblys was made for. The seals has an skf number on them and that it came from a fiat panda but The spines for the drive shafts are to small , has any one used and maintained a laser 86? hope some one can help cheers PETER HANNAM

[MrGoldenEra]

Hello Peter,

Nice to hear of yet another pre 90 car being prepared for enjoyment!

I'm afraid I can't help you with the intracacies of the Laser, other than saying that it is a very pretty car!

[pd88]

Does anyone have any views on the Mondiale 89 FF1600?

I know Jonathan McGall went very well in the works car in 89; would be interested to find out more

[diz]

Originally Posted by pd88

Does anyone have any views on the Mondiale 89 FF1600?

I know Jonathan McGall went very well in the works car in 89; would be interested to find out more

Paul
I can't be bothered scrolling back through the thread, but I recall posting something along the lines of ......................... forget all the Reynard 89 / VD RF89 discussion and go for an 88 or 89 Mondiale. Plus parts I believe are still available from stock.

[pd88]

Originally Posted by diz

Paul
I can't be bothered scrolling back through the thread, but I recall posting something along the lines of ......................... forget all the Reynard 89 / VD RF89 discussion and go for an 88 or 89 Mondiale. Plus parts I believe are still available from stock.

Diz,

It was your first post on the pre 90 thread; good enough for me, as I can't see anyone having a better view!

Thank you!

pd

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by pd88

Diz,

It was your first post on the pre 90 thread; good enough for me, as I can't see anyone having a better view!

Thank you!

pd

There is a quick one here in NI. it won the pre 90 class this year ages ago and it was 3rd or 4th in the Martin Donnelly Trophy last Sat. Although it has a big engine and a light weight hot shoe of a driver.

[pd88]

Originally Posted by SAMD

There is a quick one here in NI. it won the pre 90 class this year ages ago and it was 3rd or 4th in the Martin Donnelly Trophy last Sat. Although it has a big engine and a light weight hot shoe of a driver.

I have spotted JM going very well and is part of the reason for changing direction from the Reynard (which now has a new home).

On the engine front; you need a top line motor in FF1600!!

[JNWRF01]

errr... from memory the Mondiales are pretty snug for those will the fuller figure.. Hence why I have a Reynard..

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by pd88

I have spotted JM going very well and is part of the reason for changing direction from the Reynard (which now has a new home).

On the engine front; you need a top line motor in FF1600!!

EVERYthing needs to be as right as possible, but you are right, gone are the days when 100bhp kept you up there with a bit of demon braking. I doubt if any of the top 5 cars have less than 110 bhp on any dyno in any race this year.

The Mondiale can be 'modified' for the fuller figure. Dennis McGall has recently built a modified 88 car to suit his size, although he hasn't ran it yet.

[JNWRF01]

if you are building any of these cars right - they all cost the same when u put the right engine in (what's a new motor from Bold / Scholar et al... £5000+) and then put decent dampers (£1200+)/ new body (£1500)/ new bearings (£lots) etc etc ... I don't see why a well renovated Reynard/Mondiale/VD can't hold its own again the latest Ray/VDs - but only if you build them to the same spec. Using the original VD/Reynard/Mondiale bits and pieces and an engine without all the latest bits and pieces - then youre wasting your time. I suspect by the time you have built one these cars then you will have zero change from £15k!!

[pd88]

Originally Posted by JNWRF01

errr... from memory the Mondiales are pretty snug for those will the fuller figure.. Hence why I have a Reynard..

Thanks for your (FAT) vote of confidence

It will provide a great incentive for me to lose the spare tyre or 4 that I’m carrying around with me
PS – on the plus side, will have to give up drinking for a while; what I save in the pub will pay for the a couple of races

[pd88]

............It’s gone very quite on this thread; any news / updates?

PS - I see the Euronational FF1600 Series has a round at Monza Sept 21-23; I imagine an FF1600 would feel underpowered round Monza, but a great opportunity to race on such a fabulous circuit...........especially with a few other pre-90 cars

[PRS RH01]

Im with the BARC on Sunday at Thruxton and they are due to give us the dates then . It should be a 6 round series and im working with James Beckett ,Semsec ,Combe and the brscc to get some extra races. I think the brscc are due to release there dates at the same time . Due to a total lack of cooperation from them i cant promise not to clash with the north west which is a shame, but small people in big offices cant see we are not a threat but hay ho. Combe are actively trying to get a pre90 series off the ground ,James Beckett will always work with us and us with him .Semsec have been making the right noises .So lets see what happens.

Peter Hackett

Its a shame as Matt and Ian are doing a great job in the north west .
Classics have arranged with RSM in Morecambe a pace to get your car out including belts,fire extinguisher,master cylinders ,and pads plus race suit and helmets give them a call and say its for the classic pre82 or 90 and julie will sort your order out . Just a little christmas present from the classic boys

[pd88]

.............grand stuff; sounds like the plans are coming together

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by JNWRF01

if you are building any of these cars right - they all cost the same when u put the right engine in (what's a new motor from Bold / Scholar et al... £5000+) and then put decent dampers (£1200+)/ new body (£1500)/ new bearings (£lots) etc etc ... I don't see why a well renovated Reynard/Mondiale/VD can't hold its own again the latest Ray/VDs - but only if you build them to the same spec. Using the original VD/Reynard/Mondiale bits and pieces and an engine without all the latest bits and pieces - then youre wasting your time. I suspect by the time you have built one these cars then you will have zero change from £15k!!

Absolutely right. IMO of course. The chat in the paddock is that the newer cars are a bit more stable at high speed. But really, when you are down to lap record times there is not much difference in all the good cars. And any driver capable of producing those sort of times is not overly concerned about the twitchyness, generally. Of course the easier it is the better but...

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by pd88

Does anyone have any views on the Mondiale 89 FF1600?

I know Jonathan McGall went very well in the works car in 89; would be interested to find out more

Jonathan McGall would go well in any FF1600. I mean ANY. I heard him talk to his engineer once about changing a ratio one tooth in order to get an extra 200 rpm out of a particular corner.