ATTN: Brian re: Formula Atlantic / Formula Continantal

I used to race SCCA FC class, mostly regional and a few nationals per season and I got by for a lot less money.

Spares are a nice luxury, but a luxury you can live without. Body pieces can be repaired in paddock for cheap. Get a front a rear corner if you can swing it and be done. Aluminum wings can be hammered back into shape so you can race on Sunday.

Engine rebuilds (when I raced) were done at 16-hours. Unless you plan on doing 8+ weekends per season, there is no reason to rebuild a mid season. I used to get my head freshened after two weekends then a total rebuild at seasons end.

$50k for transport is a luxury. You could get yourself a small motor home and open trailer for way less than that. Hotels are nice, but being able to stay at the track is so much better. Enclosed trailers are a luxury as well.

You don't need data logging. Hell, until you're within 1-second of the fast guys, you won't know what to do with it anyway.

Find someone with a lot of money who is slow and buy used tires from them. They'll be 90% of new for 1/3rd the cost and will last you at least one weekend.

You're number one priority is track time. Tires, enclosed trailers, super duper race fuel, extra wings, and a spare tranny will not make you any faster. Track time will.

Just trying to add some perspective from some one who used to race on a budget. I won a few regionals and my best national finish was 4th. Over the 4-years I raced I collected some of those nice to have things, but I certainly didn't start that way.

One thing, get a good canapy. Don't go cheap and try and make your own from a plastic tarp. Find something of good quality. Trust me. In the middle of the summer when it's 101° and there's no breeze, you'll be thankful.

 

I don't disagree, but to get started an open trailer will get you where you need to go, the track. I just saw the $50k number and I though, jesus h. christ, that money could be better spent elsewhere. You could spend less than half that for a good tow vehicle and an enclosed trailer.

 

50k for the trailer/two vehicle would be absolutely insane unless you leak money out of your arse.

I spent 4k on my 8x16 hauler and then tow it with my 4Runner. $20k max if I was buying again today at todays prices.

Beyond that I don't think its smart to buy new tires until you at least have 4-6 days in the car and can actually start to get consistent lap times on the old rubber.

At the regional level I also don't think you need new tires every weekend. If you are running National level I still don't think you need them. Most of the compounds out there dont drop off more than a second at the max over 8 heat cycles (according to a friend at Hoosier) if you have the right compound selected for your car. If you go to soft then yes.

I plan on running 6 Double races this year and am planning on 2 sets of Goodyears. Basically cycling them out over race weekends and rotating quali and race.

Good thread here guys...I believe the Open Wheel accident costs, to many folks I know spend a good deal of their budget there.

 

Guys,

The 50k was for enclosed trailer, 26 ft featherlight with all the goodies, 32 ft RV to haul it with, and the frigging Van Diemen race car! So take out the race car and all the spares I got and now the cost for the trailer and RV is down around the 20 to 25 k mark! So not out of this world!

And anyway, its my money and I will spend it how I want.

 

When it is 45 degrees out, rainy and no one is on the track, you will find me in my "overpriced" RV, having a Cappuccino and grilling a tuna steak, feet up on my couch, watching the F1 highlights via my satellite link on the 40 inch plasma.

Or when it is 100 degrees out with 90 percent humidity and you want to do a gear change because you are way off, you will find me in my air conditioned, enclosed trailer, listening to Steely Dan on the surround sound, not sweating a bit.


Come and join me if you want.