Tom1200
SuperDork
1/7/21 10:39 a.m.
This article encapsulates my current mindset.
Vintage Formula Fords run between 12K - 30K, most groups are now using a spec tire and it's not uncommon for people to do a season on one set of tires. They also don't use a lot of fuel, you can tow them with most cars, and you only need a small single axle trailer.
Every time I think I want a fancy road car I immediately think of the kind of performance I can get with a formula car. I had been looking for something less pedestrian than my Outback but then quickly figured out I could by a formula car with the savings.
In my case I went with a F500, that I now have $5200 into and I've started running it with VARA.
I'm a fan of vintage Formula Fords. Here's mine.
Had to look twice at that thing to see the four cylinder engine and no wing on the back. With that paint job I thought that was an old Formula One Lotus for way too cheap.
Here is the one with the Cosworth DFV...
I'm not saying that they have mail or anything, but...
In reply to APEowner :
Looks familiar. These are mine. 
And I agree they are a lot of bang for the buck. Last summer I put treaded tires in the yellow one and ran with VSCDA at Grattan. It wasn't as competitive as SCCA Club Ford racing, but it was still fun.
That Lotus, though, is awefully pretty!
Two dumb questions - Can a big guy drive one of these? will most groups let you run them with street cars at normal non-race track days?
ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) said:
Two dumb questions - Can a big guy drive one of these? will most groups let you run them with street cars at normal non-race track days?
Dunno about the first question, but in general the answer to the second one is no. Most track days I have been to have a "must have fenders" policy.
Even if they didn't, I don't think it would be smart to mix a ~ 1000 pound open wheel car with 4000 pound sedans. It's small and low, hard to see, plus it's so much faster than most street cars that you wind up doing a lot of passing of people who didn't really expect you to be there. Same problem as a sports racer like a Radical, except even more fragile.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
Sort of what I expected.
In reply to pkingham (Forum Supporter) :
I thought the yellow one looked like a Citation/Zink with a different nose.
pkingham (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to APEowner :
Looks familiar. These are mine.
And I agree they are a lot of bang for the buck. Last summer I put treaded tires in the yellow one and ran with VSCDA at Grattan. It wasn't as competitive as SCCA Club Ford racing, but it was still fun.
That Lotus, though, is awefully pretty!
Nice! I've never driven one of the more modern cars with the inboard suspension.
Most if not all of the older Lotus race cars are pretty.
