Up for Debate for Canadian Formula 1200. We want your opinion

Since the leave of Formula BMW America's, and Honda bringing in engines for the Formula Ford series other national series has come and gone. Since alot of these lower level series has had there time in the sport and try and remain spec as well as have a cost to it.

A simple budget comparison on running for a team-

Canadian Formula 1200- $21,000

Canadian Formula Ford- $100,000

Formula BMW America's- $275,000
( All three series go 0-100kph in under 4 seconds and have a top speed of 140mph/ 225 kph)
[SIZE="1"]* Based on Canadian Funds[/SIZE]

Since Canadian Formula 1200 uses a spec engine, transmission, and front beam. Please answer and state your opinion

1. Do you think Formula BMW is to big a step for a young karter to make his career move in a car that already has slicks and wings?

2. Should Formula 1200 bump up the engine size or even start adding forced induction?

3. What is your opinion on a reasonable cost to start you open wheel career up the ladder?

4. What series would you pick and why? Or if you and your son or daughter had to pick?

5. Which series do you think comes down to the driver the most?

Lets here your opinion

F1200 is the obvious choice!

Cost is a major factor in all forms of racing, including F1.

I have seen some nasty incidents/accidents in F-Ford.

I do not know much about F-BMW.

Now we do use spec tires as well to keep cost down, if you run SCCA they use slicks and rains. We also had a car hang from a fence last season. I love both FF and F1200, but why do drivers make the pic to go to FBMW? Like why so much money? I understand travel but you can learn alot more in FF or F1200 about being smooth and so on.

As a starting point FF and BMW are possibly one step too far.
TO be competitive in those formulae the driver has to ahve a VERY good understanding of suspension, geometry, springs/damper, tyres and aero. A lot for someone learning.
A simpler formula with less to alter is a better step-up.
I'm shocked at the cost you see of FF as it's not an expensive formula here unless you want to run the latest/greatest chassis for the current year.

Over here I've seen a good driver with 5 year old car beat those in the expensive latest "toy" simply down to a better understanding and able to communicate alterations to mechanics ( or in some cases do it themself )

[quote]As a starting point FF and BMW are possibly one step too far.
TO be competitive in those formulae the driver has to ahve a VERY good understanding of suspension, geometry, springs/damper, tyres and aero. A lot for someone learning.[/quote]

So what Formula would you be looking for then? And how come you say Formula Ford is one step to far? Is that because of the fact that its just a little to expenisive?

In Formula 1200 (Vee) we are aloud to run any chassis we want, but we must run spec tranny, tyres, engine, fron beam. Suspention is open but every limited.

[quote=kylekosir;933015]Since the leave of Formula BMW America's, and Honda bringing in engines for the Formula Ford series other national series has come and gone. Since alot of these lower level series has had there time in the sport and try and remain spec as well as have a cost to it.

A simple budget comparison on running for a team-

Canadian Formula 1200- $21,000

Canadian Formula Ford- $100,000

Formula BMW America's- $275,000
( All three series go 0-100kph in under 4 seconds and have a top speed of 140mph/ 225 kph)
[SIZE="1"]* Based on Canadian Funds[/SIZE]

Since Canadian Formula 1200 uses a spec engine, transmission, and front beam. Please answer and state your opinion

1. Do you think Formula BMW is to big a step for a young karter to make his career move in a car that already has slicks and wings?

2. Should Formula 1200 bump up the engine size or even start adding forced induction?

3. What is your opinion on a reasonable cost to start you open wheel career up the ladder?

4. What series would you pick and why? Or if you and your son or daughter had to pick?

5. Which series do you think comes down to the driver the most?

Lets here your opinion[/quote]

1/ Most karters here in Australia go the formula v, we have 2 categories 1200/1600, the 1200 can be bought quite cheaply under $10,000

2/ go to the 1600cc engine with the same chassis

3/ depends entirely on budget, sponsorship in Australia isn't good so most young karters are self funded or have minimal sponsorship money

4/ Formula V starting with 1200cc car and progress to a 1600cc car

5/ Formula V seems the best for car parity and if the driver is good, the results will show this

[quote=kylekosir;933157]So what Formula would you be looking for then? And how come you say Formula Ford is one step to far? Is that because of the fact that its just a little to expenisive? [/quote]
No, though it does seem for you :( I can get a competitive 5 year old car and spare here for about $10K-15k and race entry and tyres/fuel would be about another $10-20K for a season. Good driver can regularly come top ten with that.

It was as I said in the OP.
With fully adjsutable suspension, rose joints then getting it "right" is not easy and screwing it up so it's undrivable is REAL SIMPLE. So the driver has a lot more "shit" to cope with that they're not yet knowledgable enough to handle.
Now a good driver/mechanic/team manager can give a "generic setup" for a track, but then you've an added expense and if you want that expertise to dial it in then that's $$$ .... or ££££ if you want to hire me :)