500kg

SAMD · 8 Mar 2008, 21:11 (Ref:2147068)

Am I right in presuming that every circuit will be offering to weigh the car and driver at scrutiny? otherwise how will anyone know how much ballast is needed to get to 500kg.
For most, racing at their local track, it will not be a problem, but a considerable number of FF1600 drivers will be visiting different tracks this year, and if the scales at each track are even operating to a tolerance of +/- 1% that works out at 10kg!! and no one who is wanting to be competitive can afford to be 10kg out with their weight. ??

Athgoe Racing · 9 Mar 2008, 08:50 (Ref:2147356)

sam it's +/- 0.1% works out at 0.5kgs, you race to the scales on the day.

SAMD · 9 Mar 2008, 12:34 (Ref:2147475)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athgoe Racing

sam it's +/- 0.1% works out at 0.5kgs, you race to the scales on the day.

Is the +/- 0.1% figure what applies on the day?

Surely there is a much greater tolerance between circuits.
Perhaps I am wrong, or unlucky, but from what I have experianced you can have differences of 5kg at 420kg between circuits.

For instance if you Nev, are weighed with a dry, all in weight of 501kg at Mondello, would it not be a bit chancy to assume you would be over 499.5kg on all the other scales around Britain & Ireland.

Is there a difficulty with being weighed at scrutiny or does it take up too much of the scrutineers time?

SCOBER11 · 9 Mar 2008, 13:58 (Ref:2147508)

At Mondello the scales are available to use at almost any time, just ask the class scrut and they will allow you on, i would imagine Kirkistown is the same and usually what i found at all the different tracks that i raced in the UK last year was that the Scruts were helpfull enough once you asked nicely!

No harm in checking at the different circuits because we found a pretty big differance between scales in the UK, i think in Mallory we were even weighed on the old bridge like in Silverstone.

youngoldy · 9 Mar 2008, 16:51 (Ref:2147584)

Remember, the 500kg rule is what the BRSCC are saying. The Ford regulations state that the car should weigh at a MINIMUM of 420kg at any point during the meeting.

As the BRSCC are only running the FF Festival, NW, MS and National FF's, this rule will only apply then. So what are BARC, BRDC and CCRC saying the weight rules should be?

Steve Burns · 10 Mar 2008, 10:09 (Ref:2148156)

CCRC have written 495kg into their rules, which applies to the Championship rounds only, ie. not the Golden Helmet or FF Carnival.

SCOBER11 · 10 Mar 2008, 21:07 (Ref:2148678)

Anyone competing in any of the Irish rounds North and South must be 500kg min with diver and 420kg min car only.

Athgoe Racing · 11 Mar 2008, 20:41 (Ref:2149436)

Steve it seems a bit mad you having a weight limit of 495kgs at combe and the rest of us having a limit of 500kgs would you not consider changing so we all running the same regs

DALY · 11 Mar 2008, 22:16 (Ref:2149532)

Mallory Championship by BARC is also 495Kg., £100 registration and it includes a pre championship test voucher for Mallory

Triple J Motorsport · 12 Mar 2008, 13:06 (Ref:2149962)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athgoe Racing

Steve it seems a bit mad you having a weight limit of 495kgs at combe and the rest of us having a limit of 500kgs would you not consider changing so we all running the same regs

Totally a agree nev seems mad to me too...

Glad I am out of it until steel cranks are in weights agreed or we switch to duratecs on ACB10s!

Steve Burns · 12 Mar 2008, 17:34 (Ref:2150133)

Yes, we are certainly not opposed to considering changing. The introduction of the combined weight limit was in response to driver requests and was discussed at a drivers meeting last October, where the 495kg limit was agreed.

Following our decision to introduce this as a trial for 2008 the BRSCC Club Formula Ford Championship followed suit, but opted to go with the 500kg limit.

Given that 495kg was agreed by our drivers (or at least the majority before I open up a whole new can of worms) and has been published in our regs we will run with the 495kg limit this year.

As I said above this was always going to be done on a trial basis for 2008 only, so if the limit needs to be adjusted for 2009 then that is what we will do. Obviously it would be in everyones best interest for all of the UK & Ireland Championship to run to the same regulations (which is why the regs were standardised when I first took over the administration of the mainland regional championships for the BRSCC back in 2004).

Athgoe Racing · 12 Mar 2008, 19:59 (Ref:2150268)

Should we have a combined AGM at the WHT where all issues related to ff1600 can be addressed for '09 ? The problem is who will chair/organise the meeting.

SCOBER11 · 12 Mar 2008, 20:07 (Ref:2150271)

Considering it took us 3 hours to agree on the dates for our championship we would need a WHT week to agree on weights

kartingdad · 12 Mar 2008, 21:21 (Ref:2150311)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athgoe Racing

Should we have a combined AGM at the WHT where all issues related to ff1600 can be addressed for '09 ? The problem is who will chair/organise the meeting.

I would have thought JEB is the man. Switched on, clearly loves FF1600, and would have no 'vested interests' other than to perpetuate the success of the formula.

Slightly off topic:

Other than sustainability of spares and reliability issues, eg cranks, blocks etc. why are we tinkering with weights?

Maybe we should be looking at other issues such as tyre costs, testing costs and entry fees etc., not to mention club membership costs, some of which are expensive.

SCOBER11 · 12 Mar 2008, 21:35 (Ref:2150321)

Tyres is simple, we have a 3 set limit in S Ireland championship, once you introduce a tyre rule it slashes the costs of running a ff1600, has worked really well over here for the last three seasons.

driftwood · 22 Mar 2008, 18:03 (Ref:2159083)

I did the WHT in 06 in a rented FFord and i was surprise dthat the cars where weighed less driver
how can a 40rty something weighing 90plus kg run agaisnt a 25 yrold at 75kg in a car with strict tuning rules and a power limit that seems to top out at 110 bhp
the power to weight ratios let alone the good driving skills/ good car set up and nicely balanced and blue printed motor means thet chunky chapps will be 10-15 bhp down on a young and lean driver

Logically the category needs the car and driver combined weight to be set at a sensible level that doe snot hinder the lean and the young but can balance the power to weight ratio againts the bigger chaps
correct me if i am wrong but what is the average age and weight these days of a FFord driver
i would guess age wil be 30 weight 82-85 kg
i think the days when most drivers of 17-23 year olds in FFord are gone

just to throw in a "googlie" if weights are coming up what is wrong with running alloy rims ie used Zetec wheels i see a few sets for sale at not a lot of money
ok i know this may mean why not run alloy dampers and calipres carbon fibre body so that lard ass drivers can get down to the weight limit!
i was only referring to cost and ease of acquiring some nice wheels

Biggun · 31 Mar 2008, 13:37 (Ref:2166164)

The zetec alloys are wider is one reason! Also alloys would reduce unsprung weight, same reasoning with ally calipers, so your suspension 'works much more betterer an that', for want of a better expression.

driftwood · 31 Mar 2008, 20:33 (Ref:2166445)

i can see where your coming from BUT wot if yr a bit lardy?
any help ypu can get is welcomed!

kartingdad · 1 Apr 2008, 06:48 (Ref:2166685)

Cheaper than alloy wheels.......

http://www.fireyourfat.com/

driftwood · 1 Apr 2008, 10:00 (Ref:2166809)

only in america could you get something that turns you from chubby bloke into a 6 pack man
of course there is something called exercise i could participate in!

kartingdad · 1 Apr 2008, 11:06 (Ref:2166867)

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftwood

only in america could you get something that turns you from chubby bloke into a 6 pack man
of course there is something called exercise i could participate in!

I hear that exercise can be a bit tiring though....

SAMD · 8 Dec 2008, 20:05 (Ref:2350458)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Burns

Yes, we are certainly not opposed to considering changing. The introduction of the combined weight limit was in response to driver requests and was discussed at a drivers meeting last October, where the 495kg limit was agreed.

Following our decision to introduce this as a trial for 2008 the BRSCC Club Formula Ford Championship followed suit, but opted to go with the 500kg limit.

Given that 495kg was agreed by our drivers (or at least the majority before I open up a whole new can of worms) and has been published in our regs we will run with the 495kg limit this year.

As I said above this was always going to be done on a trial basis for 2008 only, so if the limit needs to be adjusted for 2009 then that is what we will do. Obviously it would be in everyones best interest for all of the UK & Ireland Championship to run to the same regulations (which is why the regs were standardised when I first took over the administration of the mainland regional championships for the BRSCC back in 2004).

So what is the consensus of opinion regarding the weight issue? Is any adjustment required or do we live with 495kg and 500kg?

Mr.Jingles · 8 Dec 2008, 22:44 (Ref:2350557)

Combe has moved to 500KG for next year. Which is another... *tappety tap* 3 buckets of KFC for me!

Walshy · 9 Dec 2008, 23:58 (Ref:2351372)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartingdad

Maybe we should be looking at other issues such as tyre costs, testing costs and entry fees etc., not to mention club membership costs, some of which are expensive.

Tyre costs eh..................

Were you not opposed to limiting tyre use just 12 months ago?

kartingdad · 10 Dec 2008, 09:30 (Ref:2351633)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walshy

Tyre costs eh..................

Were you not opposed to limiting tyre use just 12 months ago?

Yes I was, and still am. There is a difference between tyre costs and numbers of tyres used. Price per tyre should be cheaper.

Keep up at the back please.