Formula Honda

[Old Ropey]

Can anyone help? I need a Stack system speed sensor since my esteemed son, aka Young Ropey, knocked a wheel off and with it the sensor. Stack want £100 for 2 inches of aluminium threaded tube with a couple of wires poking out. That's what it looks like anyway. I've found someone who does an alternative at £80 + vat which amounts to the same.
Any cheap suggestions welcomed.

[DSM]

Didn't you read my other mail? I'm sure that it will be a standard transducer. Do you have a local RS or Farnell? get the bit to them and I bet they'll have something! all you need to do is solder on the original connector.

[davieR]

Do we have an exact number on ho many have registered or going to yet? Who is certain to be at the 1st round?

[Andy Roberts]

I won't the championship this year although I may come along to watch a couple of local races. I am off to Sebring in April to test for the Barber Dodge Pro Series and providing I can get the money together, I will be doing some of the rounds this year.

Good luck for all the Honda drivers this year!

Regards,

Andy

[davieR]

Good luck with that then andy. When does that season start? Let us know what your doing!

Dave

[AndyF]

Yeah good luck with that Andy.
Does anyone have an idea of how many cars there will be this season?

[Andy Roberts]

Thanks Guys!

I heard on the grapevine that there were 14 but I don't know what engines people are using.

If anyone is testing at Mallory in the next few weeks I may see you there as I'm going to run my car so I can get back in the groove before the test in April.

[loadsaaaTOP]

Any ideas on numbers yet? Will there going to be more 1000's than 600's?

[Old Ropey]

Heading for 35 or so, split more or less 50/50 600 & 1000
Be great if there's enough for separate races

[Andy Roberts]

Only problem I can see though is that for the normal spectator watching that the people running 600's will look mighty stupid when they are left for dust by the R1's. If they can be run as seperate races they should be.

[DSMJUNIOR]

Hi andy,
Good point but i think you will find that there will be a lot of very quick 600 drivers against some slower 1000 drivers. i was at mallory last wednesday and some guy in a "Spead" thing with a gsxr1000 engine was giving me a run but overall i was quicker. It'll be intereasting to see what its like at the first meeting but i don't think there will be a huge difference between the majority of the field.

[speadfreak]

...so who are the favourites this year then? 600cc and 1000cc? If Mr Reubens is doing 600 then surely he must be! Any big names entering 1000 class?

[JR Ewing]

Looking at the Mono 1200 entry this weekend I think loads must be coming over?

[Muz]

I have nothing against Formula Honda and I would love to have a go in one because I am sure they are excellent fun, however any young aspiring single seater driver would be mad to enter the championship with the view to moving up the professional single seater ladder. Formula Honda for a start is a CLUB championship. It has little or no media coverage and a very mixed driving standard. This is not to say that they FH drivers are slow or bad, but the field as a whole is not as strong as Zetecs / renault or even zip.
Another point about FH - the lack of media coverage is a huge disadvantage as 60% of being a racing driver is about off track activities - personal image, networking, providing sponsors with value for money via PR - this is mainly achieved via the media

[DSM]

Some 'young, aspiring single seater drivers' can't raise the 35-40K needed to do FZ.
As for the strength of the drivers, on what facts do you base your comments on? I don't believe there is evidence either way that one series is better for advancement than the other.
As I've said elsewhere, there is no evidence that Zip will do anything for anyone other than Mr. Hines yet. Also bear in mind that a midfielder from 2001 FH finished 2nd in last year's Zip.
You're probably right that 60% of being a racing driver is about things other than driving ability. Mainly about how much money one has. 'Personal image, networking, providing sponsors with Value for money...... if only I had a pound for every time I've heard that; we'd be in FR!!! Sad but true.

[Andy Roberts]

I agree with you DSM. Its a shame that so many times people say FHonda is a bad starting point for young drivers who want to make a career out of it. I bet though that all the drivers who raced last year in it are better for it and without it would more than liekly not have been able to do anything else.

I'm certain that if myself and the other FHonda youngsters(do I still come into that ) from last year had £100k to go into FRenault or Zetec we would have taken it with open arms, but we didn't so for £5k we got a full season racing slicks and wings in a club championship, learning how to drive and setup single seaters which is an ideal way to prepare for a step up the motorsport ladder without breaking the bank first.

As DSM said a driver who ran mid-field in Honda finished 2nd in Zip and the champ from 2001 ran in the top 8 in Formula Renault when he could afford to race, despite not being with the top teams. I even remember him heading the times at a Snetterton test once against the likes of Lewis Hamilton who was in a Manor run car so its hardly a bad way to start your career.

Yes I know it doesn't give you the best amount of media coverage but when you are learning you skills on such a small budget you dont need all the coverage. Why spend £100k on a year in FRenault to trash your car every race or run round at the back as you've never driven or setup a slicks and wings car before. The media rip you apart before you've even started! Instead spend £5k running a car for the year, learn how to set it up, make your silly mistakes (i have) away from the media, then when you get the chance in a big championship no one expects to much of you and if you do well your the next big thing. Perfect way to get started it seems to me.

FHonda never will take over the spoils that Zetec or FRenault has but thats not why its there. Its a cracking little championship for drivers to learn there trade or just to have fun and thats what it always will be. I really do hope it does well this year and good luck to all the drivers again. There are some real quick guys and girls out there and hopefully next year one of them (please be me hehehe) will be making it big after learning there trade in thos little Jedi Pocket Rockets....

[jonathanc]

I agree with DSM and Andy R. Formula Honda is not designed to compete with FR or Zetecs. I personally think it acts as an ideal (and cost effective) formula for karters to get into single seater racing, or in my case for older guys (only 28, but I suppose that is old compared with some drivers) to have fun without needing to spend too much money or have to go professional.

I'd love to give ZIP, FPA or FR a go, but the money required is ridiculous. If I was serious I'd rather rob a bank and jump the queue by paying Minardi £2m a year )

I wouldnt sponsor a young gun in FR who had only driven in karts and then one season in say zips. I would expect them to have several seasons of budget single seater racing in order for them to understand the car more, enhance car development and not trash too many cars (costing way too much).

Jedi cars are good value and easy to fix. They give the driver the opportunity to understand car dynamics, mechanics and pain when it all goes wrong.

I agree that TV coverage would be excellent, but at £35k a year just to get on sky sports, is it really worth it? If budgets required big sponsorship then TV is a must, but at 5k per year, I dont think it warrants it.

Fun and Games

Ps. Went down to Llandow nr Cardiff on Sat for a test day. Spent 65 quid for just over 3 hours track time, was virtually the only person there and had THE BEST time....

[jonathanc]

Unfortunately due to losing a big contract in the last couple of weeks, my racing budget has been cut

This means that I wont be able to race in both mono and FH. So Ive decided to stick to mono and as it does not require additional membership to the BRSCC ontop of registration costs.

Also I need to concentrate more on my driving technique than podium positions this year, so more of a relaxing drive is required.

This also means that I wont be able to help sponsor FH this year, however having spoken to the organiser Im not too sure I would have even if I did have the cash.

I wish all those competing the best of luck, and I'll pop along to a few of the meets to see how you all do.

Rgds
Jonathan

[JohnMiller]

this is my favourite thread of all time

[dasc04]

ummmmmmmmmmm, why?

[JustinDawkins]

John -

[bella]

closed.

see new thread.