Nw Thumbs Down To Ff1600 Regulation Changes Fror 2004

[diz]

THUMBS DOWN TO FF1600 RULE CHANGES FROM THE NORTH WEST

At today's Oulton round, the drivers and team principals in the Opal Telecom North West FF1600 Championship held a meeting to discuss the proposed regulation changes for 2004. This meeting was also attended by BRSCC Officials and a representative from the scrutineering world. It was agreed to present the feelings of this meeting to Steve Burns at the Festival, for further cosideration by him.

To this end, the following "petition" was raised :-

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED FF1600 DRIVERS AND TEAM OWNERS, THOROUGHLY OPPOSE THE TECHNICAL REGULATION CHANGES WHICH ARE PROPOSED FROM 2004, REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF ALLOY DAMPERS AND BRAKE CALIPERS.

WITH REGARD TO THE WEIGHT LIMIT, THE REGULATION SHOULD STAY THE SAME, AT 420kg, CAR ONLY WITH NO ALLOWANCE FOR THE DRIVER BEING MADE.

WITH REGARD TO THE USE OF AVON ACB9, ACB10 AND DUNLOP TYRES, FURTHER ENQUIRIES NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE A DECISION CAN BE MADE ON THE TYRE TYPE.

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53 Drivers and Team Principals were approached to sign the petition. 51 did so, the other 2 were in favour of the all up weight limit, but not the rest, so refused to sign.

That is 96.23% opposed to the changes from the largest regional FF1600 contingent.

So, as many stated at the meeting, IF IT AINT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT

[kartingdad]

I was there and Diz is right.

Once you start introducing tyre choice, if you want to be competitive, you will have to ensure you have the optimum tyre for all conditions. As far as I understand, different tyres have different diameters, so to swap tyres, you will also have to swap ride hieghts, gear ratios blah de blah.

A lot of these changes seem to me to be to having spent a let the heavier Zetec cars get on the pace. Well I appreciate that having spent a few quid converting a car that wasn't built to the ff1600 regs comply, you'd want it to be invincible. But to try to get the regs changed is absolute farcical.

I am 100% behind evolution of regs in a sensible way, and yes, fine, run a 01'Swift by all means. But don't try and get the rules changed to disadvantage the 100's of competitors who are happy with the racing they have, and the traditions built up over decades just so you can run a 'hybrid' car.

As far as a Zetec car being too heavy, well thats nonsense as well as I understand it, a certain 01 Van Dieman is right on the weight limit anyway. Fantastic work and preparation. So no need to change the weight limit.

To add the equivalent of one and a half cylinder heads in weight to a non Zetec car is impractical and dangerous.

Blathering now, but I am sure you get my points!!

[DALY]

Thank you for the interesting information. Unfortunately the Midlands do not have a race until 2nd November.
Does 96% represent a majority?

[kartingdad]

Well it does from the N/west championship. I cant think that the Midlands guys are that much different from the good looking northerners! Can't vouch for the lager sipping southern girls tho! (only joking)

[kartingdad]

Oh by the way, why would a team with a 1600 car want to swap to ally shocks and calipers? So they can buy more lead?


I don't think so.

[mattray]

So are the resons behind wanting to change to Alloy dampers and Calipers to enable Zetec conversions to A)get down to the correct weight or B) to make the conversions costs cheaper?

Apart from the weight advantages are there any performance advantages to be had by changing the dampers and calipers to alloy ones?

Matt

[Walshy]

I was there at the meeting too. All I can say, is that if the reasoning for allowing alloy shocks and calipers is to keep the cost of Zetec conversions down, why? Anyone that can afford to buy a Zetec and convert it can at least afford 4 steel bodied shocks and 4 calipers. I heard today though that it isn't that easy. I believe the calipers on the Zetecs are unlike the AP ones for the 1600's. They bolt to the uprights differently, hence, the uprights need to be re-engineered on the Zetec. I dare say this would push up costs. Anyone who know Formula Ford will know that if one person buys these shocks/calipers, everyone will have to buy them.

Same with the tyres. Are we going to have to carry multiple sets depending on weather conditions????????

[kartingdad]

It's not only multiple sets of wheels and tyres, but different ratios, and you will need to change your ride height setting as well as far as I am aware.

Please, please, just keep it simple, as the class was always meant to be.

[Walshy]

Sounds good to me. The one thing that will come out of this that always comes out is "You can't please all the people all of the time". Why don't the powers that be just say that there is one option tyre for all forms of Formula Ford 1600. I know lots of people will have to make changes, but one controlled tyre for all will do away with a lot of hassle and mis-interpretation.

[jadlamracing]

The only reason i can think they want this rule change, is for the SFFC 1600 regs for the last 2 years they have alowed alloy callipers & dampers in their regs.Why i don't know.

[JR Ewing]

What exactly is an 'ALLOY DAMPER?'

Is it the insides or is it the casing. If the casing, where the **** can I buy a steel one today as they are all alloy!

[JR Ewing]

I'm also certain that some cars running in the NW series have alloy cased dampers.

Mond you, one car is an RF96 with narrow pods which is NOT allowed either.

[JNWRF01]

For the record - the Zetec conversions. By allowing ally calipers allows a cheaper conversion for the VD 2001+ - as you don;t have to swap the uprights. But the 2001 car also has the floating discs. I ended up swapping uprights, calipers, discs, and wheel studs - not a cheap job.

THe weight limit is achievable with some clever engineering, good (new) bodywork and a light floor.

I would be very happy to have an inclusive weight limit - but think its madness to start allowing ally calipers/dampers etc etc in a CLUB series.

JR - Avo make steel bodied 2 way adjustable dampers.

[JR Ewing]

Avo on an FF1600??? - nothing like a bit of quality engineering!

[kartingdad]

Whilst conversion cost may be cheaper for a Zetec car, it would then conversley add costs to a Kent car, with the added hassle of adding lead. Fantastic idea.

[JR Ewing]

Still confused - what is an alloy damper? Casing or internals?
What 92 on Swifts run steel casings?

[JNWRF01]

Has to be a steel casing

[JR Ewing]

Hmmm, Who runs late Swifts with steel casings then?

[kartingdad]

Ours does.

[JR Ewing]

You must be one of few.

[kartingdad]

Its only because steel ones make the car faster than ally ones, but don't tell anyone.

[Steve Burns]

Any requests for changes must be fully investigated and reviewed before being written into the regulations. It is through forums such as this that a large number of opinions can be expressed.

Rest assured that the final regulations will be representative of the majority of drivers. I look forward to hearing from as many competitors as possible in order to obtain a balance of opinion, and was dissappionted that I could not attend the meeting at Oulton Park last Saturday.

Hopefully, we can all work together to produce a set of Technical and Sporting regulations that will allow FF1600 to continue long into the future and provide enjoyable, competitive and cost effective racing for everyone involved.

[kartingdad]

well as long as the final decisions ARE based on the opinions of the majority of drivers.

I would expect COMPLETE transparency before any changes are made, and not hustled through to massage someones ego as seems to be the case with other championships.

If the BRSCC are really keen to promote larger grids, they could always try reducing their entry fees.. LOL!!

[dhart]

Eibach also make steel shockers and before anybody moans about getting steel calipers they are off the shelf at Questmead.
Steve, nice to hear you are prepared to listen to anybody , i am sure by the end of the weekend you will be fed up of the quote ;- "it aint broke" perhaps more than 5 mins doing the job might have been helpfull to earn a little respect and trust from competitors before you re invent the wheel

[JR Ewing]

keep it clean and polite!