We would like to take this opportunity to present a new short course class for off-road racing: Formula Lite Buggy. This class has the potential to allow existing Class 9 vehicles, Midwest SRT 1600 Light Buggy, and newly constructed vehicles to specification the chance to race short course in a very competitive and affordable class.
Jeff Knupp of Volkspower Racing and I have been working on these rules for several months. We have spoken with many desert, short course, southwest, and Midwest racers and hope to see the class catch on. Initial estimates for cost depend on the builder’s fabrication experience but we feel it is safe to say that a new car could be constructed from $13,000 to $20,000.
Once again, the intention of this class is an economical way to go short course racing at a southern California and / or Arizona regional series. Furthermore, we have plans in place to get chassis builders, parts retailers, and manufacturers involved to support a strong contingency and purse program. Lastly, a board of directors will be installed to help move the class forward, keep rules stabilized, and offer the racers a channel to voice their opinions and concerns.
Please look over that attached Microsoft Word document that contains the rules. We are interested in your comments and constructive criticism. Feel free to post on the board or I can be e-mailed directly at [email protected]
If this takes off as planned, I would be surprised if by this time next year that there are no less than 30 entrants in this class.
Thank you in advance for your time and comments.
Best regards,
Michael Cohen
Racer X Motorsports, Inc. [email protected]
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Looks good, keep us posted as to what races formula lite buggy will be excepted. I raced Perris in my nine car with a single buggy set up and had a blast. I had a hot motor and alum wheels, I think the weight was 1580 with driver, anyway it sounds cool.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
DO NOT FOLLOW!! In Life, In Racing, and especially on RDC.
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I agree, I think it will be a cool class, Rumor has it, that they are pushing to run in the Arizona Short Course Championship Series (ASCC) either in the fall or starting 2011, I know input will be important right now to get the rules set.
From what I see, you will be able to run a class 9 car "as-is" still have to add a couple things, but the advantage will go to the person who builds a car to the fomula rules, however, from the looks of it you would not be able to run a formula Lite car in a class 9 race.
I could be wrong, what do you all think.
And Yes if I can help promote the class let me know as well, especially in the AZ arena.
Thank you for taking the time to read our post, rules, etcetera. I thought I would take this opportunity to address any outstanding questions or comments as to why we may have chosen to do certain things.
Originally Posted by Ih8Rubn
I just thought there would be more... They can run any gears they want?
With regards to the transmission rules allowing Type 1 IRS or Swingaxles, we did research with a few transaxle builders who feel confident that a $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 budget with get you a very strong, reliable, and competitive transaxle. Being an old Class 9 racer myself, the maintenance on just the center section excluding axles and such, added up to a number much larger than what we have budgeted for the IRS unit.
Originally Posted by VERN391
Keep it limited to Drum brakes, stock camshafts, stock gears. Also clarify the shock rule (aftermarket rebuildable shocks allowed ?). Pick a number for the combustion chamber volume.
Just my thoughts
As stated before this class will be the biggest you have in a couple of years.
Vern, limiting the engines to stock camshafts and the transaxles to stock gears and a combustion chamber volume limit would require the technical staff and personnel to be able to check for and enforce that rule. While your suggestion could indeed keep costs down, unless there is an EASY way to police it, I just don’t think that a printed rule is enough. Thus, unless restrictions are easily enforced, I have often wondered what good the rule is anyway.
As for drum brakes, like everything else, this is open to suggestions. We are trying to be forward thinking and as some hard parts become harder and harder to source, maybe it is a good idea to allow disc brakes initially. In addition, as I have stated on an earlier post, in the Southwest, we juts don’t have a good used / junkyard supply of VW parts anymore. Thus, sourcing backing plates, springs, brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and drums could be nearly as much as an economical drum brakes setup.
Originally Posted by Ih8Rubn
From looking it over, minus the power steering and a couple other obvious differences, it is closer to a 1/2 1600 class than a class 9 car, fomula lite built cars would have a definate advantage over a class 9, although able to race a class 9 car in a formula race, you wouldn't be able to race a fomula car in a class 9 race, that being said for people to invest in a fomula car, there will have to be a few venues in which to race. I am looking at what it would cost to be competitive in formula class by converting my class 9, and it is starting to add up. I would hate to invest in a new car and the class doesnt catch on throughout the racing community IE: SCORE, SNORE, MORE and course short course venues like LOORRS, TORC Ect...
I am very excited to to see what will come of this and really do want to be part of it. it could be awesome...
Mike, I understand your concerns, however, there is already a Class 9 in existence and plenty of places to race them. Our idea and concept for this class was to provide a competitive and economical means to race short course. A Class 9 in this class will certainly have a more competitive chance than against a desert or short course 1600 / Single Buggy. It is our hope that this class will allow Class 9 racers like you, the opportunity to try short course racing out and see if it is something you like. I can’t really project the side by side performance of a purpose built car for this class versus a Midwest Light Buggy versus a Class 9 car. I think they will all be competitive. Long term, I would agree that the purpose built cars will be the front runners indeed but a Class 9 will still be very competitive.
The rules for this class are not just a dumbed down version of a Single Buggy. Rather, when we started putting the rules down, given the lack of second hand and used VW parts resources for example, we decided to allow aftermarket beams. This was not for a performance advantage, rather just efficiency, spending $250.00 on an aftermarket stock width beam versus trying to source a used front end, cleaning it, installing torsion adjusters could easily add up to that same cost. We are definitely not trying to price anyone out of this class. But, at the same time, we are trying to keep maintenance and prep costs down too and those is where some of the components can cost a little more up front but pay off in durability down the line.
Lastly, I have spoken with a few Class 9 racers and they love the idea of this class for the desert. One enthusiast even considered calling it Pro 9. That could definitely be interesting too. However, for now, I am concentrating on the short course class and its program.
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. Please keep them coming as this thread alone has over 870 views, we must have hit a sweet spot.
Lastly, we will be building one of these cars as well. I love my Super Buggy but I think my wife will like driving this car much more.
As for chassis builders, the following have already to committed to building them: Ryan Schank - Las Vegas, NV; HRT Motorsports - Ramona, CA; Chenowth Racing Products - El Cajon, CA; Volkspower Racing - Arizona
pic is from 1989 at Glen Helen on the old ( much much rougher course ) We ran 8 races a year there and it was the best place to race. This was the same car I raced in the desert. Rear tire change and tightening down the rear limit straps was the only change. I ran the smae trans as in the desert---same trans all year (21) races and never had it apart--thanks JEFF HUBER !!!!!!!!!!
We always had a dozen cars and one race had 23. You will need a steering brake but the new course at GH is awesome and 9 car friendly.
Last edited by oldman dirt; December 17th, 2010 at 04:08.
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New short course class: Formula lite buggy
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Originally Posted by Ih8Rubn
