|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| You are here: Home > Overview and Brief History |
| Formula Ford 1600 quickly became popular after its inception in 1967.
It aimed to promote driver talent by providing a low cost entry into motorsport - the
original rules stating that cars were "Not to exceed £1000 retail complete and in
running order" ! The cars were single seater, open wheel, open bodywork racers, originally running on treaded road tyres, only later was a special "control" racing tyre specified although still retaining a tread pattern. Aerodynamic aids (wings) were not allowed. Although costs were kept down by specifying a basically standard 1600cc Ford overhead valve engine, originally the 1500cc engine from the Cortina GT. and space-frame chassis construction as opposed to the more expensive monocoque, it was not long before the cost limit of £1000 was dispensed with. As development of the cars continued apace, lap times dropped and inevitably costs began to climb. There soon arose a demand from owners of older cars for a championship in which they could once again compete for victory on level terms with a limited budget. In 1979 the pre-'74 Championship was born to cater for cars built prior to 1974. It was joined in 1984 by the '74/78 Championship and a year later by the Formula E Championship. The formula E championship was basically a pre 1980 championship because it outlawed any car which did not have outboard suspension. This category had a particularly strong following in the north of England. In 1991 the '74/78 Championship was extended to include cars made and raced before the end of 1980, being renamed the '74/80 Championship. These 3 championships, the pre-'74, 74/80 and Formula E thrived in parallel until 1994 when they were amalgamated under the Classic Formula Ford banner by the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Register, the BARC and the BRSCC. The current class structure is "A" class - pre'74 cars and "B" class - pre-'82 cars. In addition to the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship the Historic Sports Car Club caters for older Formula Fords and runs a championship for cars built prior to 1971. In 1997 the BRSCC introduced the Super Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship (not associated with the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Register). This category caters for cars built prior 1990 but after 1981. In addition to all of the above championships there are currently a significant number of regional or one circuit championships, such as the Castle Combe FF1600 championship, Champion of Oulton, based at Oulton Park, and Kent County Championship, based at Brands Hatch & Lydden Hill, to name but a few.
|
| Site design by Orangeleaf Systems Ltd | ©2000 Andrew Powell. All rights reserved |
