Ok I need some guidance. I'm contemplating selling the scoob, and getting a small truck, and an F500 car. I'd like to convert it to a 600 bike engine. That seems to be a pretty cool class developing. Anyways, I was just wondering if anybody had the scoop on these cars around here. I heard there was a guy in Charlotte that will rent a formula 600 car out for a test at roadcourses, but I can't find any more info on that deal. The plan would be to roadrace it in the southeast, and maybe some autox just to get some cheap seat time in. If anybody has any info about this conversion, I'd greatly appreciate it.
do you have the mechanical ability and fabrication skills to do the swap?
there are also a bunch of parts that owners typically ugprade.
the overall design of the F500's is old and many new parts exist to improve them depending what class you decide to race in.
do you have sufficient driving skills to go race it?
hopping in something like that with zero to no experience will have an extremely steep learning curve.
do you have a competition license? if not, you'll need to attend a supporting driving school twice or do a double weekend.
you'll also need a bunch of safety gear to do trackdays (shoes, gloves, helmet, suit, hans-device or similar, etc).
imo, if you are green to racing, there are other forms of racing that are probably cheaper and easier to do.
The swap, finding a motor, setting up the motor and all that is not an issue. Racing experience is not an issue either, and I would never consider saftey gear an issue.
I don't know anything about the F500's. From what I understand, it's best to do a purpose built 600 car, but I don't have the knowledge to do a complete chassis. I just don't know what to look for, which dampening puck setup is best, or any of that. Much where to find one for around 5k.
I'm also interested in renting one, but can't seem to find anyone in the area that will do that.
Check out
http://www.eformulacarnews.com. There's an entire section of forums dedicated to F500, including F600 conversions. Chris Ross is from Charlotte and has a fully instrumented F600 car. He's a great technical resource for F500/F600 questions and has spoken with our SCCA group in Greenville on several occasions.
I bought my F500 car about a year ago, but it has been limited to autocross competition. I have a check list for what needs to be done to convert my car from AX to time trials (e.g., crush box for feet, mirrors, raise the roll bar). I enjoy driving the car, but look forward to when it is track legal.
Next event I plan to attend is the AX at BMW Manufacturing in Greer, SC on October 17. Introduce yourself to me at the event and I'll be glad to show you the car.
Cheers,
Steven Cagle
Thanks that site looks like a ton of help. I've seen some video's of Chris' car. It looks like tons of fun! I'm actually fairly certain I corner worked with you at anderson back in the spring. I might just come out to the BMW plant for that autox. Take care!
Shaun Barrett has my F500 and is working it over to get it road worthy... the purpose of the car was to get a car that could be loaned out to those interested in trying open wheel in autocross...maybe track trials. More specifically with CSCC student members. Shaun is making progress on it... when it's together and running, you are certain welcome to a co-drive at an AX to see what you think. They are fun, quick, easy to tow, nimble... but to run at SCCA national AX level takes 5-6 years of learning fine tune setups to course and a bundle of money.
I am not a strong advocate of track trials and time trials in older F500s... they are constructed a little differently than modern F500/600s of today. The older F440s/F500s tend to swap ends quickly when they lose adhesion. If you ever watch a F500 race from a few years ago, you would not be interested in racing one!
Hillclimb... out of the question. You'd have to be nuts...but then again, to run hillcimb in anything...
Wow that would be excellent! I'm not really planning on doing much AX in it, just the road course stuff, but that would be a perfect way to test the waters.
In your opinion, what would be an ideal "brand" chassis to look for? I've got a budget of about 6k, or that's at least what I think it will be around. Oh and hillclimbs? I'm not that crazy! haha
