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Thinking about moving to FM - Questions.

Author	Comment
adamvbrouillard	Thinking about moving to FM - Questions.	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (04/10/08 06:01:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I have been racing spec racer ford for the last year or so and am starting to think the chassis is inherently unstable in it's current state with the new bigger front tires. So I have been considering formula mazda, cars seem to be about the same price so it would be an even swap. I'm mostly concerned about what the average reliability/running costs are though or any other weirdness that FM guys have to put up with. Plus if anyone can explain why so many spec racer drivers drive (and don't think it's fubared) with more roll resistance in the rear than the front with equal size tires and 63% of the weight in the rear I would love to hear it. Thanks guys
NSXted	Wierdness, what wierdness?	#1	[-]
Posts: 469 (04/10/08 11:21:11) F-1 World Champion Racer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well the good news is you're on the east coast and all the wierdness is on the left coast. The bad news is, 1) this is where all the action is and 2) Glen Cooper, former Georgia FM super star, has left the building. JK about where the action is. We have 2 refugees from Spec Racer. The one who just came over this year was at the pointy end of the SRF grid for many years. I don't believe they frequent this shady little forum so I'll let them know you'd like to pick their brain. Speaking of costs, the first thing you'll probably notice is tire life. If you can swallow that dose of harsh reality, you can probably fool yourself for quite some time into thinking it's all pretty affordable. But, since racing is all relative, FM does sell cheap speed and G's. Good luck and hope to see you back here asking questions and telling some stories. Ted FM #13 Shoe String Racing
specracer3	sfr to FM	#2	[-]
Posts: 1 (04/12/08 21:26:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have raced a SRF for over 20 years in the SF Region. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to race in a very competitive environment that has decent cost controls. I have thought about FM for several years, but the necessity of buying new tires every weekend to be competitive kept me away. The drivers in the SF region decided on using a Goodyear tire that is competitive for at least two weekends. That change helped me to start racing a FM. I have had 2 test days plus my first race at Sears Point, aka Infineon Raceway a couple of weekends ago. There were really no surprises in driving the car as far as unusual handling or braking as compared to a SFR. However, it is about 15 seconds a lap faster, has better brakes, more horsepower and learning how the wings affect your cornering speeds is taking some getting used to. Also, learning to shift properly without a clutch is another challenge. I think it is probably going to be 25 to 30 percent more expensive to run, but that is just a guess. So far I have really enjoyed the FM. I was very fortunate as the previous owner has been a huge help in getting me started by being at the track for test days and the latest race. I must say that I was in sensory overload during my first race weekend, but everything went well. Hope that helps.
MSR76	Tires	#3	[-]
Posts: 416 (04/13/08 10:49:18) F-1 World Champion Racer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I am currently working with Good Year to come up with a tire that is a little harder in compund than even the 475 currently on the market. I am expecting the tire to be a few tenths slower per lap, but have a much longer life. Also the difference in lap time between a new set of tires and an older set would not be as big of a difference. Once this tire is on the market I would impliment them for the the Formula Mazda Challenge SoPac/AZ, and would like to see the other Formula Mazda Challenge Series do the same thing. Some argue that they don't want to go slower, but if everyone is on the same thing, and it helps keep some of the cost down, I see it as a win/win situation. Please forward me any feed back to moses@mosessmith.com , I would love to hear it. Moses www.msrparts.com www.mosessmith.com moses@mosessmith.com 602.454.7601 Moses Smith Racing LLC. 4202 E. Elwood St. #4 Phoenix, AZ 85040
NSXted	Sounds good to me.	#4	[-]
Posts: 470 (04/13/08 20:08:53) F-1 World Champion Racer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Good on ya Moses. Who came up with the 475? Ted FM #13 Shoe String Racing
MSR76	Tires	#5	[-]
Posts: 417 (04/14/08 09:42:34) F-1 World Champion Racer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Good year did the 475 compound. I did a bunch of testing for the tire when they came out a few years ago, and they are better in respect to longevity than the 430. Since we are on that note, a proper break in of the tire will help in longevity also... Moses www.msrparts.com www.mosessmith.com moses@mosessmith.com 602.454.7601 Moses Smith Racing LLC. 4202 E. Elwood St. #4 Phoenix, AZ 85040
Tim Moore		#6	[-]
Posts: 6 (04/14/08 10:26:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Just got my FM on Saturday . Need some time to go through everything and should be at Laguna in June. I was able to test the "experimental" 475 for Roger Krous a few years ago in the Sports 2000. My first experience with a freebie from a tire manufacturer . I thought the tire was great, felt like it had a stiffer side wall to me, as it didn't seem to flex as much on turn in on my car. The lap times were competitive to what I was turning on the 430's, but I was in traffic most of the time and never got to see if I could get that ultimate fast lap out of them. They held up well, unfortunately I had some tranny issues and didn't really get a long term test to see how they held up over a couple weekends. I've also raced Spec Racer Renault and Ford, Toyota WSR sports racers, and the Swift Sports 2000. The spec's were by far less expensive to run. The Renault in particular...2 sets of tires per season and the motor was bullit proof. I got into the SRF at a time when they were having valve issues with the motors and going through tire changes...from Yoks to BFG and back to Yoks. Went through 4 motors in 2 years. One motor lasted a whole 2 hours! I received a free replacement for that one and sold the car. Never really got a chance to get fast in the car. The Toyota was a great car, basically a big spec racer, but in was uncompetitive in CSR. This was the first car with slicks I owned. Cost went up accordingly. With the S2, I always ran the 430 compound. I could turn 1:52's at Thunderhill...about 3/4 sec off the track record at the time. The car was fragile and required more maintenance than anything we had owned before. The tire thing seems to get into your head a bit if you're running at the front of the field. If your a 10th off the car in front of you and they are putting "stickers" on for the race, you start to feel like you need them too...badly. The best way to control the cost for me...I just don't go to every race anymore. Life changes and I can't justify a motor rebuild every season (S2) and tires every weekend. I just coordinate with my friends what races they are doing and just pick and choose my events to control my cost. I can get 2 weekends and a practice session on the 430's, so I just plan on about 3 sets per year. I don't go out with a specific budget, because I have never been able to stick to it. Things break. Anyway, sorry for the long post. I bought the FM because I felt it would be less expensive to operate than the S2 for essentially the same lap times. Looking forward to getting out there with you guys. Don't worry...I have many questions coming . Tim Moore SFR SCCA
Kart84	Thinking racing FM	#7	[-]
Posts: 1 (08/13/08 19:00:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I am considering starting racing Formula Mazda in the near future and have lots of questions but before I go too far I would like to have an idea of the costs to race this class. I realize there are lots of variables so the question has no real answer but wondering more about operating costs, costs for things like tires, engine rebuild costs, life of tires, life of engine, other items that require routine maintainence where significant costs can be incurred. Any input is greatly appreciated.

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