after 03-06 ba shell.thanks

what have you heard of them

Wayne - just sent you an email. J

Aaron - yes, there are a couple of Spirit/Comtec FF chassis running in Oz. Not aware of any here in NZ. J

hi there all just wondering if you guys have heard of a spirit formula ford.

hi there all just wondering if you guys have heard of a spirit formula ford.

Hi. Thanks to the people who came over to help us at Manfield. Especially the Shorts team. Has anyone had previous experience with oil being blown out into the catch tank. This has troubled us since the first round and we still have not solved the problem. We have not had any problems with our old motor, so the differences are the sump, pump and head. If anybody has any suggestions or similar experiences could you leave these here or email me at colvillesigns@xtra.co.nz or phone 0274324771 cheers.

Hi. Thanks to the people who came over to help us at Manfield. Especially the Shorts team. Has anyone had previous experience with oil being blown out into the catch tank. This has troubled us since the first round and we still have not solved the problem. We have not had any problems with our old motor, so the differences are the sump, pump and head. If anybody has any suggestions or similar experiences could you leave these here or email me at colvillesigns@xtra.co.nz or phone 0274324771 cheers.

Read with interest Erics "a true gauge..." comment but then went on to read the technical sub comittee report regarding engine mods that weren't used in previous year and hopefully won't be used in the future, so surely any records, yes I mean any records that were made/broken last season should be void, or at least carry a rider listing the chassis/engine mods used at the time the record was broken. Come on duractech !

I think it is the best decision to go to duratec. It will mean we dont have to spend big money on 2 motors for the season. The newer cars are much more safer. Having it aligned to the Aussie rules means that we can race there or they can come here for our season. Also another market for spares and cars. Looking forward to the next meeting

looking for early elden parts; body & front suspention

Is Duratec the answer ? Well after the 4 way shocks, cam followers, small flywheels, crank inserts , drilled pistins etc etc of last year what does anyone expect? Duratec will mak this a drivers championship, maybe for the first time in many years.

There will be mixed grids next season apparently, Kent and Duratec. Everyone happy with this ?

Ithought it was agreed 4 way shocks were illegal, but is it now true that after your $1000 a day man from aussie has gone home you can tape over the 4th adjuster and race against all the others with 2 way adjustable shocks ? Where are Motorsport NZ when you need them, for that matter where are the FF assoc ?

we have to get back to the formula the way it was entended originally. Motorsport Nz has to grow some balls and take control. Remember this class should be for setting up and drivers ability. Cheque books should not control this class. If this was possible the fields would double in size which would help talented drivers be noticed. Ban 3 and 4 way shocks, computers, radios and limit the tyres to be used and swap the inlet manifolds as intended.

Are 4 way shocks with 1 adjustment sealed after adjustment within the intent of the rules. To me they are still 4 way shocks. I think we all know what is meant by shocks with 3 adjustments, 3 way. Maybe some of the other competitors should be allowed to adjust the other adjuster to get it just right.

theres a older vd doing well in the field on a low budget and standard shocks, go 92.

Halfway through the season and it is a 2 horse race, Stealth vs Mygale - where are the Van Diemans ?

Nice to see those words TSR, as per the intent of the rules, brings back the idea of a true drivers championship. Anyone else running within the intent of the rules, or spirit of the championship ?

Hi Folk, AS far as i know the only competitor that Tony Marsh is building engines for this season is Richie Stanaway and i can assure you that Richie,s engines DO NOT have small fly wheels etc and are built as per the intent of the rules. If Tony Marsh built an engine for someone before Pukekohe it was not for Richie,s Mygale.

some people must think if you cant win with an illegal engine just protest the result from every race and try and win that way.

Thanks for the ok John, I'll get on to it, and no, I don't have a laptop on the tractor, probably not enough power for the mower and a laptop ! I've heard and read a lot about QC's, Lawyers, Barristers etc lately and have to say legal opinion is just that - an opinion and keeping in mind that at any given time 50% of legal beagles are supporting the losing side their opinion is always open to challenge, and so it should be.

Just read about Stanaways penalty, howcan MSNZ justify that when these incidents happen in FF at every meeting in every race. Even more, why doesnt MSNZ stand up for themselves and other competitors ovrer the illegal engines ? Whats going on ?

Well after the weekend i dont know that you do need to spend all that money on pushing the rules. The way i saw it the team that have spent all the bucks on their engines and hiring the Q C lawyers got beaten on the track at the weekend by competors that have engines the same spec as the rest. I hear now that there was a heavily worn track to the officials box to see if they can now win by that method, 5 enquires put in, looks to me that its win at all cost. May be they should be looking at the common factor,the same team drivers envolved each time. Also some lessons in sportsmanship would be of great benefit to the drivers in this team.

Kim I think it would be ok to delete Mr Sexualxe, I thought you would have done it when it first arrived!! some people think you are watching this Forum 24/7, did you have a Laptop on the Tractor when I saw you mowing the Orchard!!!

Did that include starter motor ?

ASK TONY MARSH...HES JUST DONE ONE FOR HIS CLIENT IN 2 DAYS

I have found a source for Imp flywheels, www.malcolmimps.co.uk, they cost 30 pounds plus shipping. The total cost is probably much higher but it is worth it for the performance advantage.

I don't understand why MSNZ has only answered 1 of the 2 popular topics at the moment, does that mean dowels aren't ok but tool steel cam followers are ? Who has which I wonder ?

Things need to change in formula ford the spending is out of control; this is supposed to be an entry level championship not mini formula one. To be honest I think that motorsport NZ have a responsibility to do something. If enough people complain they will eventually have to listen, either that or push FF out. I know people who want to race but do not see the point if the cheque book always wins. How will TRUE talent be spotted in the future if cheque book boy is the one who is receiving all the coverage? Keep complaining but to the right people!!!

Schedule F 12.4 Cam followers may be a direct replacement - I would guess this means exactly the same, material and dimensions. With the Dowels the wording is ambiguous and you would have to rely on competitors staying within the "Spirit of the Series", as everyone had done regarding the flywheels.

Please explain the dowels and cam followers, I understood all parts were to be of Ford manufacture unless otherwise specified - and I have seen no notification that we can run more than 1 dowel or that we can deviate from Ford cam followers.

While your updating your flywheel you could add 3, 6 or more dowels, apparenetly they are now open. Then you can start on cam followers which have also become open, so conrods, pushrods etc wont be far behind.

True John, but it's too late in the season. I have withdrawn from Puke, the deciding factor was the flywheel. In effect all I am doing by competing against someone running an Imp sized flywheel is make them look better than they are. I'll compete again when I have got around to fitting a small flywheel.

These thoughts need to be aired to the sports technical and at excecutive levels to get the results we all as a class seem to want Please send in you submissions to the office in wellington after all they work for US.

Anyone can run 215mm flywheels, the rule was changed to accomodate spectrums. They can be and are fitted to some Stealths with the associated acceleration benefits smaller diameter flywheels give.

Can someone tell me why Spectrums have a dispensation to run smaller flywheels

Anyone interested in starting a Formula Renault class ? There are already a number in the country and probably enough Tatuus chassis available to make the numbers up.

If there are competitors this season who are pushing/exceeding the regulation boundaries I would suggest they bring a wheelbarrow to each meeting, they will need it to take their engine/s home.

Spectrums have special dispensation to run smaller diameter flywheels, Stealths do not.

Lets face it John, there are plenty of drivers around who have talent, how do you beat them if you don't have any ? Bend the rules or cheat, that's how you do it. If there are some out there fiddling the rules they are not welcome, spend the money on driving lessons and be competitive on a level playing field.

I know the Technical Commitee are trying to sort a cam follower problem out, as for flywheels surly the minimum internal diameter of 215mm for the ring gear stops the use of smaller flywheels, or has someone found a flaw in the rules? Bending the Rules will have to stop or it will Kill the Formula, those on a limited budget wont be able to compete therefore wont even try and go to another class.

Why not give the money to charity and have TWO podiums (one only for them) , they will always win but they will be alone and it may seem meaningless

Looks like a chequebook championship attempt, there is a way around this problem. Get the cheque owner to give the money to a charity, then give them a 30 second (or more) start at the beginning of each race, they will win but it may seem meaningless.

I would like to suggest to fellow competitors that we establish that ONLY cam followers produced by Ford be allowed in engines run in our championship, that ONLY standard Stealth flywheels be allowed in Stealth cars, no central boss, no Spectrum flywheels. These and other rumours are damaging our championship and from my point of view I would like other competitors to try and beat me in a fair race using the same machinery - no cheating, no bending the rules. I thought those days were behind us. So, can we have an agreement amongst the competitors that anyone using the above methods to gain an unfair advantage is asked to move to another championship, we should be confident enough to rely on our driving ability !!

It is a pity John, from the look of it we are the only tier 2 look series in tier 1. What has happened to the driver of the year award and the Formula Renault test drive for the winner ?

Hi Kim, after such a poor response last season it was not worth the effort, which is a pity, when we had everyone together we looked professional and it was much easier for Eric to have our meetings but it looks like we are going backwards to our Gipsy look!! The trouble is too many come into the Formula, take what they can for themselves then leave, a small thing like Tent city helped Formula Ford profile, our Sponsors MTA who pay for our TV time and Dold Industries will not be impressed I presume.

Anyone interested in ordering Marquees for this season ? Any idea of the cost this year ?

Hi Kim Rule no 9.14 states "The water pump shall be belt driven by the crankshaft" Therefore, I believe if you had an electric water pump it would still have to be driven by the crankshaft! Flywheel - the Formula Ford technical articles contains photos of the authorised flywheels (rule 16.1), therefore you cannot fit an insert to add to the weight. Otherwise the id of the flywheel will not meet the spec. The bolts and the washers for the fixing the pressure plate are included in the 11.79kg weight. Kim, you have done a great job on the website. Randell Edgell

I propose :- we ban any insert to the flywheel, the only parts that should form part of the flywheel/clutch weight (11.79kg) are - flywheel, flywheel bolts, clutch plate and pressure plate. The assembly definition should say "gearbox side of the flywheel excepting the spigot bush/bearing" rather than "rear of the engine crankshaft excepting the spigot bush/bearing", because the rear of the crankshaft is anything further back than the central crank bearing. we ban electric water pumps, the only operating water pump should be the mechanical pump fitted as standard to the engine.