ALRFF001 Formula First

[brianmetcalf]

Just a quick note I am in the process of building a Formula First from the ground up.
Thanks To Greg I have some very experienced help.
The Dirt modified Manufacturer Bicknell is helping with bending all the steel for the car.
The car is a upright seated car, it has a 1.5"dia. main frame and hoops, has a small frontal area, a spacious driver's area, foward facing locating arms, fuel cells and oil cooling in the sidepods. I have a ton of auto cad drawings of the concept and parts. I will be making as built drawings when the frame is done. I will be adding photos as I go. Wish me luck this is going to be a fun project.

[Problemchild]

Welcome!
Stay in touch.
Cheers!

[Mystique Racing]

Brian,

I am also building a new FST from the ground up. Nice to see that there is some momentum in the class.

Good luck, actually, you wont need luck.............. it's just a lot of hard work and determination that will get you to the finish line.

Scott

[brianmetcalf]

Thank you all I have a revised sketch of the concept. Dietmar brought up some points I had missed in the rules. Thank you!
The sketch can be found here:
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee26 ... RFF001.jpg

Brian

[robert]

Brian,

BY the drawing, I assume the body will have side pods, and therefore be quite wide. Makes me wonder why the foot box is so narrow?

robert

[brianmetcalf]

The first car will have side pods but I may forgo the pods on the other cars. I just wanted to see what a car with pods might do in this class.

[andyg]

Hi Brian,
Great to see that you are having a go at building your own car.
I am in the process of building my own as well. As part of my job I build automotive colleges for customers that deliver automotive and motorsport qualifications. Early next year my own college will be opening in Australia, my students are building Fvees and Ffords as part of the program over a 24 month period. Our goal is not to win races although that would be nice , but more so the skills gained in the design and building process, they will also spend alot of time at the track testing, it is inevitable that these cars will filter through to new owners and competition down the track.
If its any help I have posted some videos on Youtube that you may find helpful. You can find them under andygoodallracing
I think there are about 12 of them but I have many more to post, I just havent got around to it yet. Iike you, I too have designed my car to have side pods and an extended floor, but I also have designed it to take several different engine trans combinations. Good luck with your project and if you need any help dont be afraid to sing out, there are many people out there that will help. I know of about 20 new cars around the world that are being built by home builders and they are only the ones that contact me. All of them communicate with me in private in fear of being critisised, its a shame that people feel like that because it would be great if like you and me they told the rest of the world what they were doing in their sheds at night whilst burning midnight oil and shared their experience with others.

Good Luck with it and stay in touch.
Cheers!!! Andy G
Andy G

[brianmetcalf]

Well all my main frame is at the speed shop. I will be going up to get them on monday.
I have my frame table cleared and ready to start playing. I picked up a bunch of parts yesterday. 4-1600 DP motors, 3 transaxels, 3 B/J front ends and 7-1200 cases. plus 12 boxes of "stuff" cost me a whole $50...... I took one of the 1600's and gutted it as well as one tranny for use as a setup tool. So far this has been fun......

[brianmetcalf]

Andy:
I have seen your Videos. They have been very informative. I liked the welding process you use it looks interesting. I have recently been certified in Mig, Tig, and stick here in the states.
My dad was a machinist by trade, a cabinet maker by passion. I on the otherhand am a designer by trade and a fabricator by passion. The best part of making your own car making something that is fun, functional, and something that you can beat the big buck guy's with every once in a while.

[brianmetcalf]

Days Like today....Upstate NY in the winter, 30 degrees. Makes me wish I had a garage insted of a small barely heated fab shop!http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee267/amylynnracing/000_0849.jpg If you look to the left of the Legends car you can see my frame table with a F500 on it....

[brianmetcalf]

I finally got my bottom frame rails.
They got lost in transport.... They already got a ton of miles on them.