racer

Start looking.. The Runoffs will be soon and afterwards cars hit the market for "new stuff" the next year.

skl

Did several arrive and drives about 15 years ago with SR (first Renault, then Ford) , then did shifter karrts with my boys for several years until they got old enough to race cars. Did SM for about 4 years- fun at first but I too found out it really wasn't that "spec." My boys were pretty good at it and kind of took wind out of the sails when they'd find at the end of the year the guys they'd be running against (and beating sometimes) were running illegal suspensions all year... then when they'd win one, they get protested for some bull**** reason. Sold the SM and got a SRF last fall. Only had time to run it once this year but was a LOT more fun than the SM- more torque, open cockpit, a real racecar, etc etc. Only downer is the engine sound- they sound like a tractor.
Unfortunately with other commitments I may sell it this winter as I don't have the time to race it and justify the cost of just having it sit there, though it is fun to sit in...

gbaker

Important on a hot day. I rented an SRF for my SCCA school at Daytona in July, when the temp was 97 and the heat index was 107. Not bad once underway.

I've raced snowmobiles, so 35 degrees is a yawn. Cold is uncomfortable, heat is dangerous.

paralleltangent

How's the fit for tall drivers? I'm 6'4" w/ a 36" inseam. I first saw one of these many years ago when I was working at IRP, back when they were Renault powered. I remember talking to the driver and learning what a spec class was all about. Ever since then I've had it in the back of my mind that I'd like to get an SRF someday.

Circuit Motorsports

Barfly is about that tall and would be able to speak well on that. Back when it was first built the chassis was pretty short so they added the tall-man bar. It's way above my head and I have a lot of room to move the pedals back. I could easily see another 6 inches of inseam and 2 inches of torso fitting.

Gary R.

Sounds downright luxurious Joe.. lots of room down by the pedal cluster also?

Circuit Motorsports

Pretty big cars really. Coming out of a formula car it felt like I was swimming the first few times.

Pedal cluster takes about 2 minutes to move. Four bolts and the entire thing slides back and forth.

Barfly

I'm 6'4" as well with a 35" inseam. No issues when running the fiberglass seat. You will have a little less leg room using a custom Butler seat, but it is very manageable. Fitment is not really an issue in these cars.

_______
Jason

Barfly

Kevin,

That's also what lead me to SRF over SM, the extra leg and headroom.

_______
Jason

paralleltangent

I guess I'll have to take a closer look at these again soon. Will also need to check SCCA in my region to see what the field size is. It'll be awhile before get anything new, still enjoying the 944 (and hoping the class grows in my region). But never hurts to plan ahead.

Potomac-Greg

Looks like a done deal (but for the spending part). I'm looking for an SRF this fall, maybe do a track day or two to get a feel for it, and comp school in the Spring, with racin' in 2011 (the year I turn 50!). And for at least a season, I will put it into an arrive-and-drive package so I can focus more on comp school, and learn about setups. In some ways the arrive-and-drive is cheaper than self-managing b/c I would need to buy a trailer and pay $100/mo. to store the trailer. And the thought of an easy drive (or even a flight!) to a track event is very appealing.

The more I think about it, the more excited I get.

Circuit Motorsports

Greg-

If you make it down for the VIR Pro weekend next month give me a heads up. I'll get you pointed to the folks who know which cars are for sale and the history of them.

--Joe

BrandonH

You've had lot's of great replies from first order experience, so I'll just chime in to say that we've just concluded our second year of SCCA racing in FF so I've had occasion to watch a lot of SRF races, and I think it's a fabulous looking class.

+1 on the 'real racecar' comment; whoever said you can't make a racehorse out of a pig (Carroll Smith?) wasn't really making as much a backhanded complement as saying, you want a racehorse? get a racehorse.
+really economical racing vs other 'real racecars' esp bc of spec tire, spec engine, easy availability of parts.

- Critics say the spec tire and overall setup limitations require a specific driving style not instantly transferable to other cars. Another way of saying, while it is more of a real racecar experience than a sedan, it is less of one than an all out sports racer or open wheel car.

But there is an awful lot to like. I saw one drive full tilt across the grass after T1 at Beaverrun three weeks ago and hit the Armco/tires across the grass so hard I thought the driver was dead and the car totaled. The next morning, I see the car all patched up, rumbling happily toward the grid.

A much lesser known, certainly not as safe, but terrific option in my view is the SCCA Formula Enterprise car. Open wheel with wings, but also a full spec series so considering the performance, a great value.

Matt Romanowski

FE cars aren't worth it in my opinion. They don't have enought power in relation to tire, the transmission is a weak link, and they just aren't as good as a continental (IMHO). SRF is a better class if you want a spec car.

Circuit Motorsports

I think they have good power for the tire. 20 more hp than the Continental and a little bit bigger tire. While the tires are slightly bigger than the FC they are stuck on the 45 compound which isn't nearly as sticky as what you can run in the Continental class.

The transmission was a weak link. Right now they opened up the issues to open source and those problems should be taken care of very soon. They've already gotten better with fewer skipped shifts, miss shifts, neutral stops, etc.

But right now I agree that that SRF is a much better Spec class if you want competition. FE is still growing. Although there are more people going into that open wheel class than any other one. Lots of new people buying cars and starting up next year.