Marketing 101 - Then competition
Prior to getting back into now CF after a 20 year haitus.... I started on a 4 man Lemons team in California where I drove an NB Miata and built a Toyota MR2(spit on the ground..the engine is beautiful, the car sucks)....I then moved to VARA with an 1991 NB Miata where I became rookie of the year and pints winner in my class. I also started the Sealed Spec Maita class in Cal Club SCCA and won both the points championship and the PCRRC.
I restored a Porsche 914 that I was going to race in VARA and also a 1984 Reynard FC.
I then bought a basket case Lola 540E and finished restoring it when I moved to North Carolina........ I also bought and have mostly restored a Lola 342. I sold the Porsche in Ca, and the Reynard in NC.
I have the Lola 540E and the 342 because in my core I am a FF driver....period. It is my sport because James Hunt and Niki Lauda are my hero's, I am a mechanical engineer and a motorhead, and I suck at golf.
What I learned from lemons is the baseline for inexpensive racing..........the world changed forever when they auto industry moved to DOHC EFI 4 valve per cylinder engines.......I have built both Miata and Toyota 4 AGE motors and they are beautiful pieces of machinery. Essentially Japanese Cosworths. You can take a $1500 NA Miata, add a roll cage for $2000, and a $400 fire system and you have a VERY cheap VERY RELIABLE car for the beginner for tons of fun and TRACK TIME. Fuel cell is not needed because the stock gas tank is forward of the rear axle centerline.
When I am asked by young people how to get into racing, I say...."GET A MIATA"....the guys/gals in SCCA Maita racing have already figured this out...that is why there are so many of them. Market forces moves all the drivers tot hat class and the SCCA is now the "Miata Club".
>>>>>>WHAT IS NEEDED IS A FORMULA VERSION OF THE MAITA TO KEEP THE FORMULA SPORT ALIVE<<<<<Even if it takes a company to have Crossle 35 frame reproductions made in China for $2000 a pop..... A Formula car for the masses for less than $15K out the door....I am a design engineer. I build and make things to sell.....it can be done....