Southern California Races

[FVDav]

Does anyone know where I can get info on upcoming Formula First Races coming up in the Southern California Area.

I'd Like to catch a race or two before potentially taking the plunge.

[Bill Bonow]

Dave,

There is a small group of FST cars in SoCal that run regularly. Mostly at Fontana and Willow Springs.

A new FST kit was just delivered to the LA area, so another car will be coming together soon.

I'll send you a PM with an area FST contact.

[Daryl DeArman]

Bill,

Does that make 3 FST cars in SoCal now or are there more?

In your experience, at what number of cars/entrants did you see that the class grew legs, so to speak, in other regions? At what number did you feel like the poor participation numbers hurt the class?

Like F600 I feel that the FST is a much better package and value than the cousins (F500 and FV) but the quality of the race is more important to me than the cost to performance ratio.

Hats off to the pioneers of the class(es) who saw the potential and were willing to race by themselves for awhile. I believe Lou and Eric have owned those FST for at least 7 years now and haven't added a single entrant to the class, so what gives?

Is this new car going to be rental that might convince some FV, CF, IT folks to jump ship?

[Bill Bonow]

Daryl,

Yes, that should be (3) in SoCal.

In CenDiv (later split into CenDiv and GLDiv), the first car just sort of kicked the program into gear. In looking at some old docs, in 2002 there was (1) car and (4) race entries. In 2003 there were (2) cars and (13) entries. In 2004 there were (5) cars and (30) entries. From there it continued to grow. It slowed after the various economic issues that has hit many, but per our list, there are currently (52) FST's that have raced in the USA.

In our series races, we have not been below (10) entries for a long, long time. As for low participation numbers hurting the class, we have not seen it. In SoCal I think there was more of a "LL" factor causing more damage than low numbers. Those (2) purpose built cars have been out there for (6) years. In (6) years we went from zero to about (30) cars or better. I think I know what gives in SoCal, but it has little to do with the cars or the rules package.

As I understand the new car is for a owner/driver. Not sure if it will be a rental, but I'm sure with a new face, the interest in SoCal for FST will likely be re-sparked.

[FVDav]

Dave,

There is a small group of FST cars in SoCal that run regularly. Mostly at Fontana and Willow Springs.

A new FST kit was just delivered to the LA area, so another car will be coming together soon.

I'll send you a PM with an area FST contact.

Thanks!!!

[Diamond Level Motorsports]

There should be two FST's running next year in NoCal also. The NoCal and SoCal FST's have discussed getting together next year so we can all race together.