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HSCC 1600cc Formula 3 alert


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#1 Alan Cox

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 12:47

Good news for owners of 1600cc F3 cars from the HSCC - It should be good news for spectators, too..

Monday 2 August 2010
HSCC plans revival for 1600cc Formula 3
The Historic Sports Car Club is targeting the 1600cc Formula 3 cars of the early 1970s for a revival in 2011 and anyone with a car from the era is being invited to Brands Hatch on 11 September, where the club will be running a full programme of racing.

Although the 1600cc Formula 3 era was relatively short-lived, running for just three seasons, it was a time when many future Grand Prix stars were making their name in Formula 3. Notable British racers of the era included the so-called 'Lost Generation' of Roger Williamson, Tony Brise and Tom Pryce.

With the 1-litre era (1964-1970) and 2-litre era (1974-1980) Formula 3 cars already enjoying successful race series under the wing of the HSCC, the club is now keen to get more of the 1600cc generation cars from 1971-1973 onto the track.

The club's aim is to have between 10 and 20 1600cc F3 cars racing regularly in 2011 and beyond, running alongside the 2-litre cars in the Classic Formula 3 Championship. The 1600cc cars were part of the Classic F3 race at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix in May 2010 and the club believes that many more cars could be out racing regularly.

"These are very pretty and effective cars from Lotus, Ensign, GRD and March," said Reg James, of the HSCC Classic F3 Championship. "We know that there are lots of inactive chassis in the UK. So if anyone has a car, whatever its condition, be it a Monoposto, a hill climb special, immaculate and on the button, a long term project or a pile of tubes, we would love them to bring it to Brands, put it on show and meet up with the Classic F3 competitors."

For any 1600cc F3 car, whether the car is running or not, Brands Hatch on 11 September is the key date and the HSCC is keen to hear from owners. Complimentary tickets will be available for anyone taking a 1600cc F3 car and invitations can be gained by calling the club office on 01327 858400 or sending an e-mail to office@hscc.org.uk

For more details about the HSCC, please visit www.hscc.org.uk




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#2 RS2000

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 13:35

Good news for owners of 1600cc F3 cars from the HSCC - It should be good news for spectators, too..


Should bring tears to the eyes of one current HSCC Race Saloon driver - who sold his Brabham BT38, 3 engines, a Transit and trailer for £1000 at the end of the 1973 season.

#3 john winfield

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 14:03

Slightly OT Alan and RS but, when I were a lad, I remember being so disappointed by the tiny F3 grids in 1974, especially compared to those in 1970 and 1971; I'm sure I hadn't really appreciated the implications of the two engine specification changes in the winters of 1970 and 1973.
There seemed to be loads of cars mid-season in 1971, in the new 1600cc formula, but 1974 seemed quite different. Do you know why? Was there little notice given or was Formula Atlantic a more attractive alternative to drivers of now redundant 1600cc cars? Were the 2 litre engines and chassis just too expensive?

Edited by john winfield, 02 August 2010 - 14:04.


#4 RTH

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 14:26

I had this Ensign LNF3 1973 ex-works development car ex Brian Henton from 1983 - 85 and ran it in some of the then classic F3 events a sub class in Toyota F3

Posted Image
Sold it to a bloke in France, wish I still had it!

Edited by RTH, 02 August 2010 - 14:28.


#5 MCS

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 15:01

Slightly OT Alan and RS but, when I were a lad, I remember being so disappointed by the tiny F3 grids in 1974, especially compared to those in 1970 and 1971; I'm sure I hadn't really appreciated the implications of the two engine specification changes in the winters of 1970 and 1973.
There seemed to be loads of cars mid-season in 1971, in the new 1600cc formula, but 1974 seemed quite different. Do you know why? Was there little notice given or was Formula Atlantic a more attractive alternative to drivers of now redundant 1600cc cars? Were the 2 litre engines and chassis just too expensive?


1974 was a strange year you may recall, John. The successive rises in inflation, various strikes and the three-day week all had their effect.

The 2-litre F3 engines were expensive I seem to remember, although I don't know if there was an actual shortage in terms of supply. There was, however, a serious lack of entries, with some of the cars being powered by the old 1.6 litre engines.

I'd still be happier watching racing then than now though!

Edited by MCS, 02 August 2010 - 15:01.


#6 RS2000

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 20:31

Slightly OT Alan and RS but, when I were a lad, I remember being so disappointed by the tiny F3 grids in 1974, especially compared to those in 1970 and 1971; I'm sure I hadn't really appreciated the implications of the two engine specification changes in the winters of 1970 and 1973.
There seemed to be loads of cars mid-season in 1971, in the new 1600cc formula, but 1974 seemed quite different. Do you know why? Was there little notice given or was Formula Atlantic a more attractive alternative to drivers of now redundant 1600cc cars? Were the 2 litre engines and chassis just too expensive?


I recall Jimmy Fuller saying a few years ago that to continue in 74 would have cost about 40K (instead of 10K for 73) and the "arrival of the French" was a major factor. I wasn't actually following it myself at the time so I don't know which element was the big cost driver, or even if he was confusing years. JF returned to Antigua after HSCC Mallory but plans to be back in UK for HSCC September Brands so I'll ask him if the opportunity arises.

#7 john winfield

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 20:38

Thanks for the answers and thoughts; interesting stuff. That's a lovely looking Ensign, Richard. Nice lines, graceful and purposeful at the same time.

#8 simon drabble

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 09:21

Richard if it makes you feel any better I stupidly d icked around when I was offered a yellow Ensign for 7.5k which lingered about 10 years ago for about a year at Nick Overall's garage in Sussex- the components were worth more than that!! I have to say I like the twin cam F3 cars - I know that they are not quick compared to the 2 litre cars but I think they are pretty.

#9 RTH

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 10:35

Strange co-incidence Simon I bought a Lotus 69 F2 from Nick Overall out of that same garage in Sussex in 1978.
Agree about the 1600cc cars they were almost all most attractive cars, fond memories of Tony Brise and Alan Jones in GRDs circa 1972 ?

#10 simon drabble

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 15:20

Did Geoff Dastle ever sell his twin cam F3? Sadly the one he was selling about 5 years ago was not the James Hunt one and needed a full restoration but he wanted full money for it...

#11 Stephen W

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 16:40

Did Geoff Dastle ever sell his twin cam F3? Sadly the one he was selling about 5 years ago was not the James Hunt one and needed a full restoration but he wanted full money for it...


There is a 1600 Dastle that one of the Hillclimbers uses - it could be that as he did pay a high price for it compared to (a) what it was really worth, and (b) how competitive it would be on the hills.

:wave:

#12 llmaurice

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 19:25

The little 1600 F3s were indeed nice cars but I'm sure that after the screamers ,their performance was dire with the restriction they had .
We ran Bev Bonds old March 713 for a couple of years in ClassicF3 and it was most annoying to see that the Historic FF1600 cars were quicker in a straight line with only a 4speed Hewland whilst our series ran with 5 speed limited slip boxes and slicks . We even took the wings off our car in the end . That car is still in use I'm pleased to say and is run in Holland by Frans Kinkel .
Regarding the Dastle ,I too made enquiries about it before we eventually bought to 713 but decided it was just too dear .
The costs of the twincams wasn't too bad because with the limited revs (restrictor again) it was really just a set of pistons eack couple of seasons ,which were always on the shelf at QED (just needed the crowns reduced and balanced) and away one would go .
I think there are fewer Marches about now because the sharks bought most of them up and "converted" them into F2 cars ,making massive profits on them . We happily sold ours for £8k in 2004 to Frans to part fund our FF2000 car .
I really feel the main reason the CF3 entries are suffering at the moment is because people felt the ridiculous entry fee for Monte Carlo plus the expense of getting there was worth running their seasons budget into the earth for and now all they want to do is the "prestigious" Gold Cup and none of the normal meetings . A great shame because the CF3 is a really great Championship and Reg has put great effort into starting the CF3 Association and gets very little support for his efforts . I only wish we could afford a 2 litre car and we'd be back in like a shot !