19 replies to this topic

[NeilR]

Can anyone tell the differences, if any, between the Australian National Formula and the Tasman Formula?

[David Shaw]

"Tasman Formula" is a colloquial term. In Australia (not sure what the official term was in NZ) it was known as Australian National Formula 1 (ANF1) for engines up to 2500cc running on pump fuel or avgas.

[NeilR]

Thank you.

[David McKinney]

Tasman Formula was an official name between 1964 and 1975, first for cars using engines up to 2500cc, with 5-litre stock-block engines added from 1975 (and the racing engines gradually reduced to 2000cc). I agree that the first one was known as ANF1 in Australia, at least in the early years; in NZ it was called - if anything ' the Gold Star formula.

After the stock-blockers came in it was generally called F5000 in both countries, though as has been discussed here recently, it wasn't identical to F5000 in other countries

There was also an ANF2 and an ANF3 for smaller cars (respectively 1500cc and 1100 for most of the time, but changing over the years). From 1965-70 NZ had a 1500cc formula popularly known as the National Formula but officially (from memory) the National 1½-litre Formula

[David Shaw]

I stand corrected on Tasman Formula.

I believe from 1964 until 1968 there was an ANF1.5 (1500cc class), and ANF2 was for 1100s. From 1969 Australia adopted the International Formula 2 (was it called ANF2?) and had ANF3 for 1100s. I think.

[David McKinney]

I deliberately didn't go into the ANF2/3 thing too closely because (a) we've done it before, (b) it did change from time to time and ( c ) NeilR's question was specifically about the main formulae

But I'm fairly certain Australia never adopted international F2 as a domestic category, except within ANF1

Edited by David McKinney, 04 February 2011 - 09:51.

[Ray Bell]

No, never...

The closest we got was to allow the cars built to International F2 to run with ANF2 cars for a while. Then, because these cars were mostly competitive with the 2.5 cars and because they usually (always?) had 4-valve engines, ANF2 had a 2-valve rule brought into it.

All the same, there was never a minimum weight limit on any of these formulae, except perhaps the ANF2 which really took over from FJr, which we almost adopted verbatim (with some exceptions) had minimum weight limits.

F5000 was closer to being an International formula, but it wasn't pure F5000 in either Tasman or ANF1 form, as David has shown the Tasman Formula included the 2.5 'free design' engines while in Australia we included 2-litre free design engines.

[NeilR]

Tasman Formula was an official name between 1964 and 1975, first for cars using engines up to 2500cc, with 5-litre stock-block engines added from 1975 (and the racing engines gradually reduced to 2000cc). I agree that the first one was known as ANF1 in Australia, at least in the early years; in NZ it was called - if anything ' the Gold Star formula.

After the stock-blockers came in it was generally called F5000 in both countries, though as has been discussed here recently, it wasn't identical to F5000 in other countries

I looked without success for the mentioned F5000 thread...could you please show me where it is.

[D-Type]

I looked without success for the mentioned F5000 thread...could you please show me where it is.

Possibly this one but there are others. If you refine your search to something like "Formula 5000 lola" , "Formula 5000 Australia" or similar it brings the number of threads down to a manageable number.

Have fun and don't allow yourself to be diverted

[NeilR]

I can resist anything except temptation...and interesting information!
Thanks by the way.

[Ray Bell]

I don't think anyone mentioned a thread about F5000...

They were great cars. I think that's a generally accepted thing around here.

[NeilR]

...though as has been discussed here recently...

[SJ Lambert]

Anyone got a copy of the Australian National Formula 1.5 (that they can post here) as it stood in 1966???

[cooper997]

James, you just need someone with a 1966 CAMS Manual lying around.

 

I can do so from a 1967 Manual, if that would suffice.

 

Stephen

[SJ Lambert]

Thanks Stephen, 1967 would be a pretty good start!!!  ( I suspect they'll be no difference between the two).

 

Thanks heaps.

 

James

[cooper997]

James, hopefully these cover your requirements. Starts on the second page, but you then need to refer to the first...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen

 

[Paul Hamilton]

Anyone got a copy of the Australian National Formula 1.5 (that they can post here) as it stood in 1966???

 

James, the earliest CAMS manual I have is for 1968 which was the final year of ANF 1.5 litre but I doubt that there would have been any change .  The 1968 version simply read as follows:

 

Automobiles of the 1st Category complying with the following formula:

Australian 1.5 Litre Formula  (A1.5F)

Capacity:  up to and including 1,500cc.

No. of Cylinders:  maximum of four

Aspiration:  Unsupercharged 

Fuel:  Commercial fuel as defined by CAMS.

[Ray Bell]

Except that it was always 1½, not 1.5...

Typically it was described as 'ANF 1½'. And as I posted previously, there was a 2-valve limit imposed at some time around the end of the sixties.

[Glenn Moulds]

I have just checked the 1966 manual and can confirm that it reads the same as the 67 and 68 editions quoted above.

[SJ Lambert]

It's interesting to see GC's views on the National Formulae & nice to see that he liked them both, he may well have had a valid point about limiting the 1 1/2s to pushrod motors, but that would have presumably had Aussie cars that were otherwise built to similar specs to Euro & North American offerings out of step with the rest of the post FJ world?