24 replies to this topic

[Keir]

Anyone know of or is involved in any plans to attend the party ??

[Cirrus]

Which birthday party is this Keir? I'm not that well up on Vees - is it the 45th anniversary?

[Peter Leversedge]

Tell me more please
Ex F Vee Racer !! [ only two meeting in the 60's if I remember correctly]

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

The class debuted in 1964, iirc. Certainly, that's when it got its launch in NA. Was it pre-dated elsewhere?

[Ray Bell]

The first Vee to be seen in Australia was a Formcar... which was demonstrated at Warwick Farm in July 1965...

[RA Historian]

Formula Vee has been having Birthday Parties every five years since 1983. That year and in 1988 the event was a stand alone event at Road America. 1993 I believe it was also, but I missed it as I was off at another event. In 1998 it ran as part of the Brian Redman International Challenge, while in 2003 it was reduced to two short races as part of the June Sprints. The first couple drew fields of over 100 Vees each. The event five years ago probably drew less than half that. So, after five runs at Road America the event has moved on to another track this year. I hope that someone involved with it will post the details here, as I know little more than I believe it is in Savannah this year.

As I recall, FV had its start in the US in the early 60s. Herbert Brundage, of Brumos Motors, imported a Nardi powered by a VW engine. Interest was piqued, and soon Formcar was established, building the first production Vees, which bore a resemblance to the Nardi. Said Nardi was at one of the Road America reunions a number of years back. Vees began sprouting like weeds in 1963 and they are still going strong. A venerable class, still strongly supported, and still providing some of the best racing around. Long live F-Vee!

[Jacer]

It's the 45th held in april at Roebling Road Savannah. Ray, the Formcar is still alive in the hands of a well known Qld car hoarder!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Jacer
.....Ray, the Formcar is still alive in the hands of a well known Qld car hoarder!

Frank Moore?

It was an ugly thing, I don't recall that it ever raced here, though it might have had a few runs, maybe in Queensland?

Nothing matches the CB Vees, though. Style, simplicity, success rate, great cars, Britto did very well with them.

[Keir]

Vee is still the best !! 45 and going strong !!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Keir
Vee is still the best !! 45 and going strong !!

You can say that and you still haven't seen a Cee Bee Vee (aka Rennmax)?

Here's TNFr (inactive, unfortunately) Damon Beck... a Jeff Nield transparency taken coming off the Northern Crossing at Warwick Farm and heading across to where I was:



And thanks to Autopics for putting that online for us. And this one, from the Lance Ruting negs, all available through Autopics... this is across the Causeway at the Farm with two Rennmaxes leading a home made Fatouros:

http://www.autopics....mages/67561.jpg

[Jacer]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


Frank Moore?

It was an ugly thing, I don't recall that it ever raced here, though it might have had a few runs, maybe in Queensland?

Nothing matches the CB Vees, though. Style, simplicity, success rate, great cars, Britto did very well with them.

John Holmes. It was big enough to fit 2 people inside it or maybe one John!

[Ray Bell]

Oh, it's in the Toowoomba pile too?

Right out of place alongside all those Birranas!

[Bruce R Moxon]

Greg McCombie has his old Formcar, as well, which he's restoring, last I heard.

For those outside Australia, there is now a class for Historic Vees, built up to 1985 (actually 2 classes, with a cut-off of 1975). Fields are small, but getting bigger, slowly.

Must be a lot of cars in sheds, is all. So Catalina, how's that MJM coming along?


Bruce Moxon

[Catalina Park]

It is still in the shed. (I think? It is up the back under the Cooper S bits : ) At this rate it might make the 50th anniversary.

[Bruce R Moxon]

Originally posted by Catalina Park
It is still in the shed. (I think? It is up the back under the Cooper S bits : ) At this rate it might make the 50th anniversary.

I'm sure we can find someone to take it off your hands....



BM

[Mark_Silverberg]

The 45th FV Birthday party will be held 4,5, and 6th at Roebling Road near Savannah, GA.

All aircooled VW powered race cars are welcome and race groups will be established for all.

The event will be sanctioned by the SCCA with assistance on the vintage side by VDCA.

Official Press release follows . . . .


When you were young, what was one of the most fun things you could do? Going to a Birthday Party was something we all looked forward to with great enthusiasm.

Well, for the Formula Vee contingent, its time to start planning. The date and place of the Formula Vee’s 45th Birthday Party have been set. The Vintage Driver’s Club of America (VDCA) and the SCCA’s Buccaneer Region are inviting you to come race and party with the large FV family. The famous Roebling Road circuit will be home for the 2008 edition of the Birthday Party on April 4, 5, and 6. Yep, a 3 day event.

The weekend’s events are only for VW-based formula cars and sports racers. No other makes will be running. The racing is open to Monoposto Racing (MR) compliant vintage FVs, other vintage FVs, current SCCA FVs, FST, Super Vee (air and water cooled), and VW powered sports racers. There will be many heat races so everyone will get lots of track time.

Roebling Road will be a great place for the Birthday Party. Its racer friendly, and its newly paved 2.02 mile, 9-turn layout is perfect for Vees. The long front straight will test your drafting techniques and T-1 will then test your courage. The backside has long sweeping, fast turns that require the typical FV smooth driving style.

Another great thing about Roebling Road is that it’s only 20 miles outside of Savannah, Georgia. You can stay at a first class hotel, or many economy choices are available. However, the Flash Racing team will be staying at one of the beautiful antebellum B&Bs that are all over the city. Savannah is a wonderful place to stay and spend a few extra days sightseeing.

Ya say ya need a motor? No problem. Enter a 2008 Birthday Party race group, and you may get what you wish for. A full Noble National motor with intake and carb will be given away to one lucky race group entrant.

Fred Clark and Butch Deer, along with a very dedicated group of volunteers that stretches across the country, are the organizers for this exciting event. Fred owns Caracal Cars and has been a Formula Vee business partner for many years. He is assistant regional executive for the Buccaneer Region of the SCCA and was instrumental in securing the track for us. Fred can be reached at ClarkFV@bellsouth.net or 904-234-5603.

Butch Deer of Dre/Wrep has organized many, if not all, of the past birthday celebrations. Butch and his partner Ron Rutenberg have supplied components and help to the FV community for many, many years. In fact, Butch has raced a Formula Vee in each and every year of its existence, that’s 44 years. You can be sure he’ll be there for the 45th. You can contact Butch at Butch_Deer@mindspring.co. or 859-963-8313.

The VDCA has, and will be, spending many hours on the vintage portion of the Birthday Party. VDCA has been sanctioning vintage races in the southeastern part of the country for several years and has a large MR compliant FV contingent. Their focus for the Birthday Party will be on the Group #1 shown below. If you have questions on this group, you can contact Mike Jackson of VDCA at vdca@vintagedrive.com or by phone at 561-622-7554. You can learn more about this organization at http://www.vintagedrive.com


The race groups will be:

1. Monoposto Racing compliant, Vintage FV. VDCA will be supporting this group by providing tech and eligibility determination.

2. Historic FV. This group will include non-Monoposto Racing Vees, VW powered sports racers, air-cooled Super Vees and FST. (If 15 or more FSTs pre-register, they will get their own run group.)

3. Water-cooled Super Vees.

4. Current SCCA legal FV. (There will be as many current FV groups as needed)


Thanks to Fred, Mike, and Butch for all your help in planning and running the upcoming Birthday Party. Without guys like you, it wouldn’t happen. Now is the time for the rest of us VW racers to start planning our April 2008 trip to Savannah.


For more information on the event as it develops, please visit http://www.FV45birthday.com or http://www.buccaneerregion.org or http://www.vintagedrive.com where informational links will be available in the near future.


By Dick Ryan (aka FLASH the Formula Vee pilot)
Freelance Automotive Journalist

End of press release



I hope to be running in the vintage class in my 1965 Zink

[Keir]

Anyone feel like lending me a car for a lap or two or three or .....................

[ErleMin]

For info, UK Formula Vee celebrated its 40th anniversary at Brands Hatch at the end of July last year. There was a historic race with Kaimans, Caldwell, Sheane, Hawk(e), Veemax, Austro & Beach. The current UK series is so popular now that 57 entries were received for this race, requiring a heat & final as usual. Races for German Formel Vau and Irish Vee were also held. The parade, led by 1975 winner Ian Flux (in his winning car) included VW Beetles and Camper vans so the short circuit was covered with Vees of one sort or another. The party in the evening had a full attendance and I read out the good wishes sent from Jan Brundage (Hubert's son) courtesy Paul Schiemer who worked at Formcar in the early days.

[Lotus23]

Sounds like great fun! I plan to be there as a spectator.

My total FV driving experience was limited to a few hot laps in a buddy's Vee in practice around '65. The neat thing is that those laps were at Roebling Road, which we then called Savannah International Raceway.

My strongest memory of the experience is how visible the front wheels were compared to the 23!

[Greg McCombie]

You're right Bruce, the Formcar I raced in 1974!!!! is here going through resto....long job. Built as a kit in the US, it was originally brought in by Bernie Haehnle, raced by him and others including Enno Buesslemann. I bought it from Garry Power's widow, it was sitting under a tarp in the back yard of her place at Ashfield. Originally I was only going to use it for club lap dashes etc, but got the bug and the rest is history. Have an interesting photo of the first time I drove it at Amaroo dirt circuit end of 1973 if you tell me how I will post it!

[Ray Bell]

Instructions are on a thread at the top of the page, Greg... though they've been swamped by later posts...

Somewhere as you go through the first page of the thread you'll see pics I've posted of how to do it... ahh... for an old mate... just click here and it will show you how.

The pages have changed a little since then, but you'll soon see how it's done. And welcome to the forum, hope you stay around. As you can see, others here have raced Lotus 23s!

[Greg McCombie]

Thanks Ray.... will have a go when I have some time...Good to see you still around!

[Ray Bell]

Look forward to seeing what you've got, Greg... and yeah, 'still around' I surely am... are you still on the Gold Coast? I think you were there last I heard...

When you post pics, try to keep them to about 700 pixels wide.

[Mark_Silverberg]

For those who may be intersted in attending the event on April 4-6 at Roebling Road please sent me a PM. Nominally it is a private event but I can probably find you a slot on a crew. If not an SCCA member you will have to buy a temporary membership for the weekend ($15 I believe). I am always looking for help on race weekends - it is very light duty and you will be treated very well.

[TEJ]

The Vintage Racing Club of British Columbia (Canada) is planning a Formula Vee race for cars of any vintage at its annual Historic Motor Races at Mission Raceway on August 16 & 17. The details are yet to be worked out. www.vrcbc.ca