Spec Racer Ford

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Spec Racer Ford is a class of racing cars used at Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and other road racing events. The Spec Racer Ford, manufactured and marketed by SCCA Enterprises (SCCA subsidiary, Inc.), is a high-performance, closed, open cockpit steering wheel, custom racing car made for paved road courses such as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow Raceway Park , Road America, Watkins Glen, and many other tracks throughout North America. With over 900 cars produced, it is the most successful road racing car built in the United States.

Video Spec Racer Ford

History

Spec Racer was first conceived as an inexpensive sport racing class by director of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Ted Cronin, in the early 1980s. The car was developed and originally manufactured by Renault/Jeep Sport USA in Livonia, Michigan under the direction of Vic Elford. The car, designed by Roy Lunn, was introduced to SCCA Club Racing in 1984 as "Sports Renault." After Renault quit the program in 1989, the car was named "Spec Racer (SR)." The original Renault/Spec Racer sport is the only SCCA Regional class and several Renault-powered cars are still competing in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), the Midwestern Council of Sports Cars Club (MCSCC) and the Independent Motorsports Group (IMG) event. In 1994, a 1.7 liter Renault engine supply that could be rebuilt dries up in the United States. SCCA made the decision to replace the original Renault drivetrain with a 1.9-liter engine and a five-speed transmission manufactured by Ford Motor Company. This change gives SRF an additional 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) to 105 - enough to push the car along at speeds up to 135 mph (217 km/h). Ford Motor Company began providing a new drivetrain in 1994 and the cars with a Ford powertrain were renamed "Spec Racer Ford (SRF)." For a period of time, both Spec Racers (Renault powered) and Ford Spec Racer (Ford powered) are both racing on SCCA. More recent changes to what is now called "Spec Racer Ford" include the now standard "tallman kit", which is an extension of the original rear roll (which is designed too low), the Penske shock absorbers in addition to the original Konis, Butler Building the driver's seat , rims, rear wheel clippings, engine coolant recovery system, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, safety modifications for brakes and smaller optional alternators. During the lifetime of the car, there are several gradual changes in different parts to improve endurance. Tires are Hoosier Racing Radial Tires in both versions of dry and rain tires, specially manufactured for SRF. SRF still uses original Renault brake calipers, external CV connections, and knuckle suspension.

In early 2013, SCCA Enterprises announced a third generation (GEN3) Spec Racer Ford powered by a 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder, 135 Ford Ford engine mounted on a holder and engine transmission. On-track testing by fleet test cars is conducted during 2013 and 2014 for launch to the SCCA competition by 2015. By 2015, the SRF3 class, the new GEN3 is made and is now competing along with the previous GEN2 (1.9-liter) cars. The existing 1.9-liter Spec Racer (SRF) Ford will continue to qualify for SCCA Club Racing National class apart until the end of 2017 after which it will remain competitive in SCCA Club Racing as a Regional-only class. SRF3 cars compete in SCCA Major, Divisional, and Regional events.

Maps Spec Racer Ford

Technical

The SRF rule specifies that no performance improvement modifications other than the suspension adjustment in the described parameters can be made to the car. This effectively eliminates the never-ending need for design improvements and the substantial cash expenditure required in other classes of racing cars to remain competitive and place a focus on driver skills, rather than financial and technical investments. Each Ford Spec Racer has the same weight using a ballast that can accommodate drivers who weigh about 260 pounds, using the same machine, same transmission, the same fiberglass body, the same chassis, even the same tires. The idea is that all cars are meant to have identical performance, so the only way to go faster is to be a better driver. SRF's engine, transmission, and shock absorbers are sealed with anti-vandal devices that make it impossible to modify these components undetected. In addition, many parts of the car, including suspension arms, fiberglass, and metal sheets are marked for compliance checking with a distinctive holographic-specific tamper sticker bearing the Spec Racer Ford logo. SCCA Enterprises regularly employs compliance officers to conduct unannounced inspections of Spec Racer Fords at SCCA Major, SCCA Regional and SCCA Pro Racing events across the US.

Spec Ford Racer not finished Penguin paint by Gareth Lavelle ...

src: www.tradingpaints.com

Specifications

Frame Tube Frame
Contents: fiberglass, 3-section
Suspension: front/rear rocker arm, coil-over shock/spring, arm "A" bottom, two externally adjustable anti-roll bars
GEN2 SRF: Ford 1.9L fuel-injected, water-cooled cHH culus valve, SOHC 8-valve, hemispherical head, inline 4-cylinder (derived from Ford Escort) and dynamometer tested and sealed by SCCA Enterprises
GEN3 SRF3: Ford Sigma 1.6L, sequential material injection, DOHC 16-valve, 4-cylinder inline (derived from Ford Fiesta) by Ford Performance and dynamometer tested and sealed by SCCA Enterprises
ECU: Ford Motorcraft on GEN2, modified for racing, sealed by SCCA Enterprises. New to GEN3 is Electronic Performance, Ltd. PE3 is sealed by SCCA Enterprises.
Ford's 5 speed manual transmission, sealed by SCCA Enterprises (Tilton dual-plate clutch coupling on GEN3)
Continental tire radial-ply spec tires, dry and rainy versions available.
Special exhaust, exhaust spek required on GEN3 SRF3
Wheels: 13 inch specs from Shelby, Weld or (current suppliers) Pack. Can also run wheels labeled wheels spec.
Brake Pad: Eagle (bearing specifications)
Cockpit Adjustable Brake Bias
H-Pattern gear shifter
Silencer: Penske Racing (current supplier) or Koni (original) - Single adjustable, rebound only - sealed by SCCA Enterprises
92 in wheelbase (2,337 mm)
1,670 pounds (757 kg). GEN2 SRF and 1560-lb GEN3 SRF3, including driver
Instruments: tachometers, oil pressure, water temperature, alternator warning lights, data acquisition system
105Ãƒ, hp (/- about 0.75Ãƒ, hp) GEN2, 135Ãƒ, hp GEN3
Fuel Capacity: 7.75 US Gal (29Ãƒ, L; 6Ãƒ, gal) ATL Fuel Cell
Fuel: only commercial pump fuel, typically 93 to 100 octane
135 mph (217Ãƒ, km/j) GEN2 peak speed, maximum speed 150 mph on GEN3