Formula Mazda
 

Anyone have any insight, information, or oppinions on standard formula mazdas? I am looking to sell my ITS car and go back to open wheel stuff and am very interested in the FM's. If anyone has any budget/cost ideas or other thoughts I would appericate it, thanks fellas.

I have a couple friends that have had them and they are pretty stout cars. Running them has gotten cheaper because of the availability of used cars. I know my friend's car is back up for sale after the guy that bought it decided not to campaign it. Its the 2000 Pro series championship winning car and I think he wants about 18k for it. He paid 16k for it but he did all the updates that were needed so 18k is a good deal. I can find the info on it if you have not seen the ads. And I can hook you up with Bernardo if you want any coaching in the car.
To go out and have fun you don't need the multiple sets of shocks to get the 'right set' and the engines will go a couple seasons. Its pretty much tires and fuel until you have an 'off'.

good to hear, you say pro series....what is that? I thought pro mazda cars were in the region of six figures for a good car. Or is there a series for the standard formula mazdas beside what I have seen in SCCA? Thanks!

He means it ran in the pro series before the pro series went the the carbon tub cars.

-billy

bean13, being that your from Wisconsin why don't you contact Bob & or Jamie Bach of Saukville Wisconsin. Bob is the dad & Jamie is the son who is maybe 25 years old at this time. He won the SCCA National championship approx 3 years ago. Either would most likely fill you in on the info your looking for. IIRC he also raced very sucessfully a Pro Mazda for a year or so. He now races a P2 (?) Mazda in the Pete La-Mann (however it's spelled) series. The car had been in fix mode for a month or so after an off course from oil & another car lost it in the same oil & T- boned Jamie.

Where in Wisconsin are you from , who are you & which ITS car do you race.

'zactly, The Pro series was based on the original cars until the new ones came out. They were(are?) about $40,000 new. You used to be able to run three different series(reg, nat, pro) with the cars. And I think the Russell school uses them as well.

wow, great to hear. Dave D.- I run an uncompetative second gen in Midwestern Council, silver and orange. Sounds like jamie is living my dream....petit leman....phew! Do you know them personally? PM me with some contact information if you feel that would be apropriate for me to call them out of the blue sota speak. My name is Reid Hazelton, I am in Burlington, about 40 minutes south west of Milwaukee, I think that puts me about little over an hour south on Saukville. Thanks alot!!!

And, if I read the news release correctly, Skip Barber is using them now.

[edit: oops, nevermind. They are using Mazda piston engines (2.0L??) in their formula cars]

-b

bean13, you have a pm.

As far as the spec classes go, Formula Mazda seems to be one of the best. The cars are fast, stout, and engines last forever. However, like all the spec classes, the guys up front are terrific drivers with very well prepped cars, so to progress from mid pack to competing for the win is a pretty big jump. But, it will sure teach you to drive and prep your car.

Yes Russell runs the Star mazda chassis but with different bodywork and a few different suspenssion bits, I Ran they're series about six years ago and can say that I Highly reccomend the Star car as a starter forrmula car. very cheap and a real blast to drive.