Also a new formula Vee owner here from southern California, I also plan to race on the vintage class, more info on the actual requirements for the class regarding the safety requirements like fuel cell certificate and safety gear would be great! I've got a 1995 BRD.
Hey Paul, congrats on your new vee as well! I really like the idea of covering the safety requirements in more detail. Will definitely have to do that for a future video!
@@jcolowracing987 In addition to the fun of working on it, you'll really know the car, which will made it easier to prep and race. Looking forward to when you get it on track.
I noticed your intake has at least one “ding”. That should be addressed as it will cost you HP. If it hasn’t been run since the early 2000’s you should have the engine inspected/rebuilt by a good engine builder. Changing the stock oil cooler for a good aftermarket unit will help the motor last longer. Amsoil should be used in the engine and transmission. It is tolerant of much higher temperatures than any petroleum oil.
Hey Jim, Thanks for commenting! I'll have to look into the intake at some point. Right now I'm less worried about HPs since my initial goal is to get the car running and to a drivers school but the time for maximizing performance will come soon enough. The engine is actually significantly newer than the car. It was built by Dave Carr of Autowerks in 2013 and supposedly has not been run since purchase. Luckily Dave has been really helpful over the phone so far in helping me identify the best course of action with this engine. He recommended I get it running and take it to drivers school to shake it down before going through the process of a rebuild which is my plan as of now.
@@jcolowracing987 Do what you want. However, I would seriously recommend that at the least…Remove the heads and check the cylinders and valve seats for rust. I used to build my own motors and would see a slight surface rust after 4-6 months of not running a motor. If you find any, very slight hone of the cylinders and a thorough cleaning will restore the seal with the rings. If there is any on the valves, it’s probably best to leave it if you haven’t done that before. But you will know the condition it is in. It’s not difficult to disassemble a motor to do that. Just be VERY careful to make sure you know where each part comes from so you can put it back in the same place. Get a book on how to rebuild a VW motor. Make sure it has a reference to 1200 motors, torque specs and tools you will need. Yes, there are videos, but on a workbench in the garage, a book is more practical. As far as HP goes. The car setup and handling will change with more power. I did the same thing you are doing and I should have raced less and invested in better parts. It wouldn’t have taken me as long to improve. 7 years to win my first race, then in 16 races, 9 wins and 2 lap records. Good luck, it’s a lot of fun. I would still be doing it, but I ran out of $$$.
Those are definitely great points. A rebuild is for sure in my future sooner rather than later. Likely within the next 12 months. There are a few other major expenses that need a bit more attention right now but I fully intend on using the best parts I can find available to make the car competitive. As for using a book I could not agree more. As a start I downloaded Jim Schings FV Manual and the corresponding digitized VW parts manual (which i then de-digitized by printing for shop use) and they have been invaluable resourses thus far. I will have to look into getting a book specifically regarding rebuilding the 1200. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!! I haven't gotten the opportunity to drive it yet but I'm really excited to see how it compares. I know the iracing vees are more powerful, 1600cc as compared to 1200cc, since they conform closer to international fvee regulations
hey man awsome, im looking to start my racing carrier and formula vee is really looking like a place to start for me, any suggestions that you might give? im also in east coast.
Hey bud, curious if you ended up getting into it. Im new to Motorsport as of a year ago, but my best friend and I want to get into formula vee. Any tips for a newbie? Im also on the east coast
Sorry to say but that was a bit of a waste of money replacing all the brake lines, I work on and maintain a fleet of formula vee's and rarely use new parts of any kind most everything can be repaired or refreshed for much less. Just a thing to keep in mind for the future.
No problem! I figured as much but I was working off the recommendations of the previous owner at the time. One of the brake lines did have a bad kink in it so that one definitely needs replacement but the rest are in good shape still. At least I have some spares now I guess
@@jcolowracing987 always good to have spares. If you would like to check out some videos of my boss racing or check out the company it's Bigger Hammer Racing.
Karting is much cheaper. More competitive. And has much lower operating costs than running a Vee in SCCA or VSCDA. You'll never be competitive at an SCCA National with that car. And probably not at a Regional race either. But try to have fun anyway.
Hey Brian, Thanks for the tip! I actually will be addressing that in a future video. My step-father owns a machine shop and was able to fabricate a small vertical support brace which should help reduce vibrations and protect the intake through the years
@@jcolowracing987 yes, definitely add a brace that car bolt up to the carb to help support it. There are very specific rules about what you are allowed to do with the intake manifold that can be found in scca's GCR. You may want to make a vertical brace to support that new exhaust towards the rear, its a lot of weight hanging off the exhaust studs. Good luck, hope to see you on the track!
![POLYCAT - ข้อความรูปยิ้ม [Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lBhIgPGCgbI/mqdefault.jpg)
I just bought a Formula Vee also and I'm going to race mine in the Vintage Vee series with VSCDA. Looking forward to watching your progress:)
That's awesome! Its so great that the class is still growing so strong despite the regulations staying relatively unchanged for the last 50 years
D13’s are a great vee to get started in. You’ll have a blast with it!
Hell Yes! SO INTERESTING! Keep going and best of luck! Looking forward to the onboard of the first race!
Much appreciated!! I'm definitely looking forward to the first race as well!
Bro, the design its just so beautiful!
Nice looking car! I used to watch these cars race at Mosport back in the early 70's. Interesting video... new subscriber here. Good luck. :)
Much thanks! I have raced the Vee at Mosport on iRacing but would love to try it out in real life one day.
Also a new formula Vee owner here from southern California, I also plan to race on the vintage class, more info on the actual requirements for the class regarding the safety requirements like fuel cell certificate and safety gear would be great! I've got a 1995 BRD.
Hey Paul, congrats on your new vee as well! I really like the idea of covering the safety requirements in more detail. Will definitely have to do that for a future video!
Despite the work that needs to be done, it looks like you got a clean, solid car.
Much thanks! It’s a bit of a project but that’s half the fun!
@@jcolowracing987 In addition to the fun of working on it, you'll really know the car, which will made it easier to prep and race. Looking forward to when you get it on track.
Awesome, thank you.
Gorgeous car mate! Congrats. You're racing in the USA, right? Tells us about the costs of the championship. Best of luck, have fun!
Much thanks! Yep I am racing on the East Coast USA. I will be sure to continue updating the costs as I go
Can’t wait to see the progress!
Thanks! Hoping to have new episodes at least weekly
awesome!!!
Very cool
Thanks Frederique! Hoping some of the WW experience transfers over to the real thing!
I race these on iRacing all the time. I've never had the opportunity to see one in person. Good luck with this. I'll follow along
What are do you live in?
The Vee's used in iRacing are completely different than those raced in the US.
Im 42 and looking into getting a V and starting racing.
I noticed your intake has at least one “ding”. That should be addressed as it will cost you HP. If it hasn’t been run since the early 2000’s you should have the engine inspected/rebuilt by a good engine builder. Changing the stock oil cooler for a good aftermarket unit will help the motor last longer. Amsoil should be used in the engine and transmission. It is tolerant of much higher temperatures than any petroleum oil.
Hey Jim, Thanks for commenting! I'll have to look into the intake at some point. Right now I'm less worried about HPs since my initial goal is to get the car running and to a drivers school but the time for maximizing performance will come soon enough. The engine is actually significantly newer than the car. It was built by Dave Carr of Autowerks in 2013 and supposedly has not been run since purchase. Luckily Dave has been really helpful over the phone so far in helping me identify the best course of action with this engine. He recommended I get it running and take it to drivers school to shake it down before going through the process of a rebuild which is my plan as of now.
@@jcolowracing987 Do what you want. However, I would seriously recommend that at the least…Remove the heads and check the cylinders and valve seats for rust. I used to build my own motors and would see a slight surface rust after 4-6 months of not running a motor. If you find any, very slight hone of the cylinders and a thorough cleaning will restore the seal with the rings. If there is any on the valves, it’s probably best to leave it if you haven’t done that before. But you will know the condition it is in. It’s not difficult to disassemble a motor to do that. Just be VERY careful to make sure you know where each part comes from so you can put it back in the same place. Get a book on how to rebuild a VW motor. Make sure it has a reference to 1200 motors, torque specs and tools you will need. Yes, there are videos, but on a workbench in the garage, a book is more practical.
As far as HP goes. The car setup and handling will change with more power. I did the same thing you are doing and I should have raced less and invested in better parts. It wouldn’t have taken me as long to improve. 7 years to win my first race, then in 16 races, 9 wins and 2 lap records. Good luck, it’s a lot of fun. I would still be doing it, but I ran out of $$$.
Those are definitely great points. A rebuild is for sure in my future sooner rather than later. Likely within the next 12 months. There are a few other major expenses that need a bit more attention right now but I fully intend on using the best parts I can find available to make the car competitive. As for using a book I could not agree more. As a start I downloaded Jim Schings FV Manual and the corresponding digitized VW parts manual (which i then de-digitized by printing for shop use) and they have been invaluable resourses thus far. I will have to look into getting a book specifically regarding rebuilding the 1200. Do you have any recommendations?
Also for anyone interested in that FV Manual themselves the link is here www.formulavee.us/Bookfiles/Getting_Started_In_Formula_Vee.pdf
Its pretty much a big Go kart inside. Pretty nuts
It really does look that way when you pull the bodywork off. Amazing how little there is to it
Absolutely no resemblance to a racing kart in any way, shape or form.
Very interesting. Best of luck ! How applicable has the iracing Formula Vee been to the real thing?
Thanks!! I haven't gotten the opportunity to drive it yet but I'm really excited to see how it compares. I know the iracing vees are more powerful, 1600cc as compared to 1200cc, since they conform closer to international fvee regulations
hey man awsome, im looking to start my racing carrier and formula vee is really looking like a place to start for me, any suggestions that you might give? im also in east coast.
Hey bud, curious if you ended up getting into it. Im new to Motorsport as of a year ago, but my best friend and I want to get into formula vee. Any tips for a newbie? Im also on the east coast
Are you still racing this car? I'm looking for one.
What's the cheapest formula to get started
I'd love to buy a roller and put a gsxr engine in it
That would be insane but also amazing! There are some pretty crazy autocross vees out there because there is much less restriction on the engines
Sorry to say but that was a bit of a waste of money replacing all the brake lines, I work on and maintain a fleet of formula vee's and rarely use new parts of any kind most everything can be repaired or refreshed for much less. Just a thing to keep in mind for the future.
No problem! I figured as much but I was working off the recommendations of the previous owner at the time. One of the brake lines did have a bad kink in it so that one definitely needs replacement but the rest are in good shape still. At least I have some spares now I guess
@@jcolowracing987 always good to have spares. If you would like to check out some videos of my boss racing or check out the company it's Bigger Hammer Racing.
@@bears7872 I've seen bigger hammer racing cars before for sale. Some really nice ones in the fleet. I'll check some of the videos out
Karting is much cheaper. More competitive. And has much lower operating costs than running a Vee in SCCA or VSCDA. You'll never be competitive at an SCCA National with that car. And probably not at a Regional race either. But try to have fun anyway.
Good job being supportive.
The real question is, how do you make it street legal? Lol
Now that would be a project! There are pictures of people driving vees on the streets in the Bahamas during the old classic Nassau speed weeks
@@jcolowracing987 nice, there must be a few states that would allow that with some fender covers and headlights
Take care of that intake, they are fragile and very expensive.
Hey Brian, Thanks for the tip! I actually will be addressing that in a future video. My step-father owns a machine shop and was able to fabricate a small vertical support brace which should help reduce vibrations and protect the intake through the years
@@jcolowracing987 yes, definitely add a brace that car bolt up to the carb to help support it. There are very specific rules about what you are allowed to do with the intake manifold that can be found in scca's GCR. You may want to make a vertical brace to support that new exhaust towards the rear, its a lot of weight hanging off the exhaust studs. Good luck, hope to see you on the track!