****Sorry for the double post. The first didn't have any title for some reason although I gave it one I thought! So, here it is in more descriptive form. Hope you enjoy!***


In this months issue if Racecar Engineering (a VERY good British racing engineering mag-but also do cater to US racers as well. The gist of the article is that the current US teams are wanting a more reliable engine for Formula Ford other than the current Zetec and Duractec engines. the Duratec engines are lighter than the Zetec, however, the Duratecs will put a racer at the top of the tier in FF and thus, more difficult for less ecperienced drivers on a budget.

Now, however, Honda and their HPD arm has come in with the Honda Fit engine for use in the lower level (most popular) of Formula Ford engine at the current. However, they are expensive AND they and theyre English counterpart only several thousand miles twix teardowns or so(i could be wrong as im goin off of memory here).

In england they still use the Kent engine which unbelievably needs a teardown after about 1k miles or less of racing and the Honda....oh.....about 7K miles or so. and even then honda engineers have only had to do minor housekeeping on them-nothing major. just preventative maintenance. Unfortunately, Ford England has a very tight grip on that series there and the honda engines most assuredly will never see ANY track time at all.

On our side of the pond (and the right one I may say-sory to offend but I dont care!) the scca is still deciding on whether to allow it into the series. And the great thing is that HPD will provide direct parts and help to all whom buy the engines. Now comes the cost.......please keep in mind first that a 30 year old refinished Kent Ford engine will cost you about 12,000 british pounds and the honda lump will cost a thousand more. But again with that you get:

1. a dry sump oil system
2. a new intake manifold made for the FF chassis (possible to be used in our cars? hmmm...)
3. a modified exhaust-basically the header are permanent as they are apart of the head but honda has made a new downpipe and they said that is where the low end tq is at. And the BIG winner for the Honda lump is this: the Kent engine needs a rebuild after about 700 miles of track use. The honda......try 6-7,000 miles of track use!!!! (I think I may already have mentioned that sorry if so!)

So, for us Americans (and yes that includes you Canadians too as you do live in NORTH AMERICA so you too are technically Americans whether you like it or not! this is a great thing if you into Formula Ford and the SCCA approves it. One other note, whilst many of you are sitting there in your posh chair thinking that "yeah" but the entire engine is reworked and blah blah blah." -WRONG! The engine is STOCK-period!! The only mod is the dry sump system that honda has developed for use in it. Im wondering if itll fit on ours!!! yummmy!!! Oh, the valve train is stock and etc, the only other mod mentioned is the intake manifold as its turned around for the raised plenum of the the open seat racer.

So....what do y'all think about this? I think it shows that our little stock engines are prolly some of the strongest little engines being sold-especially if it can be used in hard racing for 7k miles or more!!! And one last thing. HPD put these engines on a "brake'" to test them and they did so at 6,000rpms for around 40 plus hours at a time. Unbelievable! I just wanna know what kinda oil theyre using!!! Im gonna go for some Total Quartz synthetic 0w=30 or the FE 5w=20. I really doubt theyre using something that low in viscosity. Id bet theyre using like a 15w50 or so for racing.

Oh and the horsepower is regulated for the series. the Honda engines will make only 114bhp compared to our 117bhp. Of course depending on when ur car was made some people ive heard are getting north of 120hp. and as high as 123hp or so stock. who knows.......but the article is REALLY good!!! Im gonna go back and getone tomorrow night! Remember, its called RACECAR ENGINEERING. and it about $10 per issue.

Beare, the magazine is from England=so of course our dollar does crap against their properly regulated Pound sterling since its based on REAL tangible precious metals rather than our fiat money. thats another discussion for a different day!!! Fight on to defeat the Fed fellow Libertarians!

I just found out that the SCCA HAS approved the HPD HONDA L15A7 to be used in this years Formula Ford series!!! Whooo HOO!!! heres the link: Autoblog — We Obsessively Cover The Auto Industry