A Formulae Overview
Formula racing is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport. The origin of the term lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the FIA, for all of its post-World War II single-seater regulations, or "formulae". The FIA was established back on June 20, 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organizations. The best known of these formulae are Formula One which occupies the very top of the open wheel ladder internationally. Common usage of "formula racing" encompasses several competitive series of single-seater racers.
During the early 1950s, open wheel cars were front engined roadsters. The primary ladder series in North America included sprints and midgets. In 1956, when the United States Auto Club, USAC, became the primary sanctioning body for top-level Indy car racing, the ladder of progression began to change. By the end of the 1960's, and into the 1970s, the cars evolved into rear-engine formula-style machines. Likewise, the feeder series began to follow the same mold.
The SCCA Super Vee and Formula Atlantic series were among the first formula-based ladder series. However, neither had any direct tie to USAC. In 1977, USAC started the "Mini-Indy" series, using Super Vee machines. The series ended after 1980 when USAC stopped sanctioning Indy car races outside of Indianapolis.
Following the end of the "Mini Indy" series, the driver pool in the early 1980s to CART and the Indy 500 was drawn in a largely unorganized fashion amongst Super Vees, Atlantics, SCCA, former Can-Am drivers, sprints, midgets, and even stock cars and off-road racing. In addition, a number of CART series drivers during the 1980s and early 1990s were former Formula 1 competitors, most of whom had climbed the European-based ladder series.
Following the end of the "Mini Indy" series, the driver pool in the early 1980s to CART and the Indy 500 was drawn in a largely unorganized fashion amongst Super Vees, Atlantics, SCCA, former Can-Am drivers, sprints, midgets, and even stock cars and off-road racing. In addition, a number of CART series drivers during the 1980s and early 1990s were former Formula 1 competitors, most of whom had climbed the European-based ladder series.
History of Formula VEE
To understand the history of Formula Super Vee, it's best to start with the origin of the Formula Vee.
The Formula Vee class was based on a pre-1963 Volkswagen Beetle, utilizing a collection of the stock parts to form a competitive race car around a purpose-built tube frame and racing tires. The VW engine, transmission, front suspension, brakes and wheels are stock or modified stock parts. The chassis is a tube frame design and the body is fiberglass or carbon fiber. The intention of this class is for the average person to build and maintain the car.
"In Florida in 1959 VW dealer and motorsport enthusiast Hubert Brundage was trying his hand at motor racing with VW based specials. He found it expensive and they were unsuccessful. However, Brundage still believed it was possible to be competitive using VW parts so that the average man-in-the-street could maintain and afford it. While on a business trip to Italy he visited race car builder Enrico Nardi. Brundage had been impressed by the quality of their racing steering wheels and commissioned them to produce a Beetle-based single-seater.
By 1962 there were eight Formula Vee's racing with cars of similar power. Famously four got a run in an SCCA touring car race in Savannah, GA and three of them finished 1-2-3.
SCCA Official George Smith and garage owner Bill Duckworth took the concept a stage further by producing the Beetle-based formula racing cars, Formcar for short, in volume. The first other manufacturer to come in was Eugene Beach who produced customer cars in quantity and a Formula Vee series was started by the SCCA in 1963.
At that point Porsche AG got interested in this. after all they were effectively the competition arm of Volkswagon, and competition boss Huschke von Hanstein ordered 10 Formcars and Beachs. The Vee concept was therefore explored in Germany and some drivers we recognize today started their careers: Jochen Mass, Dieter Quester, Gerhard Mitter and Marc Surer.
Volkswagen themselves saw this as a marketable concept and started to co-ordinate the launch of Formula Vee worldwide.
"In Florida in 1959 VW dealer and motorsport enthusiast Hubert Brundage was trying his hand at motor racing with VW based specials. He found it expensive and they were unsuccessful. However, Brundage still believed it was possible to be competitive using VW parts so that the average man-in-the-street could maintain and afford it. While on a business trip to Italy he visited race car builder Enrico Nardi. Brundage had been impressed by the quality of their racing steering wheels and commissioned them to produce a Beetle-based single-seater.
By 1962 there were eight Formula Vee's racing with cars of similar power. Famously four got a run in an SCCA touring car race in Savannah, GA and three of them finished 1-2-3.
SCCA Official George Smith and garage owner Bill Duckworth took the concept a stage further by producing the Beetle-based formula racing cars, Formcar for short, in volume. The first other manufacturer to come in was Eugene Beach who produced customer cars in quantity and a Formula Vee series was started by the SCCA in 1963.
At that point Porsche AG got interested in this. after all they were effectively the competition arm of Volkswagon, and competition boss Huschke von Hanstein ordered 10 Formcars and Beachs. The Vee concept was therefore explored in Germany and some drivers we recognize today started their careers: Jochen Mass, Dieter Quester, Gerhard Mitter and Marc Surer.
Volkswagen themselves saw this as a marketable concept and started to co-ordinate the launch of Formula Vee worldwide.
Birth of the Formula Super VEE
In 1969 Josef Hoppen, Special Vehicles Manager of Volkswagen of America, and head of the motorsport department at Volkwagon, approached the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and proposed the creation of a new Formula Super Vee Class as a substitute for the overpopulated Formula Vee class.
Super Vee was created as a platform for the promotion of VW products. The Formula Super Vee was formally announced as an SCCA national class in November 1969 as well as a championship series for the new class for the following year, despite the fact that no cars existed at that time.
Super Vee was created as a platform for the promotion of VW products. The Formula Super Vee was formally announced as an SCCA national class in November 1969 as well as a championship series for the new class for the following year, despite the fact that no cars existed at that time.
To assist the launch of the new formula, Hoppen commissioned Gene Beach, an established Formula Vee constructor, to design and build the first SuperVee's. He did so and put the first Beach SV on display at the 1970 Daytona 24 hour race. Beach was but on of the first three constructors of Formula Vees along with Autodynamics and Formcar.
SuperVee's designed and built by Ray Caldwell's Autodynamics concern soon joined the Beach SV. The second SV, the Caldwell D-10 was put on display at the New York Auto Show. Other manufacturers from the ranks of Formula Vee, such as Zink, as well as main stream manufacturer's, such as Lola, soon followed suit.
Initially, the series allowed 1600cc air-cooled engines of either Type III, as used in the Squareback or Fastback, or Type IV, as used in the Type 4 or Porsche 914. Late stage, Volkwagon dictated the use of the Type IV engine as it was a better option. It's worth noting that the Type IV engine was never produced in 1600cc displacement. Instead, Volkwagon produced a "special" 1600cc version through their industrial engines division (127V unit), with smaller pistons and barrels, reducing capacity to 1600cc's. Formula Super Vee Evolved In 1974, eight (8) inch rear wheels, rear wings, and 34mm exhaust valves were introduced. The gearbox saw evolution as well. Originally, the regulations specified a non-Hewland gearbox so cars ran with the fixed ratio VW transaxle. In Europe a company called Metso constructed a "Hewland like box" that provided the ability to change ratios to suit each circuit, exploiting the wording of the regulations that simply banned Hewland boxed. Once the cars started to use the Metso, the regulation was changed and Hewland boxes were allowed. |
Zeitler's Super Vee's
John Zeitler, constructor of the Zeitler SV's built his first cars around the same time as Beach and Caldwell/Autodynamics. What is notable is that Zeitler won the very first SV race at Lime Rock Park in 1970 running with the FF's. |
In 1978, engine regulations were opened, allowing water-cooled engines from the VW Golf/Rabbit. The water cooled engines ultimately replaced the air-cooled engines which were deemed to be uncompetitive. The SCCA did allow 1700cc air-cooled engines towards the end of the air-cooled period in an effort to keep them competitive with the water cooled cars joining them on the grid.
As with any formula, Formula Super Vee progressed through a number of changes during its life. Initially, for example, the cars ran without wings and used drum brakes at the rear (Series 1 - 1969 - 1973) . Later the regulations allowed the use of 8-inch rear wheels, rear disc brakes and 34 mm exhaust valves, in1973, and then rear wings in 1975 (Series 2 - 1974 - 1976). Since slick tires had yet to be introduced into racing, the cars ran with treaded racing tires, such as the Firestone "No-DOT", but later moved onto slicks.
Much later, SERIES 3 - 1978 - 1982 (1990) engine regulations were also opened up, allowing water-cooled engines from the VW Golf, or Rabbit as it is known is North America. The water cooled engines inevitably replaced the air-cooled, which were rendered uncompetitive.
In the UK, many of the air-cooled cars were converted to accept the water cooled engine. The SCCA in the USA did allow 1700cc air-cooled engines towards the end of the air-cooled period to remain competitive as the water cooled cars joined the grid.
Ultimately, the most developed version of the Super Vee was to be found in the USA (due to death of the series internationally). By the mid-80's, Super Vee in the US had supplanted Formula Atlantic as the "formula" feeder for Indy cars, so much so that the series had picked up the moniker "Mini-Indy" series. At that time (mid-80's) Ron Tournac's Ralt RT5 had a monopoly in the US series.
Much later, SERIES 3 - 1978 - 1982 (1990) engine regulations were also opened up, allowing water-cooled engines from the VW Golf, or Rabbit as it is known is North America. The water cooled engines inevitably replaced the air-cooled, which were rendered uncompetitive.
In the UK, many of the air-cooled cars were converted to accept the water cooled engine. The SCCA in the USA did allow 1700cc air-cooled engines towards the end of the air-cooled period to remain competitive as the water cooled cars joined the grid.
Ultimately, the most developed version of the Super Vee was to be found in the USA (due to death of the series internationally). By the mid-80's, Super Vee in the US had supplanted Formula Atlantic as the "formula" feeder for Indy cars, so much so that the series had picked up the moniker "Mini-Indy" series. At that time (mid-80's) Ron Tournac's Ralt RT5 had a monopoly in the US series.
Click the button below to see the original specifications of the Formula Super Vee or take an in-depth look at the Series 1 cars.