Formula Ford, one of the most popular road racing classes in North America, reached an important milestone this year: 30 years of racing in the United States. To celebrate, Budweiser and the California Sports Car Club Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) are hosting the 30th Anniversary Formula Ford Festival at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Oct. 16-17. The first Formula Ford race was held in Kern County (at Willow Springs Int'l Raceway in Rosamond) and was also organized by Cal Club.
On March 23, 1969, Jules Williams drove a Goodyear-tired, 1600cc, Ford-powered Lotus to victory in the first Formula Ford event ever sanctioned by then Connecticut-based Sports Car Club of America.
Formula Fords are lightweight, single-seat racing cars powered by four-cylinder Ford engines turned to produce about 110 horsepower. Introduced as a training class in England in 1967, these relatively inexpensive "scaled down Grand Prix cars" were instantly popular. Interest in the class blossomed quickly in many other parts of the world. America formally recognized FF in 1969 and within two seasons it was the most popular class in SCCA club racing. Many of the world's greatest racing champions began their careers in the cockpit of a Formula Ford, including Bakersfield racer Scott Atchison, who won the 1985 SCCA national FF championship.
Today's FF machines are much more sophisticated (and expensive), which has fueled interest in separate classes for older chassis, classed Club Ford and/or Spec Ford. Even older models race under the Vintage Ford banner.
Formula Fords of every description will be represented at the Buttonwillow event. Saturday's slate includes practice and qualifying sessions as well as the first of two weekend races for the popular Star Mazda Series. On Sunday, the first of six races starts at 11 a.m. All this activity should give race fans a good feel for the racing class that launched the careers of Formula 1 champions Ayrton Senna and Emerson Fittipaldi, as well as Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan and sports car champion Geoff Brabham.
Besides the Formula Ford classes and the double Star Mazda Series races, the weekend also includes the Spec Racer Fords and Formula Ford 2000s.
Gates open at Buttonwillow Raceway Park at 8 a.m., both Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices are $10 for the weekend. The track is located on Lerdo Highway, 1/2-mile west of the I-5. For more information, please call (661) 764-5333.
