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HISTORY 101
INTRODUCTION TO The history of fira
As in any form of motor sport, the technologies of the Formula Indy car are
specific to the class but in the case of the Formula Indy Car,
are actually snip its
of individual technologies taken from other forms of motor sports. The
typical Formula Indy race car started as a big go kart complete with a
centrifugal clutch (albeit CVT), chain drive and no suspension. As in any form
of auto racing, the vehicle has gonethough an evolutionary process, and this
process is generally based upon, performance tempered with cost. The Formula
Indy car was created:
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To be an inexpensive alternative to other forms of racing
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To bring the Indy or formula style to asphalt oval racing
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To allow participation without huge costs of tools, trailers garages etc.
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To be as safe as possible.
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And to go as fast as possible considering all of the above.
Like the strange animals that evolved in Australia and the Galapagos Islands,
the evolution of the Formula Indy race car has been different in FIRA than
NAMRA, Montana or Ohio. Each group has functioned for years without much input
from the other and each has evolved independently of the other according to the
needs of their respective markets. FIRA and NAMRA technologies are very similar
and in fact, only minimal modification on either car will allow it to comply
with either’s rule book. The primary difference at this time appears to be the
application of suspension and engine sophistication. So, NAMRA is the
grandparent of the sport and accordingly, there are several chassis
manufacturers who have come and gone over the years.
by: Phil Groebe
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The history of MMcRA as I remember it,1976 -1978 by Thomas Scott
Memories & clippings of 1976,
supplied by Thomas (Scotty) Scott,
MMCRA/ MMRA/FIRA #17, 1976 thru 1978. Enjoy.
(Note some of the payouts & problems mentioned, sound
familiar?)
Scotty at Sliger Speedway in 1977
The history of MMCRA/MMRA/FIRA from 1976, as I remember it.
I was involved from 1976 thru 1978. I believe the club started in 74?
I first saw the mini champs run at lake Geneva in July of 1976, It was a wild race with cars from Wisconsin , Illinois and Michigan, about 20 cars were at the race. I was hooked though I had never raced I just new I wanted to try this type of racing. I think the car cost $2600.00 and had 1 race on it.
I went to Slinger the next week end July 11, 1976 and found an almost new 1976 Kyotee , A Father had bought for his son , lost interest and wanted to sell. A very stock car. A liquid cooled 440 Kohler motor. (stock) So it was off to lake Geneva the next week end for my first race.
July 16th 1976 Lake Geneva WI. ( LG
was a tight 1/4 mile oval back then with a drag strip running right
through the middle of both turns )
15 cars. Fast time 17.52 set by Greg Johns from Grand Rapids, MI. Driving a
factory sponsored Kyotee
Feature winner, Delmar Uphoff (Cottage Grove WI.)
Greg Johns blew a motor in the heat race while challenging Dick Hautzinger (Crystal Lake IL.). Greg put in a new engine and finished 2nd Delmar in the feature.
July 18th 1976 Slinger WI.
10 cars. Fast time Kobbervig (Milwaukee) 13.976
Feature winner, Kevin Konop
Spectacular roll over in heat race McDonald and Scott got together in turn one McDonald ended up on the nose of Scott’s car. The roll over was the first in mini-champ action at Slinger
July 23rd 1976 Lake Geneva, WI.
13 cars. Fast time Dick Hautzinger 18.73
Dick Hautzinger passed Delmar Uphoff on last lap to take 15 lap Feature win.
My take home was $21.75 6th in feature
July 25th Slinger, WI.
7 cars. Fast time Denny Hughes (Oshkosh WI.) 14.062
The evenings most spectacular mishap took place on lap one of the mini champ event. Hughes and Johnson tangled sending Hughes into a flip, when Hughes’s car landed it bust into flames his driving suit ablaze he rolled on the track surface to extinguish the flames. He was taken to Hospital but released before the end of the night.
Note Rule change no more flip type gas caps allowed and gas tanks must be properly mounted.
July 30th 1976 Lake Geneva, WI.
8 cars. fast time Delmar Uphoff 17.76
feature rained out
August 5th 1976 Slinger, WI.
5 cars. Fast time Delmar Uphoff 14.169
Feature winner # 42 Uphoff (MSC EAGLE)
August 6th Lake Geneva, WI.
Feature winner #8 Dick Hautzinger
August 8th 1976 Slinger WI.
6 cars. Fast time Delmar Uphoff 14.283
Feature winner Bob Peterson (Glendale WI.)
Payout $15.00 for 3rd in feature
August 15 1976 Slinger, WI.
4 Cars. Fast time 14.568 McDonald
Feature winner Peterson
payout $18.00 2nd in feature
August 22nd 1976 Waukegan IL.
10 cars. Fast time ?
Feature winner, Dick Hautzinger
Rich Voss of Dubuque Iowa hit the backstretch wall after throttle stuck during trophy dash ,tearing off the entire body.
August 28th West Allis, WI.
Wisconsin State Fair Park
We raced around the pit wall on the mile track
( I believe this was a demonstration race/show
to try and develop interest.)
August 29th 1976 Waukegan IL.
12 cars. Fast time Dick Hautzinger 14.20
Feature winner Larry Hillerud (Arlington Heights, IL.)
Note Hillerud went on to drive Sprints and Midgets winning the Badger Midget Championship.
Payout $12.00 5th in Feature
September 5 1976 Waukegan, IL.
13 cars. Fast time Delmar Uphoff 14.25
Feature winner Greg Johns (Kalamazoo, MI.)
Payout $24.00 3rd in Feature
At our next meeting it was decided that racing tires would be allowed until that time only trailer tires were legal in our club at that time. Thus racing against cars from other clubs put us at a disadvantage. But we needed the car count and let them run with us. Thus the first split of the MMRA. Some felt the cost of the new tires was to expensive.
Some of the Wisconsin members went on to form the FRRC (Fox River Racing Club).
They continued to race mini champs at Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR) and 141 Speedway. They continued this format of no suspension and no racing tires for years. As of now FRRC runs a sport truck division at WIR and local tracks. These are mini champs with a pickup body.
We had members from all over Illinois and Wisconsin. The hardest part was getting them to show up at all the races. Drivers at that time ranged from 18 to 60 years old. As you can tell the schedule was very full I ran 16 shows when I started racing in July of 1976.
I will continue with the year 1977. I will be sending you some pictures and some additional stories, A great one about Dick Hautzinger and Dick Trickle at Plover, WI . More to come.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Below is a link to a race page set up by my Brother, It is on my Dad, Landy
Scott who was involved with & raced Badger Midgets from 1939-1961.
Landy Scott is Semi-Retired and living in Las Vegas NV.
Below is a link to that race page.
A very interesting site, take a look!
Wally,
FIRA Webmaster
Page 2, Chassis Identification < Click Here