FORMULA VEE

                                                        Racing for the People

Introduced to SA in the mid 60's t he plan was to  introduce a race class t hat the man in the st reet could design, build and race within a reasonable budget using readily avail able parts, the class already existed in other countries an d quickly became very popular in South Africa.

The  majority  of  the  parts  came  from  the  venerable  VW Beetle , the front suspension had to be  retained  in  its entirety, although spring rates and anti-roll bars could be changed , the trans axle/ swing-axle had to be retained, albeit turned around and kept within a specified wheelbase, and the engine had to be the 1300 cc single-port unit, modified within strictly controlled parameters . The carburettor was a 32 mm downdraft item robbed from a Peugeot and the distributor could have the advance curve modified or a suitable approved alternative installed.

Over the years the rules remained virtually untouched until 1990, which is why older and newer generation aircooled vees all run at a very similar pace, the only concessions to technology being changes in wheel sizes and tyre profiles, as these also appeared on the donor vehicles.

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