Formula 600 (F600) [1] is a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC) open wheel road racing class.
Formula 600 was originally introduced in the early 1980s as Formula 440 (F440) and continued as Formula 500 (F500) through the 2022 season before being renamed to Formula 600 (F600), and is a closely regulated class. Several chassis manufacturers produce different designs to a tight dimensional ruleset. Engines are specified by the ruleset, and builders are not allowed to modify engine internals. Instead of traditional dampers and springs, F500 cars utilize a very simple elastomeric spring medium contained in a cylindrical canister. The rules state the elastomer must be 2" in diameter by 1" in thickness, but the design and implementation of the elastomeric springs (commonly called "pucks" by the competitors) is wide open. Additionally, each chassis manufacturer produces bodywork of their own design, which adheres to dimensional constraints. These regulations allow for very competitive racing at a relatively low cost, which rewards driver and car set-up skills. In 2023, the class was renamed to Formula 600.
Formula 600 cars are powered by a two-cylinder, water-cooled two-stroke engine or a four-stroke 600cc motorcycle engine. Modern cars use either the Rotax 494, or Rotax 493 originally produced for Ski-Doo snowmobiles. Motorcycle-engined cars use the Honda CBR600RR, the Suzuki GSXR600, or the Yamaha R6 engine. Older cars, mostly used for Solo events these days use the Kawasaki 440/A engine. The AMW 500L-85/250-2 R2c engine, while legal for use in Formula 500 racing, is rarely used these days.
The SCCA also now allows the use of 600cc motorcycle engines with a sequential transmission as an alternative to the two-stroke engines. The usage of this engine requires a 28mm intake restrictor and a higher minimum weight of 900 pounds for the car in order to keep performance the same as the two-stroke powered cars. Cars using these engines are often unofficially referred to as Formula 600 cars, although they still race in the same Formula 500 class. [2]
The Kawasaki 440/A engine, produced by Kawasaki, is a 436 cc piston port engine utilizing 38 mm Mikuni VM series carburetors and a tuned dual exhaust. While this engine is no longer competitive in road racing, it is still widely used in Solo II and Autocross events. Like all F500 engines, except for the AMW, the Kawasaki was originally produced as a snowmobile engine. It has been out of production since the early 1980s. Parts for these engines are becoming more difficult to find.
The AMW 500L-85 engine, built by Two Stroke International was introduced to F500 in 1994. It is a 497 cc reed valve engine using twin 38 mm Mikuni SuperBN carburetors. To keep the performance of these larger, more powerful engines in line with prior engines, SCCA mandates the use of a spec Y exhaust manifold and single tuned pipe on the AMW engine. Unlike the other engines used in F600, the AMW engine is a derivative of a light aircraft engine. This engine is no longer in production, and is not supported by the manufacturer.
Introduced for the 1997 season was the Rotax 494 engine. Rotax builds racing and industrial engines for a wide variety of applications, including aircraft, motorcycles, go-karts, snowmobiles and watercraft, The Rotax 494 engine is a 499cc rotary-valve engine. Like the AMW, the Rotax utilizes a 2 into 1 "Y" exhaust manifold and a single tuned expansion chamber exhaust. The Rotax engine utilizes the same 38 mm Mikuni VM carburetors as the Kawasaki. The Rotax engine has become, by far, the most popular engine in F500 road racing. The Rotax 494 went out of production for Ski-Doo following the 2000 model year. Ski-Doo/Rotax ended support for it shortly thereafter. Some parts however, are still available through dealers and online outlets.
In 2004 SCCA added the Rotax 493 [3] to the list of approved engines. The 493 has the same bore and stroke as the 494. However, unlike the 494, is a reed valve engine. It also runs Mikuni VM series carbs and the "Y" exhaust manifold like its cousin the 494. Cars running the 493 engine are required to run at a higher minimum weight to maintain parity with the older 494 and AMW engines. Like the 494, the 493 also went out of production for Ski-Doo following the 2003 model year. Support for it ended in 2007. As with the 494, some parts are still available through dealers and online outlets.
In 2011 SCCA added the Rotax 593 to the list of approved engines. The 593, (more commonly known as the Ski-Doo 500ss) is a 600cc version of the reed valve 493 engine. It also runs Mikuni VM series carbs and the "Y" exhaust manifold like the other Rotax engines, but are required to run a specified intake restrictor to keep power output on par with the 500cc 493 engine. Cars running the 593 engine are also required to run at a higher minimum weight to maintain parity with the older 494 and AMW engines. The 593 remains in production for Ski-Doo to date, rebadged from "500ss" to "600" in 2010.
In 2021 SCCA allowed the use of the rotax 593HO or high output.
Engine specifications are tightly regulated by the SCCA. No engine modifications are permitted in formula 600. Engines must be run in stock form "as delivered" from the factory. No aftermarket parts, port modifications, or other variations from stock configuration are allowed. This helps keep costs down and means close competition on the track.
Two-stroke F600 cars use an advanced Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), similar to that used in snowmobiles.
These simple belt driven automatic transmissions are tuned to optimize the power curve of a two-stroke engine, constantly keeping the engine at its peak power. One of the key benefits of the CVT is that it is a stepless transmission. This allows all of the engine's power to be transmitted to the drive wheels at all times.
Motorcycle-engined cars use the same sequential transmission used in the motorcycle that the engine came from. This is typically operated by paddle shifters attached to the steering column.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs has crowned Formula 500 National Champions since 1997. The original Formula 440 class competed at the SCCA Runoffs from 1984 - 1996.
Class | Year | Track | Champion | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Pole Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F440 | 1984 | Road Atlanta | Michael Leathers | Danny King | Ray Little | Danny King |
F440 | 1985 | Road Atlanta | David W. Elliott | Danny King | Nick D'Amico | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1986 | Road Atlanta | Michael Leathers | David W. Elliott | Brad Hulings | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1987 | Road Atlanta | Michael Leathers | David W. Elliott | Brad Loehner | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1988 | Road Atlanta | Dave Drissel | Brad Loehner | Paul Elliott | Brad Loehner |
F440 | 1989 | Road Atlanta | David W. Elliott | Dave Drissel | Michael Leathers | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1990 | Road Atlanta | Paul Elliott | David W. Elliott | Brad Hulings | Wesley Wilfong |
F440 | 1991 | Road Atlanta | Paul Elliott | David W. Elliott | Chris Shultz | Paul Elliott |
F440 | 1992 | Road Atlanta | Chris Shultz | Mike Brent | Paul Elliott | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1993 | Road Atlanta | Greg Grennan | Paul Elliott | Rusty Cook | David W. Elliott |
F440 | 1994 | Mid-Ohio | David W. Elliott | James Martin Elder | Rusty Cook | Aaron Ellis |
F440 | 1995 | Mid-Ohio | Ramon Partida | Tim Tibbals | Ron Vince | Andy Lally |
F440 | 1996 | Mid-Ohio | Jack Bennett | Wesley Wilfong | Howell C. Jones III | Jim Hale |
F500 | 1997 | Mid-Ohio | Mike Brent | Wesley Wilfong | David Lapham | Mike Brent |
F500 | 1998 | Mid-Ohio | Ron Vince | David Lapham | Wesley Wilfong | Jeff Auberger |
F500 | 1999 | Mid-Ohio | Jeff Auberger | Mike Brent | David Mitsch | Aaron Ellis |
F500 | 2000 | Mid-Ohio | Aaron Ellis | Jim Schultz | Rusty Cook | Fred Edwards, Jr. |
F500 | 2001 | Mid-Ohio | Elivan Goulart | Jeff Jorgenson | Calvin Stewart | Thomas Edwards |
F500 | 2002 | Mid-Ohio | Elivan Goulart | Doug Marsh | Kenny Price | Elivan Goulart |
F500 | 2003 | Mid-Ohio | Jonathan Dick | Brian Novak | Rusty Cook | Doug Marsh |
F500 | 2004 | Mid-Ohio | Jonathan Dick | Aaron Ellis | Jason Morales | Doug Marsh |
F500 | 2005 | Mid-Ohio | Doug Marsh | Wiley McMahan | Mike Brent | Mike Brent |
F500 | 2006 | Heartland Park | Bryan Golay | David Cox | Steven Jondal | Jason Knuteson |
F500 | 2007 | Heartland Park | Brian Novak | Jason Knuteson | James F. Libecco | Jason Knuteson |
F500 | 2008 | Heartland Park | Jason Knuteson | Aaron Ellis | David Lapham | Jason Knuteson |
F500 | 2009 | Road America | Jason Knuteson | Patrick Gallagher | Aaron Ellis | Patrick Gallagher |
F500 | 2010 | Road America | Patrick Gallagher | Michael Mueller | David Lapham | Jason Knuteson |
F500 | 2011 | Road America | Michael Mueller | Jeremy Morales | C.J. McAbee | Michael Mueller |
F500 | 2012 | Road America | Michael Mueller | C.J. McAbee | Mike Vacek | Jason Knuteson |
F500 | 2013 | Road America | James Weida | Aaron Ellis | Steve Jondal | James Weida |
F500 | 2014 | Laguna Seca | Brian Novak | Wiley McMahan | Jeff Jorgenson | Brian Novak |
F500 | 2015 | Daytona | Calvin Stewart | Matthew Strand | James Weida | Wiley McMahan |
F500 | 2016 | Mid-Ohio | Steven Thompson | Brian Brothers | Tom Diehm | Calvin Stewart |
F500 | 2017 | Indianapolis | Wiley McMahan | Sven de Vries | Steven Thompson | Wiley McMahan |
F500 | 2018 | Sonoma | Lance Spiering | F Russell Strate Jr | John W Walbran | Jeff Jorgenson |
F500 | 2019 | VIR | Wiley McMahan | Calvin Stewart | Eric McRee | Wiley McMahan |
F500 | 2020 | Road America | Wiley McMahan | James Weida | Calvin Stewart | Calvin Stewart |
F500 | 2021 | Indianapolis | Sven de Vries | Ryan Mayfield | Calvin Stewart | Ryan Mayfield |
F500 | 2022 | VIR | Sven de Vries | James Weida | Eric McRee | James Weida |
F600 | 2023 | VIR | Calvin Stewart | Jason Martin | Keith Joslyn | Calvin Stewart |
A two-strokeengine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of the crankshaft. A four-stroke engine requires four strokes of the piston to complete a power cycle during two crankshaft revolutions. In a two-stroke engine, the end of the combustion stroke and the beginning of the compression stroke happen simultaneously, with the intake and exhaust functions occurring at the same time.
A straight-twin engine, also known as an inline-twin, vertical-twin, or parallel-twin, is a two-cylinder piston engine whose cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
A snowmobile, also known as a snowmachine, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not require a road or trail, but most are driven on open terrain or trails. Snowmobiling is a sport that many people have taken on as a serious hobby. Common brand names in the United States include Arctic Cat, Polaris Inc. and Ski-Doo.
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft (PWC) manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company. The term is often used generically to refer to any type of personal watercraft used mainly for recreation, and it is also used as a verb to describe the use of any type of PWC.
Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Products. Under the Rotax brand, the company is one of the world's largest producers of light piston engines.
BRP Inc. is the holding company for Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., operating as BRP, a Canadian manufacturer of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, side by sides, motorcycles, and personal watercraft. It was founded in 2003, when the Recreational Products Division of Bombardier Inc. was spun off and sold to a group of investors consisting of Bain Capital, the Bombardier-Beaudoin family and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Bombardier Inc., was founded in 1942 as L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée by Joseph-Armand Bombardier at Valcourt in the Eastern Townships, Quebec.
A U engine is a piston engine made up of two separate straight engines placed side-by-side and coupled to a shared output shaft. When viewed from the front, the engine block resembles the letter "U".
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used.
The Aktiv Grizzly was a dual-track snowmobile made by Aktiv Maskin Östersund AB in Sweden from 1979 to 1991. The Grizzly is still recognized one of the best dual track snowmobiles in the world. The snowmobile's tracks covered almost one square meter, making it well suited for use in deep snow. Similar dual-track snowmobiles include Bombardiers Ski-Doo Alpine, Ski-Doo Alpine 2 and Ockelbo 8000. Currently two dual-track snowmobile are in production, one in Russia under the name "Buran" and one in Italy, "Alpina Sherpa".
Yvon Duhamel was a French Canadian professional motorcycle and snowmobile racer. A six-time winner of the White Trophy, the highest award in Canadian motorcycle racing, he was one of the most accomplished motorcycle racers in Canadian motorsports history. His motorcycle racing career spanned the transition from the 60 horsepower four-stroke motorcycles of the 1960s, to the 100 horsepower two-stroke motorcycles of the 1970s. Duhamel was a versatile rider competing in numerous motorcycle racing disciplines including; trials, motocross, ice racing, drag racing, flat track racing and most prominently in road racing as a member of the Kawasaki factory racing team.
Formula 1000 (F1000) is an open wheel class of Formula car racing with professional and amateur series worldwide. Formula 1000 gets its name from the 1000 cc super-bike engine used to power a single seat, open wheel race car with fully adjustable wings and suspension. Currently in the United States, F1000 runs in SCCA under the FA class or under SCCA Pro Racing with the North American Formula 1000 Championship.
Clayton Jacobson II was an American inventor who was credited with inventing the jet ski. Before the jet ski, he worked in wholesale food where he met his wife Dianna.
Sno-Jet was a brand of snowmobile first produced in Quebec, Canada in 1965. They quickly proved popular and grew to be one of the highest-selling lines of snowmobiles until the early 1970s, helping usher the then-new sport of snowmobiling into Canada and the United States. The Glastron Boat Company acquired Sno-Jet in 1968. The company lost popularity after losing many races to Polaris colts. It was then sold to Kawasaki in 1976, who used the Sno-Jet name until 1980.
The Kawasaki 440, also called the T/A 440, is a Japanese twin-cylinder, in-line, two-stroke engine that was designed for snowmobiles and produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries until the early 1980s.
The 2si 540 and 2si 500 are a family of in-line twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual ignition, aircraft engines that were designed for ultralight aircraft.
2si was an American engine manufacturer located in Beaufort, South Carolina. The company was a wholly owned subsidiary of the AMW Cuyuna Engine Company, formerly known as the Cuyuna Development Company.
The Kawasaki H1 Mach III was a two-stroke 500 cc sport bike made by Kawasaki from 1969 through to 1975.
The A7 Avenger is a 350 cc (21 cu in) Kawasaki motorcycle sold 1967 through 1971.
MotoAmerica is the organization that promotes the AMA Superbike Series since 2015. Sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), it features six classes of road racing: Superbike, Stock 1000, Supersport, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and Mini Cup.
The Polaris RMK is a series of snowmobiles made by Polaris Industries. All RMK models are powered by two-stroke engines. The RMK was introduced in the 1996 model year by Polaris to compete in the mountain market. The acronym originally stood for "Rocky Mountain King". The RMK name is still in use today, has been used on many chassis and engine variations, and is primarily used to indicate the snowmobile is designed for mountain or deep-snow use.
http://racingthef500.com] Non-commercial and most active online forum dedicated to the current SCCA Formula 500 class