The way Formula Vee has kept costs down is to use production car parts from the VW Beetle. In fact Formula Vee is a single seater Beetle racing car. It uses the complete front axle beam, complete rear transaxle, 1300cc engine, standard gearbox and brakes – all from the VW Beetle.

The car is not made any more but the spare parts are and the aftermarket is strong with several nationwide suppliers providing new parts and you can always get some bits off the shelf from your local VW dealer. Above all you will find a good exchange of Vee bits among the drivers, some of whom run their own VW garages.

The engine uses air restrictors issued by the club to keep the power similar for all. Costs are minimised on tyres too because only one tyre from Dunlop (produced specifically for Vee) can be used, wet or dry to equalise performance and no wings are allowed, keeping the technical challenge as simple and straightforward as possible.

All these controls, taken together with the tight, well-policed regulations make sure that emphasis is on driver ability. The best driver wins!

Vehicle Type: Single-seaters, of free design and construction. A variety of constructors offer a complete car or a bare chassis and many cars have been converted from Formula Ford 'Kent' chassis. Wings and other aerodynamic aids are prohibited and a minimum weight including driver evens things out.

Engine: 1300cc air-cooled VW Type 1/2/3 engine. Restrictions on valve size, bore & stroke; compression ratio and camshaft is free. Induction is two chokes, with restrictor plates. Engine power is about 85bhp and average lap speeds are 90 - 95 mph.

Suspension: Front is VW axle, hubs, stub axles and torsion bar. The majority of the VW rear suspension components have to be used.
Brakes VW 'Beetle' discs (or drums) on the front with VW drums on the rear.

Transmission: The VW Type 1 gearbox must be used, along with set VW ratios. Limited slip diff or similar traction-control is prohibited.

Tyres: All cars must use the Dunlop control tyre.

Rounds: 14 rounds in the average season; some 'double-headers', quite a few qualification races due to excellent numbers.

Formula Vee is run by the 750 Motor Club – whose theme is LOW COST. The season runs from March to October and the championship has about 15 races on tracks all around the country from Brands Hatch in Kent to Oulton Park in Cheshire so there should be at least one near you. The average season’s costs are between £3,000-£6,000, much of it travelling so at first choose circuits that are nearer to you. You do not have to enter all the races. Also 750 Motor Club membership, registration costs and entry fees are the lowest of all organising clubs. Generally each raceday will consist of 15 minutes qualifying in the morning followed by a 10 lap race in the afternoon. Formula Vee is so popular now that novices get their own race and sometimes there are two championship rounds in the same weekend which could mean four races). After you have gained some experience you can race abroad at Nurburgring and Hockenheim in the German Series with your Vee.