THIS MOD REQUIRES CUSTOM SHADERS PATCH >= 0.1.79
THE CLASS
Originally introduced in the SCCA club racing rules as Formula 440 in the early 80s, Formula 500 is a unique low-cost racing class built around inexpensive, low-displacement motors, minimal aerodynamic devices, and simple-but-effective suspension components.
As originally conceived, the class used a two-stroke snowmobile engine and associated CVT transmission to drive a go-kart style solid rear axle. In 2014, lightly-modified 600cc motorcycle engines were added to the formula to broaden its appeal. To keep suspension costs down, the class uses neither dampers nor springs – instead, 2” diameter rubber pucks take the place of coil springs, and damping is provided by clamping friction between suspension links and the chassis. (Snowmobile engines and hockey-puck-based suspension? No points for guessing what part of the United States F500 comes from!)
That’s not to say that these cars are primitive, though. F500 car designer Jay Novak (after hours from his day job in Ford’s NASCAR program) developed sophisticated suspension bellcrank geometry to get linear spring rates from the rubber pucks, which is replicated across most class-leading cars today. CFD analysis has also lead to the widespread adoption of prototype-esque bodystyles with partially-faired wheels for drag reduction, and as a result these cars can see speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour in a straight line. The simple underlying systems, however, keep build and operating costs low – about half of the cost of a US-spec Formula Ford car – and enable tinkering owners to design, tweak and optimize their cars with home-shop tools and know-how. A competitor in the related F Modified autocross class recently designed and built an entirely new car in his garage, over the winter off-season, and took home third and first place wins in the open and ladies’ classes at Nationals the following year.
THE CAR
The car represented here is a Scorpion S1, one of the few F500 chassis still being produced new for purchase. It is equipped with an aerodynamic carbon-fiber body and is powered by a Suzuki GSXR600 motorcycle engine and paddle-shifted sequential transmission. Cars based on this chassis have placed highly at the annual SCCA Runoffs every year since its introduction, with multiple overall victories.
Features include:
THANKS
Many thanks to IER Simulations, who developed the physics for this mod, as well as Matt Strand of Satellite Racing, who supported the project and provided lots of reference models and photos. Thanks as well to real-world F500 drivers Ryan Mayfield and (back-to back Runoffs F5 champion) Sven de Vries, who provided testing and feedback to ensure that the car looks, feels, and drives like the real thing. Finally, thanks the SCCA F500 & F Modified community on Facebook for their interest, enthusiasm, beta test reports, and livery reference images.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Help! When I try to load the game with this car, it crashes the game/flies into space/drives like it’s on ice!
The suspension physics rely on @Stereo and @mclarenf1papa ’s Cosmic physics extension, which is only available in CSP version 0.1.79 and above. The car may or may not load in earlier versions of CSP, but it will behave unpredictably at best. You must use a supported version of CSP for this car to load and drive properly.
I installed the right version of CSP, but I’m still having problems!
This issue was noted in private testing and appears to be a problem with CSP. Downgrading to an earlier version and then reinstalling 0.1.79 appears to resolve the issue in most cases.
AI cars are being launched into the air on certain kerbs!
You may be using a preview release of CSP 0.1.79; this behavior has been largely corrected in the public release. Please update to the latest public version.
THE CLASS
Originally introduced in the SCCA club racing rules as Formula 440 in the early 80s, Formula 500 is a unique low-cost racing class built around inexpensive, low-displacement motors, minimal aerodynamic devices, and simple-but-effective suspension components.
As originally conceived, the class used a two-stroke snowmobile engine and associated CVT transmission to drive a go-kart style solid rear axle. In 2014, lightly-modified 600cc motorcycle engines were added to the formula to broaden its appeal. To keep suspension costs down, the class uses neither dampers nor springs – instead, 2” diameter rubber pucks take the place of coil springs, and damping is provided by clamping friction between suspension links and the chassis. (Snowmobile engines and hockey-puck-based suspension? No points for guessing what part of the United States F500 comes from!)
That’s not to say that these cars are primitive, though. F500 car designer Jay Novak (after hours from his day job in Ford’s NASCAR program) developed sophisticated suspension bellcrank geometry to get linear spring rates from the rubber pucks, which is replicated across most class-leading cars today. CFD analysis has also lead to the widespread adoption of prototype-esque bodystyles with partially-faired wheels for drag reduction, and as a result these cars can see speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour in a straight line. The simple underlying systems, however, keep build and operating costs low – about half of the cost of a US-spec Formula Ford car – and enable tinkering owners to design, tweak and optimize their cars with home-shop tools and know-how. A competitor in the related F Modified autocross class recently designed and built an entirely new car in his garage, over the winter off-season, and took home third and first place wins in the open and ladies’ classes at Nationals the following year.
THE CAR
The car represented here is a Scorpion S1, one of the few F500 chassis still being produced new for purchase. It is equipped with an aerodynamic carbon-fiber body and is powered by a Suzuki GSXR600 motorcycle engine and paddle-shifted sequential transmission. Cars based on this chassis have placed highly at the annual SCCA Runoffs every year since its introduction, with multiple overall victories.
Features include:
- 20 different skins, based on real-world liveries of SCCA F500 competitors
- High-fidelity vehicle physics developed by @mclarenf1papa of IER Simulations and validated by race-winning F500 drivers
- Fully-moving suspension components
- Functional and fast AI (it will come within a couple seconds of the F5 lap record at most circuits)
- Custom SFX
THANKS
Many thanks to IER Simulations, who developed the physics for this mod, as well as Matt Strand of Satellite Racing, who supported the project and provided lots of reference models and photos. Thanks as well to real-world F500 drivers Ryan Mayfield and (back-to back Runoffs F5 champion) Sven de Vries, who provided testing and feedback to ensure that the car looks, feels, and drives like the real thing. Finally, thanks the SCCA F500 & F Modified community on Facebook for their interest, enthusiasm, beta test reports, and livery reference images.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Help! When I try to load the game with this car, it crashes the game/flies into space/drives like it’s on ice!
The suspension physics rely on @Stereo and @mclarenf1papa ’s Cosmic physics extension, which is only available in CSP version 0.1.79 and above. The car may or may not load in earlier versions of CSP, but it will behave unpredictably at best. You must use a supported version of CSP for this car to load and drive properly.
I installed the right version of CSP, but I’m still having problems!
This issue was noted in private testing and appears to be a problem with CSP. Downgrading to an earlier version and then reinstalling 0.1.79 appears to resolve the issue in most cases.
AI cars are being launched into the air on certain kerbs!
You may be using a preview release of CSP 0.1.79; this behavior has been largely corrected in the public release. Please update to the latest public version.
