Why Race Formula Thunder®?

The Problem

Formula Thunder on grid at Road America

In the modern age, both pro and club racing series (with internal classes such as formula, prototype, sports racers, GT, etc.) have become “space aged” and virtually unattainable. Running a team, or even simply putting a car on the grid requires multiple, highly trained personnel and huge budgets. The various pro series have pushed participation costs to unimaginable levels, dragging the hobbyist club racer along the “cost escalation path”.

In club racing, while these costs and complexities have skyrocketed, participation has declined substantially. If you are a “space-aged” participant and wish to focus on national championships, we applaud you and wish you well. 

 

However, a percentage of prospective and current club racers are not interested in participating at that level. Here at Formula Thunder®, we wish to provide a different option. Something nostalgic, something fun, something with a different kind of value. In our opinion, we owe it to each other to do it differently. 

The Solution

Here at Formula Thunder®, we believe the solution is simple. 

We value nostalgic, old-school power and simplicity and strive to couple this with low maintenance and low operation costs. We appreciate the simple design of an “H” pattern gearbox because of its degree of difficulty in operation. We strive to provide our customers and partners with the visceral experience of piloting a high-performance car that has a nostalgic appeal and similar feel to the Can-Am cars of the 60s and 70s. 

In our vision, the Formula Thunder® competitor participates from the perspective of passion and enthusiasm for the sport. This competitor (may have but) does not require a professionally trained crew. They value reliability, safety, and power over the “unobtanium dream”. Simply put, they just want to have fun, stay safe, and not break the bank. 

Formula Thunder® provides this basic, raw experience without high costs and complexities. 

Formula Thunder comparison costs to Indy car and Can Am

A common question is why we would expend the effort to build a sports racer from scratch when we could more quickly and easily write a check and compete in an already completed car. Our answer is not easy or short. It grew over decades of passion, adversity, responsibility, corruption, losses, and victories. For us, it has turned into a way of giving back to the sport we love.