We’re getting close to “pulling the trigger” on introducing this new formula, as we have about 10 cars near completion.

We have done considerable testing with the prototype vehicle on all three types of tracks designed to be run on (Road Course, Paved Short Track Oval, Dirt Short Track Oval). As with any newly developed product, we anticipated some initial performance issues to address.

For that reason, we didn’t concentrate on recording videos, scoring lap times, etc. As it turned out, we didn’t have many problems, so we spent track time experimenting and fine tuning.

The second car, which we are getting ready to test, has the larger ZX14 engine (pre-2012 engines are 1352 cc, and the later engines are 1441 cc) and has bigger brakes along with a wider rear wing.

We are also planning to add some data acquisition capability.

As soon as we have finished testing this latest car, we will add additional info and videos to this page.

What will it cost to get into this new racing class?

We see numerous scenarios for bringing Formula RPD to the market. One idea is to offer a rent-to-purchase plan whereby a buyer can lease the car initially and apply those fees toward the ultimate purchase. The leasable cars will be fully assembled and turn-key, ready to race

The rental fee/purchase price may have to be individually negotiated because it involves a lot of issues: How much racing experience does the driver have? Who transports the car to the track? How are the tire costs handled? Who does the maintenance and race prep (and what kind of experience do these individuals have)?

We anticipate the cost of the first 10 cars will be in the vicinity of $50,000 each, with the per race rental in an area of around $2,500. There will be a crash damage deposit required, but whatever is not used to cover crash damage can be applied to the purchase cost.

The rent-to-own program will amount to a big capital investment by us, but a super-bargain deal for the first 10 buyers, because we will be selling cars way below their actual value.

Another possibility is to form a partnership with an existing racecar or chassis manufacturer. This contemplates building race-ready cars for purchase. Naturally, it is best to have inventory on hand – not relying on a “build to order” situation.

A partnership with an existing manufacturer will present immediate opportunities for cost savings due to economy of scale and the use of existing processes, existing shop space and personnel. This would anticipate significantly lower production costs.

We haven’t established an initial price for a turnkey car presently, which is what the rental cars will be, but it may be pricey under existing conditions, factoring in the higher costs from a small-shop, start-up situation and short run production.

Eventually we’d like to see the car offered at no more than $60,000 (retail).

As with anything in line production, the costs of the first 10 cars, versus the next 50, versus the next 100 will see a substantial reduction in cost (and thus will reflect in a lower retail price).

This leaves an obvious question: In what geographical area will the first season of races be located?

We can form our own sanctioning body (a club, an association, a league) but we’d prefer to work with an established sanctioning authority. We are actively investigating that route. The big question is, what would be the best area?

This racing class needs to start in an area where racing is popular, and there are plenty of racetracks. We are currently located in Southern California, which is not such an area! That creates a problem, but not an insurmountable one.

We’re open to suggestions on this issue.

Obviously, if, hypothetically, someone is enthusiastic about getting into this class, but he or she lives in Florida, and all the races are in a 100-mile radius of Indianapolis, that driver has a decision to make.

We hope that within a few years the class will spread to other sections of the country. But this is a problem shared by other types of racing as well. Racers have to go to where the racing is; that’s just the way it is.