John Crawford to race Reynard FF84

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 15

John Crawford to race Reynard FF84

When the cars line up on the grid for the first round of this season’s national Formula Ford championship at Levels Raceway, near Timaru, this Sunday, the main hopes for a South Island victory will be carried by the Christchurch driver, John Crawford, - in his sleek new Reynard FFB4.

Spectators at the Ruapuna 21st Anniversary meeting last Sunday were privileged to see Crawford debut the Reynard, the most up-to-date racing car in the country, giving the car two wins on its first outing, a most encouraging performance. The competition next Sunday, however, is expected to be a lot tougher.

Crawford has recently returned from England, where he spent a hectic season observing the ultra-competi-tive Formula Ford scene there. While in the United Kingdom, Crawford. spent time assisting with preparation on two of the top factory teams, first with Lola and laterly at Madgwick Motorsport, which runs the factory Reynard effort.

The Reynard chassis has proved the most competitive machine in British Formula Ford this season, setting lap records at all major circuits there, and with this in mind, Crawford opted for this type of chassis as the basis for his challenge on this year’s New Zealand title.

As the model designation, FFB4, suggests, the car is a current model 1984 “high technology” Formula Ford, and as such is the most modern racing car in New [Zealand. ! Because British Formula iFords run different tyres

than their New Zealand counterparts, Crawford opted for an “American kit” example, which means that the car is built to similar specifications to those that race in the United States, where slick tyres similar to those on the New Zealand Formula Fords are used.

The car is readily identifiable on the circuit with its extensive streamlined fibreglass bodywork and the forward seating position of the driver.

As is current practice on factory-built Formula Fords, the car features inboard suspension front and rear which, among other things, allows the car to cut a cleaner passage through the air. The car has fabricated uprights and gas-filled Bilstein shock absorbers. Unlike most other Formula Fords racing in New' Zealand, the chassis stops short of the four-speed Mk 9 Hewland gearbox, with the rear suspension being mounted on the gearbox itself.

The car uses a cable clutch for better response. Another development feature employed by the team is the use of Cheviot wheels, which have been modified to centre lock hubs for ease of wheel change. The car’s chassis is of tubular construction, with all the latest safety features, including deformable side panels, on-board fire-extinguisher system, dual-braking systems, and dual-hoop roll-over bar. An added plus for the driver is the provision of cockpit adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars.

During his time at Madgwick, Crawford gained considerable insight into the workings of the Reynard

car, and his machine incorporates all the works modifications rather than being a standard “customer” chassis. The 1600 cc Ford engines for the challenge have been

built by the well-known Formula Ford entrant and preparation expert Larry Mulholland, of BMC Transmission Services, whose engines have previously powered the national cham-

pionship winning cars oi Jeff Pascoe. A number of ideas gleaned by Crawford whilst in the United Kingdom will be .used on this year’s Mulholland engines.