A summer of celebrating Formula Ford’s 50th

The world’s most enduring and successful entry-level single-seat racing series will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the United States in the best way possible in 2019: With a full slate of tribute races on some of best road courses in the country, organized by an array of capable promoters and America’s most well-run vintage racing groups.

Without doubt, the celebration focal point will be the Sept. 11-15 50th Anniversary gathering at Road America, an event being organized by Steve Beeler (co-promoter of the wildly successful 40th Anniversary gathering 10 years ago) and the venerable VSCDA.

As of early March, entries for this event had crested the 200 mark and were well on their way to 300!

While the numbers may not be as overwhelming, there are great reasons to attend some or all of these spring and summer events at which classic Cortina- and Kent-powered Formula Ford in all of its chassis design and tire permutations will be the flagship.

(Note that FFs are not featured at the Sept. 5-8 SVRA U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, but a full field is expected as it’s such a great chance to race at The Glen.)

Willow Springs hosted the first "official" FF race in the U.S. on March 23, 1969, and the FFDC will commemorate in concert with VARA's High Desert Challenge weekend. Image by Steve Nickless

May 3-5 / CSRG+Crossflow Cup / First Annual FF Festival + Rolling Thunder Spring Race / Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA / Crossflow Cup / CSRG

The Crossflow Cup boasts full fields, talented drivers, and incredible off-track camaraderie.

May 16-19 / VRG FFCS+VDCA / Jefferson 500 / Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV / VRG FFCS / VDCA

June 28-30 / RCFFS+SCCA / The Golden Anniversary Part 1 / Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH / RCFFS

Aug. 1-4 / SVRA / Brickyard Vintage Racing Classic (NOTE: Formula Fords no entry fee!) / Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, IN / SVRA Special Events

Lime Rock '69 SCCA National winner Skip Barber (Caldwell D-9), who went on to claim the first U.S. FF national championship. Image courtesy Lime Rock Park

Sept. 5-8 / SVRA / U.S. Vintage Grand Prix / Watkins Glen International Speedway, Watkins Glen, NY / SVRA

Nov. 1-3 / RCFFS+SCCA / The Golden Anniversary Part 2 / Atlanta Region ARRC / Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA / RCFFS