The EWC is back!
Grattan Raceway August 14-16 (Belding, Michigan)
Road America September 18 – 20 (Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin)
Here’s a little history of the Formula Ford East vs West Challenge, aka the EWC.
Way back in the day (circa 1999), I bought my Lola T-540 with intentions of racing it as a Club Ford in SCCA regionals. To my dismay, Formula Ford car counts were low and race groups often frightening.
At the time, CENDIV was a huge region spanning both sides of Lake Michigan. Few racers at the regional level were racing on the other side of the lake. There were lots of Formula Fords out there but we rarely crossed paths.
The Formula Ford East vs West Challenge prioritized four weekends per season, two on each side of the lake. A team championship incentivized widespread driver recruiting. FF and CF car counts grew rapidly and the series was able to command Formula Ford only race groups. The EWC had its own traveling trophy, the Lamont Cup. Success!
Jake Lamont was a master machinist (and Formula Ford racer) from Evansville, Indiana. In the early days, cast iron Kent crankshafts were prone to cracking and (catastrophic!) failures. Jake figured out how to relieve stress risers and his cranks were in great demand. Later, Jake and Tom Andresen collaborated on the “bible” for Kent engine preparation “How to Build and Maintain Competitive Formula Ford 1600 Engines.” When the internet arrived, Jake started a chat room, The Formula Ford Underground, that eventually became ApexSpeed. Sadly, Jake’s life was cut short by cancer. His memory is honored by the Lamont Cup.
The CENDIV split killed the EWC. With twice as many Runoffs invitations available, the series lost most of its FF regulars. But the EWC went out in 2009 not with a whimper but with a huge bang…the FF40th at Road America.
The EWC briefly resurfaced in 2019 as an invitational “bonus” race at the FF50th. No teams, no points, just a delightful way to close out a memorable weekend.
The EWC’s successful “soft re-launch” in 2024 was followed up by another well attended series in 2025. Congratulations to the West team for retaining the Lamont Cup, 590.986 to 460.014. Scroll down to the bottom of this web page for an explanation of the overly complex points system. 🙂
Based on everyone’s enthusiasm for Formula Ford only races, the EWC will return in 2026 again. Grattan (August 14 – 16) and Road America (September 18 – 20) promise two exceptional race weekends for Formula Ford racers.
Interested in competing in “”North America’s Premier Formula Ford Team Championship”? Here’s what you need to know:
Registration
The two EWC race weekends are sanctioned by the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association. Registration is through the VSCDA website.
Registration for Grattan is open. Here’s the link the VSCDA’s Grattan entry page: 2026 VSCDA Vintage Grand Prix AuGrattan
On this page, you will find links to register as well as links with schedule, entries, and the paddock slip reservation process. This last item is very important!
The paddock at Grattan is extremely tight. The VSCDA successfully manages this by assigning paddock locations. Register early and then reach out to Kathy Newton to reserve a paddock slip. Kathy’s e-mail is kbnewton@comcast.net.
There is no need to assign paddock locations at Road America…the place is massive. Many paddock slips have power. Tags can be purchased from Road America at registration.
Road America offers a Thursday “Test & Tune” day. Registration is through the Road America website.
Format
Formula Fords will race in their assigned group (almost certainly with other classes) per a typical VSCDA race weekend. During the weekend, there will a Formula Ford only “feature” race for EWC team championship points.
At Grattan, there will be a special Formula Ford only “knock out” qualie at the end of the day Saturday to set the Sunday morning EWC feature race grid. Grattan offers exceptional seat time…nine sessions!
The Grattan knock-out qualie format has been revised to provide cars in all three Formula Ford categories (vintage, club, and “new gen”) opportunities to pass through from Q1 to Q2. Here’s how it will work:
Q1 (15 minutes) will be open to all Formula Fords. The slowest third of each category will be relegated back to the paddock. Faster cars will be directed to the false grid for Q2. At the end of Q2 (10 minutes), the fastest ten cars will advance to Q3. All other cars will be relegated back to the paddock. Q3 (8 minutes) will set the grid for the ten fastest cars. All other grid spots in the EWC feature will be filled using the best times from Q1 and Q2.
At Road America, the grid for the late afternoon Friday EWC feature race will be established by each car’s fastest lap in group qualifying earlier in the day. Seat time is also in abundance at Road America with seven sessions in total.
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Grattan Results The father and son duo, Phil and Mark Kingham, dominated Grattan in their Zink Z-10s. Mark was brilliant in Sunday morning’s rainy EWC feature leading his dad from start to finish. Bob Blanchard was thrilled to splash his way to third in his Lola T340.
VSCDA Chief Steward Gord Ensing provided the trophies, Formula 1 models built by Marty Postashnik. We lost our friend Marty to cancer last year. No doubt he would be pleased that his models have found such good homes.
The much-anticipated Saturday afternoon EWC “knock-out” qualie was scrubbed after an accident in another race group closed the track for the rest of the day.
After Grattan and a sweep of the top three places, the East leads the West 286.357 to 76.643.
Road America Results Maybe the EWC should be renamed the “Extremely Wet Challenge” after another soaker at Road America. Mark Kingham (Zink Z-10C – East) and Reid Hazelton (Eagle DGF – West) swapped the lead multiple times before Mark prevailed on the last lap. Danny Burkett (Van Diemen RF78 – West) moved up though the spray to finish a distant but still very fine third.
With a little help from mother nature (and a lot of help from the Kingham’s), the East team ended the West’s recent dominance by winning the series 414.757 to 315.243.
Special recognition to those who braved Chicago traffic to race on both sides of Lake Michigan: Phil and Mark Kingham, Tom Stephani, Mike Wirrick, Steve Maslen, and Bob Blanchard.
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Driver Eligibility & Licensing
The following requirements must be met to race at a VSCDA event:
- be a VSCDA member
- be at least 18 years old by October of the current year
- have a Medical on file with VSCDA OR hold a competition racing license
- have a Car Preparation Sheet on file with VSCDA
- have wheel-to-wheel competition racing experience within the past 2 years OR
- have completed a competition racing school within the past 2 years
Competition licenses issued by the VMC, VMC member clubs, SCCA, FIA, and CASC are routinely accepted at VSCDA events.
Click HERE for VSCDA membership information.
Car Eligibility
The EWC is open to Cortina and Kent powered Formula Fords though 2009. That is a lot of cars.
Primarily, Formula Fords race in the VSCDA on treaded tires in Group 4, the Monoposto group:
- VF – pre-1973 Vintage Formula Ford (Monoposto HFF rules)
- CF – Club Ford through 1981 (Monoposto CFF rules)
- NF – New Gen Formula Ford 1982 – 1998 (VSCDA local rules)
If you just can’t give up your slicks, CF and FF (through 2009) cars can also race in Group 7, the wings and slicks group.
All Formula Fords from Groups 4 and 7 will race together in the EWC “feature” races.
Tires
The VSCDA follows Monoposto tire rules. The preferred Group 4 treaded tire is the Hoosier VFF.
Safety Preparation, Annual Techs, & Logbooks
The VSCDA Technical Requirements for Race Cars defines safety preparation, logbook, and annual tech requirements for the EWC. The document outlines straightforward guidelines for basic vehicle and driver safety: on-board fire extinguishers, master switches, fuel cells, roll hoops, driver restraints, helmets, protective garments, throttle springs, rain lights, catch tanks, the usual stuff.
Logbooks and annual techs are required at VSCDA events. If your car does not have a logbook, you can obtain one from the VSCDA tech inspection team. Annual techs from other racing organizations (VMC member clubs, SCCA, CASC, etc) will be honored.
A possible surprise is the requirement for a Car Preparation Sheet. Before an entry will be accepted for a VSCDA events, a car must have an up-to-date CPS on file with the VSCDA office. Click HERE for a link to the one-page form.
Teams
Lake Michigan is the line of demarcation between East and West.
The East team, therefore, consists of drivers from Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and all other states to the east. Canadians from Ontario, Quebec, and the maritime provinces are also be assigned to the East team.
The West team consists of drivers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and all other states to the west. Drivers from the western Canadian provinces and Mexico are assigned to the West team.
As received, international entries from outside North America will be assigned by flipping a coin. Despite what is suggested by the series logo, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has not been annexed by the West team.
Stickers
Series and EAST / WEST team stickers are distributed at EWC events:
Points
Whether you are racing for 1st or 21st, your efforts will make a difference to your team in the EWC. Team points will be awarded per this linear formula from first to last:
Points can be earned in both qualifications and the EWC “feature” race. During qualifications, there will be a maximum of 10 points available for fastest lap down to 1 point for slowest lap. In the races, there will be a maximum of 30 points for the first car across the line down to 1 point for the last place car.
There will also be opportunities for bonus points up and down the field:
- Fast Race Lap Bonus: 3, 2, and 1 points for fastest three race laps
- Slowest Lap Race Bonus: 1, 2, and 3 points for the slowest three race laps
- Lap Time Bonus: 3, 2, and 1 points for the three biggest improvements from qualifying to the feature race
- Passing Bonus: 1 point for each position gained (available to all drivers)
The linear formula will return fractional points. Decimals will be carried out to three places. I have programmed an EXCEL spreadsheet to calculate points.
The East vs West team championship will be decided by the sum of team points. There is no driver championship.
T-Shirts
Level 11 Creative has the series t-shirt franchise. Contact Ian Lenhart directly to order t-shirts and other EWC swag:
Email: ian@level11creative.com
Phone/Text: 414-719-2043
Disclaimer
The objective of the EWC is to grow Formula Ford car counts and get some extra seat time in cars that we love. Under no circumstances should the EWC be taken seriously. “North America’s Premier Formula Ford Team Championship” is marketing hype. The EWC is quirky and fun, not important.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the EWC, click HERE for my contact page.
