VAN DIEMEN RF98K ROLLER FOR SALE
1998 Van Diemen RF98K Formula F roller. 1997 style frame, not the later 1998 and later style. $10,750 sans any Kent engine installation related parts ($11,750 with) Comes with one set of wheels of the buyers choice (OZ as shown or Techno). More wheels, some gears, springs and used brake rotors available, possibly a flywheel and clutch can be negotiated.
No instrumentation, no battery, no real spares to speak of (but a lot of used bits and pieces that could get you through a weekend in a pinch...see the photos and list). Log book up to date, annual inspection is current. Last race was the SFR regional at Laguna Seca March 27-29, 2015 (photo of car on track at that race is in the Picasa album).
Frankly the car is a bit rough but it is solid and has some desirable updates, could use some bodywork done and paint. Some will think it’s fine, some will only consider a ground up.
It would be an excellent candidate for a Honda conversion, Eric Langbein has done 6 of them and is well versed. He is fond of the 97/98 VD’s so that helps. Ask him, his # is 202-246-4758.
Ford installation parts would be the cast oil pan (not shown in photos), very solid Burns exhaust, starters (2), two front engine braces (one for head, one for pan), frame completion brace over gearbox, water filler, oil plumbing, oil cooler, throttle linkage, etc. I have a flywheel with an F3 clutch on it that can be negotiated if needed but not included in the Ford package.
Reason for selling is I’m moving over to Club Ford with my PRS.
Photos on Picasa here:
1) Overall and detail photos: http://ift.tt/1I2jA1o
2) Misc bits that go with the car: http://ift.tt/1I2jA1q
3) Wheels available: http://ift.tt/1Gt9tWJ
4) Warts (refer to list below): http://ift.tt/1Gt9tWN
5) Ford parts (pan not shown): http://ift.tt/1Gt9rOB
Features (see Picasa album for photos):
1) Wide tracked (mostly Protech-made), front A-arms have anti-intrusion cross bars
2) Increased motion ratios (moved mounting holes in bellcranks) to .81/Front, .75/Rear from .68/.62 respectively
3) Front roll center brought above ground by raising lower front A-arm pickup points and modified clutch actuation linkage. The frame is FC based so had the roll center below ground initially which made it an understeering pig with a dead front end.
4) Increased droop at the rear with secondary springs to better handle the awkward corners common to my local tracks (Laguna Corkscrew, Sears turn 2 and 3a, Thunderhill Crows Nest and turn 9). If your tracks are flat this won’t matter much to you.
5) Not relevant to a Honda conversion (but essential for a Ford) frame completion over the gearbox and braces in front of the pan and head to increase chassis stiffness.
6) Significantly narrowed side pods (patterned after a Carbur) to reduce frontal area (a common criticism of the VD’s of the period). I made a crude pod extension (doubles the angle of attack) for the drivers left side for those 100°+ days (no photo of it on the car but one of it mocked up on a table in the “Included Parts” album).
7) Penske 8760 3-way shocks currently 1° Lin/1° Lin, A-/B-, rebuilt/re-valved in January 2015.
8) Some documentation you can wade through, including the original receipt from Margraf Racing.
Camera system shown on roll bar in track photo not included and front nosebox is different.
WARTS:
1) Bodywork and paint are rough. Meets the 30/30 rule but most cars in the paddock are betting looking than this upon close inspection. Hey, I raced it!
2) I had to make a mounting plate for the drivers right rear lower A-arm leading arm on the gearbox as I broke off the bolt in the standard position (has two positions, one for anti-squat and one normal) and then botched a Helicoil attempt. This might change the geometry slightly. Photo of this plate in the Picasa “Warts” album.
3) The driver’s right radiator sprung a couple of leaks on the pre-grid of the 2014 Runoffs race so we plugged it with 5 minute epoxy. Worked so well I just left it. Photo in “Warts” album.
4) Oil filling tower leaks. I never did find the leak, I removed the tower several times, cleaned the mating surfaces, inspected it for cracks/holes, sealed it up…still leaks. I gave up.
5) Right rear A-arms are plain metal, no coating or paint. I never got around to having Protech coat them to match the other corners. Photo in “Warts” album.
6) Tripods seem a bit loose to me but they have been that way for years
NOTES:
1) No original fiberglass seat, just sheet aluminum covered with gray headliner material. Your butt is on the pan. I’m 5’10” and 175lbs and just barely fit.
2) Battery box area is large, had a giant 35Ah battery in it when I got it, no battery currently.
3) No, there isn’t positive camber and massive toe-out as it appears in the photo from the rear of the car, just barrel distortion of the crappy camera lens.
4) Additional wheel sets are available. One set of your choice comes with the car, the rest can be negotiated if you want them, see the Picasa “Wheel” album. Most of the wheels are pretty good looking from the outside, not so much on the inside:
A) OZ, as shown on the car (prettier than the Technos but heavier, slightly more offset than the Technos)
B) Techno set #1, no tires mounted (some of the Technos are magnesium)
C) Techno set #2, shown with Avons on them
D) Two extra OZ, spares
5) Parts to be negotiated if wanted are:
A) Three gear sets
B) Remaining wheels
C) 6 spring sets
D) 4 used but usable brake rotors
E) Ford flywheel and F3 clutch, maybe
6) This same type of car (97 to early 98 RF98K VD) took 3rd place at the 2014 Runoffs at Laguna Seca with a Honda engine and the wrong tires (Avon A11).
7) Currently has fitted a rear cockpit-adjustable chopstick style ARB with two different strength bars and a non-cockpit adjustable chopstick style front bar. The car comes with most of the necessary parts for a front cockpit adjustable blade-style bar.
8) The yellow stripes on the nose are tape, easily removed. However I must say there was never any doubt on the part of the car in front of me who was on their tail. The very tip of the nose is yellow paint.
9) The annular throw-out bearing is as it came to me with the car in 2007, never given an ounce of trouble, no apparent leaking.
10) LD200 gearbox has been trouble free as long as I have had the car, no issues
11) Some details of the “VD Go With Parts”, all used, hopefully in order of the Picasa album:
A) Comes with as assortment of shims and bits for the Penske shocks.
B) Two different weight secondary springs and separator rings
C) Center lock spacers for thin center section wheels (like Panasports)
D) Simple droop limiter hardware
E) Extra center lock main washer
F) Spare used bellcranks, axle, steering arm blocks, bits, pieces, etc.
G) Three used uprights, two no good in their present state, one rebuilt
H) A few used gearbox bits
I) Spare used radiator, untested, never needed it
J) 2 used pushrods & a steering link, would get you through a weekend.
K) Original dash for analog instrumentation
L) Original water swirl tank that reportedly didn’t work at all
M) Clear plexi wind deflectors that I never used
N) Cover plates for holes in bodywork for suspension, not pretty
O) Wood & templates for floorpan extensions on either side of the engine bay
P) Dash and shoulder rest templates
Q) Original fire extinguisher/battery cover, unused as a metal one was made
R) 10lb lead pack if you need it, fits in the footwell area in front of the battery
S) Camber shims
T) Oil dipstick
U) Two spare used tripods
V) Spare used hub, unknown condition, never needed it
W) Transponder mount blocks and bolts for placement in the nosebox
X) Switch plate with two switches, mounts on the left side of the dash hoop
Y) Three Spare nose locating blocks, two used, one new
Z) Camera holder to film the action of the front suspension at the shocks. It bolts to the frame with the nose off and points to the shocks. Designed for a bullet camera, no camera included.
12) Come with front and rear alignement bars (not shown)
I am the second owner since 2007. Originally owned, developed and raced by David Stillwell in the Southern California area. Has won many San Francisco Region and SoCal regional races as well as the 2010 SFR regional championship, a close second in 2011. The car loves the Hoosier R60a tires by the way.
Car is located in Grass Valley, CA, about 45 minutes East of Sacramento. I can deliver to the San Francisco Bay Area or equivalent distance (about 200 miles) for gas money but I would insist on the buyer personally inspecting the car and seeing if they fit in it before purchasing.
Tom Duncan
530-274-2397
tomd@oddog.com
1998 Van Diemen RF98K Formula F roller. 1997 style frame, not the later 1998 and later style. $10,750 sans any Kent engine installation related parts ($11,750 with) Comes with one set of wheels of the buyers choice (OZ as shown or Techno). More wheels, some gears, springs and used brake rotors available, possibly a flywheel and clutch can be negotiated.
No instrumentation, no battery, no real spares to speak of (but a lot of used bits and pieces that could get you through a weekend in a pinch...see the photos and list). Log book up to date, annual inspection is current. Last race was the SFR regional at Laguna Seca March 27-29, 2015 (photo of car on track at that race is in the Picasa album).
Frankly the car is a bit rough but it is solid and has some desirable updates, could use some bodywork done and paint. Some will think it’s fine, some will only consider a ground up.
It would be an excellent candidate for a Honda conversion, Eric Langbein has done 6 of them and is well versed. He is fond of the 97/98 VD’s so that helps. Ask him, his # is 202-246-4758.
Ford installation parts would be the cast oil pan (not shown in photos), very solid Burns exhaust, starters (2), two front engine braces (one for head, one for pan), frame completion brace over gearbox, water filler, oil plumbing, oil cooler, throttle linkage, etc. I have a flywheel with an F3 clutch on it that can be negotiated if needed but not included in the Ford package.
Reason for selling is I’m moving over to Club Ford with my PRS.
Photos on Picasa here:
1) Overall and detail photos: http://ift.tt/1I2jA1o
2) Misc bits that go with the car: http://ift.tt/1I2jA1q
3) Wheels available: http://ift.tt/1Gt9tWJ
4) Warts (refer to list below): http://ift.tt/1Gt9tWN
5) Ford parts (pan not shown): http://ift.tt/1Gt9rOB
Features (see Picasa album for photos):
1) Wide tracked (mostly Protech-made), front A-arms have anti-intrusion cross bars
2) Increased motion ratios (moved mounting holes in bellcranks) to .81/Front, .75/Rear from .68/.62 respectively
3) Front roll center brought above ground by raising lower front A-arm pickup points and modified clutch actuation linkage. The frame is FC based so had the roll center below ground initially which made it an understeering pig with a dead front end.
4) Increased droop at the rear with secondary springs to better handle the awkward corners common to my local tracks (Laguna Corkscrew, Sears turn 2 and 3a, Thunderhill Crows Nest and turn 9). If your tracks are flat this won’t matter much to you.
5) Not relevant to a Honda conversion (but essential for a Ford) frame completion over the gearbox and braces in front of the pan and head to increase chassis stiffness.
6) Significantly narrowed side pods (patterned after a Carbur) to reduce frontal area (a common criticism of the VD’s of the period). I made a crude pod extension (doubles the angle of attack) for the drivers left side for those 100°+ days (no photo of it on the car but one of it mocked up on a table in the “Included Parts” album).
7) Penske 8760 3-way shocks currently 1° Lin/1° Lin, A-/B-, rebuilt/re-valved in January 2015.
8) Some documentation you can wade through, including the original receipt from Margraf Racing.
Camera system shown on roll bar in track photo not included and front nosebox is different.
WARTS:
1) Bodywork and paint are rough. Meets the 30/30 rule but most cars in the paddock are betting looking than this upon close inspection. Hey, I raced it!
2) I had to make a mounting plate for the drivers right rear lower A-arm leading arm on the gearbox as I broke off the bolt in the standard position (has two positions, one for anti-squat and one normal) and then botched a Helicoil attempt. This might change the geometry slightly. Photo of this plate in the Picasa “Warts” album.
3) The driver’s right radiator sprung a couple of leaks on the pre-grid of the 2014 Runoffs race so we plugged it with 5 minute epoxy. Worked so well I just left it. Photo in “Warts” album.
4) Oil filling tower leaks. I never did find the leak, I removed the tower several times, cleaned the mating surfaces, inspected it for cracks/holes, sealed it up…still leaks. I gave up.
5) Right rear A-arms are plain metal, no coating or paint. I never got around to having Protech coat them to match the other corners. Photo in “Warts” album.
6) Tripods seem a bit loose to me but they have been that way for years
NOTES:
1) No original fiberglass seat, just sheet aluminum covered with gray headliner material. Your butt is on the pan. I’m 5’10” and 175lbs and just barely fit.
2) Battery box area is large, had a giant 35Ah battery in it when I got it, no battery currently.
3) No, there isn’t positive camber and massive toe-out as it appears in the photo from the rear of the car, just barrel distortion of the crappy camera lens.
4) Additional wheel sets are available. One set of your choice comes with the car, the rest can be negotiated if you want them, see the Picasa “Wheel” album. Most of the wheels are pretty good looking from the outside, not so much on the inside:
A) OZ, as shown on the car (prettier than the Technos but heavier, slightly more offset than the Technos)
B) Techno set #1, no tires mounted (some of the Technos are magnesium)
C) Techno set #2, shown with Avons on them
D) Two extra OZ, spares
5) Parts to be negotiated if wanted are:
A) Three gear sets
B) Remaining wheels
C) 6 spring sets
D) 4 used but usable brake rotors
E) Ford flywheel and F3 clutch, maybe
6) This same type of car (97 to early 98 RF98K VD) took 3rd place at the 2014 Runoffs at Laguna Seca with a Honda engine and the wrong tires (Avon A11).
7) Currently has fitted a rear cockpit-adjustable chopstick style ARB with two different strength bars and a non-cockpit adjustable chopstick style front bar. The car comes with most of the necessary parts for a front cockpit adjustable blade-style bar.
8) The yellow stripes on the nose are tape, easily removed. However I must say there was never any doubt on the part of the car in front of me who was on their tail. The very tip of the nose is yellow paint.
9) The annular throw-out bearing is as it came to me with the car in 2007, never given an ounce of trouble, no apparent leaking.
10) LD200 gearbox has been trouble free as long as I have had the car, no issues
11) Some details of the “VD Go With Parts”, all used, hopefully in order of the Picasa album:
A) Comes with as assortment of shims and bits for the Penske shocks.
B) Two different weight secondary springs and separator rings
C) Center lock spacers for thin center section wheels (like Panasports)
D) Simple droop limiter hardware
E) Extra center lock main washer
F) Spare used bellcranks, axle, steering arm blocks, bits, pieces, etc.
G) Three used uprights, two no good in their present state, one rebuilt
H) A few used gearbox bits
I) Spare used radiator, untested, never needed it
J) 2 used pushrods & a steering link, would get you through a weekend.
K) Original dash for analog instrumentation
L) Original water swirl tank that reportedly didn’t work at all
M) Clear plexi wind deflectors that I never used
N) Cover plates for holes in bodywork for suspension, not pretty
O) Wood & templates for floorpan extensions on either side of the engine bay
P) Dash and shoulder rest templates
Q) Original fire extinguisher/battery cover, unused as a metal one was made
R) 10lb lead pack if you need it, fits in the footwell area in front of the battery
S) Camber shims
T) Oil dipstick
U) Two spare used tripods
V) Spare used hub, unknown condition, never needed it
W) Transponder mount blocks and bolts for placement in the nosebox
X) Switch plate with two switches, mounts on the left side of the dash hoop
Y) Three Spare nose locating blocks, two used, one new
Z) Camera holder to film the action of the front suspension at the shocks. It bolts to the frame with the nose off and points to the shocks. Designed for a bullet camera, no camera included.
12) Come with front and rear alignement bars (not shown)
I am the second owner since 2007. Originally owned, developed and raced by David Stillwell in the Southern California area. Has won many San Francisco Region and SoCal regional races as well as the 2010 SFR regional championship, a close second in 2011. The car loves the Hoosier R60a tires by the way.
Car is located in Grass Valley, CA, about 45 minutes East of Sacramento. I can deliver to the San Francisco Bay Area or equivalent distance (about 200 miles) for gas money but I would insist on the buyer personally inspecting the car and seeing if they fit in it before purchasing.
Tom Duncan
530-274-2397
tomd@oddog.com
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