Formula B (1965-1978)
When Formula Atlantic traces its lineage, that story irresistibly leads back to the birth of Formula B in 1965. The Sports Car Club of America had organised a class for Formule Libre racing cars in 1964, having previously had an ad-hoc class for "Unlimited" single-seaters. With the demise of Formula Junior at the end of 1963, the cars appearing in Formule Libre were in three broad groups: big "specials" using a variety of large American engines in generally unsuitable European chassis, modified Formula Juniors using 1500cc or 1600cc Ford push-rod or twin-cam engines and finally largely unmodified 1000cc or 1100cc Formula Juniors.
For 1965 "Formula SCCA" was invented to put a bit of structure on this growing area with three new classes: Formula A for the big specials but limited to 3-litres and allowing full race engines; Formula B for the 1600cc production ("stock-block") engines and Formula C for 1100cc racing engines to mop up the old Junior cars.
Thanks to the availability of the new Vegantune-supplied Lotus-developed Ford Twin Cam engine in 1598cc form, Formula B boomed and dominated the larger but hamstrung Formula A until the latter was allowed to use 5-litre stock block engines in 1968. A professional Continental Championship began for Formula SCCA in 1967 and a 'Pro' series for Formula B continued until 1972. A parallel Canadian series boomed in the early 1970s but then changed rules to Formula Atlantic, a UK-born derivative of FB, for 1974. SCCA Formula B followed the Canadian series in 1975, allowing in the BDA engine.
Formula B continued as an amateur equivalent of Formula Atlantic until 1978, at which point the failing Formula A was merged into 'A' Sports Racing, a merger triggered by the single-seater Can-Am's absorption of F5000 at professional level. FB was still thriving but without a "Formula A" to make sense of its name, it was renamed Formula Atlantic and abbreviated to "FA". Also FC was merged with Formula Super Vee, named "Formula Continental" and abbreviated to "FC". So the FA of 1979 was quite different to the FA of 1978.
The US seasons
The 1965 season: Colorado Grand Prix at Continental Divide, Seattle, Hanford Motor Speedway, El Camino Real at Juarez, Pacific Coast Regional Championship at Vacaville, SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Daytona
The 1966 season: Colorado Grand Prix at Continental Divide, El Camino Real at Juarez, SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Riverside
The 1967 season: Colorado Grand Prix at Continental Divide, Bridgehampton, War Bonnet, St Jovite, Lake Tahoe, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Daytona)
The 1968 season: Continental Divide, War Bonnet, Road America, Thompson,Mosport Park, Lime Rock, Donnybrooke, Laguna Seca, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Riverside)
The 1969 season: Riverside, Laguna Seca, Continental Divide, Sears Point, Seattle, Road America, Lime Rock, Brainerd, Mosport Park, Lime Rock, Mont-Tremblant, Thompson Raceway, Sebring International Raceway, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Daytona)
The 1970 season: Riverside, Edmonton, Seattle, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Dallas International Motor Speedway, Road America, Mont-Tremblant, Brainerd, (Road America), Lime Rock, Mosport Park, Mid-Ohio, Sebring International Raceway, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Road Atlanta)
The 1971 season: Seattle, Monterrey, Mexico City, Edmonton, Brainerd, Road America, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Road Atlanta)
The 1972 season: (Bogotá), (Bogotá), Laguna Seca, Bryar Motorsports Park, Lime Rock, Road Atlanta, (Las Vegas International Speedrome), Watkins Glen, Road America, Brainerd, Riverside, (SCCA Run-Offs (ARRC) at Road Atlanta)
From 1967 onwards, non-championship races are shown in brackets.
