Welcome to F-1Half. Hench Engineering, Inc.'s latest project is a small formula car.   Karts are a natural first step to racing. Inexpensive, they provide real racing experiences and are surprisingly fast. Another great advantage of karts is their small size makes them easy to transport and store. They can easily fit in a pickup truck or minivan, and can be stood up on end in a garage for storage. The next step up is a Formula Ford or Formula 1000. The unfortunate fact is that it is a big step up in many ways. The size and weight of a formula car requires a trailer, something to tow it, and a place to store the car, trailer and tow vehicle. Then you have to pay for all that. While you can go karting for $10k, you're going to spend somewhere between $50-100k to go formula racing. Enter F-1Half. Hench Engineering, Inc. is currently building a prototype formula car with the following design goals: Size: It must fit in a minivan or pickup truck. Service: It must be reliable, easy and inexpensive to maintain. Simplicity: No turbine power, multiple engines, or experimental power sources. Safety: Full harness, roll cage and fire extinguisher. Just in case. Price: Less than half the price of a Formula 1000. Less than half the costs.   Speed: Most importantly, it must be wickedly fast. Hench Engineering, Inc is up to the challenge! We expect to have the prototype testing on the track in early 2010. We originally chose a Maico 685cc single cylinder producing 80hp from a package that weighed about 70 pounds. We have since upgraded to a 650cc twin producing 130hp from about 90 pounds. These engines are used for sand drag and asphalt drag racing quads. Virtually every part in these motors is custom, the billet cases, clutch and manifolds, cast cylinders and heads, and forged pistons, rods and cranks. All produced right here in the U.S.A., reasonably priced, with excellent parts availability, and race proven for years. With the power the engine is producing, the car should be tantalizingly close to turning 8 second quarter mile times, with top speeds on the race track in excess of 150mph. That will allow it to turn some pretty impressive lap times at any track! We are confident it will turn faster lap times than a Formula 1000, and many other classes that are a lot more expensive to run. Check back to this page often for updates on our new racing project - F-1Half.