It’s simple in reality, take control of the process, invest in the systems and you will be happier with the outcome. That appears to be the philosophy behind David Dicker from Rodin Cars. Hence, much of the manufacturing of their new FZED race car is currently undertaken in house, with more to follow.
The FZED is a single seater ‘creation’ from Dicker, developed for any race driver to buy as a track-day car without the need for a team to start and run it.
“The Rodin FZED is as close as you will get to experience that heart-pumping adrenaline-inducing lifestyle in a brand-new vehicle.”
The development and manufacturing of the FZED is not cheap. Race engines are expensive.
The first problem you have is that buying race engines is extremely expensive. You haven’t any control. As Dicker points out, “If we take that control then you can support your customer better.”
Dicker and his team will build a complete race engine from scratch for the FZED – castings, cranks, rods, pistons, pins, valves and so on. Though, they won’t be making the bearings, springs and seals.
“We will be in a position to manage it properly and make it work.”
That’s a major undertaking and investment in itself.
“I’ll give you an example,” continues Dicker, “If the cranks are going to be built to a F1 standard, we are currently buying them for 23,000 pounds each. To manufacture these cranks, the billet steel cost is 795 pounds. Get on top of the manufacturing and then you can make them for peanuts.”
Such is the investment in manufacturing, design and people, this man is more than serious about building race cars.
Now the Rodin name will be on the side of Liam Lawson’s FIA Formula 2 car with the newly announced sponsorship of the Red Bull Racing Junior driver. (See Rodin Cars to sponsor Liam Lawson in 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship)
So, is there a business to business relationship between Red Bull Racing and Rodin Cars?
“No,” says Dicker, “I don’t know any of the Red Bull guys, although I will probably meet some of them when I go to some of Liam’s races this year.”
He does drink their product and recommends it.
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