In 1966, Motorsport New Zealand announced major changes would take place in front line Saloon car racing at the conclusion of the 1966/67 season. Saloon car racing in New Zealand had just sort of evolved, and rapidly so, but without any real direction or leadership, and certainly without anything resembling a rule book. And as such, and not altogether surprisingly, a racing category without rules produced some highly unruly machinery.
At a time when the UK, Europe, Australia, and the US had all nailed down some very stringent regulations in tin top racing, New Zealand had some of the wildest, whackiest machinery imaginable. Some of these cars were scary, but almost all were highly creative, and highly individual. Most were built in the owners back shed, and on modest budgets. In many ways, they were the ultimate expression of Kiwi ingenuity.
These machines, which came to be known as Allcomers, allowed for creative thinking, and so much so, that sometimes creativity and execution were more important than a big budget. The Allcomer grids were full of young, talented guys, who went racing, and quite successfully, on a shoestring budget. But rightly or wrongly, Motorsport NZ wanted them gone, and outlawed the Allcomers, replacing them with the internationally recognised FIA Group 5, as of the 1967/68 season.
Although it wasn't obvious at the time, this decision would ultimately divide New Zealand Saloon car racing into two separate entities; the North, and South. Because what they hadn't accounted for, was a small group of hardcore South Island racers, who didn't want their old Allcomer cars consigned to the scrapheap. These machines were cheap to build, and proved popular with the crowds. The FIA Group 5 rules tended to favour just one or two makes and models for outright contention, and the budget required to purchase and race one of these cars was beyond reach of many. And thus, the Open Saloon Car Association (OSCA) was formed.
OSCA has had its ups and downs over the years. Its enjoyed packed grids. And likewise, its struggled with thin fields. But its remained true to its core values, and, 40 years since its inception, is still going strong, still a product of the South, and one South Islanders can be proud of.
One of OSCA's very early competitors, and one of its longest serving residents, was Ian Munt. Ian is sadly no longer with us, but his son, Evan, has continued the Munt family association with OSCA. And it was Evan who has worked tirelessly the last couple of years to put together a celebration of the 40 years OSCA has been in existence. Evan has started a thread on The Roaring Season forum on the 40 years of OSCA, and the celebrations he has put together for the reunion. And bloody impressive it has been too.
So take a bow Evan, you've done yourself, and OSCA, very proud. The OSCA 40th Reunion thread can be viewed here > >
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