OK, before anyone gets excited, NO, I am not looking to form a new historic motor racing category. Way too much of my time is already taken up with doing stuff that I don't get paid for without tacking on another volunteer role. This is purely out of interest, curiosity, and perhaps something I'd like to see happen one day, should someone be brave (crazy?) enough to step up and try and take this on. I really just want to stimulate some discussion.

I've noticed lately there is an increase in the number of old racing saloon cars, with history from the 1960s and/or 1970s, that are being restored and/or preserved and brought out to be enjoyed again in historic racing. Typically, saloon car racing is a little late on the scene compared to single seater and sports car racing, in which old cars with history are generating a lot of interest, being restored, and raced once more. With single seaters, in historic racing they usually only race against other single seaters with history. In saloon car racing, old cars with history are often mixed in with newly built cars specifically created for historic racing.

However, are there now enough old historic racing saloons in NZ that they could have their own race at a premier NZ racing event? A cut-off date would be required. Perhaps the end of 1973, as that seem to be around the time saloon cars started to race on slick tyres, and were designed around slick tyres. Its also the stage at which 'Sports Sedan' type cars began appearing, which quickly raised the performance bar.

So, lets say there was a cut-off date of the end of the 1973 NZ racing season. The cars eligible to race would have had to have raced (not necessarily in NZ) at some stage prior to that 1973 cut-off date. The category they may have raced in could be anything from Allcomers, to Group 2, to Group 5, etc. But they must have had a saloon car competition career prior to that 1973 cut-off date. Furthermore, they must now be presented as they were in period, at one specific time in their period, prior to that 1973 cut-off date. Many cars were raced up to and beyond 1973, and some even into the 1980s, and were evolved to keep pace with modern changes. These cars wouldn't be eligible, unless returned to their pre-1973 guise. Also, they must be fitted with either period correct cross-ply tyres, or DOT radials. No slicks.

The racing itself is purely for fun, for the entertainment of car owners and punters. No prizes for winners. Just the enjoyment of racing old cars with history.

So, just for fun, why don't we establish a role-call of existing cars that are either currently racing, or being restored to race, that fit this set of requirements. Replica's would be eligible, but only on the proviso the original car no longer exists, and the replica is an exact copy of the original.

Here are some I have thought of:

Jim Richards Willment Racing Escort
Paul Fahey Lotus Anglia Allcomer
Red Dawson Shelby Mustang
Ivan Segedin Mustang
Rod Coppins Pontiac Firebird
Jennings Special
Rod Coppins Zephyr Corvette (replica)
Ron Sylvester Chevy coupe
Rod Collingwood AMCO Mini Cooper
Clyde Collins A40 Farina Allcomer (replica)
Peter Bennett Lotus A40 Farina Allcomer
Garth Souness Morrari (replica)
Dave Simpson Lotus Anglia Allcomer
Sidchrome Hilman Imp
Spinner Black HK Monaro
Neil Doyle Anglia Corvette
Barry Phillips Lotus Cortina
Frank Hamlin Minisprint
Joe Chamberlain/Dennis Marwood Camaro
Paul Fahey Allan Mann Escort
Jack Nazer Cossack Escort
Red Dawson Kensington Carpets Camaro

OK, theres 22 cars to kick things off. What have you guys got?