Yes John,we have been down this road before have we not,over Period Running Gear.Dont get me wrong John its great to see these cars out there doing their thing have you had a good look at the cars of John Telford, Graham Barnes, Mark Allen and Robert Bartley with Cus 2.Originally Posted by John McKechnie
Just for the record John, I didn't "consistently not appear at the start". There were four races, I was there at the start of two and then had a puncture before the third. It was still being cured when the dummy grid formed for the third race and I ran back to the car, jacked it up, got the wheel on, got in, belted up, helmet on and joined halfway through. I was pretty determined to make it out there. Unfortunately the puncture then worsened and I couldn't run in the last race. I've already used the spare and have now got new tyres meant to be arriving at the airport tomorrow night, fingers crossed. JD
Point taken John, and I hope you have a better run with your new tyres
Also Barry wasnt having a problem with a Miss, Mrs or Ms. It was the dynamo not producing enough charge- sorted.
Richard Quinn A has repaired an oil problem and gearbox issues, all set to go.
Peter Hooper A bit more panel damage than they thought, but all done-thanks Richard.
So both the Starlets will be Starring this weekend- Fantastic.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 01-21-2015 at 12:31 AM.
Custaxie please find a book to read or something, cheers.
PS yes I have had a good look at these cars along with a heap more.
I dont recall asking you anything old son.
PERIOD RUNNING GEAR...Rod thats what its all about is this right.
I think no would be the answer to that Custaxie. This is a class started by John and Rod to give the cars that wanted to have a run in the failed attempt for a class for period correct Allcomers and Sports Sedans, Called "Historic Sports sedans and Allcomers". The name reflecting the type of cars eligible to run in the class. And due to the fact there is a lot of modified cars without a class to run in they have successfully done this. Good on them! But with respect I would ask them to drop the word historic from the class name so as to reflect the type of vehicles that currently run in the class. This would also stop a lot of the confusion about the class. The Americans are very good at this, they always call something exactly what it is. Keep up the good work Boys.
George- thanks for that excellent point and will chew it over.
Used the word Historic as the Historic Club supports us by giving us 4 runs a year
Historic means 'well known or important in history' according to dictionary.com. I think that the term 'Historic' is important here to differentiate the cars with heritage from the newer builds and allcomers. I'd call the Crowe/Freeth Starlet 'Historic' as far as Sports Sedans and NZ Motorsport in general go - using just one car as an example. I don't think the class should be afraid to give themselves that status.
Well Paul for the small number of us that read this thread we can see that the only period correct cars are Grahams Charger and Barrys Monaro. But for joe public that happens across a meeting where this class is running the name of the class should sum up what is actually running without demeaning the performance of the period correct cars. to quote the only phrase i can think of at the moment, "If it looks like a dog and barks like a dog then surely it is a dog" If you get what I mean.
George is correct. I think the term 'Allcomers' may have confused the issue.
Period correct cars or if you like, genuinely Historic cars can race along with what are effectively recently built race saloons, using a classic bodyshell, period engine and running gear, possibly on slicks - but we still need a class where these cars can run, as they obviously can't run with any of the road-going series'. Better they are incorporated with the genuine cars as at the end of the day, they are all race cars, with different capacities and performance potential anyway - as it was in period.
Allcomers, could therefore mean those that did not conform to a specific set of rules in period and also to a car built last week. The wording or intentions need to be very clear and unambiguous.
I think it is fantastic to see all these cars out on the track being exercised and I for one, take no notice whatever as to either lap times or results. Brilliant job John.
Last edited by ERC; 01-22-2015 at 01:08 AM.
Thanks George. I didn't realise it was as bad as that. However, I think that might make it even more important to differentiate the 'Historic' cars and hopefully encourage people to return their cars to period-spec. Otherwise, mightn't more of the important old cars either return to mothballs, stay in mothballs or turn up with the latest 1000hp Nissan engine?
Personally I'd love to see some sort of 'HSS' banner on the windscreen with a year representing the car's spec. That might add a bit of status to the car and also reduce any competitive ego, eg, people will not expect the guy with '1985' on his windscreen to be cleaning up the guy with '1995' on his. Maybe different colour banners for champion cars running in the same spec as their championship year?
Sorry, I should butt out as I haven't done much in the way of motorsport. By the time I had rebuilt Tony Rutherford's RX2, I couldn't afford to run it and had to sell it. Other than a couple of clubman races and hillclimbs over 20 years ago, I've just been a spectator. My feeling is that the spectator's would love it though.
No Paul certainly don't butt out, too many people choose to keep quiet which is not the best way at all. How do you know if you have got something right or for that matter wrong if you don't get any feedback. Also now and then you get people saying things that are completely obvious but for one thing or another it just hasn't been seen like what you just said about having the year the car is represented in the case of historic cars and of when built for the later builds or modified Historic cars. That is just brilliant don't you see, lets face it for the likes of the genuine cars unfortunately a lot of the spectators of the era have passed on and 18 year old Johnny Smith will then be able to place the vehicle in time. or to the latest "improvements made to the car. ie lets say My old Sidchrome car would read 1971 but if I had put the latest spec Dodge R5 nascar engine in it that came out say 2006 then it would read 1971/2006. I tell you if somehow I were able to get that HSS class we tried to get going up and running that would definately be the thing to do. It could be in the bottom right or left hand corner of the screen so as not to be in the way of any original sign writing at the top of the screen. Come to think of it why haven't all the historic classes got that on their cars somewhere and the commentators could regularly point it out. Jesus, that's a no brainer isnt it!!! Well done Paul!
Sorry Custaxie, did not know i needed to be asked. Can recommend a couple of good books though.
Second, Rod did not start this class.
Third, there are a few more than Barry and Grahams cars being 'original'. In fact one Capri that ran last weekend is older than them all.
Fourth, think it is heading in same direction as before, and honestly i can not be buggered with the bullshit back and forth, it only takes a couple of negatives to bring it down, so i will be putting new line on the rods and back to sea. could be a car for sale soon that will be handy in the Shellsport Class if the class gets going and it is original.
Yes you are right in what you said George remove that word.
Sitting over here in Australia I have a couple of questions - I know the answers but I would be interested in other peoples comments.
Are the guys that are putting all the time and effort into getting these cars out on the track, for all of you who are picking the class to bits to watch, racing for money ?
Are they happy with the crowds response to what they are doing ? I know most of them read this so would be interested to see what they themselves have to say.
The majority of people that seem to be commenting on this class are on the negative side which I really do not understand. I am not an ex driver or anything but I grew up looking over Pukekohe Race Track and watching the racing from 3 years old and I would love to see the Custaxie again. I don't give a rats a#*e that it is not period correct. If it was period correct it may as well just be a trailer queen as it would quite possibly be a liability out on the track safety wise by todays standards.
I would rather watch a car that is circulating safely and for the entire 8 laps or whatever than something go out for 1 or 2 laps and clap out like they did in the old days. I don't care that it is not a race - its all about the spectacle and the memories for me and unfortunately the comments here are bringing back bad ones when the class was killed off.
Lets face it people the cars were NOT that reliable in the old days - Unfortunately George, no disrespect but I see the Sidchrome Mustang and I see a spectacular racecar that finished races yet you say you actually preferred it the black with coloured stripes and the ugly wing on the back. I see that car in my photographs and unfortunately more often than not it was on a tow rope - its all in how and what people remember.
Aside from John and Rod has anyone else actually spoken to Graeme Addis or Barry Algie and asked there opinions of the cars they are running with?
The Charger and Monaro are being stated here by George as being the only 2 period correct cars running. What is wrong with the 2 Crowe built Starlets, the Ex Ian Algie Alfetta, the red Capri (Ex Bullivant ? sort of looks like it to me) and certainly the little Ex Halliday Escort.
The Oldsmobiles are heading towards the change over period for me when racing really died in NZ due to all the petty politics and bickering. I remember Don Grindley running one so good enough for me. I never saw the other as I had already left NZ but it looks like it belongs in the photographs posted here.
The Escort with the wheels hanging out the sides of the guards like a rally car without flares (last years event) just looks wrong but maybe it ran like that, I don't know of that particular cars history but to me that would have to be where a line of some sort was drawn as no car I ever saw race as an Allcomer or Sports Sedan looked like that but that is just my opinion and it doesn't count. Apparently the car goes well.
It sounds like there are a number of cars out there that "don't belong" like the little Escort with the gearbox issue. We all have to remember that this has all fallen on John to organize on top of his own rebuild, HMC car to run/maintain and noted health issues beyond his control that have generally screwed things up on a day to day basis. He is not MANZ back in the day with a team of people to field enquiries, entries etc. He is 1 guy and things will get missed, people will unfortunately slip through the cracks like the little escort which with a little notice MAY have been able to rectify the gearbox issue and run like in previous years. I don't know the details of what happened there and don't want to know as it is none of my/your business, that is between he and John and they will sort it out.
The class was always about the diversity with the Minis, Escorts, Datsuns even a Porsche. Add in the Marinas (Parks), Fiats (Hoss), Clyde Collins Falcon, Monaros of several models - where is the problem ?
From the outside looking in I see several cars I recognize but don't relate to as they look nothing like the paintjobs I saw them race in all those years ago yet I still know its them. Some may have run in those colours/sponsors with the original owners after I left, I just don't know but I would certainly rather see the car at the track and running than parked up because it is "Not Period Correct". By period correct are you going to be so petty to take it to the paint job - if so we will never see the Sidchrome Mustang run again as it is NOT period correct with the name down the side - period correct is all bulls##t if you want to run them with a little bit of jandal!
Hell if George wanted to keep that beautiful engine safe I would not care if he dropped a new stock crate Mustang engine in it with a few tweaks just to make it reliable just to see the car out there. They are not racing people so what does it matter if it has an engine in it that is not a race engine or totally different to what it originally had. Keep the bonnet shut and nobody would know, open it and nobody would care !
Please stop the bickering and support these guys or at least try to keep your opinions to yourselves - you have already just seen Rods response to your nitpicking and it is not a knee jerk reaction from him.
I have never seen the replica Custaxie yet I am tired of reading negative comments about how this is not right or that can't be correct because they know where the original component is therefore it is not a Historic car or period correct. Robbie gave it his approval so what else matters.
There are quite a few others with cars that could run but won't because they know that the nitpickers will point out that they have a modern component replacing a weak link in the original. This is what you are doing to the class just like happened in the 80's. Pick pick whinge whinge and everyone walks away.
Sorry for the rant but it is just so disappointing to see this happening again instead of all pulling together to try to improve what John has started. Ask how you can help him! I would if I was home as I loved these cars but I am not, I am here over the ditch so of limited use but I hope like hell that they are still around in a couple of years when I come home again for a visit so I can see, smell and hear them again at the 2017 King Kenny Festival.
Tony Growden
Well put Tony. My take on "period correct" is as close to it as modern regulations and technology will allow.
Exactly and the more the better if the original is no longer with us like the Custaxie.
And just to clarify something I said about Georges car - I would rather see it with Georges name on it than not see it at all but I still don't see the problem with keeping a few of the vulnerable hens teeth original parts out of a car like that IF newer replacement parts could bolt straight in. You have less chance of diminishing its true value in the case of an oops which can happen.
Would be great to see a Galaxie one day. Was there not a Zephyr Corvette replica built a couple of years back. Wonder where it is.
Last edited by TonyG; 01-22-2015 at 09:55 PM.
Well hang on a minute Tony, isn't this a race car forum where people can share stories, moments and photos of race cars, people and days gone by and also of current events for these cars. Surely people that comment on here are doing so because they have a passion for it all. I haven't seen any comments on here that criticize any of the organizers like Ray, Dale or John. On the other hand I dont think we should all dance around in a circle and sing koom by ya. There have been a lot of good ideas that have been picked up and used on this Forum and of course the great thing about humans is the way they analyse things, take them apart and look at them from all different angles. Things may not always be as they appear. For instance I am sure that if you actually new me back then,you would have been a bit more charitable with your comments that I was more often on the end of a tow rope, because I was just a broken ass electrician (still am) who bought a race car at 21 (that cost over 1/2 the price of an average house!) with no mechanical or engineering knowledge, on an Electricians wage but just a heap of enthusiasm. The car came with 40 old tires that Jim had used and that is all I used in fact I was so broke that I just had to miss some rounds because I couldn't afford the entry fees or the fuel to run it. Then to top it all off the poor bloody thing had to rely on me to build the engine as I learnt and I had nobody offer to build the engine for me or to show me what to do or people watching in the stands who liked to see the car run instead of watching it come in on a tow rope come over and offer me some financial help to keep me going. You probably also didn't know that I approached Sidchrome just like when I restored the car and got the same answer as then. So I paid all the bills just like I have always done and you know what I thought F--- Sidchrome I own the car so I will put my name on the car. I have 24 V8 cars that I race in different classes and I have never had what you would call a proper sponsor so as far as I am concerned Sponsors can go take a running F-- at themselves. I have been motor racing since I was 17, thats 42 years ago so you see you get a little cynical about things like that. Yep your right I am not one bit PC, but I tell you what I figure is I have earnt my right to make the odd comment on these sort of things! Do you think that's fair?
Last edited by George Sheweiry; 01-22-2015 at 11:41 PM.
Well said George,this Tony has been talking to his laptop for too long he needs to go away and read up a little, before he starts to talk about cars like yours and the Custaxie of 1967 and the one we see today,there were too mags that ran storys on Cus 2 Classic Driver and New Zealand Classic Car.We all want to see all these old cars and look alike ones also out there don't we,today most meetings I go to are boring we need to put the class of racing we had back in we had in the so called good old days remove the bullshit wording and lets go racing.
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