North Island Shellsport cars - where are they?

[ERC]

Just part of the complexity of advancing years I'm afraid!

With each decade, more cars are theoretically on the one hand, no longer competitive, yet too new for current classes, where some existing competitors, running pre 1977 cars tend to resent sharing the track with what they perceive to be 'moderns'.

Add the disparity in performance of a period 2 litre against the 5 litre plus cars, and there is yet another reason or excuse.

By now, all current series convenors and/or committees are well aware that no matter how many are actually signed up with completed cars, the percentage out there on track at all rounds in the season, even if restricted to the North Island, is probably less than 10%. (That figure has traditionally been accurate for us for at least the last 10 years). Over the course of the season, you may just get 80% who will turn up at least once and at some rounds, the low figures of any existing group can be very embarrassing.

It is an ongoing problem and the pressure on economically viable grids is increasing, as no promoter can afford to run at a loss.

I have said it many times before, but mixed classes are generally inevitable, but they invariably also put some people off. The under 2 or under 3 litre later cars should be allowed to run with the earlier cars, but it isn't rocket science to label them with either coloured roundels or screen strips or a suffix. It is down to someone offering them the opening and/or someone convening the class.

With the current promoters of the Premier Classes hinting that they don't like having a classic meeting on the same weekend, (scared that they are shown up?) we must be vigilant in making sure that the classic fraternity isn't bullied into fewer meetings during the all too short summer months and the inevitable result of empty tracks, which will only serve to increase costs even further.