New Zealand Historic Muscle Cars Under HRC

[Kiwiboss]

Our recent Legends of Speed meeting March 23/24th at Hampton was an excellent but low key event. As I’d mentioned in the past, there was just too much on that weekend so this didn’t help numbers. Still, 6 HMC legal cars took part along with similar numbers of small Historic saloons and the racing was fantastic.

HRC event organisers did a great job in the last handicap race, so smiles around after that one!! Here is some in-car footage from Ricky Cooper’s fantastic performing Datsun 240Z, a very quick car and Ricky drives it very well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAg7f...ature=youtu.be

You will notice that although Ricky had the opportunity, he didn’t do the “inside dive bomb” on turns 2 and 4 when he could have, he waited and made his move when appropriate. I know a couple of pro drivers that could learn from this video, but more importantly Ricky is guy you can safely race door handle to door handle with!! So he didn’t WIN, he got second? “Whoop dee do” and "so what", this is Historic car racing and the finishing position doesn’t matter as it’s about clean driving and no incidents. Everyone finished happy, so for those planning to or intending to race in HMC take please note.

Our 15” tyre rule is now law and will be enforced, for those that don’t, can’t, or whatever excuse sorry that is the way it is. We in HMC mean to carry on as we have set out right from day one with strict adherence to the rules. The 15” tyre it is now considered the standard for HMC and the visual difference makes the cars look far better and "Historic". You’ve all had at least 18 month’s notice and I’ve constantly made it known that our DH Festival this year was the last HMC event for bigger wheels (though these can still be used as wets).

We’ve also limited the larger sizes tyres in both the Hoosier and Goodyear’s, so if you check the rules there is now a maximum large size for both “front” and “rears”. The objective is to keep a cost fairness and tyre consumption to a minimum and this will result in correct fender flaring for that “Historic Saloon” look. The most anyone can race on is the largest sizes per the rules. Enough of us have been racing on both the Hoosier HOT’s and Goodyear Blue Streaks to understand the performance characteristics, myself and Gimblett’s Camaro have done back to back testing and racing with no noticeable difference in performance, but the Hoosiers sure are cheaper. I’m getting what looks to be 4 meetings out of the Hoosier’s before a noticeable performance drop off, slower cars probably about 6 so based on that you could almost get a season out of a set, that’s pretty damn good. Tony Cardwell, Cardwells Racing supplies is the Hoosier importer and will stock our HMC size tyres, due to shipping delays and timing it pays get onto him early. Contact is 8@cardwells.co.nz or 0800-227-393.


COD’s for HMC Vehicles: HMC has been working alongside Crunch and the MSNZ Historic and Classic commission team about having all HMC vehicles with their own specific Certificate of Description, I’d like you all to print out and fill-out the required forms http://www.motorsport.org.nz/content...escription-cod (Form T009) as attached and send these in for your HMC/COD for compliance, even vehicles that have a current COD and have been bought up to HMC spec are asked to resubmit an application (Form T010) so the COD paperwork can be bought up to HMC/COD standard.

We are lucky enough to have acquired the services of Pukekohe based Keith Hargraves as our independent HMC/COD Auditor. Keith is a registered MSNZ Technical Officer with a Rally NZ background so has the ability to tech any HMC race car. Myself, Steve and Tony worked hard to obtain Keith’s services as he has no common ties to anyone racing in HMC and doesn’t race himself. Although he can handle safety, his main job is “Eligibility only”. There will be a small fee for his services.

He will be helped by David Graham from Hamilton. David has a huge motorsport background both here and overseas, his resume is impressive and he loves the concept of HMC. You can contact Keith Hargraves at keith.hargraves@clear.net.nz or 021-253-2399 or 09-238-8990 home and David Graham at drmgraham@xtra.co.nz Ph 07 560 2773 Home, Mob 027 560 8000


Next summer’s race dates: We are currently working on these and will keep you posted over winter. I can tell you that our first event will be the HRC Ice Breaker 14/15th September at Hampton so pencil that in(correct Chris). I’m also working with TACCOC to have one just before Christmas probably at Pukekohe but yet to be confirmed. Then it’s the Festival 2014 the last two weekends in January back at Hampton, for HMC this is our premier event. All HMC events will be run at meetings with a Historic theme; we are not about main stream modern racing.

HMC Australia Trip: The dust has settled and for those that have decided to go, deposits are paid, air fares organised, paperwork done, and it’s pretty much on our door step now. By the end of this month all eight vehicles will be loaded and off to Brisbane. So the confirmed HMC entries are Murray Brown 70 Z28 Camaro, Dale Mathers 69 Mustang, Steve Elliott 68 Camaro, Pete Stevenson 65 Mustang FB, Nigel MacDonald 67 Mustang FB, Dean Cameron 65 Mustang FB, Kevin Gimblett 67 Camaro and Craig Stacy 71 Javelin. For those that are interested to go as spectators the event dates are as follows, the Shannon 2 Days of Thunder, June 21/23 at QR and the 2nd is The Lakeside Classic, July 19/20 at Lakeside, both tracks are in the Brisbane area. It should be noted that these two events are very high profile Historic meetings for “correctly configured” classic race cars so you will see some very cool machinery in correct guise. It is our alignment with the Australian Trans Am’s that allows HMC to race at these two events and being on 15” wheels is a necessary requirement, also remember we are representing our own Auckland based Historic Racing Club(HRC) while over there (especially you Steve E).

There is a test session for the 8 HMC cars going to Aussie between 12.00 midday and 4.30pm on Friday 17th May. Other HMC cars and caged, log booked supporters cars are welcome at $150 per car for the afternoon. As HMC has rented the track, it will be a closed practice in 20 minute sessions