New Zealand Pre 61 Saloon Register

[ERC]

I can see both sides here, but as I remember, the UK's pre-1957 series had great racing and Austin A35's with stiffer springs made for very entertaining cornering. I don't really see the value in 100% bog standard either, but as Oldfart has already discovered, race series organisers regret some of their earlier decisions, but surely we can learn a wee bit from that? 100% bog standard - no, mildly period modified, yes, extensively modified, no. As we have also found out with our own series, the less bonnet lifting and finger pointing the better, so either leave it to a series convenor (not acommittee!) to have a set of rules that allows a degree of control, or on a driver vote.

Quite where and how you draw the line is always the $64,000 question, but as with all classes, the last thing we want is a tiny, loss making grid of pure vehicles. I just don't want to see potentially interesting cars ignored simply because they are not dragsters.

Series convenors have to be willing and able to change according to circumstances and to ensure long term survival, yet not lose sight of their original intention. Tracking our own series back 28 years shows subtle and not so subtle changes all the way, but the basic concept hasn't really changed since it was opened up 18 years ago, to allow in cars other than 4 cylinder BMC cars. Had we not opened it up, it would have sunk at least 15 years ago.

Rhys will have a pretty good idea of what he wants to achieve and how so let his vision be the guide and I for one hope he succeeds as he has identified a niche within local motorsport that could be filled.