Thanks for the support. When it comes to Datsun Zs, people may wonder why they are running in the ERC Series in the first place. (E = Euro!)

The simple fact is that it has been an invitation series for 17 of the last 18 years and at that time, there was no suitable grid in which to run a 240Z. Initially, they were invited as they were deemd by most of us to be genuine classics even to those with a strong Euro bias. (Our rules have always stated that invitations will be extended to cars that do not strictly conform to the Euro philosophy.)

Having turned away any number of Datsun 1200's and older Toyotas I suggested to several people that they should set up a series for Japanese classics as there was an obvious demand. Eventually, Steve Melhuish did just that so we effectively closed the door on any new applications, although we allowed existing cars to remain.

As so often happens in motorsport, to paraphrase Tony Roberts "too many Chinese warlords, each wanting to run their own empires" meant that many of the Datsun 240Z brigade weren't as comfortable in that environment as they were with the Euro Classics and they mounted a strong case to be re-admitted to the ERC Series.

As many of you will have noticed, both car preparation and driving standards have been beyond reproach so we accepted their application and invitations were issued.

However, one has since been moved on, as it was a thinly disguised race car and wasn't within the spirit of the series. The owner acccepted this quite cheerfully. As stated above, I have no technical knowledge but if it looks like a stripped out race car, it is a stripped out race car, whether it has paperwork or not. I rely on others to bring to my attention cars they deem to be outside the spirit of the regulations and also poor driving standards. Dotting i's and crossing t's in this environment is counter productive and sure, there may be one or two cars that are marginal, but does it really matter?

I wasn't aware that the McCarthy Escort had a sequential gearbox, so I recant. Not acceptable.

Andrew's comment regarding Grant Kern's car is exactly right. Currently, we have any number of Capri Peranas and TR7 V8s, but most are home brewed. Legal, because it was done in period.

We know that Rovers V8s were tried in Morris Marinas and Triumph 2500's, probably the Triumph Stag, by BL and I even heard the other day that they were trying to shoehorn one into a Maxi. We allow these cars because someone, somehere, did it in period.

Me thinks I should have poured my money into a Vauxhall Firenza with twin Turbo Aston Martin power. They'd have to allow it because the John Pope Special ran in period and has just been on the market. But no, you build something more modest out of period parts but you cannot get it accepted just because no one did it in period. Sorry, I don't really understand it.

Jo Hill's Triumph Herald Coupe V8 focussed a lot of my thinking as it was very popular in Targa but it wasn't allowed to race.