I get a bit tired of being continually accused of 'not getting' what HMC is all about. I think we all appreciate what that class is trying to do, and the driving force behind it.

For the rest of us, the great unwashed on here, we are happy to be a part of the scene with our scruffy old jalopies, and just being able to compete with all this illustrious machinery around us.

I might point out, that NONE of the HMC cars ever looked as immaculate as they do now, in their day. Just take a look at the old clips of them racing, and frankly they are heaps of junk held together with number 8 wire and rivets. But they did the business. And that 'doing the business' is what made then so popular.......what NZ motoracing was all about, and we are continually being told that this is what we are trying to emulate. What we have now is a sort of mobile concours.

If what HMC is doing turns out to be the right thing, and the rest of us continue on our way blissfully ignoring all the advise given, well then we have only ourselves to blame. It may come that presentation, organisation, and dedication will count for everything, and this will mean that a lot more cars than at present will be parked up.........for ever.

I do remember the 'mutiny' at the Bruce McLaren festival when the competitors were told/ordered to hire a marque at $300 a pop. We virtually told the organisers to get stuffed, and that we would supply our own shade, hence the gypsy look of the pits. I don't think it detracted from the atmosphere of the event at all, quite the opposite in fact, and that event did have atmosphere. Maybe it was because it was the first one, and the calibre of the chap we were celebrating, but subsequent festivals have never quite captured that buzz again.

We are not Goodwood, never will be, so just lets do it our way and be thankful that we dont have to pay Goodwood fees!