Sitting over here in Australia I have a couple of questions - I know the answers but I would be interested in other peoples comments.

Are the guys that are putting all the time and effort into getting these cars out on the track, for all of you who are picking the class to bits to watch, racing for money ?

Are they happy with the crowds response to what they are doing ? I know most of them read this so would be interested to see what they themselves have to say.

The majority of people that seem to be commenting on this class are on the negative side which I really do not understand. I am not an ex driver or anything but I grew up looking over Pukekohe Race Track and watching the racing from 3 years old and I would love to see the Custaxie again. I don't give a rats a#*e that it is not period correct. If it was period correct it may as well just be a trailer queen as it would quite possibly be a liability out on the track safety wise by todays standards.

I would rather watch a car that is circulating safely and for the entire 8 laps or whatever than something go out for 1 or 2 laps and clap out like they did in the old days. I don't care that it is not a race - its all about the spectacle and the memories for me and unfortunately the comments here are bringing back bad ones when the class was killed off.

Lets face it people the cars were NOT that reliable in the old days - Unfortunately George, no disrespect but I see the Sidchrome Mustang and I see a spectacular racecar that finished races yet you say you actually preferred it the black with coloured stripes and the ugly wing on the back. I see that car in my photographs and unfortunately more often than not it was on a tow rope - its all in how and what people remember.

Aside from John and Rod has anyone else actually spoken to Graeme Addis or Barry Algie and asked there opinions of the cars they are running with?
The Charger and Monaro are being stated here by George as being the only 2 period correct cars running. What is wrong with the 2 Crowe built Starlets, the Ex Ian Algie Alfetta, the red Capri (Ex Bullivant ? sort of looks like it to me) and certainly the little Ex Halliday Escort.

The Oldsmobiles are heading towards the change over period for me when racing really died in NZ due to all the petty politics and bickering. I remember Don Grindley running one so good enough for me. I never saw the other as I had already left NZ but it looks like it belongs in the photographs posted here.

The Escort with the wheels hanging out the sides of the guards like a rally car without flares (last years event) just looks wrong but maybe it ran like that, I don't know of that particular cars history but to me that would have to be where a line of some sort was drawn as no car I ever saw race as an Allcomer or Sports Sedan looked like that but that is just my opinion and it doesn't count. Apparently the car goes well.

It sounds like there are a number of cars out there that "don't belong" like the little Escort with the gearbox issue. We all have to remember that this has all fallen on John to organize on top of his own rebuild, HMC car to run/maintain and noted health issues beyond his control that have generally screwed things up on a day to day basis. He is not MANZ back in the day with a team of people to field enquiries, entries etc. He is 1 guy and things will get missed, people will unfortunately slip through the cracks like the little escort which with a little notice MAY have been able to rectify the gearbox issue and run like in previous years. I don't know the details of what happened there and don't want to know as it is none of my/your business, that is between he and John and they will sort it out.

The class was always about the diversity with the Minis, Escorts, Datsuns even a Porsche. Add in the Marinas (Parks), Fiats (Hoss), Clyde Collins Falcon, Monaros of several models - where is the problem ?

From the outside looking in I see several cars I recognize but don't relate to as they look nothing like the paintjobs I saw them race in all those years ago yet I still know its them. Some may have run in those colours/sponsors with the original owners after I left, I just don't know but I would certainly rather see the car at the track and running than parked up because it is "Not Period Correct". By period correct are you going to be so petty to take it to the paint job - if so we will never see the Sidchrome Mustang run again as it is NOT period correct with the name down the side - period correct is all bulls##t if you want to run them with a little bit of jandal!

Hell if George wanted to keep that beautiful engine safe I would not care if he dropped a new stock crate Mustang engine in it with a few tweaks just to make it reliable just to see the car out there. They are not racing people so what does it matter if it has an engine in it that is not a race engine or totally different to what it originally had. Keep the bonnet shut and nobody would know, open it and nobody would care !

Please stop the bickering and support these guys or at least try to keep your opinions to yourselves - you have already just seen Rods response to your nitpicking and it is not a knee jerk reaction from him.
I have never seen the replica Custaxie yet I am tired of reading negative comments about how this is not right or that can't be correct because they know where the original component is therefore it is not a Historic car or period correct. Robbie gave it his approval so what else matters.
There are quite a few others with cars that could run but won't because they know that the nitpickers will point out that they have a modern component replacing a weak link in the original. This is what you are doing to the class just like happened in the 80's. Pick pick whinge whinge and everyone walks away.

Sorry for the rant but it is just so disappointing to see this happening again instead of all pulling together to try to improve what John has started. Ask how you can help him! I would if I was home as I loved these cars but I am not, I am here over the ditch so of limited use but I hope like hell that they are still around in a couple of years when I come home again for a visit so I can see, smell and hear them again at the 2017 King Kenny Festival.

Tony Growden