MSNZ Appendix 6There are differences between HMC Schedule T&C and what HSC use. HSC follows the MSNZ manual and the difference in rules does add to some confusion.
Historic Saloon Cars is broken down into three distinctive sets of regulations. They are as follows:
1: Schedule T&C. This is for production based cars made in quantities of 100 plus units. T&C requires the car has the appearance of a standard production vehicle. Therefore, no flared wheel arches are allowed unless a production item. So too, most of the interior is required to remain intact. However, T&C allows some additional freedoms, such as a 1 inch increase in wheel diameter over the standard model.
A good example of a T&C HSC car is Mike Coory's Datsun 240K. This car has been built to the full advantage of T&C but retains its upholstery and glass, but has 15 inch period rims taking advantage of the 1 inch creep on wheels and uses the factory production flares from the GTR of the same model. It uses the period correct larger L28 engine in lieu of its smaller brother the L24 to which a L28D crank is use to stretch the capacity out to 3.1 litres all within the 12.5% allowable limit under the regulations.
2: Schedule K. This is for actual period race cars or original production cars with homologated parts. MSNZ originally drafted up Schedule K regulations several decades ago to give owners of old, outdated racing cars with NZ history, a place to race them in their period guise.
Good examples of a Schedule K car racing in HSC is John Dennehy’s ex-Don Halliday MkI Escort, Rayden Smith’s ex-Jim Richards MkI Escort and David Thompson's ex Auto Trader Shell Sport Escort. Schedule K cars are usually allowed to be presented, both mechanically and aesthetically, as they did in period, even if this means they don’t fit either T&C or Appendix K rules.
3: FIA Appendix K. Appendix K are the regulations used for historic racing in other parts of the world, most notably the UK and Europe. Under Appendix K rules, each make and model that competed in a significant FIA saloon car championship in period should have its own Homologation Sheet, which is essentially the set of regulations specific to each individual car. These Homologation Sheets are what Appendix K rules are based on for modern day historic racing. HSC have access to most of the FIA Appendix K rules and are happy to supply these to anyone interested in building an Appendix K car for HSC.
One of the advantages of building an FIA Appendix K race car is that you will own a car that is not only historically very correct to what was being raced in period, it’ll also be eligible for almost any historic racing event anywhere in the world. Granted, if you do wish to take your car overseas, you will need to apply for a Historic Technical Passport (HTP). The HTP is your cars paperwork that proves it is correct as of the Appendix K rules, and gains it entry into international events.
In addition, if you build a car to Appendix K rules, you’ll find it to be an extremely good investment, and, if you one day choose to sell it, and providing you’ve got an HTP for it, you’ll have a car that has a worldwide market. Appendix K cars with a current HTP are worth several times more than cars not built to these rules. Eg, Appendix K MkI Escort twin-cams with an HTP are regularly changing hands in the UK and Europe for in excess of 100,000 pounds (roughly 115,000 Euros):
https://www.motorsportauctions.com/category/358/Historic-Touring-Cars/listings/38885/Ford-Escort-RS1600-20-BDG.html A good example of an FIA Appendix K car racing in HSC is Howard Wood’s BMW 2002 Tii Group 2 replica which has been built to these exacting regulations.
At the moment we have four cars being built to FIA Appendix K; Paul McCarthy's Mk1 Escort RS1600 with the very special BDG 2 litre engine, Grant Sprague’s with his replica Mk1 Escort RS1600 and again with the BDG 2 litre engine, Paul Berkahn with his replica 1964 Falcon Sprint, Monte Carlo Rally with light weight panels and our own Steve Holmes with his 1968 Pontiac Firebird being built to Trans Am specifications.
The Roaring Season features build threads on both the Falcon and Firebird.
Paul’s Falcon Sprint:
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?2214-BUILD-THREAD-For-1964-Falcon-Sprint-to-Monte-Carlo-Rallye-FIA-spec Steve’s Pontiac Firebird:
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?2195-Build-Thread-The-Roaring-Season-Firebird Just to note that the BDG alloy 2 litre engine was not a production engine for the Escort. It was a homologated engine for competition use only.
Because Appendix K cars are accepted in HSC, you also have the option of purchasing and importing an Appendix K car from overseas to race with HSC.
What you cannot do in HSC is mix and match the rules from T&C, Schedule K and Appendix K into one car. You must choose the rules you want to build your car to, and stick to them to the letter. For example, a MkI Escort built as an Appendix K car is allowed forest flares, as used in period, but must also have period correct 13 inch diameter wheels. There is no 1 inch wheel creep.
To clarify Schedule T&C we allow as per the MSNZ Appendix 6 rule the following:
1 inch increase in wheel diameter over standard at a maximum of 15 inches on standard production bodies and after that there is no 1 inch creep. Also allows for polycarbonate glazing to side and rear windows as long as the same fixing medium is used as per standard.
You are allowed some period modifications to the body as long as it still looks correct. You are allowed painted bumpers and in some cases allowed without bumpers subject to approval.
You are allowed to use a larger engine but it must be from within the pre 78 date range and from the same production series. IE: Pre Cross Flow Ford, Alfa 105 Nord Twin Cam, Datsun L Series Single Overhead Cam, BMC A Series and BMC B Series as examples.
Engine wise you must be within 12.5 % of the engines capacity with a maximum of a 60 thou over bore.
You are allowed to fit period performance parts, ie: Weber Carburettors, Mechanical Fuel Injection, Arden Heads and HRG Derrington Heads are some examples.
Gearboxes must be as factory installed for that model but you are allowed close ratio gear sets. If a part is difficult to source we will look at alternatives in conjunction with MSNZ.
Escorts with bubble or forest flares must only use 13 inch rim size to keep that period look, so no creep is allowed.
As a side note some of our cars do have the incorrect gearbox and that is a relic from the past. We have accepted this in good faith and we are working with these owners over a period of time to correct this and in no way is it our intention to stop them racing or enjoying themselves. However, we will not be accepting new builds with incorrect gearboxes as they will not get a COD under today’s regulations.
T&C is not the same as Schedule K or FIA Appendix K so if in doubt please ask.
Some of the homologated extras are not allowed on your T&C car which is based on a production vehicle, not a period race car with specialized non production race engines and light weight panels. If it was produced in numbers of 100 plus units on a production line it is a production vehicle.
Those of you building an FIA Appendix K car with a HTP needs to advise MSNZ of your intentions and remember that these cars must be exact. Please talk to Dale or Tony Roberts if your car fits into this category.
Remember that if your car has a Schedule K or FIA Appendix K COD you cannot change the specification. If you are considering doing this you need to talk to one of the Directors first as you run the risk of having your COD classification being deemed invalid.
So, if you’re considering building a car for Historic Saloon Cars, take some time to first consider what it is you want from your historic racing. If you already own a very nicely presented road car and want to develop it further for historic racing, and feel that fitting it with period modifications, such as flared wheel arches etc will take away from the cars originality, then Schedule T&C is likely the best option.
If you want to build and race a car that is completely correct to what was being raced in period, then Appendix K is likely better suited to your requirements. In addition, if you would like to perhaps race your car overseas at some stage, then building an Appendix K car to FIA Schedule K rules gives you that option.
I hope this has clarified the differences in our groupings that run under HSC and the differences between HMC T&C rule and Schedule T&C that HSC use.
Our objective of HSC is not only to preserve history but is to build a grid of not only historic period NZ racing saloons but restore to the grid period correct classic saloons along with FIA Appendix K racing saloons.
Hopefully in the future to be able encourage competitors from overseas to bring their cars to NZ and have the knowledge that they will join a group of Pre Dec 1977 saloons to race with and that they are racing in a historic group with historic rules that are subject to auditing just as they do overseas.
