New Zealand Historic Saloon Cars Under HRC

[nzeder]

Here I am again -- it has been a while since I posted on a web forum -- I used to very active on many web forums (mainly Datsun S30 aka 240z/260z related, I have owned over 11 Datsun's over 30+ years (mostly S30 aka 240z/260z and never a 2+2 only 2 seaters))

So I have been a Zed man for many of years -- however all have been sold now. Sold the last one after I decided to move on my Classic Mini Trackcar -- my first British car, first FWD and first 4 cylinder trackcar. I stepped away from all things car for .... well 12 months. So the Zed connection is why I have the user name nZeder -- as a proud Kiwi aka NZer

I was then asked by Karl Sentch if I would help out with the new HVRA group but doing the grid co-ordinator. How could I say no, a good bunch of like minded individuals, with very lovely presented Classic Cars wanting to have a few good weekends a year racing around the track and have a bit of banter between races.

I now have my second British car -- a Vauxhall Viva GT replica. I am sure many of the ford supporters will be asking why a GM/Vauxhall Viva. For me it is different to the sea of Escort you see on the tracks around NZ, it was factory fitted with 4 link rear solid axle and good front suspension setup -- so on paper looked good to me, and I was asked if it would be a car I would be interested in when it came up for sale.

The old Mini

Old Zed 74 260z 2 seater track car I was building at one point.

My first Datsun - a 77 260z 2 seater --- this was the last Zed I sold.

My current trackcar -- the Viva GT Replica

Regards
Mike Lucas

[ERC]

They are still welcome with the ERC Group, but years ago, we had two groups. Saloons then Sports/GT. We shifted to two speed groups on the grounds of safety as although a quick Lotus Elan is tiny against a Jaguar XJ6, the speed differential was deemed more important.

Over time, the number of sports cars as a percentage of grids has shrunk dramatically and commercially, a small grid is not viable.

We have lost Lotus Elan, Lotus 7, Triumph Spitfire, Morgan, TR3, TR5, TR6, MG Midget, Reliant Scimitar, E Type Jaguar, TVR M Series, Marcos, Aston Martin, Ferrari and most MGB's etc. over recent years.

Equally, as you well know, a fields of Fords and just one Vauxhall merely proves the fact that the spares and knowledge availability is vast for Fords, less so for other makes, especially sports and GT cars.

Setting rarer cars up for racing basically devalues them, as originality is now sought after rather more than a limited race provenance.

[Spgeti]

The Sports & GT group was included in HSC many years ago due to these cars were disappearing…..as you rightfully have stated Ray.
With the formation of HVRA we continued this on and are building this group…today we have an FIA 70 Corvette, a very nic MGC GTS yes a replica but built in the UK, a very nice MGB GT V8 with C bonnet and Sebring kit, three TR7/8 V8’s, three stunning Porsche 911’s in various configurations, an Alfa Montreal, two Datsuns 240Z’s and several MGB’s….

This is a group for us we want to keep working on building….sadly the Austin Healey’s and early TR’s have gone and that is seriously disappointing….but we live in hope.

The meeting you refer to as Formula Ford was unfortunately wet and the other GM cars stayed in the garage…but our GM and Japanese groups are growing.

Thank you Ray for all the effort you have contributed to over your many years…it has not been forgotten.

Kind Regards
Bruce

[ERC]

Thanks Bruce. Good to see the growth.

Over the years, the ERC group has morphed from 4 cylinder BMC only to today's Europeans.

Whilst we have always supported the purist approach, along with Alfa Romeo, we felt that there were too many cars where total conformity wasn't what many drivers wanted.

We saw ourselves as a logical stepping stone from those new to racing, who may have had a crack at Classic Trials and wanted to step up one level, without getting too serious and still able to run a road car. They could then step up from ERC in whatever direction they wanted. The series boomed and then other classes came along such as 2KCup and initially, the BMW E series.

BMW have tapped into a market where cars are easily available and their various groups have grown.

There always was an opening for classic race saloons and it is great to see your group growing.

However, the ERC group has suffered not so much because of any competition, but many drivers have elected to park their cars partly due to rising costs, partly due to the rarity aspect and partly due to retirement.

Classic Trial was initially a cheaper option for a day on track, and a great starter, but again, rising costs have hit them too, so they haven't fed into the ERC group. Their fields haven't grown and the loss of Pukekohe as an alternative track hasn't helped either group or Auckland based drivers generally.

ERC runs hand in hand with Alfa and often there are combined grids.

We allowed Tony Roberts Corvette and the Datsun Z's as at that time, there was nowhere else for them to run.

Right from my first involvement in 1996/97, I felt I had no choice but to adopt a pragmatic approach rather than a purist approach and I don't regret for one minute allowing in the Corvette and Datsun Z's, nor allowing in later models nor even repowered classics - even though some objected to allowing in 'Hot Rods'. Only one repowered car ever ran (ie non original engine type) despite the critics claiming we'd be overrun.

The rising costs for promoters have inevitably put pressure on financially viable grids and I for one have no problem if there are two or three or more 'classes' in a grid.

The only criteria for us has always been driver respect for other cars as that is far more important than car purity.

[Spgeti]

We have a pragmatic approach to the grid Ray and while we are a historic group we do accept cars that don’t totally meet the criteria set down by our MSNZ Appendix Six, Historic.
We still have a very high level of compliance in the group but driving standards are first and foremost the education on historic racing philosophy.
We have a very good relationship with Chris Browne and the ERC group and that is one of our strengths……relationships.

We are always prepared to combine with another group for the sake of meeting grid numbers and we have a golden rule…work with the promotors as we need them to be able to race.

Take care Ray…