The Roaring Season

Great thread and I have really enjoyed reading and the seeing photos, looking forward to seeing the cars again this summer at hampton downs when they are the the festival events again. Thanks to all the teams, drivers and owners for getting these cars back on the track so us spectators can enjoy them again. Hopefully a few more on the way by the sounds of things too which is awseome. Well done to all involved.

I really hope Barry Algie can get there JM, I "A" frame mine down otherwise I would be more than happy to go pick it up. Looking forward to mixing it up with the HSS again, Have NZV8 Driver Andrew Anderson making a guest appearance in my Falcon for a couple of the races too.

Nathan- looks like we are OK for Barry, will know tomorrow.
Also have sent you a PM.
Please note that this class is by Invitation only, only the Invited drivers will run- no stand ins or substitutions.

John McKechnie wrote:Nathan- looks like we are OK for Barry, will know tomorrow.
Also have sent you a PM.
Please note that this class is by Invitation only, only the Invited drivers will run- no stand ins or substitutions.

John, for what it`s worth, making a statement like your `invitation only' one is the quickest way to get guys to keep their cars in the shed. Yes, you are right if it`s an unknown random guy that wants to drive someone elses car, but what would you now do if say Brett Willis wants to have a drive in Ralph Mossmans car or the biggest fish of all .... if Jim Richards gets to drive his old Mustang. Is that different ....... that`s what you have a drivers briefing for, so everyone is on the same page.

Beg to differ fullnoise68. We took legal advice on this 19 years ago, as it is the only way to control who runs with us.

Legally, if someone rocks up with a compliant car that conforms to the rules, but is a terror on or off the track in any way shape or form, you can't stop them running unless it is an invitation race/series. Far from keeping cars in sheds, it gives those who compete a degree of protection.

If it kept cars in sheds, then we wouldn't have had over 100 registered drivers for the last few years! (Currently, 57 paid up for the new season.)

When someone like John stands up in an arena well known for cars that may be considered dubious or less so, dodgy drivers, or troublesome drivers, then the series convenor needs to be able to protect himself and also the other drivers and remain true to a philosophy.

The only reason I got lumbered with running what was then the BMC Series was because the guy who started it was hassled by a driver well known to most of you, who took things to court when he didn't agree with a decision agreed to by all the other drivers. The convenor walked away after ten years of selfless dedication to the cause. No one blamed him for walking away.

We can ill afford to lose those who are prepared to stand up and do the voluntary work that the majority of drivers do not want to do.

They just want to leave everything to someone else, so that they can just enjoy their hobby.

Ray, you really need to open those blinds and let the sun shine in, there`s a big world out there. I`m all for John wanting to keep a lid on what happens, but my comments were based on helping to revive that class, not stand behind the entrance door with a baseball bat....

If I understand Ray, what he meant was that if George wanted to run Jim in the Mustang, George would talk to John and John would "invite" Jim. If some clown with a bad reputation turns up demanding to run, John can say "sorry, not invited".

Based on previous bad experiences (as I read it).

You are right Bryan, that is how I also see it. The point I was trying to make is quite simply that if Nathan Wood was going to allow Andrew Anderson - who is no dummy - to drive his Falcon, on the basis that he is not entering a Smashfest, where is the problem? What about the scenario of if Jackson French wanted Trevor Crowe to have a pedal of his old Starlet? Unlike some others, I haven`t lived under a rock for the past 50 years, and for me it`s more about the enjoyment for others as we are all only here once, life is not a rehearsal ......

As coordinator, Im not prepared to have a NZV8 driver, who has no experience running with Historic racing, running for the first time at a Historic meeting in someone elses car in Historic Sports Sedans .
There are irreplaceable cars out there, end of story.
Bryan- you have 100% understanding and communication .

John McKechnie wrote:As coordinator, Im not prepared to have a NZV8 driver, who has no experience running with Historic racing, running for the first time at a Historic meeting in someone elses car in Historic Sports Sedans .
There are irreplaceable cars out there, end of story.
Bryan- you have 100% understanding and communication .

Hi John, I guess what you are saying here is that NZV8 drivers are cowboys. If Murph was asked to drive an HSS car would you exclude him (and I am not a Murph fan) if the owner wanted him to drive. I think you are drawing a very long bow if you by inference to exclude NZV8, Supertourer or even V8 Supercar drivers from participating in your class. Surely if the owner would wish to have a named driver pedal his car, why not. I have to agree with Fullnoise that this is the best way to turn people off. The big picture is the more you get some named drivers pedaling some of these rocket ships then the more punters you get through the gate and the benefits may certainly cascade down to the owners. Imagine Jim Richards at full tilt in Georges Mustang or Paul Fahey in the PDL Mustang or Robbie Francevic in the CUSTAXIE. The mind boggles. I recall when at the drivers briefing when the Custaxie first came to HD the general consensus was, no taps and give the other guy room, everyone agreed and all the cars came back unscathed. Do you really think that some named driver is going to deliberately go out and do damage. I feel that is just a tad insulting to some of those drivers who may or may have not been approached.These guys have got to drive the cars they do because of their skill and talent. Yes, over exuberance does happen I admit but surely as a guest driver are you really going to stick it to the guy in front. I think not.I just hope your class survives and would love to be proven wrong in my comments.
Cheers Dave Graham

So you are saying that I am too slow a driver and Dean Perkins should be put in my car to provide more bang for the spectators ?

John McKechnie wrote:So you are saying that I am too slow a driver and Dean Perkins should be put in my car to provide more bang for the spectators ?

John, I am really sorry, but I think you have missed the point altogether. Perhaps what you are saying is correct. Who knows. But I am not going to get into a war of words with you, I am just passionate about this sport and see agendas forming a road block to the detriment of the enjoyment of spectators, owners and drivers.

Cheers Dave Graham

Putting it simply Dave- I invited one driver. He didnt tell me his plan, didnt ask, just posted it publically that someone else was going to drive instead of him. For you , this action is perfectly OK?

I have been following this with interest. I see both sides, however what quickly comes to mind are the antics of some of the "named drivers" who are placed in cars at Goodwood.
Yes I do know it's a different kettle of fish where the organisers tell the car owners who will drive their cars and if there is damage the driver has no responsibility to contribute. There it's a case of "we want big name drivers to get the crowds along" and look what happens. No, I am not saying that is what would happen, but it is always a possibility. This has always had the catch cry "The Cars are the Stars". Personally I think invitation is just fine. For those of us who despise the "rubbing is racing" ethos I like it just the way it is. Incidentally I was leaning on the pit wall a while back with Dave Oxton, the discussion related to the way Formula Fords are driven. His comment was "If we had driven like that, I would be dead".

If I was lucky enough to own and drive one of these fantastic cars, like many other drivers, it would represent a disproportionate amount of my net-worth. As such I would want to know that the organiser was making sure that only people with the right attitude were being added to the grid. It doesn't appear to be a system that makes it hard for a new driver to take part. It looks to be fairly open and pragmatic. I would suggest a big turn-off may be potential drivers reading confrontational posts that basically insult people who have the temerity to hold a different opinion.

Think we are moving away from the cars, and thats what it is really about. Any person driving regardless of if they are F1 driver or weekend fun warrior in his pride and joy, get the same message at drivers briefing, and also the 'class rule' of "give room, no diving down inside etc, and NO CONTACT" they all understand there is no prizes. This is FUN and a run for the machinery. If a person breaks the 'code' then it can be handled with a withdrawal of invite.

Come Friday 12th get the cars ready, wash the sleep from the eyes, and don't take too much sugar or energy drinks and wander down for a bit of fun.

Talking of cars, I have had an update of Rodger Williams Mercedes.out there.
At the Jan meeting in practice, he had a major rear end mechanical.
With the Camaro coming in for HMC, his energies were diverted.
The good news is that it will be running again, not at the Ice Breaker, but probably next Jan.
Barry Algie tell me he cant wait to have a crack at him, Graeme Addis also wants some of the action, and is not bothered by its pace.
The rest of us will have to jump in the slip stream before they get away.

Some more- Peter Gunther tells me that the Skoda wont be ready, engine still waiting to be put in. One week to go-any one want to help Pete?
Dennis Running told me today he is waiting for new valves to arrive for the RX8,it will be tight, but he still wants to be there.
Mark Allen with the Viva is currently updating his brakes, and Whittaker meeting will be its first test. He also says wants to be at Jan meeting with Graeme Barnes-ex Friend Capri. Graeme ie redoing his exhaust at the moment.

This could be in - who, when where.
However, since this one of our drivers, then it belongs here.
Who is this extremely loose cannon here, and he didnt roll the car
No cheating by carjam the registation

This is a classic, Ralph Mossman at Manfield and he caught it and kept going. Talking with him other day and he reckons he shut his eyes and it came right, but I think he caught it as he is a good peddler and look at his head turned and looking, that car was a beast. Said they adjusted the peddle box but went wrong way and cranked on rears.

His Monte is a piece of art and can not wait to see it next weekend. Neat car and neat rooster with it.