And the next page, Dale MBelow are out race dates:
1 – Ice Breaker September 14-15th 2013 (Been and Gone)
2 – TACCOC December 8th 2013 one day at Hampton Downs
3 – Ferrari Festival, January 17-19th 2014 at Hampton Downs (our own grid)
4 – Ferrari Festival, January 24-26th 2014 at Hampton Downs (our won grid)
5 – Legends of Speed, March 29-30th 2014 at Hampton Downs
And quite a few of us will be at the Manfield MG Classic, November 9-10th racing in the “MSNZ T&C Classics” class.
Certificate of Descriptions(COD's) this has now been sorted with the Historic and Classic Commission, after various discussions we decided just to stick with the current MSNZ COD system with no changes. What we have worked out is that having a COD will be a 2 step exercise for HMC eligibility, within the next year (or so, but sooner than later) ALL HMC vehicles must have a current COD issued by MSNZ.
All NEW vehicles currently been built must first have a COD issued before they can race, the COD issuing authority is in no way connected to HMC so they will issue COD's in accordance with their guidelines. This will get all proposed HMC racers very close to correct classic car ruling status. It's not hard and I am happy to help with this, Tony also has a very good handle on the COD system.
Remember, a COD is your vehicles "Technical Passport" to classic car racing so it’s important to it have regardless. Once a COD is obtained, to race in HMC we need to make sure your vehicle is still HMC eligible (as non HMC cars can still have a COD).
At future HMC events when your car gets audited our HMC tech officers will first ask for your COD passport booklet to check that the details recorded match your vehicle. They will then (by using the HMC audit forms) check that car is HMC legal. Some of this will be done well before events, especially newly built cars and at other times it will be random!
The COD process is a very good system that is already in place at MSNZ so why not use it as it will help keep our HMC vehicles in check, remember good for one, good for all. Please go ahead and start your COD application now
http://www.motorsport.org.nz/sites/default/files/motorsport/manual/35%20App%206.03%20COD.pdf On the Tech side it has been pretty peaceful, most seem to know to phone, E-mail or drop in for a visit with either myself and/or Tony (Steve’s too far away). It seems most are "getting" what HMC is about and its rule definitions, certainly the 15" wheel rule is now accepted by all, so with that behind us we can move on.
But while on "wheels" I often found myself re-educating those about what "Historic Racing" actually is. Back when these cars were racing, a 15" wheel was all you could get, anything larger was usually mounted on a truck! I often find it interesting that some didn't quite understand what a "Historic Racing Vehicle" is supposed too be.
All vehicles prior to December 1977 had 15" wheels and that is a part of what makes your race car a “historic race car”, pretty simple really. Our supply of 15” tyres is now consistent all year round with Cardwell Racing Supplies stocking our spec Hoosier tyre for HMC and the price is reasonable.
This is one of interest; the ignition system can be the ONLY electronic device able to be fitted to any HMC car, WHY well because we are Historic racers that’s why.
But first let’s talk ignition, your HMC vehicle must have a working distributor mounted in its original position with leads running to each spark plug and ONE ignition coil. In most cases this is an electronic MSD ignition box, this type of system (although very early) was used in American Trans Am racing. What you can't have is a crank trigger ignition system, with 8 (for a V8) ignition coils running to each spark plug and a computer controlled module box that can be programed and down load information.
This is NOT V8 SUPERCARS so none of this is allowed and is not historically correct either. What we also don't want to see is any track plotting GPS device, traction control, in-car intercom system allowing the driver to communicate with his crew, etc. Sound tough? Not really, whatever happen to seat of the pants driving, have we all gone too PC. Come on guys this is "Historic Racing" remember, so none of these devices in your HMC racer.
The other is “Belt Drives”. The water and power steering pump along with the alternator must be belt driven off the front of the engine just like they were in the day. The use of electric water and power steering pumps is not allowed, neither is a alternator driven of the diff head (NASCAR style).
Once again historic racing is about having you race car spec’d how it was. A lot of these modern aftermarket parts are all very neat and maybe cheaper but is not the direction we want to go in. I also don’t buy into the “I need an electric water pump” so I can cool the engine after a race, most including myself have raced using a regular belt driven water pump for years and never needed to do this, if so you must have another problem. So please, correct belt driven accessories.
Also, go to our HMC website
http://www.historicmusclecars.co.nz/pages/about/about.html as I’ve now added a “Do’s and Don’ts” page to list some rulings and this will help most understand a rule definition.
While I’m more than happy to talk to anyone about Historic and Classic racing and in particular the rules for HMC, most of the questions like the above are actually about “modernising” your Classic racer rather than keeping it “Historic”. HMC is about keeping your classic race car as Historic as possible and although we allow some newly made replacement parts like engine heads and blocks they still must be of the same dimensions and material. Below is a great saying that got mentioned on the video about restoring classic cars in Japan: “If you make a 40 year old Classic into a modern one, they are no longer classic cars” HMC is about achieving the “Classic period of Motorsport”.
Whether one may agree or not, the object of any HMC rule is to have a level and fair playing field for everyone and try our best to keep the costs to a minimum, while allowing replacement componentry that is readily available.
Remember this isn’t “Modern” car racing, it’s about been Historic!! When reading the rules and contemplating a replacement part think of the written item below(e.g. Cheating/Philosophy), note the very strong wording "the spirit of sportsmanship" this is probably the 4 most important words to understand before you join and race with HMC.