Classics Explained!
Harvey Semens, a regular in the classics
Classics, everybody loves them no matter what generation we come from, we all have our favourites. The trouble is we don't see too many of them around these days. The Otago classic is perhaps the most regular chance of catching some of these cars in action, but this only happens once a year. Then there is the New Zealand Silver Fern, which actually lasts a week, travels on some superb roads and visits some of the most scenic countryside this country has to offer, but this only happens every two years. The other unfortunate aspect of these two events is that they are both based in the lower regions of the South Island,for rally enthusiasts based in the top of the north island getting to any of these events is a costly exercise. Although for 2012 the NZ Silver Fern Rally will be run in the North island, starting from Auckland in November.
However, we do have quite a few classic rally cars in the top of the north, and its fair to say that we do see them out from time to time, but never on a regular basis. More often than not drivers simply choose a relatively local event that's not too hard on the car or finances.
However, we do have quite a few classic rally cars in the top of the north, and its fair to say that we do see them out from time to time, but never on a regular basis. More often than not drivers simply choose a relatively local event that's not too hard on the car or finances.
Ian Craig slides his Rotary powered escort down Trigg rd.
So, with the convenors of the series wanting to attract more competitors it was decided to add a few new classes to cater for the classics, and hopefully attract them to our series. The classes are simply G, H and more recently the " Modifieds ". G, caters for cars up to 1750cc, and H, for cars 1751cc and above. The modifieds class is simply aimed at those classics that fall outside the classic rules. classes G & H are run to the "Otago classic" rules, simple, proven and successful, after all we're trying to encourage people to run in our series so to reinvent a set of rules simply would just confuse people and cause chaos, running with the same rules allows competitors to run in both events without having to alter their cars.
Now to the rules, and the "opening of a can of worms!" Many are purists, who favour totally original cars that are built to the specs of the original competition cars from years ago. Then there are the guys who favour older cars with more modern power plants, this is done to try and make the cars cheaper and more reliable. There is a fair argument for both cases, hence the reason why the Modified class was introduced. so what is one, well in our series it's basically anything goes, although it has to have been produced prior to 1986, as per the Otago regs, but that's where the similarity ends. power plants, gearboxes, suspensions, brakes etc, etc are all free.
So, at the end of the day we're simply trying to cater for all cars, we need them all and don't care what you run, it's not a WRC or National competition, it's simply Grassroots and clubman motorsport and to make the series interesting and competitive we need everyone, especially this year, our 25th Anniversary. The rules for the classics can be found on the "Series rules".
Now to the rules, and the "opening of a can of worms!" Many are purists, who favour totally original cars that are built to the specs of the original competition cars from years ago. Then there are the guys who favour older cars with more modern power plants, this is done to try and make the cars cheaper and more reliable. There is a fair argument for both cases, hence the reason why the Modified class was introduced. so what is one, well in our series it's basically anything goes, although it has to have been produced prior to 1986, as per the Otago regs, but that's where the similarity ends. power plants, gearboxes, suspensions, brakes etc, etc are all free.
So, at the end of the day we're simply trying to cater for all cars, we need them all and don't care what you run, it's not a WRC or National competition, it's simply Grassroots and clubman motorsport and to make the series interesting and competitive we need everyone, especially this year, our 25th Anniversary. The rules for the classics can be found on the "Series rules".
2011 Modified Classic champion, Garry Trayes
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2011 Class B champion, and 2nd in modified Classics Scott Harrison
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