I am writing from Manila, which saw its first historic race only two years
ago. Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC), which organizes the races, uses Appendix
K of the FIA Sporting Code. Appendix K uses a 1972 cutoff and has strict
rules on originality, with only few exceptions. Our friends from the Japan
Classic Car Association, which sent some cars over last year to race with us
and plans do so again this November, advised us to adopt strict rules on
period specification; the reason is that someone preparing a car based on
less stringent regulations will be sorely disappointed when, finally,
stricter rules are applied. So far, the formula seems to have worked.
MSCC has deviated from Appendix K on the issue of race classes. MSCC
shifted this year to VARA and SVRA classifications, which so far seem to
work as well.
Very few cars in the Philippines survived World War II - it is little known
that Manila was the most damaged city in that war, surpassing by most
accounts even Warsaw. That historical fact and the import and currency
restrictions that followed now conspire to produce a grid that is small -
about 15 to 20 cars so far - and pedestrian, compared to Laguna Seca in
August. Mostly MGAs, MGBs, TR4s, and, in the bigger-engined classes,
Stingrays and GT350s. We even have a a very authentic and clean 1200 VW
bug, the hot topic in the Vintage Net two days ago (the owner raced a
Karmann Ghia roadster in the beginning, but says the beetle is "more
competitive"). But we do have a great deal of fun nonetheless, both at the
track and in the paddocks. To many of us, the joy would be much diminished
if the cars became stripped-out, modern spec racers.
My era is the sixties, when I first started seriously to look at cars, but I
do enjoy old sports cars generally (I have a 1948 MG TC, same age as me). I
am preparing a Lotus Elan now for the November event (a car I have had for
20 years), and derive so much personal satisfaction from putting the car
together to hopefully raceworthy spec. Sure, I have put in 26R wheels,
aluminum AR calipers, and the other homologated pieces that are now
available in the specialist market, but this is more for the joy of working
with these period goodies than a desire to win at all costs. There is a
very fast GTV racing in my class, driven by a talented young fellow, and I
will probably never catch him. But that is not the point for me. I enjoy
the Lotus and look forward to seeing how it will handle at the track.
MSCC has recently decided, after a brief, not encouraging experiment with
saloons and modified cars, to concentrate on complying, period sports cars.
A good move, I think. Oh, they will still allow two saloons per race, so
this will grandfather in the VW bug, which is always a crowd favorite
(everyone seems to be rooting for it).
Finally, to wind up this long letter, Eastman's observations (as well as the
comments they elicited) are extremely helpful to us in Manila, who have had
to start with a blank sheet of paper and now need to ensure racing remains
pointed in the right direction.
Regards,
Andy Sta. Maria
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