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Andrew:
Here's my take on your query.........Here in the states, the spectators seem
much more interested in the "tin tops" as you call them as opposed to the
open wheel cars. At the Monterey Historics this year, the AP and BP cars
and TransAm cars drew the most attention by far. The last race on Sundday
was a F5000 race and was preceded by TransAm. The bleachers cleared after
TA and before the F5000s were into 4 laps, traffic was backed up on the exit
roads. That said, most vintage events in the states aren't spectator
events, rather are for the benefit of the participants. Being basically an
economic determinist, here's my prediction on the future.......
1. As interest grows in vintage racing(and it is growing quickly here), the
organizers will become more particular about the type of cars they run as
fields fill and they have more options.
2. Cars with "period race history" will have preference over the stockers
that recently grew race equipment.
3. As more folks join the ranks vintage drivers and learn more about race
history and the significance, driveability and fun of the open wheel cars,
interest in them will grow. Spectators will also learn the differences and
more will watch them. Drivers may start out in "tin tops" but some will
gravitate to the open wheelers. You can turn an old sedan or sports car
into a vintage racer but I haven't seen anyone reproducing Lotus 18's. The
market for open wheelers will grow and prices will follow as the supply is
fixed.
4. More "vintage" race organizations will be spawned to accomodate cars
displaced from other groups. Emphasis will be on period preparation for the
production based cars...
5. There will be more spectator oriented events.
6. Everyone will have more fun........
Happy Holidaze to all.....
Ted Smith
1964 Corvette B/P roadster(period history)
1966 Porsche 912 D/P (no early history)
1983 Porsche 944 PCA Club racer, I stock
1959 Elva FJr (under resto), significant history
1969 FSV (in negotiation), significant history
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Date: 22 Dec 97 04:00:44
From:Andrew Pursey <MorrisOxford@s054.aone.net.au>
To:"'Jeremy Braithwaite'" <ATROZ@compuserve.com>, Vintage Race
<VINTAGE-RACE@autox.team.net>
Subject:RE: SSP#2 - HP:IQ Ratios
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Jeremy....
Is this the night for elitist open wheeler threads? It might be a lot
better for Historic motorsport in Australia if people recognised that most
Australian motorsport spectators are more interested in tin tops than open
wheelers. Also, tin tops (and non racing history sports cars) represent a
reasonable percentage of the entries at NSW all-Historic Race Meetings -
alienate these people and you will find that race entry fees will need to
escalate dramatically in order to cover costs (do you really want that?).
Look at the normal grids for HQs at major race meetings - they are usually
on maximum grid density. In contrast look at some of the other grids - they
are pretty puny. Some people may not like to think of HQs racing (although
they did during their original period) because the grids look like a pub car
park - so what; if the guys are out there having fun should we decry that?
As usual I'll ask our overseas list members for their views - if the cars
are old (over 20 years) and conform to all required safety standards, do you
see any problem with having such cars racing around (and providing good
spectator interest as well) and giving the drivers a cheap (relatively)
entry category into motorsport?
....regards...Andrew "Axeman" Pursey....1955 Morris Oxford (racing in Group
Na pre'58 Classic Saloons), 1956 Morris Isis (almost a daily driver) and
1996 Saab 900S Coupe (quality worse than most LBCs and Saab attitude to
customers worse than BL ever was back in the 70s - don't buy a
Saab)....alternate email saabsux@hotmail.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Braithwaite [SMTP:ATROZ@compuserve.com]
Sent: Monday, December 22, 1997 2:00 PM
To: Vintage Race
Subject: SSP#2 - HP:IQ Ratios
Silly Season Project #2 - Horsepower:IQ Ratios
Rob Lesslie takes credit for this one ... but first some background/
We have a class of racing in Australia called HQ Holdens. These are
Levaithan sized GM products made in vast quantities in Australia which for
some unknown reason have failed to surrender to the crusher. In an attempt
to kill off the last of them some bright spark invented HQ racing on the
basis that it would permit the great unwashed to have a chance to perform
out there with the big boys.
It has become a double tragedy:
1. They completely emptied the pubs with "would be if they could be's" and
the 'racing drivers' with giant pot bellies now inhabit the country's
racuing circuits.
2. There were many more HQ's than people dreamed off - and despite the best
efforts from the pub crowd they haven't run out of cars.
Anyway whenever Rob sees a HQ race he goes away muttering about HQ:HP
ratios. Everybody knows what he meas ... but how on earth do you define
it?
BTW HQ's are old enough to be vintage so this is not off topic. The
Australian Historic Commission would collectively shudder in their boots at
the thought of admitting them to our ranks!
regards
Jeremy Braithwaite
Age & Treachery Racing Australia
For details of FF rentals, test days and corporate days see:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/atroz
1970 Lotus 61MX - Team Holland
1976 Bowin P6F
1983 Reynard FF83
1986 Isuzu FVR Pantechnicon
1972 Datsun 240Z
1992 RF92 Van Diemen Wanted
1997 Ford Falcon XR8 Tickford
A large collection of model cars
Investor in the Lance Ruting Collection of motorsport photographs
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