Pit Stips

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 9

Pit Stips

Saloon car racing has been growing greatly in popularity during the last few years, and it would be an improvement if, the next time the regulations are changed, a class, is provided for standard production cars. This would have many benefits. First, it would allow the public to see cars almost exactly the same as those they can buy performing on the circuit, second it would bring saloon racing within the reach of a far greater number of entrants, and third it would almost certainly increase the interest of manufacturers in saloon racing. The public would certainly be keen to see such races, provided large entries could be fielded. There is no reason to suppose entries would not be good, in fact just the contrary. Far more drivers would be able to afford to race standard cars than can afford to carry out extensive modifications to their vehicles. The public’s interest In standard production races has been well demonstrated by the considerable interest in the Wills Six-Hour saloon race held last year. However, while the inclusion of a class for stan-

dard cars is at the very least highly desirable, it is also vital to have a class for modified cars, or all-comers. These highly modified saloons provide much excitement and good facing, but it is not everybody. who can afford to modify a car to the extent now necessary if it is to be competitive in such events. If a driver is willing to carry out modifications, he must be given opportunity to race, and the public must be given opportunity to see such events.

The adoption of both a standard class and an allcomers’ class would provide for all tastes, both on the part of the public and on the part of the competitors. It would also greatly simplify the task of the scrutineers, and this is a matter in need of urgent attention, as those connected’ with the sport are well aware. It is comparatively easy for scrutineers to check whether a car is standard, but if even limited modifications are allowed the scrutineers run into trouble. The regulations tend to defeat their own object, often they are incapable of being properly enforced, and a return to chaos results.

How standard, therefore, should the standard class be? Perhaps the trade, the drivers and the public would best be served by a class which permitted, at the most, special tyres (but not wheels) and the removal of exhaust systems. Careful adjustment and porting and polishing could be permitted, but alterations to the basic design of the head, the fuel system, or the exhaust manifolding should be barred. Similarly suspension alterations and weight reduction which goes to the length of special alloy panels should also be barred. ¥ ¥ * D. S. Wyber-R. N. Etwell (Volkswagen) won a Thursday Night rally held by the Canterbury Car Club recently. The event attracted 44 competitors, and the route was through the city and Harewood, across Coutts Island, and around Kaiapoi to the final control at Pinehaven. Difficult route-finding caught out many entrants. Second place went to K. Judson-R. Harris (Ford Prefect), third to C. A. Peterson-S. R. Borgnis (Morris), fourth to B. B. Hepburn-J. Sangster (Jaguar), and fifth to W. E. Cheesman-R. M. Moore (Volkswagen). The organiser was G. Kingston.