Allow me to take you back to around the year 2005/6 where at such time the northern region (HRCR) had a separate set of Pre-77 rules to that of the (WPMC) Western Cape. By and large both regions were doing the same thing albeit under a slightly different set of specified rules. At no stage have the two separate regions ever competed against each other in any championship but have on the odd occasion raced on invitation (non championship events) at various venues around the country in organised events e.g. 2005 and the 2006 Bosal Historic weekend at the old Wesbank Raceway circuit as well as various Springbok series events held at Kyalami, Zwartkops and Killarney over previous years. I recall witnessing some of the best historic racing during these years leading up to 2009 when it was ultimately decided by both the northern region and Western Cape region to come together and formulate a set of rules together along with the MSA appointed body, the HMC (Historic Motoring Commission). [See WPMC Rules 2009 and HRCR Rules 2009]
Many hours, days and weeks were spent formulating such rules by all parties concerned and which eventually sufficed both regions (these being the largest in the country) and which the HMC felt was both workable and enforceable. Allow me to reflect such written duties of the HMC: (See HTP MSA document)
A further decision was taken that the (then) newly formulated rules should be put into place for a minimum period of at least 3 years where after they could be reviewed only if absolutely necessary and were to commence and to be enforced as from the beginning of the 2010 season. This for the first time saw that a set of 'national' historic rules were now in place even although both regions still did not compete against each another in a regional or even a national championship. The northern region had already as far back as 2009 already drawn up a list of engines that were deemed eligible and which merely indicated what was already being permitted since before 2005 already by the then HRCR. Effectively little or nothing had really changed and everyone carried on with the now enforced set of 'national' rules. During the month of July 2012 a meeting was held at Kyalami by the northern region section (by then the HRSA) and it was also attended by a representative of the HMC , Dave Richardson, where it was stated categorically that the various 'clubs' around the country had called for the cars to be slowed down. This was disputed in writing at such time (2012) by the then WPMC classic car category chairman and such was duly submitted to the HMC.
Many hours, days and weeks were spent formulating such rules by all parties concerned and which eventually sufficed both regions (these being the largest in the country) and which the HMC felt was both workable and enforceable. Allow me to reflect such written duties of the HMC: (See HTP MSA document)
- The MSA Historic Motorsport Commission is charged by the BoD of MSA to approve all Club, Regional and National regulations relating to Historic Motorsport. They are also charged with making sure that the regulations are adhered to and their TCs (Technical Controllers) have the authority to override any decision of a technical nature at the highest level.
- Clubs are encouraged to submit their own Regulations to the HMC for approval. Clubs and the HMC TCs then control these regulations. The HMC will approve these regulations by mutual agreement with Clubs on issues such as time periods and lists of eligible cars to the various time periods.
A further decision was taken that the (then) newly formulated rules should be put into place for a minimum period of at least 3 years where after they could be reviewed only if absolutely necessary and were to commence and to be enforced as from the beginning of the 2010 season. This for the first time saw that a set of 'national' historic rules were now in place even although both regions still did not compete against each another in a regional or even a national championship. The northern region had already as far back as 2009 already drawn up a list of engines that were deemed eligible and which merely indicated what was already being permitted since before 2005 already by the then HRCR. Effectively little or nothing had really changed and everyone carried on with the now enforced set of 'national' rules. During the month of July 2012 a meeting was held at Kyalami by the northern region section (by then the HRSA) and it was also attended by a representative of the HMC , Dave Richardson, where it was stated categorically that the various 'clubs' around the country had called for the cars to be slowed down. This was disputed in writing at such time (2012) by the then WPMC classic car category chairman and such was duly submitted to the HMC.
[Good morning Mr Dave Richardson,
I write this mail to you as the current chairman of the Classic Car Section of WPMC. I have listened to the recording of your meeting where you made mention that the introduction of performance limiting is being motivated from the clubs and you make particular reference to the WPMC Classic Car Committee. I respectfully request that in future if you wish to make comments of this nature that you first check with me to ensure that these opinions are in fact the opinions of our committee. For the record we have had no formal discussion on this matter and we would not express our opinion without first debating the topic with our drivers. As such I respectfully request that you formally advise your members who attended this meeting that your comments relating to the opinions expressed by the WPMC Classic Car committee were made without any consultation with us and they are not the opinions expressed by our club members. We are not saying that we oppose Performance Limitations being imposed and we are open to debating them but we strongly object to our name being used in this fashion when we have never formally expressed this opinion to you.
Regards]
In a part reply from the HMC representative it was then subsequently stated:
[Hi ,it went on further to state;
In view of (name withheld) mail which I have just replied and copied to you to, I have assumed that performance limitation is on your agenda. Regarding the recording, the context is that nothing major would be changed “without the clubs driving it” not that they were. My apologies if this was misunderstood.
The HMC will not implement anything for 2014 without at least WPMC, ZOC & HRSA agreeing.At the end of the 2012 season those very same rules were effectively up for renewal and or amendment yet the decision was again taken by all parties concerned including the HMC to retain the very same set of rules for the 2013 season. Effectively then, for a 4th year without any change to the rules.
Kind Regards
Dave Richardson]
At the commencement of the 2013 race season there was already an awkward awareness of potential outside interference and coercion with certain persons running up to the election period to be held in the northern region. Around 13 March of 2013 the northern region held their category annual AGM where the various sub-committees were elected to serve their term in office. By the end of the sub-category elections it was blatantly evident of how things were likely to pan out within the pre-77 category and many were now simply waiting for the 'new broom' effect to commence. Exactly 11 days later on 24 March an email was released with proposed rule changes for 2014 with the specific intention of slowing cars down yet they used the reasoning that it was the racing costs that were the main reasoning behind such proposal. It was also requested that competitors provide the category with feedback and ideas in this regard. A meeting was then subsequently held on the 15th April 2013 with the HMC along with the various sub-category chair persons where changes were tabled and which will have a huge impact upon the pre-77 category should such be non-democratically and or autocratically enforced. In addition it would also appear that a decision to move the category cut-off date from pre-77 to pre-79 has also been taken again without any consultation or input from the competitors.
Whatever the intention is or may have been with regard to any supposed cost saving as originally alluded to in the email of 24 March 2013 is largely in my opinion nothing further from the truth. Without elaborating in any detail on all the changes proposed, consider that most if not all Anglia's currently racing (nationally) will have to replace their engine blocks to conform to the maximum allowance of a standard 1600cc Kent block for which you will still be further penalized. Others include the infamous Datsun 1200's which now have to use a maximum of a standard 1400cc A14 block specification which is only 200cc bigger than original compared to the Anglia's permitted 400cc capacity increase. (Somehow the Ford's are still favored.)
As for many others like the Mazda rotary's a balance of performance will now be introduced for those cars, such performance formulas yet to be announced and not to mention the sudden prohibition of perfectly legal porting that is to now be prohibited. Effectively the HMC TWC (Technical Working Committee) has lost the plot as one fails to fathom how they derived to permit a 200cc engine capacity in some car makes while permitting a 400cc in others. Does the Capri v6 Essex 3.4L still qualify? No, the use of a standard crank will take care of that. In some cases they have not even taken into account of what was actually raced within the period. So much for the commission being on top of their game.
Of course they also intend to conveniently prevent the SSS box shaped Datsun to run anything bigger than the L16 engine even although sufficient proof exists to show that it was raced in 1972 in the SCCA Trans-AM 2.5 series with the L18 engine.[See article]
Yet in other cases they have all of a sudden permitted the use of equipment which was not even used or permitted within the period such as the Oettinger 16V cylinder head which was not ever available prior to 1977 and which was only permitted from 1981 in the 1600 Volkswagen Golf S (which stood for 'Soupapes par cylindre '). It was homologated only in December of 1981 under homologation number 677 which means it could not have been homologated prior to 1977 for use thereof. [See proof]
They correctly first ban the use of the out of period Cosworth YB cylinder head and then at a later meeting change their minds to then allow it and all of a sudden to also allow a BMW M3 multi-valve cylinder head which is also from outside of the cut-off period. How is it logically possible to run a 16V non period head cheaper than a 8V cylinder head if 'cost' was such an issue to them? And so the list continues with omissions and changes not properly and carefully thought through but merely to please those few who are once again determined to change rules NOT to please the majority of existing competitors but rather some minority.
The rules which have been in place since 2010 and that were once agreed upon by the various regions and technical consultants (TC's) including the Historic Motoring Commission (HMC) and which were accepted and adopted by all the competitors of the Pre-77 category on a 'national' basis, are now suddenly no longer OK as from 2015. At least that is what it appears to be by the sounds of it. This comes upon after the AGM of the northern region Saloon Car category where it was specifically stated in the minutes of such AGM:
Saloons as a category, is very healthy at the moment with the usual suspects at every race meeting. The standard of our cars keeps on getting better and better, so let’s all be proud of our achievements in this area. There are some great cars being built at the moment and we can expect their arrival in the new year. The trend with Saloons at the moment is if you don’t go big, go home, which is brilliant to see.The proposed changes (such made without any input or any proper consultation with the WPMC) as intended will effectively ADD huge cost and expenses to many competitors to now simply throw away currently eligible and permitted engine blocks, forged pistons, con-rods etc. and replace such AT OUR ADDITIONAL cost to merely appease.
Competitors should now once and for all decide;
- Do we remain in this current historic circus with such ever and on-going rule changes or do we throw caution to the wind and waste even more money (so much for them reducing our racing costs) which most competitors can simply ill afford in this day and age to merely please a minority group's thinking.
- Do you perhaps move on to a different race sector (e.g. Super Saloons) which would in all probability welcome you with open arms and thereby diminish the existing Pre-77 category substantially for them to carry on and do as they please as from 2015?
- Do the existing competitors (nationally) perhaps even consider forming a new category of club racing named something entirely different or perhaps even amalgamate with an existing category and withdraw entirely from the WPMC and HRSA's Pre-77 Historic Racing category as well as from the HMC who has clearly demonstrated its inability to be consistent, fair and prevent such ever on-going rule changes within the Pre-77 category in addition to its inability to live up to its obligation to merely approve such submitted regulations from each club/region? (Also remind yourself of what has become of the annual Retro 9-Hour event and which now enjoys only a mere hour at each race meeting.)
It is perhaps now time for you the competitor to finally sit down and think long and hard. Think of what has already been proposed/decided by those that were supposedly elected to represent the interests of the sub-category's members. Familiarize yourself with the club members constitutional rights. Then finally ask yourself, do I continue down this same path yet again, wasting more money and continue in hoping that things will change. The writing is on the wall.
(Einstein once quoted; "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.")
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