Group Nc eligibility issue (Oz)

[Cleverhans]

I have a vehicle I have been using for supersprints which is largely eligible for Group Nc. The main issue issue is that it is fitted with a 5 speed from a later model rather than the original 4 speed.

How particular are the eligibility/scutineering requirements for this for obtaining a log book and running it in historic races? Is it OK to run it as a 4 speed with a fabricated 5th gear lock out ... i.e. recording in the log book "must be run with 5th gear lock out device fitted"?

It's not really a contender, it is just an opportunity to get in there and mix it a bit. I'm not in a position or am reluctant to go to the expense of refitting the 4 speed.

[Peter_Maxwwell]

In group NC they've really been cracking down on guys using illeagal bits, and therefore I am sure you waon't be able to run any four speed box other than the one it came standard with. IU knoe Brad Tilley was made to change his straight cut gearbox (even though it was the original box casing etc).

Things like slotted discs and the like are also banned (even though you can buy them straight from DBA).

Have a talk to a few of the NC guys who run Falcons and they will be able to tell you if what you have on you car you can run.

They even crack down on things like non-period interior fittings.....

Best of luck with it.

[zefarelly]

do you guys have FiA papers or equivalent ? or do you just go with race series regs? its a big grey area over here what is and isnt period at a specific time, but the FiA homologation papers seem to nail you down to a specific set of regs, whether people conform or not is another matter !

This is exactly what the rules say, reproduced from the CAMS Manual Of Motor Sport:

Group Nc is an historic group introduced on 1 January, 1995, to cater primarily for vehicles of a make and model which competed in Australia between 1 January, 1965, and 31 December, 1972 in either the Australian Touring Car championship and in races specifically for 3rd Category Group C Improved Production Touring Cars.

During the 1965-1972 period the rules for the vehicles evolved significantly, therefore the Group Nc rules have been established to enable competition under a common set of rules which reflect the nature of top-level car racing in the period.

It is envisaged that most vehicles in this class will not have a racing history and these are acceptable provided they are accurate in detail both mechanically and visually. Vehicles with a racing history may be presented in the most predominant form in which they were raced in the period, including the original sponsor signage, even though this specification may not fully conform with these rules.

A list of eligible vehicles and vehicle specification sheets for the more popular models are under preparation and will be available from CAMS.

5. TRANSMISSION
The original type and design of transmission and drive train assemblies including the number of forward and reverse ratios, assembled and operating as originally supplied by the manufacturer shall be retained. The use of alternate ratios is permitted. Any form of locking differential is permitted. Fully floating hubs are permitted. The gear lever may be modified but the original shift pattern must be retained.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

do you guys have FiA papers or equivalent ?

FIA Form wots that? No I jest, but they carry no weight here.
Zef Every car here has a log book,new or old, and is used to record every race the car does. Any technical infringment is also recorded here. At a glance it gives a complete history of the car.

Historic race cars also have Certificates of Description, and this is where we differ again in that for example a 1971 F2 can only run as it was during its active life. This may have varied year to year so you can pick the year your car represents. So if your '71 car raced in '71 and '72 when they increased the engines from 1600 to 2000 then you pick which year you fancy. What you can not do is pick say the engine. You can't substitute an FVA with a BDA unless the car ran both in the year that you pick.

As White Knight say Group Nc is not quite the same as while the cars are old, they dont have to have had an active race life. Hence it is more like homologation papers.

Can I ask you one thing? When I was a memeber of the HSCC in the 70's the concept was that cars should represent the year in which they were built, is this still so?

[Andrew Fellowes]

Its perhaps worth adding that the plus side is we have very orignal cars here, we like to think that no other country has higher standards, the down side is that some cars may never race again (unless you own a bank! )

[zefarelly]

the only old thing about most of our historic racers is the drivers

[Andrew Fellowes]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

the only old thing about most of our historic racers is the drivers