Here's an extract from the minutes of the Eastcote AGM, giving the details of the classes to be run in 2006:
Sports/GT: We voted to keep the current Sports/GT class as it is for 2006, except that it is now permitted to use the Ninco NC6 motor. Plastic gears and hubs must still be used, Slot.it, Ninco Prorace and NSR replacements are not permitted. This is to keep the initial cost of buying a competitive car as low as possible. It is not anticipated that the NC6 will have any great advantage over the NC5 on our track.
Touring Cars: This will continue as before (NC6 motors not allowed), except that the new Ninco 4WD Mitsubishi will be allowed in, with the 4WD system either connected or disconnected as you prefer.
SCX Rally: This will continue unchanged, as it has provided close racing and a good variety of cars which are competitive. Use of the ProTurbo is still permitted.
Hot Hatches: This will continue unchanged in 2006, with the addition that the SCX Fiesta and Citroen C2 will be allowed to race, using a Proturbo motor.
Formula One: It was narrowly voted to drop this as a championship class in 2006, but a one-off trophy meeting will be held for these cars on the 14th June.
Club Cars: It was decided that we should replace the Audi R8s, which, although they provided close racing, were a little bit slow and could be unreliable at times. Graham Hardy has very kindly offered to supply Ninco Renault Meganes for use as Club Cars, and we are very grateful for this generous offer. We also voted to purchase some Slot.it Porsche 956s by about May time, for use as an alternative to the new Meganes and to relieve them of some of the wear and tear. These two types will give us good quality Club Cars for the foreseeable future.
Classic Porsches: We voted to replace Formula One with Classic Porsches (the Ninco 934/911 range with NC5 motors and suspension). These proved to be very popular in the 2005 Classic Championship, to the point where they rendered everything else more or less uncompetitive, and with them providing such good racing, it was a popular move to give them a class of their own. Again, with so little needing to be done to a box-standard car, they will provide a cheap way for a new member to have a raceworthy car.
Classic Cars: This again will be a stand-alone championship, with the two best results from three rounds to count. To give a greater variety to the grids, there will be two classes: Up to 1964 and 1965-1980. Points will be awarded for 'position in class' on each night, so you can run in a different class on another night, but not both classes on the one night. The pre-'64 cars can use up to an NC5, and in the '65-'80 class (which will be mostly Fly 917s and 512Ss) the 'breaks' given to these cars to help them in 2005 will no longer apply, so they are back to standard motors and tyres. As this is a 'fun' class, there will be a little more leeway granted by the scrutineers to enable these cars to perform well.
Supersports: This class managed to be both unpopular and stagnant, so it is dropped for 2006.
London GT Cars: These again scored well in the survey, and we voted to have a stand-alone championship for them, with the best two rounds counting from three. It was reiterated that the best cars in our Sports/GT class, the Ninco Supra and NSX are both fully compliant with LGT rules as they are, and should be competitive. Also, Slot.it cars are eligible and will be on the pace. You don't therefore have to buy a new car or cars to run in this championship.
Slot.it Cars: We voted not to run these as a separate class, as they will be in use as club cars at times, and can also be run in the London GT class.
Endurance: This will be run as in 2005, with rounds for GT, Touring Cars (reversed track direction), Hot Hatches (reversed track direction), London GT, Classic Cars and Lights. Four rounds from six to count.
So, there you have them! It looks like being a really good year for us in 2006.
Mooster
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