Randy
In deciding on what slot cars should be eligible for a series, and matching them to historically correct 1:1 races, there are several factors involved. What models are actually available as kits or slot cars, how available and how expensive are they, how difficult to build, and how competitive will they be, are all factors to consider. If possible, we would want to avoid a series where one or two cars were clearly faster than the rest. Limiting the cars to 1963 would eliminate a number of cars, including the Ferrari GTO64, the Ferrari 250 LM, the Porsche 904, and the Cobra Daytona.
A number of the eligible cars are only available as resin kits, primarily MMK, PSK, and GP Miniatures, many of which are difficult and expensive to get. The resin cars are heavier and are typically set up for MRRC/PCS type adjustable chassis, although there may be some 3D chassis available. I think it would be difficult to make any of these cars competitive, and I would fear that the series would end up comprising mainly GTOs and XKEs. I would love to have a series that would have Lister Jaguar coupes, Aston Martin Project 214s, Bizzarrinis, and Ferrari SWBs, but I don’t think that would happen. Perhaps, a best livery/build award would encourage members to race some of these resin cars.
Opening up the slot series to 1964 includes more regular (plastic) slot car models that have a realistic chance of being competitive. I did stretch things a bit to allow the Cheetah, because it did not race in Europe, but the Alan Green Cheetah, the red #8, was given HTP eligibility status by the FIA, and I guess if we allow it in the 64 race option, we should also allow the Corvette Grand Sport roadster. Or, maybe neither should be allowed.
To my knowledge, all of the Tourist Trophy Revival races have been 1960-1964 except for one year. The Kinrara Trophy Revival (now Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy), which started in 2016, has been for pre-1963 cars.
The 63 289 Cobras that raced were all technically roadsters with removable hardtops, although there may have been some open 289 cars that raced in the expanded 1964 race. To my knowledge all of the Cobras that raced in the Revivals were either the hardtop coupes or Daytonas.
The Ferrari 250 LM is not a GT car and perhaps we should not run it. I am reluctant to exclude cars that members may have already purchased or raced (except for the overscale Racers), so we will soon need to make a firm decision on what cars we will allow.
I would appreciate as much input as possible on what everyone thinks.
Thanks
Russell