CENTRAL MUSCLE CARS: PREVIEW
The ENZED Central Muscle Cars (CMC) is one of the most popular race categories in New Zealand.
“Everybody likes our cars,” says Clarke Hopkins, who has been a member of CMC since 2009. “They all have a different sound, the drivers all come from different backgrounds and our reverse grids make for very exciting racing. The category just goes from strength to strength, We’ve got new cars and drivers coming into the series every year.”
Some of the drivers to look out for at the Legends of Bathurst include last year’s series champion Dean Perkins in his V8 XD Falcon, Hopkins who finished second in the series for the fourth time in his Holden Torana, Andrew Anderson in his XE Ford Falcon and Craig Boote and Angus Fogg in a pair of Mustangs.
Emirates Team New Zealand boss, Grant Dalton is another strong supporter of the series and he had a lucky escape at the last round in Pukekohe. He was doing 290 km/h down the back straight when one of his tyres exploded sending his car spinning across the track. Luckily neither the car or driver was badly damaged in the accident.
CMC was formed in 2003, by a group of like-minded enthusiasts from around the Central North Island (hence the name) who wanted to create a class catering to classic competition muscle cars. The category grew quickly, as many other competitors who shared the same passion for thundering, power sliding Australian and American muscle cars came on board and the fan base grew rapidly.
Central Muscle Cars caters to production vehicles manufactured from 1958 - 1978, of which a minimum 1000 identical units must have been produced in a 12-month period, to be eligible. There are two classes, Group 1 and Group 2 and the driver must own the car to be able to compete in the series.
Group 1 allows many more freedoms to the competitor, including wheel sizes up to 17” x 11”, plus the use of composite panels and a deep front spoiler. Brakes are limited to 6-pot front, and 4-pot rear. Group 2 is more restricted, aimed at the purist, who prefers their car remain closer to its standard form. Group 2 cars are limited to a maximum 17” x 9” wheels, and must run original bodywork panels and a maximum 4-pot brakes. The two classes can be identified by the different coloured windscreen banners. Group 1 cars have a red banner, Group 2 cars, a blue banner.