Is the statement about the John Aley and Rauno Aaltonen Mini Correct - looking at the following reference it would appear not to be ? Surf ????The Historic Racing Drivers Club is to launch a race series for early Gp.2 historic touring cars of the type that formed the nucleus of the ETCC in 1963.
HRDC Founder and Race Director, Julius Thurgood, comments:
"For many years, I have rued the fact we no longer see the eclectic mix of historic touring cars that created the variety and spectacle which hallmarked the ETCC in its formative years. It is clear that certain models have now become ‘the weapon of choice’ in pre-’66 historic touring car races – so much so that hardly any true-to-period variety is to be seen in this arena. Nowadays, where can you see a proper Jaguar Mk.2 running competitively, or for that matter, a Lancia Flavia or Flaminia coupe, Alfa Romeo 2600 or an early Giulia Ti, Vauxhall VX4/90, Mercedes-Benz 300SE, MG 1100, Mini 850, Ford Zodiac Mk.3 or even an early model Ford Cortina GT? I know that many of these cars exist in historic race form – but most have been mothballed by disheartened owners, who have given up any hope of competing on a level playing field against over-developed homologation specials. I truly feel that there is a strong demand for these early, less developed, cars to make a dynamic return to historic racing within a well managed Series."
1963 saw the formation of the FIA-sanctioned ETCC, the brainchild of German Willy Stenger, who enlisted the help of John Aley to coordinate the U.K rounds.
One particular race that has inspired Julius Thurgood to launch the new series is the ‘The Motor’ 6-Hours race at Brands Hatch, held on 6th July 1963.
"Here we had the sight of the then mighty Jaguar Mk.2s of Mike Salmon and Peter Sutcliffe, Roy Salvadori and Denny Hulme, Peter Linder and Peter Nocker battling against Jack Sears and Bo Ljungfeldt in the Willment Cortina GT while the mighty Galaxies had yet to find their potential. John Aley and Rauno Aaltonen were in a Mini Cooper (not an ‘S’), as was Edward Lewis and Julien Vernaeve in the Westover Racing version. Bill Blydenstein fielded a Vauxhall VX4/90, Dick Jacobs was in a MG 1100, Anita Taylor hustled the Willment Ford Anglia 1200 while the HF Squadra Corse team fielded both Lancia Flavia and Flaminia coupes. Add a sprinkling of Sunbeam Rapiers, Volvo Amazons, a brace of Zodiac Mk.3s, a Fiat Abarth, Riley 1.5 and a Mercedes-Benz 220SE and you can see the colourful palate that made up this evocative grid – with not a single Lotus-powered homologation special in view!"
Therefore the HRDC will be running a dedicated Series for FIA-compliant historic touring cars that ran in 1963 with the exclusion of ‘Homologation Specials’. This Series will run alongside the already established HRDC ‘Touring Greats’ for pre-’60 touring cars and ‘Grand Touring Greats’ for sub-1500cc, pre-’66 GTs’. The new Series will be called HRDC ‘TC63 Touring Greats’.
Owners of eligible ‘TC63’ cars who are interested in competing with the HRDC in such a Series are invited to contact Julius Thurgood:
http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/R ... Hatch.html
It would appear however any 970 'S' or 1071 'S' would not be allowed to run - "A dedicated Series for FIA-compliant historic touring cars that ran in 1963 with the exclusion of ‘Homologation Specials’ "
Looks like they are gunning to put a Grid together for the last race of the year, so any 850 or 997 Cooper's out there ??? What minimum weight could they run at, do they have homologation papers - maybe I should ask the old man
http://www.hrdc.eu/calendar.html
And 7" Cooper discs - from where? 
