The Place

Bob B wrote:WTF? Cut off date 1989? Forgive my naivety but how the hell does that relate to 1969/72? Might as well throw the eligibility rule book out and 'run wot yer brung'

sidecar bloke wrote:Marvellous, marvellous things these forums - by tapping a few keys you can send information all over the world, whether it's true or false.

Howard's initial posting:- "after looking today at the new Konny engine it is clearly not a replica of the original Konig engine. It is very different in many ways, including appearance - because of this it is most unlikely to be eligiible for either classic or post classic racing."

If Howard is correct and it does look vastly different then he is absolutely correct and my discussions with Howard, on the phone, were obviously not completely wasted. IanW's reply is also spot on - I don't know what the Forgotten Era regulations state but I do know that in the Classic Club the internals are basically "free" but the outside must, from a short distance away, appear the same as the original.

Howard's next post:- "when I decided to build a Konig outfit to race with the Classic Club I contacted them and told them of my intention....." This is wholly false - the outfit that Howard had constructed is a thing of beauty but sadly when he built it he appears to have built it to HIS specification rather than any club rules.

The next paragraph "after completing the machine............" is pure fantasy. Howard did send me clippings from a 1966 Motorcycle magazine where it mentioned an outfit in Germany using a Konig. Konig's started buiilding engines in 1925 and have built some 250 variations. The Konig sidecar engine as we know it, with heavy involvement from Kim Newcombe, did not appear before our 1967 cut-off datge for 2-strokes. So, as Howard says in his initial posting, the engine does not replicate that which was used in the 1966 machine. A comparison would be that in the Classic Club you can use a 750cc single overhead cam Honda - but what you cannot use is a Fireblade engine - well Honda's were used in the period so I thought I'd use this one - wrong!

The initial eligibility application form was sent with a photograph absolutely side on. The Classic Club has rules regarding rim and tyre size which the paperwork confirmed it had. However, if you see photos of the outfit from the rear or the front the wheels are way, way too wide. I did offer Howard, before we discovered the wheels were incorrect, eligibility to run in our Post Classic Period 4 class. He wasn't interested - he wanted Period 3 classic. Because at that time I didn't know as much about Konigs as I do now I offered him temporary (twelve months) eligiblity (still unaware of the wheel issue) - this giving me time to sort the facts and figures out. No attempt to enter a race meeting was ever made although the outfit was seen in the paddock on occasion. After sending the temporary eligibility I was never contacted again.

If you refer to Tony Wheatley's statement that the Classic Club is anti 2-stroke this too is complete rubbish. I have, over the last year been pressurising a certain gentleman to bring out a twin-engined Cressent. I love the diversity of engines and chassis that appeared in the period and would welcome any type of outfit that is built to the rules, whatever the engine.

Please, if you are going to support someone's views on the forum make sure that he's not leading you up the garden path.

Ian Johnson
CRMC Eligibility Officer

P.S. I've left out the threats of legal action that were made if I didn't grant eligibility as I don't wish to inflame the situation. I'd like to emphasise that these threats were not made by Howard but a supporter of his cause.

Bob B wrote:WTF? Cut off date 1989? Forgive my naivety but how the hell does that relate to 1969/72? Might as well throw the eligibility rule book out and 'run wot yer brung'