The OSCA (Open Saloon Car Association) category will be celebrating at the meeting with their 50th anniversary coinciding with the Skope 30th this weekend at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch.
OSCA has at times flourished and struggled but importantly has survived the test time and is as relevant now as it was when formed in 1970 when saloon car racing at the national level found itself in turmoil and destruction.
In its early years the front running OSCA cars were crowd pleasing V8’s. It had a run of champions that were all prominent names on the national scene; Inky Tulloch, Trevor Crowe, John Osborne, Avon Hyde, Clyde Collins, Brent Willis and Rod McElrea.
The early rules governing the class have changed with the times, particularly with the introduction of turbo charged engines.
For OSCA’s birthday meeting it is anticipated that some 25 cars will line up. Some of these cars will not have raced for years. This includes the winning MK1 Ford Escort turbo of Michael Johnston, a car that has been restored and driven by new owner Nick Donaldson.
Running as an invitee is a 5-litre Alfa Alfetta. This car, now piloted by a former national V8 champion Angus Fogg, raced against the OSCA contingent on their trips to the North Island in the late 1970s and 80s.
Main photo: Brent Collins (Grindley RX7 Buick) leads Jack Ondrack (TVR Tuscan V8)
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