Why is 1966 such a common cut-off?

[Anyopenroad]

How did the historic racing world settle on 1966 as its before/after year?

My non-expert eye sees the Ford GT40, Can-Am monsters and winged F1 cars starting about then. Are these simply visible examples of significant technological advances which make 1966 such an important crux point?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

How did the historic racing world settle on 1966 as its before/after year?

My non-expert eye sees the Ford GT40, Can-Am monsters and winged F1 cars starting about then. Are these simply visible examples of significant technological advances which make 1966 such an important crux point?

Historic racing is spilt into many age groups, stopping at 1990. That's when the FIA decided technological advances were too big. This is from FIA Appendix K regulations....

3. DATE CLASSIFICATIONS AND DEFINITIONS 3.1 A car will be dated by the specification of that car and not necessarily by the date of build. 3.2 Dating periods are as follows:

A) before 1/1/1905.
B) 1/1/1905 to 31/12/1918.
C) 1/1/1919 to 31/12/1930.
D) 1/1/1931 to 31/12/1946.
E) 1/1/1947 to 31/12/1961 (from 1/1/1946 for Grand Prix and Formula 3 cars and up to 31/12/1960 for single-seat and twoseat racing cars).
F) 1/1/1962 to 31/12/1965 (from 1/1/1961 for single-seat and two-seat racing cars and up to 31/12/1966 for Formula 2), excluding Formula 3 and single engine-make Formulae.
GR) 1/1/1966 to 31/12/1971 for single-seat and two-seat Racing cars
(1/1/1964 to 31/12/1970 for Formula 3).
G1) 1/1/1966 to 31/12/1969 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
G2) 1/1/1970 to 31/12/1971 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
HR) 1/1/1972 to 31/12/1976 for single-seat and two-seat Racing cars (1/1/1971 to 31/12/1976 for Formula 3).
H1) 1/1/1972 to 31/12/1975 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
H2) 1/1/1976 to 31/12/1976 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
IR) 1/1/1977 to 31/12/1982 for single-seat and two-seat Racing cars (excluding Group C) and 1/1/1977 to 31/12/1985 for 3-litre F1.
I) 1/1/1977 to 31/12/1981 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
IC) 1/1/1982 to 31/12/1990 for Group C and IMSA cars.
JR) 1/1/1983 to 31/12/1990 for single-seat and two-seat Racing cars (excluding 3 litres F1 cars 1/1/1983 to 31/12/1985).
J1) 1/1/1982 to 31/12/1985 for homologated Touring and GT cars.
J2) 1/1/1986 to 31/12/1990 for homologated Touring and GT cars.

[Anyopenroad]

Thanks!

Yes I have enjoyed a wide range of ages at historic meetings and few are limited to just pre-66

However, 'pre-1966' does seem to be a very common delineation - I was prompted to post the question by a glance at the Donington Historic timetable, which is almost entirely early/mid-60s.

Peter Auto, Masters Historic and HSCC all have pre-66 categories. I just wondered what it was about 1966 which made it such a common crux point, albeit not, as you say, the only one.

[Gerard C]

Cant really answer your question, Anyopenroad, just see that this category is a success even at national level. Maybe because of simple rules, easy to police, and almost no injection meaning carbs only. All the modern stuff like programable ignition/injection are easy to spot when added, scrutineers have just to look for "funny" wires or additional sensors. On the new HTP form, you must declare if you've added any sensor and picture it. Just a thought.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Thanks!

Yes I have enjoyed a wide range of ages at historic meetings and few are limited to just pre-66

However, 'pre-1966' does seem to be a very common delineation - I was prompted to post the question by a glance at the Donington Historic timetable, which is almost entirely early/mid-60s.

Peter Auto, Masters Historic and HSCC all have pre-66 categories. I just wondered what it was about 1966 which made it such a common crux point, albeit not, as you say, the only one.

You’re right, it is a popular ‘dateline’ for sports/GT and saloons. Apologies for not responding at more length earlier but I was a bit pre-occupied. My own take is that there is a jump in technology after period F (end of 1965) which made the earlier cars simpler and therefore more attractive. Tyre technology is also a consideration, with treaded crossply tyres changing to slicks changing to radials....

As you say, some race meetings major on Pre ‘66 categories, one of the advantages being that there’s an awful lot of cars out there. But we see many organisers now running series for later stuff, even later than the FIA cut-off date of 1990, and in my opinion the historic ‘scene’ is becoming far more varied.

Two events that have their own cut off dates- Goodwood Revival is Pre ‘67, to match the circuit’s closure at the end of 1966, and Le Mans Classic has 6 plateau’s that stop at 1981.

[Duddha]

Cut-offs mainly take their origins in major period rule changes.

If you take 1965 and 1966 there were drastic changes in the Homologation processes for GT cars but also in other categories. 100ex minimum production, special bodies, etc.

Take Appendix K Period GR for sports cars, 1966 to 1971 englobes the regular changes which made sports car evolve from Group 4 to Group 5 and stops right before the 1972 drop in engine capacities and so on.

1981 is basically the end of Group 1 to 8 and change towards Group A and all.

[Mike Bell]

[RS8V]

New Appendix J for 1.1.66.
All relevant vehicles required new homologation.

[Anyopenroad]

Just realised I neglected to thank those who took the time to answer my question.

Thank you!

[Newall Andy]

We won the World cup in 1966... nobody gave a rats about anything else

[Duddha]

Made a little more research, Appendix K was introduced by FIA in the yellow book by 1977 even if they were actually published in 1976, as historic evolved and more and more cars were coming out with a variety of periods and types, it was in 1987 that the pre-66 cut-off was intoduced for GT/T cars and as said, due to the Appendix J radical change between 1965-1966.