Wikipedia

Hot Rods (oval racing)

Hot Rods refers to a number of British oval racing formula (not to be confused with hot rods, which are generally road-going modified vintage cars). Hot Rod racing was introduced at Hednesford Hills Raceway in the early 1960s as a British counterpart to NASCAR-style production car racing. The term 'stock car' was not adopted because it was already in use for a form of oval racing in Britain that had evolved in a very different way than American stock cars.

In south west England, hot rod racing evolved from a class known as sports and production car racing, which began at to be held at tracks in Plymouth and St Austell in the 1950s.

Most vehicles that race are based upon European or Japanese hot hatches, although compact cabriolet cars such as the Vauxhall Tigra are also widely used. As time has moved on, the sport has evolved to allow sportier cars such as the Ginetta G40 and the Lotus Exige to be raced, in order to increase the variety of cars on track. Races are conducted on tarmac ovals 1/4 mile in length. Despite deliberate contact between cars being banned, accidents can be common due to the large number of cars (30+) racing within a tight environment.

The fastest and most expensive Rod formula are the National Hot Rods (not to be confused with the American-based National Hot Rod Association) which use tube chassis, kevlar bodies and highly tuned 2 litre straight-4 engines. This formula also races in Ireland, continental Europe and South Africa. They have similarities with some of the more sophisticated mini-stock divisions in the USA. The World Championship race for the National Hot Rods is staged at the annual spedeweekend at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich, which is traditionally held during the first weekend of July each year.

A smaller class known as 2 Litre Hot Rods are the next class down and are usually considered a stepping stone to the National class. Using smaller Hatchback style cars such as the Citroën DS3 and Citroën Saxo . Their annual World Championship race is held at various tracks in England and Scotland, With every third running being staged at either of the two Spedeworth-sanctioned tracks (Tullyroan Oval or Aghadowey Oval) in Northern Ireland.

World Championship

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First held in 1972, The World Championship Race for the National Hot Rods is considered the biggest and most important race of the year.

In its early years the title befitted from the invitation of drivers from across the globe. Later years have seen the event take on a more domestic focus, although frequently featuring European and South African representation where the formula also race.

Year Venue Winner Car Model
1972 Ipswich   108 Bob Howe Ford Escort mk1
1973 Ipswich   351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk1
1974 Ipswich   351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk1
1975 Ipswich   304 Derek Fiske Ford Escort mk1
1976 Ipswich   306 George Polley Ford Anglia
1977 Ipswich   351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk2
1978 Ipswich   351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk2
1979 Ipswich   356 Gordon Bland Ford Escort mk2
1980 Ipswich   19 Mick Collard Ford Escort mk2
1981 Ipswich   962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
1982 Ipswich   932 Davy Evans Vauxhall Chevette
1983 Ipswich   962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
1984 Ipswich   88 Peter Grimer Toyota Starlet
1985 Ipswich   962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
1986 Ipswich   950 Norman Woolsey Toyota Starlet
1987 Ipswich   306 George Polley Toyota Starlet
1988 Ipswich   63 Phil White Toyota Starlet
1989 Ipswich   950 Norman Woolsey Peugeot 205
1990 Ipswich   942 Davy McCall Peugeot 205
1991 Ipswich   413 Roger Peck Toyota Starlet
1992 Ipswich   63 Phil White Vauxhall Nova
1993 Ipswich   950 Norman Woolsey Peugeot 205
1994 Ipswich   639 Ricky Hunn Peugeot 205
1995 Ipswich   96 Ian McKellar Peugeot 205
1996 Ipswich   962 Ormond Christie Ford Fiesta mk3
1997 Ipswich   962 Ormond Christie Ford Fiesta mk3
1998 Ipswich   718 Colin White Ford Fiesta mk3
1999 Ipswich   718 Colin White Volkswagen Corrado
2000 Ipswich   718 Colin White Volkswagen Corrado
2001 Ipswich   175 John Steward Vauxhall Corsa B
2002 Ipswich   942 Davy McCall Peugeot 206
2003 Ipswich   230 Dave Longhurst Mitsubishi Colt
2004 Ipswich   911 Malcolm Blackman Peugeot 206
2005 Ipswich   994 Keith Martin Peugeot 206
2006 Ipswich   41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
2007 Ipswich   41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
2008 Ipswich   41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
2009 Ipswich   41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
2010 Ipswich   115 Chris Haird Vauxhall Tigra B
2011 Ipswich   911 Malcolm Blackman Peugeot 206 CC
2012 Ipswich   9 Glenn Bell Vauxhall Tigra A
2013 Ipswich   962 John Christie Vauxhall Tigra A
2014 Ipswich   115 Chris Haird Vauxhall Tigra B
2015 Ipswich   970 Shane Murphy Vauxhall Tigra A
2016 Ipswich   76 Adam Maxwell Vauxhall Tigra B
2017 Ipswich   115 Chris Haird Vauxhall Tigra B
2018 Ipswich   305 Billy Wood Vauxhall Tigra A
2019 Ipswich   17 Robert McDonald Vauxhall Tigra A
2020 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Ipswich   17 Robert McDonald Vauxhall Tigra A
2022 Ipswich   17 Robert McDonald Vauxhall Tigra A
2023 Ipswich   20 Derek Martin Vauxhall Tigra A
2024 Ipswich   17 Robert McDonald Ginetta G40R

Numbering System

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As the sport developed across the country in the 1970s there was some confusion as drivers from different regions and promoters found themselves racing with the same numbers. The National Hot Rod Promoters Association (NHRPA) decided to introduce a national numbering system to help stop confusion, this format was used up until 1989.

  • Incarace 1-299
  • Spedeworth 300-599
  • PRI 600-699
  • West Country (Autospeed) 700-799
  • Scotland 800-899
  • Northern Ireland 900-999

See also

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