The Oval Racing Thread

[generallee]

Birmingham wheels? I hadn't realised that was under threat too. Such a terrible shame, I suppose tracks are worth more as Barratt homes than race tracks.
Once gone they will be gone forever though. Perhaps the way forward will be auto grass type races in farmers fields?
I was planning to get to some grasstrack meets this year but bat flu put a stop to it.

[Mercdan68]

Makes me laugh that they closed crayford to just a dog track
It’s always half empty when we go to the greyhounds
Back in the day the banger nights were rammed full

[bmcnut]

Its a real shame so many are shutting, and I don't think this current situation is going to help things. If your local shuts theres always the option of converting it into a road car.

[Pid363!]

The dirt tracks are closing just as fast down this way!

[ironmighty07]

Think this was potentially the youngest motor I raced, early Mk3 Transit was only 11 years old when I raced it at the Swaffham Vandemonium in 1997 amongst hearses and limos...was leading until I clipped a spinning motor which somehow ended up with the flywheel bolts shearing...game over for the day!
Looking at it now it was seriously crispy round the edges for a relatively young motor and it had been in the yard at least 2 years by the time it got raced!

[ironmighty07]

Few years ago regional ran a piece with their local presenter racing in the Under 1600 Bangerstox at Skegness(during its short period as a shale track)...i'm in the Renault 12 Estate....awful car, knackered engine that evetually threw a rod in the final!

[ironmighty07]

Not sure of the origins of the picture, but this is the old Scunthorpe(Ashby Ville) track with the lake and the Anchor Village in the picture as well where contractors were once housed who were working on the steelworks just out of shot.



Trying to figure out if this was a basic F1 or V8 Hotstox on the above track?

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2020 19:40:40 GMT ironmighty07 said:

Not sure of the origins of the picture, but this is the old Scunthorpe(Ashby Ville) track with the lake and the Anchor Village in the picture as well where contractors were once housed who were working on the steelworks just out of shot.



Trying to figure out if this was a basic F1 or V8 Hotstox on the above track?

That's Brisca F1 - Hotstox have a single leaf spring (side on) that bridges the rear wheels from the nerf (side) rail to the rear bumper - F1 don't - I can only ever recall racing once at Scunthorpe

PS - Nothing basic about F1 Stock when you have a minimum of this bolted in your chassis has motive power

[ironmighty07]

Jun 2, 2020 20:23:12 GMT @grumpynorthener said:

PS - Nothing basic about F1 Stock when you have a minimum of this bolted in your chassis has motive power

True, although I think the entry was more mixed between homebuilt vehicles and professional chassis than nowadays. The standard of preparation and presentation is far advanced throughout the field than it used to be in my view.

[Deleted]

Jun 3, 2020 9:20:58 GMT ironmighty07 said:

Jun 2, 2020 20:23:12 GMT @grumpynorthener said:

PS - Nothing basic about F1 Stock when you have a minimum of this bolted in your chassis has motive power

True, although I think the entry was more mixed between homebuilt vehicles and professional chassis than nowadays. The standard of preparation and presentation is far advanced throughout the field than it used to be in my view.

Its come on a million miles since I was last involved in it but even back my days there were a couple of drivers out there that would build a chassis or a car for you - The Wainman's were prolific car builders and probably still are - you could even hire a competitive race car from them back in the 70's & 80's

[retrolegends]

Jun 3, 2020 9:39:41 GMT @grumpynorthener said:

Jun 3, 2020 9:20:58 GMT ironmighty07 said:

True, although I think the entry was more mixed between homebuilt vehicles and professional chassis than nowadays. The standard of preparation and presentation is far advanced throughout the field than it used to be in my view.

Its come on a million miles since I was last involved in it but even back my days there were a couple of drivers out there that would build a chassis or a car for you - The Wainman's were prolific car builders and probably still are - you could even hire a competitive race car from them back in the 70's & 80's

On the odd occasion Premier Sports has shown coverage of Brisca the Wainman family are still very much involved, Frankie Junior Junior is now racing.

wainmanracing.com/about/

[bmcnut]

When it comes to standards of prep, ive been to afew banger world finals and the prep on some cars is crazy. Theres been many standouts, but the first one I clearly remember was a Hyundai Stellar, The outside was dark metallic blue, amazingly signwritten, smoothed bodywork, filled doorgaps, it was straight as a die. The inside was bright yellow, paneled and smoothed, also signwritten, all fittings were new or shiney or both. Ive seen many rotten cars being very well bodged to the point that they look like a fresh restoration, fully smoothed and painted engine bay, smart engine. It seems crazy to do it, but if you or someone owns a bodyshop, why wouldn't you?

[disastra98]

Disappeared down a rabbit hole watching Banger racing videos on Youtube. The way some of the cars fold up
is terrifying. How some of those drivers walked away is just amazing. I feel like I have whiplash from
just watching.

[bmcnut]

Those two are good, but the wrecking spree series are mad. There are some huge fold ups in this one.

[ironmighty07]

Prep for unlimited national bangers is insane nowadays. Tuned 2.3 galaxy engines, fabricated mounts/manifolds throughout, sliding yoke driveshafts, floor plates, and thats before the general prep and paint.

Did start looking at having another go recently and realised its a way bigger commitment than it used to be,and could try other racing formula for the same money.

[disastra98]

Jun 3, 2020 19:12:55 GMT bmcnut said:

Those two are good, but the wrecking spree series are mad. There are some huge fold ups in this one.

Some of those really made me wince, must have been a broken bone or two in that lot.

[bmcnut]

Jun 3, 2020 21:10:37 GMT disastra98 said:

Jun 3, 2020 19:12:55 GMT bmcnut said:

Those two are good, but the wrecking spree series are mad. There are some huge fold ups in this one.

Some of those really made me wince, must have been a broken bone or two in that lot.

You'd think so, but as an example of 'how the muck did he get out of that'

[ironmighty07]

This still remains one of the biggest crashes I ever witnessed in the late 90s at Swaffham...everyone walked away including the pilot of the very snapped Jaguar remarkably.

[bmcnut]

Jun 4, 2020 7:05:36 GMT ironmighty07 said:

This still remains one of the biggest crashes I ever witnessed in the late 90s at Swaffham...everyone walked away including the pilot of the very snapped Jaguar remarkably.

Strong choice, though id be more concerned about the chap in the rather soft Granada infront of the Jag. The Jag reminds me of another big one I witnessed at wimbledon. I remember having a real buzz on before this race, as if I knew something was going to happen. I was standing in the same area as the camera so had the same view. With so much going on I don't thing anyone realised the Jag was still there, until someone noticed his vin plate sticking out.

[ironmighty07]

401 Steve Hemmings...was on the receiving end of an equally big shot at Sheffield in a P5...definitely a lucky chap on more than one occasion.