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Today’s National Hot Rods, whilst outwardly resembling
contemporary “hot hatch” road cars, are in fact purpose-built
racing machines. More akin to Touring Cars in construction than road cars,
they consist of a full tubular steel spaceframe on which are mounted tough
kevlar panels in an exaggerated, lowered-and-widened customised style. Featuring
full spoilers and other aerodynamic aids, some of the most popular styles
of body are Vauxhall Tigra, Renault Clio Williams, Audi TT, Peugeot 206cc,
Peugeot 206 GTi, VW Corrado, Opel Corsa GSi, Ford Fiesta RS and Mitsubishi
Colt.
Naturally they run full race-specification suspension and shocks on fat, slick,
control US Hoosier tyres, and designated wet weather rubber. Whilst any 2.0l
8V engine can be developed for use in Nationals, the popular engines of choice
are the newer 16V GM, Ford Zetec, VW and Peugeot blocks. A comprehensive rule
book governs these 240+BHP beasts.
Text source: http://www.nationalhotrod.com
To find out who much effort goes in to building a National Hot Rod visit Anatomy
of / how to build National Hot Rod .
National
Hot Rods Facebook page is full of pictures and a great way to chat to
other Hot Rod fans. Worth a look....
Text source: Nationalhotrod.com
The classic hotrods back in the seventies were the National Hotrods , often
appearing on Saturday Television show World of Sport.
Drivers such as 351 Barry Lee , 306 George Polley and 356 Gordon Bland , all
competed in the formula which was dominated by Escorts and Anglia’s.
They were later replaced by Toyota starlets and peugeot bodied cars and now
the space framed chassis’s featuring tigra ,bmw and slk mercedes styled
bodies.
The passion to see these classic race cars back in action around the circuits
led Garry Whitcombe with the help of Midlands based promoters Incarace to
create the formula we all love and appreciate today , known has the Classic
Hot Rods.
In 2005 when they first returned to the track there was only 7 cars taking
center stage and this has grown to approx 30 cars but an average of 10 to
20 cars turn up on any given race day. We dont have a championship, but we
do have a points winner at the end of the season, and Dean Hunt in his very
fast ford anglia no 39 topped the table in 2010.
There are 2 main engines used, the 1700 crossflow and the two litre overhead
cam pinto. These engines are permitted a fair amount of modification in order
to give the power output. Tyres are slick based race stock. The bodies are
not allowed any spaceframe sections and must remain as were in the seventies
, steel bodied fabrication.
Some of the cars that race today are not infact replicas but rebuilds of cars
raced in the seventies. The drivers such as Dave Fry and Rick Fray are from
the same era has the cars and their constant passion oftenleads to them racking
up even more trophies for their cabinets.
we hope to attract more racers this season, and are all looking forward to
the coming calander. Debuting this year will be Craig Walters , Dez Green
And ex-stock rod Driver Kevin Johnson.
The picture above of two mk.1 escorts in action at Northampton International
Raceway features Gary Whitcombe( the man responsible for the rebirth of this
formula) and Darren Owen. Darren was the 2009 points Champion. Text Source
: Classichotrod.co.uk
These deceptively placid looking 1400cc hatchbacks are some
of the most rapid and hotly competitive machines on the ovals. They may be
small, but they certainly pack a punch! Originally conceived as a cheaper
alternative to National Hot Rods, the Stock Rods now provide some of the closest
non-contact racing seen on the Incarace ovals. Vauxhall Novas and Corsas,
Citroen Saxos and Peugeot 106s are the cars to have, and plenty of skill and
daring is required to be competitive. Some of the national class’s top drivers
are regulars with the promotion and they are regularly joined by drivers from
across England, Scotland and Ireland for the bigger meetings. More ... The
Stock Rods will provide you with some of the closest racing you're ever likely
to witness. This is a true entry level class for those who aspire to to racing
Hot Rods but don't necessarily have the funds. These saloon cars are powered
by 1300cc or 1400cc engines, which make them almost standard road vehicles,
the regulations being written to keep the expense kept to a minimum. The spectator
however is always in for a treat, with every car almost identical and everybody
saddled up together means competition is extremely close. With hundreds of
drivers involved in the class throughout the country, large fields are always
guaranteed. Any drivers who can consistently win in a stock Rod could quite
easily hold their own in other forms of motorsport, with some of those people
doing just that Text source: Speedworth.co.uk
Text source: Speedworth.co.uk
The Ford Sierra may have all but disappeared from Britain’s roads but on the ovals they live on in the rear-wheel-drive Lightning Rods. This formula offers old-school side by side non-contact racing, with high speeds and spectacular tail-slides guaranteed from these experienced drivers. Many drivers come into the formula after competing in contact classes so they have the skill and competitive nature to put on an excellent show every time. Drivers from across the UK and Ireland travel to Incarace’s three raceways on a regular basis to take on the stars of the Midlands, and tight NASCAR-style battles have become a common feature of Lightning Rod meetings. The highlight of the Incarace calendar is the annual National Championship staged over two days at Hednesford, but the class can be seen regularly at all three of our tracks. Text source: Speedworth.co.uk
