Hot Rods (oval racing)


Hot Rods or simply Rods refer to a number of British oval racing formula. Hot Rods were 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, introduced at tracks such as Plymouth and St Austell in the 1950s.
Hot Rod racing rules vary depending on promoters, of which there are many, but almost all are based on European or Japanese hot hatches and race on tarmac 1/4 mile ovals with deliberate contact banned, although accidents are common due to the large number of cars within a tight environment. The fastest and most expensive Rod formula are the National Hot Rods which use tube chassis, kevlar bodies and highly tuned 2 litre straight-4 engines. Hot Rod formulas also race 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 for the National Hot Rods is staged at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich in the first weekend of July each year. The 2 Litre Hot Rods are the next class down; their World Championship is held at various tracks in England, every third year at the Nutts Corner track in Northern Ireland.

World Championship

First raced at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich in 1972 where the championship has remained ever since. The title befitted the event for much of its early life as drivers from across the globe were invited to take part. Later years have seen the event take on a more domestic look although it includes some European and occasional South African representation.
YearVenueWinnerCar Model
1972Ipswich 108 Bob HoweFord Escort mk1
1973Ipswich 351 Barry LeeFord Escort mk1
1974Ipswich 351 Barry LeeFord Escort mk1
1975Ipswich 304 Derek FiskeFord Escort mk1
1976Ipswich 306 George PolleyFord Anglia
1977Ipswich 351 Barry LeeFord Escort mk2
1978Ipswich 351 Barry LeeFord Escort mk2
1979Ipswich 356 Gordon BlandFord Escort mk2
1980Ipswich 19 Mick CollardFord Escort mk2
1981Ipswich 962 Ormond ChristieToyota Starlet
1982Ipswich 932 Davy EvansVauxhall Chevette
1983Ipswich 962 Ormond ChristieToyota Starlet
1984Ipswich 88 Peter GrimerToyota Starlet
1985Ipswich 962 Ormond ChristieToyota Starlet
1986Ipswich 950 Norman WoolseyToyota Starlet
1987Ipswich 306 George PolleyToyota Starlet
1988Ipswich 63 Phil WhiteToyota Starlet
1989Ipswich 950 Norman WoolseyPeugeot 205
1990Ipswich 942 Davy McCallPeugeot 205
1991Ipswich 413 Roger PeckToyota Starlet
1992Ipswich 63 Phil WhiteVauxhall Nova
1993Ipswich 950 Norman WoolseyPeugeot 205
1994Ipswich 639 Ricky HunnPeugeot 205
1995Ipswich 96 Ian McKellarPeugeot 205
1996Ipswich 962 Ormond ChristieFord Fiesta mk3
1997Ipswich 962 Ormond ChristieFord Fiesta mk3
1998Ipswich 718 Colin WhiteFord Fiesta mk3
1999Ipswich 718 Colin WhiteVolkswagen Corrado
2000Ipswich 718 Colin WhiteVolkswagen Corrado
2001Ipswich 175 John StewardVauxhall Corsa B
2002Ipswich 942 Davy McCallPeugeot 206
2003Ipswich 230 Dave LonghurstMitsubishi Colt
2004Ipswich 911 Malcolm BlackmanPeugeot 206
2005Ipswich 994 Keith MartinPeugeot 206
2006Ipswich 41 Carl BoardleyVauxhall Tigra A
2007Ipswich 41 Carl BoardleyVauxhall Tigra A
2008Ipswich 41 Carl BoardleyVauxhall Tigra A
2009Ipswich 41 Carl BoardleyVauxhall Tigra A
2010Ipswich 115 Chris HairdVauxhall Tigra B
2011Ipswich 911 Malcolm BlackmanPeugeot 206 CC
2012Ipswich 9 Glenn BellVauxhall Tigra A
2013Ipswich 962 John ChristieVauxhall Tigra A
2014Ipswich 115 Chris HairdVauxhall Tigra B
2015Ipswich 970 Shane MurphyVauxhall Tigra A
2016Ipswich 76 Adam MaxwellVauxhall Tigra B
2017Ipswich 115 Chris HairdVauxhall Tigra B
2018Ipswich 305 Billy WoodVauxhall Tigra A
2019Ipswich 17 Robert McDonaldVauxhall Tigra A

Numbering System

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 decided to introduce a national numbering system to help stop confusion, this format was used up until 1989.