Vacuman

Where do they find these gems? Shame they have to die but what a way to go.

rooos

it's the best way to go for a car!

but shame for that!
awfully, as far as i've seen, 80-90% of them are such rusted so they can't be saved...

... at a convenient economical rate. i'd say it's the market which is killing them.
one day they'll get such rare, so even the shitty ones will be saved.
but my thought is that this is a shame too...

also, event organizers could point on newer and less rare models of mercs, bmws or volvos, if they wanted rwd cars on those tracks.

this is just the silly opinion from a guy down here, who doesn't know what's really happening up there...

i'm curious on this one, i'd really like to know what people think about it up there...

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I remember watchiny banger racing when i was a kid and it was always cortinas and granadas that were used.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Just goes to show how strong modern cars are compared to the old ones like these.

Cos500

Old friends of mine used to do this, I hate it personally and just don't see the point, you could pick a scabby escort mk2 up for Ł50 and then go smash it up banger racing, a lot of them were rs's too as there were so many they didn't have any value.

Vacuman

With the focus on these Cortina and Granada events, it must be a challenge to find the vehicles in the first place. Some they are racing are event the ultra rare 2-door Ghia coupe's.

Then there's the time & costs of recovery, build and transport to the track. OK it's a hobby but must cost a fair few squids. And then risking life and limb whilst your wonderful 25-30 year old Ford is squashed to almost nothing before the end of the first lap.

I've no recent knowledge of such events but I did watch banger racing at Haringey stadium in the 70's when it was mostly Oxfords and Cambridges as I recall. Do the venues pay the racers to attend or is it for the love and the lure of some prize money?

I guess I should go and Google it. Nonetheless, still fascinates me that enough old Cortina and Granadas are (were ) still around, too bad to restore and yet escaped the scrappage schemes.

rooos

yes, there might be a price for the most rare thing on the track...

reading on wikipedia, sounds like banger racing is responsible of the austin westminster disappearing...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banger_racing

at this rate it may happen with cortinas granada or other cars. don't hope so.
just need a little brain in events organization...

gcfcos

The other week at our local banger track they had a mk1 Granada meeting. We went to the drift night on the Wednesday and in between some of these granadas came out for practice/shakedown laps. Most were painted quite nicely and looked in good nick. A guy we were stood with was telling us how much his mate paid to race one. From memory the car was ÂŁ1500 and then he did all the work on it and sprayed it himself then payed ÂŁ350 for a guy to airbrush it!! Bonkers expensive hobby for some!! To be fair this guy owned a body shop and was alright for a few quid

costina

iTrader: (1)

Wtf.....
A focus would not even last 1 lap. Seen a cossie powered one on its roof with minimal damage. Steve's cortina had a hell of a shunt yet he was not hurt.

This is why they use tina's and grannys.
New cars are made to crumple on impact.

trigger-

I own a Granny and I have mixed opinions on this subject, yes if it is too far gone/rotten then race it but I have seen far too many good ones end their days on the track simply because it's a Granny or Cortina, once they are raced they are gone for good and it is such a shame because they are still classic Fords just like the Escorts, Capris and the like, can you imagine the uproar if the banger boys were buying mint mk1 and 2 Escorts or Sierra Cosworths to race, everyone would be saying "you can't race that" sad thing is it's their car so they can do what they like with it so basically if people don't want to see these cars being raced put your hand in your pocket and save it