Tag Archives: Vauxhall

Jubilee Bangers & Smash – Aldershot Raceway

One of the stranger things I have found out over the last couple of years is that right next to the Ceasers Camp Army Training grounds just outside Aldershot where for three or four years I used to regularly go Mountain Biking there is a small 350 metre oval racing circuit.

Ever since I went to the Rare Breeds show at the Haynes International Motor Museum last year, I have been keeping an eye open for an opportunity to see some Heritage Stock Car (UK Style) action and with an event for 7.5 Tonne Trucks on the same bill I could not resist returning to the home of the British Army for the first time in twenty years for my first visit to Aldershot Raceway last Sunday.

I got there just in time to catch the second event of the day the Junior Rods heat which was won by Eric Walker in the #5 Vauxhall Nova above.

Next up were the 7.5 Tonne ‘Racing’ Trucks, entries were a little thin in fact there were only three of them but they provided a fair amount of entertainment, The Team Sheep FIAT Eurocargo of Billy Wood seen leading here was having a lot of difficulty moving under it’s own steam and was pushed by the ever helpful #614 Ford for much of the ‘race’ while the yellow #800 Ford Low Loader of Tony Rudge took a comfortable win.

There was a full grid for the banger race which was packed full of understeering (push) action as represented above by the #829 Nissan, #296 Team Shep Saab of Paul Shepard and #469 Rover 200 Coupé of Paul Quinnell. The race was won by Danny Lucas in the #706 his coupé of so far undetermined origin.

The Heritage F2 race was a cracker like the Junior Rods not so much contact is involved in this series and the #505 of Mike Whittle sliced through the rain and field from the back of the grid to take a fine win. I must confess I am not at all sure what make or model the body of Mikes #505 is based on but he is seen above having just passed the #722 of Clive Beales which I am guessing is based on an early 1950’s Ford Popular.

With a lap to go of the Junior Rods final it looked like Farnham’s Lacey-May Joyce was going to take the win in her #271 Nova but she left the door open coming out of turn one and that was all Jack Grandon and Eric Walker, in the #207 and #5 Nova’s respectively needed to demote her to third. Jack managed to hang on for the rest of the final lap to take the win from Eric and Lacey-May.

The bangers final proved to be another wild race for all competitors, it’s amazing just how much damage and punishment a car can take and still keep rolling, amazingly none of the wheels from the seriously tortured axles of these vehicles ever seems to become detached despite the cambers and castors being well beyond the manufacturers would have recognised when these vehicles first left their respective factories. Above the #567 Mazda get pushed into a spin that ended going back wards into the wall trapping the #390 Ford Escort of Michel Turner and the #358 Escort with the #258 Honda of Ashley Wallace joining in the fun. The ‘race’ was won by Danny Lucas who’s undetermined coupé somehow got through both Bangers races relatively unscathed.

The Heritage F2 Final was another barnstormer with the result uncertain until after the final corner of the final lap as seen above. Andy Webb, in the #274 Ford Popular, followed by team mate Andy Bateman, hidden from view, managed to pass the wrapped from neck to toe in plastic #869 of Mike Walmsley while lapping the #773 Austin A40 Farina of Nick Whitney and #722 of Clive Beales.

The final event of the day was the 7.5 Tonne demolition derby which started with the #355 FIAT Eurocargo of Billy Wood being pushed into the ring by the #614 Ford such was Billy’s difficulty selecting any forward or even reverse gear. Much comedy ensued as the Union Jack bedecked Tony Rudge ran rings around his opposition until becoming beached on some tyres after a helpful nudge from the #614 Ford. The FIAT was first out and after some receiving some help getting free Tony set about reducing the #614 to pulp, once it’s batteries had become dislodged the #614 had no power left to defend itself from the patriotically decorated all conquering Ford low loader and Tony was duly declared the winner. As we left the track we were promised a bigger 7.5 Tonne Truck grid for next year. I can’t wait !

If you can fill in any details about the unidentified vehicles and or drivers please chime in below, your comments will be most welcome.

Thanks for joining me on this “Jubilee Bangers & Smash edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow for some Jubilee Weekend circuit racing action from Castle Combe. Don’t forget to come back now !

Blingin’, Slamin’, Surfin’ ‘n’ Driftin’ – Spring Performance Car Action Day Castle Combe

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A week ago on Saturday immediately after the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival I proceeded to Castle Combe thanks to David Roots who gave me a couple of tickets to go to the Performance Car Action Day.

On arrival aft Castle Combe I couldn’t help but notice a lot of bling on an otherwise cold and rainy day dry and shiny metal work stands out like a sore thumb as can be seen from the Mitsubishi Evo above.

Slammers, car with lowered suspension like the 1989 Volkswagen Golf Driver above were picking their way carefully through the mud,

while the surfers had to be the only ones dreaming of a wetter environment than that experienced at Castle Combe last weekend. Note the F, denoting France on the European Union Style number plate, on the 2005 Peugeot 206 GTi above, an odd choice for a car registered in, and that may well have been at Ryton, in the United Kingdom.

I have kept an open mind on drifting, never having seen it in person before last Saturday, until then I had the feeling drifting was akin to sheer hooliganism but with some entertainment value. Saturdays demonstrations of varying degrees of skill included a hand full of cars like the Nissan Skylines above running the wrong way round part of the Castle Combe track. With temperatures barely above freezing the entertainment value of the drifting demonstration was significantly diminished by the absence of smoking tyres which are usually associated with the ‘sport’.

Further delights to be found in the car included vehicles of antipodean GM descent inclding this 2004 HSV Maloo.

Back in the day when I worked in the motor trade I used to delight in taking on near worthless cars and seeing how far I could drive them. My best effort was to drive 10,000 miles in a £50 Volvo, the legend on the door of this 1993 Vauxhall Carlton Club Estate asks “How far can a £250 car take you ?” and points readers in the direction www.streetsafari.com worth a visit if you have ever had an inkling to take part in a banger rally. Something I have filled away in my to do before I die list.

The 1991 Mazda MX5 Le Mans Special above celebrates what was probably the nosiest victory, certainly the noisiest I have ever witnessed, at Le Mans in 1991 by the Wankel rotary powered Mazda 787B driven by Volker Weidler, Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot.

Sadly there were not many in need of engines needing their engines cooled down last Sunday but this Cars themed 1993 Ford Transit D 100 SWB ice cream van was a nice touch.

Among the 111 cars clubs present at Castle Combe was the Ford Cougar Owners Club, several with cars displaying Mercury brand badges as these New Edge styled cars were marketed in the USA. Was it really 14 years ago that Denis Hopper appeared in the Cougar television advertisement seems like only yesterday ?

Another club with a large number of members present was Briskoda.net the Bristol based Skoda Forum and Community, could be handy folks to know when I get round to participating in a banger rally if there are any £100 Skoda’s left.

Ampng the predictable masses of Subaru’s one might expect to see at a Performance Car Action Day, this Impreza Sport AWD combo really caught my attention, I wonder how difficult it would be to add drive to the trailer wheels ?

I left the Spring Performance Car Action Day with a head full of ideas as to how I might personalise my recently acquired Golf Estate.

My thanks to David Roots for passing on the tickets so that I could attend the Spring Performance Action Day at Castle Combe.

Thanks for joining me on this “Blingin’, Slamin’ ‘n’ Drifting” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early monocoque racing car. Don’t forget to come back now !

Cherry & Jones – Vauxhall XVR

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The Vauxhall XVR, seen here at Goodwood Festival of Speed, was the first Concept Car ever exhibited by Vauxhall Motors, it appeared in public at the Geneva motor show in 1966.

Wayne Cherry who had been involved in the design of the Chevrolet Camaro / Pontiac Firebird and Oldsmobile Tornado was transferred from GM central in Detroit to GMs English manufacturer Vauxhall Motors in 1965 and with is credited with the Stingrayesque styling of the XVR alongside the Director of Styling David Jones.

3 XVR models were built powered by 71 hp twin carburetor 1594 cc / 97 cui 4 cylinder motors as used in the performance VX 4/90 variation on the Vauxhall 101.

The XVR was built on a custom built chassis with independent suspension and disc brakes all round.

Gull wing doors were part of the futuristic XVR package, even though they had already been seen on the production Mercedes 300 SL dating back to 1954, though unlike the Mercedes the doors on the XVR also form the unusual for the period split windscreen.

It is not known why Vauxhall halted production of the XVR concept which is known to have been put through trials at Vauxhall’s Research and Test center after it’s public debut in Geneva.

Elements of the concept are said to have found their way into the design of the Vauxhall Firenza including the styling of the dashboard and tail lights.

Although as we shall see next week the German chapter of GM, Opel, would build a car that took it’s styling from it’s own Opel Experimental GT concept dating from 1965 it would take another 34 years before the Vauxhall brand name would appear on a two seat sports car namely the Vauxhall VX220.

Thanks for joining me on this XVR edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Pro ET – Race Ventora

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The Vauxhall Victor FD Series was built between 1967 – 1972 the Ventora ws launched in 1968 with a 3294 cc / 201 cui 6 cylinder motor replacing the standard Victor FD series 4 cylinder motor.

This Race Ventora, seen here at the Silverstone Classic, is powered by a 468 cui / 7669 cc V8 and driven by Ray Walker Pro ET drag events.

Pro ET races see drivers paint the elapsed time (dial in) they believe they can achieve on their back window’s races are then staged between cars of different performance levels with the release times staggered by the difference dial in times. So that each driver should, in theory, cross the finish line at the same time.

If a driver jumps his release time he is out, known as a ‘Red Light’, if a driver beats his dial in he is out, known as a ‘Break Out’, unless both drivers beat their dial ins in which case the driver who beats his dial in by the least amount wins.

While I was looking for information on Ray’s car i came across some information on another Vauxhall Victor of the same FD type that goes by the name of Red Victor.

Red Victor has gone through three evolutions and in the process lays claim to being the world fastest street legal car with a 0-60mph time of 0.9 seconds !

This link takes you to a youtube clip of Red Victor 2 and this second link takes you to a fascinating thread on the building of Red Victor 3.

I’ve just finished watching Tony Stewart round out a tremendous victory at Homestead Miami over his championship rival Carl Edwards. Kudos to all the fans of the Big 14 what an achievement to win the Cup as an owner driver. Commiserations to Carl who has earned my admiration for the way he competed and handled his defeat having drawn with Tony on points and lost on tie braking victories. Can’t wait until the new season starts at Daytona in February.

Thanks for joining me on this Pro ET edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Baby Continental – Vauxhall 101 Super

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The Vauxhall 101 was the third generation Vauxhall Victor given the 101 badge because it had 101 improvements over it’s predecessor the Victor FB.

Like the contemporary fourth generation Lincoln Continental the 101 Super carried bright work on the leading edge of the front wings that ran from the top of the front bumper around the top edge of the front wings along the mid rift to the top of the rear wings and around to the top of the rear wings.

Imitating another feature that had been seen in the USA for some time the 101 was among the first British designs to incorporate the side light and indicator clusters into the front bumper.

The 101 was the last of the Victor models to feature an engine with rocker operated overhead valves. The 1595 cc / 97 cui 4 cylinder motor produced 66 hp.

There was a choice of transmissions standard column shifted 3 speed, 4 speed floor shifted or Powerglide Automatic.

Contemporary reports noted that the low gearing gave the car class leading acceleration, 0 to 60 in 20.4 seconds, but made the fuel consumption, 23.1 miles per gallon, worst in class by a full 10%.

Front servo assisted brake discs were options along with a radio that was integrated into the dash.

Between 1964 and 1967 219,814 101 Victor FC models were built along with an additional 13,499 VX 4/90 performance models using the same body. The 1966 model featured today was seen at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum.

Thanks for loining me on this 101 edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Dream Car – Vauxhall Cresta PA

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I don’t believe it is any exaggeration to say that no other British mass production vehicle quite captured the spirit of the US Dream Car concepts of the 1950’s quite like the second iteration of the Vauxhall Cresta known as the PA.

With unadulterated optimistic styling that mimics both the Packard Caribbean production car and Lincoln Futurama Concept car of 1955 the Cresta PA personifies the Rock’n’Roll era of the 1950’s in much the same way as the 1957 Cadillac Series 62.

The Cresta PA could seat six with a three abreast bench seat up front, which thanks to a column shift for its three speed gearbox and dashboard mounted handbrake facilitated easy smooching twixt driver and companion.

Both of the cars featured in today’s post were powered by a 2262 cc / 138 cui straight 6 cylinder motor that delivered 70 hp enough for the Cresta to reach 60 mph from rest in 16.8 seconds and a top speed of 89 mph.

This two tone blue example appears to be a 1958 model, it was used by John Walker and Frank Dimblebee in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally.

Seats covered in leather and nylon, fitted woven carpets and a heater came fitted as standard for the 1960 model above.

Options included radio, fog lights, reversing lights, locking filler cap and external mirrors.

The asking price for one of these classics in good condition today is around £10,000 which reflects the fact that few of the 81,841 PA’s built between 1957 and 1962 have survived.

Fans of British ska band The Specials may remember a Cresta PA featured in the video for their seminal hit ‘Ghost Town‘, that was a 1962 model fitted with a larger 104 hp 2651 cc / 162 cui straight six.

Hope you have enjoyed this British Dream Car edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Vauxhall Bearcat Special

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In 1922 Vauxhall introduced the 2.3 litre / cui 14/40 M-type to complement the 4 litre / 244 cui D-type and the 4.5 litre / 275 cui 30/98 E-type in it’s model range. The 14/40 featured a detachable cylinder head, 3 speed gearbox and rear wheel brakes, solid wheels were standard with wire spoke wheels an option.

The 1926 Vauxhall 14/40 chassis driven by regular hill climb competitor Ian Ferguson at Prescott above has been fitted with a 4 cylinder 366 cui / 6 litre motor normally found in a Stutz Bearcat.

Thanks for joining me on today’s edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring

Tag Archives: Vauxhall

Jubilee Bangers & Smash – Aldershot Raceway

Blingin’, Slamin’, Surfin’ ‘n’ Driftin’ – Spring Performance Car Action Day Castle Combe

Cherry & Jones – Vauxhall XVR

Pro ET – Race Ventora

Baby Continental – Vauxhall 101 Super

Dream Car – Vauxhall Cresta PA

Vauxhall Bearcat Special