Hot Rods (oval racing)

Hot Rods refers to a number of British oval racing formula (not to be confused with hot rods, which are generally road-going modified vintage cars). Hot Rod racing was 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, which began at to be held at tracks in Plymouth and St Austell in the 1950s.

Most vehicles that race are based upon European or Japanese hot hatches, although compact cabriolet cars such as the Vauxhall Tigra are also widely used. As time has moved on, the sport has evolved to allow sportier cars such as the Ginetta G40 and the Lotus Exige to be raced, in order to increase the variety of cars on track. Races are conducted on tarmac ovals 1/4 mile in length. Despite deliberate contact between cars being banned, accidents can be common due to the large number of cars (30+) racing within a tight environment.

The fastest and most expensive Rod formula are the National Hot Rods (not to be confused with the American-based National Hot Rod Association) which use tube chassis, kevlar bodies and highly tuned 2 litre straight-4 engines. This formula also races 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 race for the National Hot Rods is staged at the annual spedeweekend at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich, which is traditionally held during the first weekend of July each year.

A smaller class known as 2 Litre Hot Rods are the next class down and are usually considered a stepping stone to the National class. Using smaller Hatchback style cars such as the Citroën DS3. Their annual World Championship race is held at various tracks in England and Scotland, With every third running being staged at either of the two Spedeworth-sanctioned tracks (Tullyroan Oval or Aghadowey Oval) in Northern Ireland.

First held in 1972, The World Championship Race for the National Hot Rods is considered the biggest and most important race of the year.

In its early years the title befitted from the invitation of drivers from across the globe. Later years have seen the event take on a more domestic focus, although frequently featuring European and South African representation where the formula also race.

Year	Venue	Winner	Car Model
1972	Ipswich	108 Bob Howe	Ford Escort mk1
1973	Ipswich	351 Barry Lee	Ford Escort mk1
1974	Ipswich	351 Barry Lee	Ford Escort mk1
1975	Ipswich	304 Derek Fiske	Ford Escort mk1
1976	Ipswich	306 George Polley	Ford Anglia
1977	Ipswich	351 Barry Lee	Ford Escort mk2
1978	Ipswich	351 Barry Lee	Ford Escort mk2
1979	Ipswich	356 Gordon Bland	Ford Escort mk2
1980	Ipswich	19 Mick Collard	Ford Escort mk2
1981	Ipswich	962 Ormond Christie	Toyota Starlet
1982	Ipswich	932 Davy Evans	Vauxhall Chevette
1983	Ipswich	962 Ormond Christie	Toyota Starlet
1984	Ipswich	88 Peter Grimer	Toyota Starlet
1985	Ipswich	962 Ormond Christie	Toyota Starlet
1986	Ipswich	950 Norman Woolsey	Toyota Starlet
1987	Ipswich	306 George Polley	Toyota Starlet
1988	Ipswich	63 Phil White	Toyota Starlet
1989	Ipswich	950 Norman Woolsey	Peugeot 205
1990	Ipswich	942 Davy McCall	Peugeot 205
1991	Ipswich	413 Roger Peck	Toyota Starlet
1992	Ipswich	63 Phil White	Vauxhall Nova
1993	Ipswich	950 Norman Woolsey	Peugeot 205
1994	Ipswich	639 Ricky Hunn	Peugeot 205
1995	Ipswich	96 Ian McKellar	Peugeot 205
1996	Ipswich	962 Ormond Christie	Ford Fiesta mk3
1997	Ipswich	962 Ormond Christie	Ford Fiesta mk3
1998	Ipswich	718 Colin White	Ford Fiesta mk3
1999	Ipswich	718 Colin White	Volkswagen Corrado
2000	Ipswich	718 Colin White	Volkswagen Corrado
2001	Ipswich	175 John Steward	Vauxhall Corsa B
2002	Ipswich	942 Davy McCall	Peugeot 206
2003	Ipswich	230 Dave Longhurst	Mitsubishi Colt
2004	Ipswich	911 Malcolm Blackman	Peugeot 206
2005	Ipswich	994 Keith Martin	Peugeot 206
2006	Ipswich	41 Carl Boardley	Vauxhall Tigra A
2007	Ipswich	41 Carl Boardley	Vauxhall Tigra A
2008	Ipswich	41 Carl Boardley	Vauxhall Tigra A
2009	Ipswich	41 Carl Boardley	Vauxhall Tigra A
2010	Ipswich	115 Chris Haird	Vauxhall Tigra B
2011	Ipswich	911 Malcolm Blackman	Peugeot 206 CC
2012	Ipswich	9 Glenn Bell	Vauxhall Tigra A
2013	Ipswich	962 John Christie	Vauxhall Tigra A
2014	Ipswich	115 Chris Haird	Vauxhall Tigra B
2015	Ipswich	970 Shane Murphy	Vauxhall Tigra A
2016	Ipswich	76 Adam Maxwell	Vauxhall Tigra B
2017	Ipswich	115 Chris Haird	Vauxhall Tigra B
2018	Ipswich	305 Billy Wood	Vauxhall Tigra A
2019	Ipswich	17 Robert McDonald	Vauxhall Tigra A
2020	Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Ipswich	17 Robert McDonald	Vauxhall Tigra A
2022	Ipswich	17 Robert McDonald	Vauxhall Tigra A
2023	Ipswich	20 Derek Martin	Vauxhall Tigra A
2024	Ipswich	17 Robert McDonald	Ginetta G40R

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

• Incarace 1-299
• Spedeworth 300-599
• PRI 600-699
• West Country (Autospeed) 700-799
• Scotland 800-899
• Northern Ireland 900-999

• Stock Car Speed Association, American-style stock cars in Britain.

• National Hot Rod website
• [1], Waterford Raceway, Short Circuit oval racing in Waterford Ireland
• [2] Photos from Hot Rod World Finale Ipswich 2011
• whistlinjacksmith.co.uk - Hot Rod website
• [3] National Hot Rod Photo Gallery