Banger Racing - Particular Cars

Particular Cars

There are a few vehicles that have tended to dominate the banger scene in the UK. In the 1970s the BMC Farina range comprising the A60 Cambridge, Westminster, Austin 3 ltr, Morris Oxford, Riley 4/72, Wolseley 16/60, 6110, and MG Magnette were the car to be in. Also Jaguar XJS, XJ6, XJ40, many other models, Rover's P4 & P5 saloons, Triumph 2000, Volvo 240, Volvo 740 and Volvo 940 (normally estate models) the main one being the Ford Granada Mk1 and Mk2. The Granada Mk3 wasn't such a success as they do not seem as strong, a trait that the Mk3 shares with the Sierra. For the smaller meetings, often referred to as "Unders" meetings, the Ford Cortina and Capri were the usual weapon of choice. "Unlimited" meetings tend to attract big American cars, known as "Yanks." However, these days, with the older vehicles diminishing from British roads, newer vehicles have been pressed into banger racing service. The, Vauxhall Cavalier and the Nissan Bluebird have developed a following however they have now been phased out by the Ford Mondeo which are almost everywhere across the UK and Europe. The fact that they are front-wheel drive also gives a substantial advantage to the older rear-wheel-drive vehicles which are becoming increasingly rare on UK raceways.

A high turnover rate in the sport leads to a short lifespan for the cars involved with cars often only lasting a few races, meaning that many drivers turn out a "fresh" car each meeting but newer cars such as the Ford Mondeo have provided a ready supply of vehicles to competitors.

The newer vehicles are often used in more entry-level divisions of Street Stock racing, often called Pure Stock, Mini Stock, Hornet, or 4-Cylinder classes, typically an entry-level class lower than the traditional Street Stock eight-cylinder category. The Street Stock scene in North America has been dominated by the General Motors A-Body and G-Body cars of the 1970s and 1980s, with some Ford and Chrysler products involved. The 1979-93 Ford Mustang dominates the 4-cylinder Street Stock classes but some tracks are now legalising front-wheel drive Street Stocks, with the General Motors J-Body also being used, as are the 1980s Dodge Daytona. As the scarcity of the cars continues, many Late Model chassis companies are now providing aftermarket replacement parts for Street Stocks, and often the cars are sold to entry level racers when they either stop racing or want to advance to a higher division at the local race tracks.

• Banger Classes:
• Unlimtied Bangers
• National Bangers
• Micro Bangers
• Reliant Robins
• Rookie Bangers
• Junior Bangers
• Big Van Bangers
• Pre 70
• Caravan Bangers