All-Jap pre-1984 banger racing (Read 145 times)

[wilko]

This meeting has been announced for next year by the Spedeworth promotion at Ipswich. Split into 6 pot and 4 pot, all Laurels in with the big stuff.

They ran a meeting for the big 6 pot BMC stuff a couple of years ago (Westminsters, Vanden Plas 4R / 3 Litre, Wolesley 6/99 and 6/110) which was excellent - mainly, I think, because it was at Eastbourne. Last year they ran one for Rover P4 and P5 models at Ipswich which was well supported but much less highly rated by spectators.

Next year, it is the turn of the Japanese stuff. Reactions in the banger community are mixed so far - a lot of people doubt there are enough old Japs left for it, and Ipswich is an unpopular choice of stadium.



Personally, I am not sure what is left stocked up in yards - I know a few racers with Cedrics & Laurels only fit for racing, even fewer with pre-84 Bluebirds/Violets/Sunnys - there really can't be THAT many in drivers yards, and I know most of us aren't sat on them. So, it will be a good time to offload scrap shells and strip down and sell any spares cars that are past it for a tidy profit, and also a good time to look for spares from banger drivers stripping cars - I will cross-post any that are advertised as breaking.

Hopefully we won't get people spending silly money on stuff that is realistically viable, but there will always be the odd one or two - a few Westys changed hands for a lot of money. Therefore, any 230/330/430 cedric sold for a grand or less is definitely going to be at risk, C230 Laurels, 300c's and solid manual 180Bs probably £800 downwards, anything else that meets the criteria from about £600 downwards - this includes post-84 cars where the model started in or before '84. These are not prices I would have paid when I was racing, but scrap is pretty high - a handful of freebie moderns with cats and alloys would pay for a Datsun to race. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with cars being bought and raced at all - I raced an 100a, several Sunnys, Bluebirds, Primeras, and gave my old C32 to a mate to race. The reason I am pointing this out is that I know other people don't like old stuff being bangered - therefore if you have a Datty to sell likely to fetch these prices or less that you would not want to be raced then you should consider holding onto it for another year!

Lastly, got to be said - also need to be mindful of the scummy minority that will steal cars to race or sell to other people for racing, and make sure you have sensible security precautions in place.

[30psi]

Main thought that came to mind was the theft factor. I stopped someone nicking my 910 last year who was a racer. Despite getting him arrested he got off with an 18 month conditional discharge.

I still don't understand the economics of banger racing. Some of the vintage stuff that has been raced over years gone don't make sense (e.g. American cars worth a few grand even if in the worst condition).

[paranoid]

agreed

[Al Ramone]

let me know if any C230 Laurels are headed for the Oval as i'd be interested in a laod of spares and have panels to swap if needed.


also. if any racer wants to buy a 330 cokebottle cedric saloon for £3750 send em my way!

[mash]

Yes, a good post from Wilko and we don't want to start (yet another) banger racing hate thread. Just be mindful of what's going on and all pull together to help ensure decent, saveable cars ARE saved if possible and parts go in the right direction. I think the theft thing is more easy to spot in Japanese circles in fact - some models are so rare that if one turned up it would be pretty obvious to everyone.