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 !