Hi all,
I’ve dug out these old pictures from 1989 and scanned them in. They were taken by my Dad when he attended a banger race as a spectator. I can recognise a few of the cars (the Mini is easy, as it the SAAB and there’s a white car with a Citroen badge on it) but the rest I have no idea.
How many can you put name to?
Picture 1
www.dropbox.com/s/ebwzk9qrqsdquw5/Scene1.jpg
Picture 2
www.dropbox.com/s/erz1qv54oybmard/Scene2.jpg
Picture 3
www.dropbox.com/s/avvf6729tcqkygo/Scene3.jpg
Picture 4
www.dropbox.com/s/2u7708t7hrrbped/Scene4.jpg
Picture 5
www.dropbox.com/s/lykvm5v21s8neb4/Scene5.jpg
Picture 6
www.dropbox.com/s/8pxvldra3q1t8xx/Scene6.jpg
Picture 7
www.dropbox.com/s/ak1vq7jraum3fqr/Scene7.jpg
Picture 8
www.dropbox.com/s/iziscfo4ea3wqyz/Scene8.jpg
Picture 9
www.dropbox.com/s/s63cdycel6tur65/Scene9.jpg
The prize? None, it’s just a bit of fun.
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Well in the first picture I *think* I recognise Rover of some sort, a Talbot Horizon and what is possibly a Morris Marina or Chrysler hatchback being rammed by I don't know what!
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And in the second picture a Mini, a Citroen estate (doesn't look big enough to be a CX, so maybe a GS?) and some sort of Renault hatchback - a Renault 16?
As someone born in 1971 I vaguely recognise them, but can't name them with absolute certainty!
Last edited by: PeterS on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 19:55
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Hopefully when I see Dad at the weekend he may be able to remember. He is of 1971 as well!
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Those were taken in '89?
Picture 8, look how close the spectators are to the track and minimal barriers to prevent them being flattened by errant cars.
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He said 1989 when he was 18.
Yes, I should think H&S would have a few things to say now!
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The third picture looks like its got a Hindustani Ambassador, sorry Morris Oxford (?) and a Ford of some sort.
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Citroen Dyanne? There's an Allegro in there, some Cortina's, an Ital.
I went banger racing last Sunday for the first time in ages (10 years probably) with my two boys (3 and 18 months). They loved it as did I - I had forgotten how brutal it is! Always amazing that these hunks of twisted metal are still moving by then end.
What was odd was the bangers were mostly Mk1 Mondeos while one of the rod categories were Sierras (RWD). Considering the 3 series BMW now outsells the Mondeo will we see the 3 as the defacto banger in 15 years time?
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I will add a Capri, Austin 3L? or 1800 , mk3 Cortina, possibly an Avenger?
Surprising how much more difficult the removal of a front grille makes it!
Last edited by: pmh on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 20:04
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Off the top of me ed...
Pic 1 - Rover P6, Marina Coupe, Talbot Horizon(?)
Pic 2 - Minivan, Citroen GS Estate, Citroen GS saloon
Pic 3 - Morris Oxford (or similar), Ford Capri(?)
Pic 4 - Marina saloon, Cortina mk3 Estate
Pic 5 - Triumph 2000, Allegro
Pic 6 - Cortina mk3, Renault 12, Triumph 2000, Cortinas, Maxi
Pic 7 - Marina saloon, Cortina mk3 Estate
Pic 8 - Saab 96, Cortina mk3 Estate
Pic 9 - ?
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I think there's a Maxi in picture 6!!
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Picture 9 looks a little like an Austin 1100 from the roof line, but it is impossible to tell really.
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I've owned at least four - Mk3 Cortina, Saab 96, Morris Oxford, Mini van.
I loved the Rover 2000/2200/3500 but never owned one. That's a later one in the first picture, with the bonnet bumps.
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I sent the link to my Dad. No-one has got picture 3 correct according to him. The left car is a Capri but what is the other car, with the wing falling off???
He's convinced it's not a Morris Oxford, looking on Google I would say what he thinks it was is correct. Shall I help? Not yet, I'm feeling mean, let's leave it up for a bit longer...
There are a few more I will get scanned in at the weekend.
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>> He's convinced it's not a Morris Oxford, looking on Google I would say what he
>> thinks it was is correct. Shall I help? Not yet, I'm feeling mean, let's leave
>> it up for a bit longer...
I think he could be right...is it a bit out of scale with the Capri?...maybe it's smaller than an Oxford/Cambridge, unless that was taken with a telephoto.
There was a Simca 1500 that looked vaguely similar but I don't think it's that either. Too small for a Peugeot 404. More the size of a Fiat 1100, but it's not quite right for that either.
Stumped if it's not the Oxford.
Of course if it's 1989, it's more likely a late 70s or even 80s car. The Oxford was far from common by 1989. Something Eastern European? Not a Trabby although the front is a bit similar.
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Pic 5, I would say Avenger rather than Allegro
I thought Allegro at first, but then couldn't explain the circular pulley visible
Pic 3 - A40 Farina?
Last edited by: Number_Cruncher on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 21:24
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Picture 3 - Opel Kadett in background ? Big square headlights.
Picture 5 - Avenger and Peugeot 504
Picture 8 - Elddis 4 berth with brown flowery draylon and Porta Potti :)
Last edited by: Fullchat on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 21:37
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Lets have a crack
Pic 1
A rover and a marina. Might even be an anglia back there as well.
Pic 2
Mini van and a citroen
Pic 3
Moris Oxford and a capri
Pic 4
Coke Bottle cortina estrate and a Marina.
Pic 5
Not a ruddy clue, but I smell peugeot in that mix
Pic 6
Thats a triumph and a cortina and no 56 is a maxi.
pic 7
seems to be a copy of pic 4
Pic 8
Is the SAAB
Pic 9
No idea, but the blonde bloke looks like Max headroom.
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>> Pic 3 - A40 Farina?
Nope, not according to Dad. One and only clue for tonight - it's not a British car.
Picture 9 - according to Dad a fight broke out between a couple of the drivers!
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Pic 3- Peugeot 404?
Last edited by: Auristocrat on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 22:27
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I thought 404 as well.
Ted
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1, Rover P6 and Marina
2, Mini van, Citroen GS and ?
3, Morris Oxford hunted dowbn by Capri
4, Marina and mk3 Cortina
5, Allegro and Triumph 2000
6, mk3 Cortina and maybe Triumph 2000 on left of picture; Triumph 2000 in front and Land Crab (Austin 1800) 3rd one back on right of picture
7,same as picture 4 ??
8, Saab 99 and Cortina
9, ???
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Pic 3 - Peugeot 404 according to Dad.
Well done!
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I'm with Auristocrat - if Pic 3 isn't an Austin Cambridge it must be a Peugeot 404. Looks like a saloon behind it rather than a Capri.
(Sorry - you answered it while I was posting. What's behind the 404?)
Last edited by: Avant on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 22:40
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Could the other car in Pic 3 be a Reliant Scimitar GTE?
Last edited by: Auristocrat on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 22:42
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No the other car in pic 3 is a Capri for sure.
And I think "Dad" is wrong about the Peugeot 404. When the 404 was fitted with overriders ther were rubber fronted and well inside the headlamps. On the Morris Oxford types the overriders were directly below the headlamps and very broad as in the banger racer.
On a second look I'd agree Avenger rather than Allegro in pic 5. The damage has nicely replicated the Allegro pinched in front look.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 22:54
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Can't argue with that! You clearly are an expert. You will have to mark all the entries...
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>>>You clearly are an expert.
Hardly but I was a car mad kid/teen when most of those bangers were on the road. I still keep the Motoring Which tests of most of them and if the Mrs hadn't already gone "light out" for an early start I'd have a look as the stash in my wardrobe. I know I have tests of both the 404 and Oxford.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 23:01
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>> On a second look I'd agree Avenger rather than Allegro in pic 5. The damage
>> has nicely replicated the Allegro pinched in front look.
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I think you're right...front looks a bit Allegroesque, but the side and back doesn't now you've said Avenger
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Pic 3 - he says Capri. Sorry must go to bed now, got to get up at 5 :-(
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Looking at Pic 3 again, I'm convinced about the Capri but now less so about the 404. As well as the overriders mentioned, the 404's rear wings were straight, not droopy as these are. There's also a faint line along the side which suggests an Austin A60.
I don't think I'd fancy stock car racing in a plastic-bodied Scimitar....
Like you, Fenlander, when young (b. 1948) I used to know every car on the road: it's never been quite the same since the Japanese lookalikes came along in the 70s and 80s. But I suppose there's nothing new under the sun: if you can't tell an Audi A6 from an A8, try distinguishing an early 1930s Morris 10 from a Standard 10.
Last edited by: Avant on Wed 18 Sep 13 at 23:06
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I'm sure I would recognise most of them but so far I have resisted looking at the pix. Banger racing is a bit horrible in my book, nasty and brutish. You don't mind with some cars but with others it's just cruelty... Often the best and strongest, with most heart, good for another thirty or forty years on the road in dignity.
Sentimental of me I know. But I never liked stupidly brutal treatment of cars. It seemed to me sure to make them worse, as of course it nearly always did.
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1. Rover & Marina Coupe
2. Minvan, Citroen GS Estate, & Citroen GS Saloon
3. Austin Westminster, Ford Capri Mk 2
4. Marina, Cortina Estate
5. Austin 3-litre, Hillman Avenger
6. Triumph 2000, 2x Cortina, Maxi
7. As 4
8. Saab 96, Cortina Estate
9. Haven't a clue
I've never seen GSs or Saab 96s in a banger race, so that's a first!
Pic 3 is not (IMHO) a Peugeot 404, even though they are very similar to a Westminster (same designer)
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This is what the correct answers are believed to be, I stress believed to be, some but not all were written on the back of the photos but this is not guaranteed to be 100%. Also not all the cars in a scene are mentioned, so any disagreements please keep things civilised :-)
Picture 1
Rover P6 and Marina Coupe
Picture 2
Mini van, two x Citroen GS
Picture 3
Capri and was believed to be Peugeot 404 but the general view is that it’s a Morris Oxford so we will go with that.
Picture 4
Cortina estate and Marina
Picture 5
Avenger and Triumph 2000
Picture 6
Left: Cortina, Renault 12, Right: Triumph 2000, not sure, Maxi, Cortina, Marina
Picture 7
Same as Picture 4, sorry user error (can’t get the staff)
Picture 8
SAAB (even I got that one!), Cortina, not sure about the up-turned car
Picture 9
Red car is possibly Marina but not sure.
Some people have even mentioned what MK a car was. I’m impressed.
I don’t know who the winner is, you can work that out, it’s only a bit of fun, hopefully you enjoyed it and apologies to Armel Coussine.
Dad attended a few banger races around that time as did his brother and said Citroen GS were popular at these events. He said at a race there would always be at least one featuring, often several. Apparently this was because they were dirt cheap second-hand and virtually available for free with faults no-one could be bothered to fix, clutches were expensive as were front section exhausts. FWD gave good traction in slippery conditions and also they were air cooled so no worries about the radiator getting thumped. Apparently you had to remove the radiator and position it inside the car for the races, in Picture 5 you can see the Triumph had it on the back seat. With the GS there was no need for any of this.
Triumph 2000 were very popular around that time as well as they were big and strong.
I wonder what today’s regulars are? One poster has mentioned Mondeos but there must be others. Vectras maybe, Volvo estates possibly?
Incidentally I am neutral about banger racing. I don’t think I would go to one but if the cars are worn out and going to be scrapped anyway, then provided any usable parts have been removed then maybe there’s no problem in it. What I do have a problem with is classic car banger racing, particularly people who steal them to race. One of the classic car magazines had a lovely old Granada that was stolen, I think they heard from a source that it had been raced. I remember reading about it, maybe two or three years ago, made me quite sad and angry that a pristine classic car is now lost for good.
I’m not a H&S freak but I would think the possibility of injury (either drivers or spectators) was quite high. Are these things more regulated these days? Do the radiators still have to be moved?
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>> apologies to Armel Coussine.
None needed at all at all... it's obvious that banger racing is good fun for those who do it and it's exciting too in its way. They used to call it stock car racing and I've seen it in my time.
Quite a good way of extending the useful life of MoT failures with a bit of heart and muscle left. It's an ideal hobby for a breaker's yard man who can drive a bit. Just, I dunno, seems a sad fate for a Rover 90 or Austin Westminster. I'm an automotive sentimentalist MJW.
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>>They used to call it stock car racing
That's a totally different thing, although in the states 'stock car' means something different.
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Yes bt, in America they are fibreglass replica bodies on snorting-monster chassis going round those banked tarmac ovals at 200mph... but there was a time when a sort of slightly classier sort of banger racing was called stock car racing in this country. I think.
I don't like the term banger for an old or cheap car and I think banger racing sounds undignified (as it is of course). I like all cars and want them to be properly designated. Sentimentalist, see?
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Don't know about the caravan, we are not a caravan family although we like camping in tents.
Are there any caravan experts who may know what it is?
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>> I don't like the term banger for an old or cheap car
... or 'vintage' for anything made after 1931 or 'classic' really at all. But most of all I hate jokey putdown terms like banger. In the fifties the media routinely referred to the Veteran and Edwardian London-Brighton run as the 'old crocks' race', with jokey coverage of the 'Whoops, grandma!' type. Even in early adolescence I was an old curmudgeon about stuff like that.
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>> I don't like the term banger for an old or cheap car
Where are you on sausages then?
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>> Where are you on sausages then?
'Whizz-oh! Snorkers!'
(Bennett, The Cruel Sea).
I don't mind people calling sausages bangers, just cars. I don't like sausages as much as I used to though, and you can get good ones round here. I still quite like hot garlicky red merguez, made of sheep or donkey rather than pig. I like those Indian Seekh kebabs too when they are good, and Greek bastourma.
When I was young I could easily go into a transport cafe and order two sausages two rashers two eggs chips and peas oh all right beans then, got any black pudding a bit of that too please... I still like the idea but I wouldn't get through it today or the coffee (never tea) and wads that came with it... brown sauce isn't what it used to be... I hate being, er, almost middle-aged.
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How many can you put names to? - PeterS
