[alistair]

The whole insurance and safety thing has killed this now but back in the day when you went to a stock car race at many British tracks there was a public race. You could just drive the car you came in up onto the track and run laps.

Here's one from 1975



if that Youtube button thing donesn't work - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btXR4ej4QoA

Interesting to see the diversity of the fans' cars back then.

Note lack of helmets, roll cages, gloves even. And when one of the cars crashes out its just left there for the others to race round. No red or black flagging...

[OneMoreTime]

That is some really cool memories for me....

Sam

[MXrider13]

Thats some Exciting racing! I wanted the Chevy to win though...

[malc]

This is British Stock Car Racing nothing like NASCAR.
I used to attend regularly Brafield and Coventry.

[alistair]

I found some great TV coverage of old saloon racing and touring car from before it got all bland and corporate.

Here is 1971's Osram sponsored championship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY5zdnGvT0c Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAK4jBKmow Part 2

great stuff.

You can all root for the Camaro if you like. I do too. Although thats Gerry Marshall in the Viva and he is like a God unto me ;-)

Amazingly enough back in the 1960s the Ford Galaxie was a hot ticket in this racing series. They looked awesome fighting it out with the Minis, MGs, Cortinas, Alfas. Like an elephant being attacked by wasps!

[malc]

When I bashed metal at Vauxhall Engineering back in the late sixties, early seventies we started a rally Viva, it went to Gerry Marshall eventually.