Automotive American – Classic Vintage & Modern
Tag: VHRA
Article from 2019 Secrets of Speed by Charlie Yapp with photography from yours truly (apart from the title picture from Fuel Curve)
To say Richards car is clean is an understatement!
Photos were taken at the 2019 VHRA Pendine event
We are pleased to announce that the eighth running of the Hot Rod Races will be happening on Pendine Sands over the weekend of 10th & 11th July 2021. Once again there will be two days of non-stop racing action on the historic beach in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. We will be starting around 11.00am each day and racing for around five to six hours, with non-stop action from start to finish. Everything is determined by the tide so times can’t be set in stone.
This incredible, award winning event has fast become the most important date on the UK hot rod calendar, with participants coming from all over the globe to take part in the world’s fastest and most exciting beach racing competition available to traditional hot rods and customs. Racing is only open to members of the Vintage Hot Rod Association and their pre-1949 hot rods and customs, so it’s guaranteed old time action all the way. Whilst pit passes are only for VHRA members, spectating is free from outside the pits, and you’ll find more details on that further down the page.
There are classes for all types of vehicles and engines, with cars being built just to break class records. A full list of classes and record holders is below, as well as a roll call of drivers that have broken the 100 mph barrier. Our King of the Beach for 2019 was Marcus Bennett, who claimed the title in his first attempt, topping 120 mph in the bargain. He’s keen to take the top spot again in 2021, but there’s plenty of competition to keep him on his toes, so be sure to come along and see if he can be toppled from his throne.
Free Spectating – No Pass Required
Outside of the pits it’s free to come and spectate. The view of the race cars is fantastic and you you can wander down the beach to see the cars at speed. There is a parking fee of £4 per car payable to the council on the day, which will allow you to park on the hallowed beach in your car. No pre-booking or ticket is required, you do not need to be a member and there is no limit on numbers. This will not permit you to enter the pit or race areas, but there will be the opportunity to get up close to the cars either side of racing. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Race and Pit Pass Booking Conditions – VHRA Members Only – ALL PASSES SOLD OUT
Because of the carry-over of passes from the postponed 2020 Hot Rod Races, there are no new places available on the race card for 2021. We are, however, collating member’s names for a reserve list. Please contact us before 9th October 2020 if you wish to add your name to that list. Lead name must be a VHRA member. Applications will be accepted in the first instance from those with membership in place at the time of the event was announced to members on 25th August 2020. Racing is limited to one vehicle per member. You can add one additional driver but runs are limited to the vehicle not drivers. Additional driver does not need to be a member. Please note; any records, prizes or timing tags are awarded to the owner, not driver. All racers must hold a full driving licence. Passes are restricted to a maximum of 4 adults per booking, inclusive of member, no limit on children. Children’s passes cannot be upgraded to adult passes at a later date. All adults with pit passes agree be on site prior to racing in order to assist with setting up. Cheques payable to VHRA. If you do not have a cheque book, we will accept PayPal to info@vhra.co.uk ahead of the form being sent in, but it is the receipt of the original, signed, completed booking form in the post that determines the place in the queue. Equally, payment needs to be made for your application to be processed. There is a surcharge of £4 for PayPal payments. Incomplete applications, applications that have not been paid for, or applications not on the official booking form will not be accepted. Overseas applicants should add £2 for postage, we ask that you still include a return addressed envelope. No refunds on any tickets apart from in relation to Coronavirus cancelations, no other exceptions. Full details of entry and rules & regulations are included on the booking form and also on this page. If you have any questions please get in touch at info@vhra.co.uk.
The London Concours 2020, which already has been delayed until August 19-20, will feature a “Speed of Sand” celebration with an homage to pre-1949 American hot rods.
To be staged on the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company headquarters and billed as “the capital’s finest automotive garden party,” the featured grouping will include appearances by Matt Farrant, three-time “King of the Beach” on the Pendine Sands and his 1929 Ford Model A roadster pickup and Rebecca Dunn, “the fastest woman on the sand” and her 1930 Ford Model A coupe.
Ed
Let’s hope the pandemic allows this one to go ahead as it’s a great opportunity for Not Rods to reach the mainstream audience
Here’s a few bonus videos from the event.
The Vintage Hot Rod Association held their 7th annual Hot Rod Races on the famous Pendine Sands over the weekend of the 15th/16th June 2019.
The weather in the UK so far this June has been damp to say the least earning the nickname of “Monsoon June”, so fingers were being crossed all round weather wise.
Most of those visiting the event stayed local to the sands and this gave the Pendine Sands Holiday Park a real 1950’s flavour with a lot of American iron on display outside the caravans.
Tech inspection began on Friday, and this was where you could see the sheer variety of vehicles that were taking part in the event. From speedsters, to stock cars, to family saloons the full range arrived for inspection. As you would expect the dominant make was Ford and in particular Model A and T based vehicles, which was to be expected at a Hot Rod event.
Friday night saw the predictable overnight downpour but the early start on Saturday saw a really nice sunny, if a little breezy, start to the day. An enjoyable pre-racing bonus was watching the parade of cars making its way onto the beach and into the pits.
After a few test runs by the VHRA staff the racing was ready to commence, albeit a little earlier than planned due to tidal and weather conditions.
The race classes are as follows:
Racing Classes
V – Vintage – Pre 54 engines, inclusive of all Ford flathead V8’s
L – Late – 1954 and later engines
4 – 4 Cylinder
6 – 6 Cylinder
8 – 8 Cylinder
U – Unlimited Cylinders
B – Blown – Supercharger or Turbo
F – Flathead – ALL valves in block, no OHV conversions
R – Roadster – Open top factory cars. Roof chops allowed, top must be down.
C – Closed Car – Fixed roof factory cars. Roof chops allowed.
M – Modified – Open top special & shortened bodies, including any non-factory bodies.
S – Streamliner – Closed car special & shortened bodies, including any non-factory bodies.
K – Full Body – Factory cars post 1934. All body styles, roof chops allowed. Full fenders must be fitted.
The cars are marked with the class that they are competing in, as can be seen below
Racing began and ran flawlessly into the afternoon with somewhat of a breeze, but thankfully no rain to speak of.
As you can see one of the downsides of beach racing is the clean-up, but I’m pretty sure that was the least of the competitors’ worries in comparison to the sheer joy of blasting down the course in search of that elusive record time, or just out for the fun of it all.
Saturday night again brought heavy rain and an early start on Sunday, once again the pre-racing parade down to the beach added to the spectacle, even the Police turned up!
The VHRA team did an excellent job in getting the course and pits set up for Sundays racing despite the adverse weather conditions. As you would expect the pits were once again a hive of activity with all the usual pre-race tweaks being carried out.
The rain again kept away on the whole during the early part of the day but the wind was considerably stronger than Saturday. This however did not discourage the competitors from attacking the course with the same gusto as on Saturday. From a spectator perspective traction appeared to have improved.
Some folks needed a bit of a helping hand to get up to the line!
The full racing programme was just about complete when the worst rain of the racing days hit the beach, but everyone put a brave face on it and all runs were completed.
All that was left was for all the cars that had congregated at the end of the track to drive back down the beach in “run for home” fashion. Even though it was raining this was a fitting spectacle to complete an excellent event. Roll on next year!
The Prescott Vintage Speed Hill Climb takes place at the home of the Bugatti Owners Club in the heart of the very picturesque rolling Cotswold Hills in South Central England. Prescott Hill has been an active motorsports venue for 80 years! The site was purchased in 1937 by the Bugatti owners club, but all events are run under the auspices of the The Vintage Sports-Car Club. The VHRA also run their annual Gow! Hill Climb event at this venue. The VSSC event predominately features British and European vehicles, but there were a few American vehicles both in competition and on the showfield.
1926 Ford Model T Rajo Special Hill Climb Competitor
Model T Speedster on the Showfield
Model T Based Flathead Powered Hot Rod on the Showfield
Various other American entrants on the Showfield (yes I’ve included RHD Model A’s!)
I got to hear about Travis Scanlan of Royboy Productions via Robert Kibbe’s The Muscle Car Place Podcast. Travis kindly ran my interview with Neil Fretwell here.
Travis has an excellent website which includes The Chrome Pipes & Pinstripes podcast.
As part of the Royboy Productions offering Travis uses his talents as a photographer to tell stories of the Hot Rod World (amongst other things!) Take a look at the site here
Really enjoyable interview with Neil Fretwell the driving force behind the Vintage Hot Rod Association here in the UK
