Production car racing
Encyclopedia
Production car racing , Showroom stock racing Street Stock, Pure Stock, or U-Car racing includes all categories of auto racing
where unmodified (or very lightly modified) car
s race each other, outright and also in classes. All cars usually have a protective roll cage
and run race tires (either slick
s or radial
). Some freedoms are allowed, like gearbox coolers, giving the cars increased performance and components longevity. Production car racing or known in the US as showroom stock, is an economical and rules restricted version of touring car racing, mainly to restrict costs.
Many production racing categories are based on particular makes of cars. There are many Porsche
racing series around the world. These are also called "One Make Series". Some series use a handicapped start, where the smaller cars are released up to 45 seconds ahead of the larger cars, and are slowly caught, the idea being that all the cars are together at the finish of the race. Many series follow the Group N
regulation with a few exceptions. There are several different series that are run all over the world, most notably, Japan's Super Taikyu and IMSA
's Firehawk Series which ran between the 1980s to 1990s all over the United States.
Major races include the Bathurst 12 Hour
, Bahrain 24 Hour, Dubai 24 Hour & Malaysian 12 hour and sanctioned by organisations such as the FIA
and SCCA. Normally used an entry level formula, it has grown into a stand alone series, with National, State and Club events and Championships.The first NASCAR "Strictly Stock" race ever was held at Charlotte Speedway
, on June 19, 1949.Where a racing class requires that the cars raced be production vehicles only slightly adapted for racing, manufacturers typically produce a limited run of such vehicles for public sale so that they can legitimately race them in the class. These cars are commonly called "homologation specials".
In British oval racing, the term Production car racing has been used as an alternative for hot rods, as run in the West Country during the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, and a Production car world championship race was held twice in the 1970s, won by Spence Morgan in 1974 and Ralph Sanders in 1975, both driving Ford Anglia
s. The West Country Production Cars were later reclassified as hot rods to come in line with the country's other promoters although this causes some confusion with the history of the West country racing as there was another class called Hot Rods that ran on those tracks.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
where unmodified (or very lightly modified) car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s race each other, outright and also in classes. All cars usually have a protective roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
and run race tires (either slick
Slick tire
A slick tyre is a type of tyre that has no tread pattern, used mostly in auto racing. The first production "slick tyre" was developed by a company called M&H Tires in the early 1950s for use in drag racing...
s or radial
Radial tire
A radial tire is a particular design of automotive tire . In this design, the cord plies are arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, or radially ....
). Some freedoms are allowed, like gearbox coolers, giving the cars increased performance and components longevity. Production car racing or known in the US as showroom stock, is an economical and rules restricted version of touring car racing, mainly to restrict costs.
Many production racing categories are based on particular makes of cars. There are many Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
racing series around the world. These are also called "One Make Series". Some series use a handicapped start, where the smaller cars are released up to 45 seconds ahead of the larger cars, and are slowly caught, the idea being that all the cars are together at the finish of the race. Many series follow the Group N
Group N
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class"....
regulation with a few exceptions. There are several different series that are run all over the world, most notably, Japan's Super Taikyu and IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
's Firehawk Series which ran between the 1980s to 1990s all over the United States.
Major races include the Bathurst 12 Hour
Bathurst 12 Hour
The Bathurst 12 Hour is an endurance event for production racing cars held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, near Bathurst, Australia in February annually. The event was inspired by the long running Bathurst 1000 touring car race, which began in the early 1960s as a race for cars with minimal...
, Bahrain 24 Hour, Dubai 24 Hour & Malaysian 12 hour and sanctioned by organisations such as the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
and SCCA. Normally used an entry level formula, it has grown into a stand alone series, with National, State and Club events and Championships.The first NASCAR "Strictly Stock" race ever was held at Charlotte Speedway
Charlotte Speedway
For the current NASCAR track in Charlotte, North Carolina, see Charlotte Motor Speedway.Charlotte Speedway was the site of NASCAR's first Strictly Stock series race on June 19, 1949. The Daytona Beach Road Course held the first race sanctioned by NASCAR in 1948...
, on June 19, 1949.Where a racing class requires that the cars raced be production vehicles only slightly adapted for racing, manufacturers typically produce a limited run of such vehicles for public sale so that they can legitimately race them in the class. These cars are commonly called "homologation specials".
In British oval racing, the term Production car racing has been used as an alternative for hot rods, as run in the West Country during the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, and a Production car world championship race was held twice in the 1970s, won by Spence Morgan in 1974 and Ralph Sanders in 1975, both driving Ford Anglia
Ford Anglia
The 1949 model, code E494A, was a makeover of the previous model with a rather more 1940s style front-end, including the sloped, twin-lobed radiator grille. Again it was a very spartan vehicle and in 1948 was Britain's lowest priced four wheel car....
s. The West Country Production Cars were later reclassified as hot rods to come in line with the country's other promoters although this causes some confusion with the history of the West country racing as there was another class called Hot Rods that ran on those tracks.
External links
- Australian Production Car Championship APCC (CAMS/FIA)- http://www.pcaa.com.au
- Australian Production Touring Car Championship PTCC (AASA) - http://www.ptcc.net.au/
- New Zealand Production Car Championship - http://www.productionracingnz.co.nz/
- South African Production Series - http://www.powertour.co.za/
- UCAR CLASH SERIES http://www.ucarclash.com/
- Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race http://www.purestockdrags.com/
- FIA Production Car World Rally Championship http://www.wrc.com/pwrc/