What is Stockcar Racing? In the Beginning A "stock" bodied car is one which resembles the one which came off the production line. The best known form of stockcar racing is NASCAR racing, originating from the original form of push and shove after the second world war. In the early days of Wendell Scott on 400 yard dirt tracks, to one of non-contact today, now raced on enormous tarmac or concrete oval circuits. In the mid 1950's full contact stockcar racing started in France, Australia and New Zealand. By 1955 an organised form of it was taking place in the UK. Evolution The original "stock" car formula in the UK evolved into F1 and F2 single seaters specially built for racing and bear no resemblance to a stock car as such although some formulas have retained the stock look. In the UK, the term "stockcar", conjures up an image of banger or bomber car racing in many people's minds. As you will see, this could not be further from the truth. Oceans Apart The one thing that links all forms of stockcar racing in the UK is contact. Whereas the USA have evolved into non contact racing, we in the UK have gone headlong towards contact racing. Overseas The Dutch have followed the UK example. The Australians who started out contact then drifted away, have over the last 10 years had a contact formula. The New Zealanders stockcars on the other hand have gone a step further still, making a fine art out of wiping out the opposition, some cars are built like tanks for that specific reason.Colour and Power The wing or the roof in each formula will tell you how good a driver is. The colour is decided by the organising bodies within each formula based on how many points the driver has scored over a "grading" period, i.e. one month. Novice drivers or drivers with few points start with a white roof. As they progress they will acquire a yellow roof, then a blue one and then a red roof. The World Champion and top 5 drivers or top 5 point scorers are then awarded "superstar" status and indicate this with orange flashing lights on their red painted wing or roof. The world champion gets to wear a gold roof and the National Series champion gets to wear a silver one. The European champion can display red and yellow chequered pattern somewhere on his wing. Thick gold stripes down the wing denotes a championship from either Holland or New Zealand. Petrol Power Each formula is determined by engine power. Of the open wheel formulae, F1 stockcars are allowed unlimited power and can be anything up to 10 litre, mainly Chevrolet engines. V8's are 3.5 or 4.5 litre powered, F2's are 2 litre powered whilst Modstox and Rebels are Reliant engines up to 850cc. Back to school on Monday The Ministox are a starter formula for kids from 10 to 16 years old and are also 850 cc engines but are not open wheel. Original Stockcars Another closed wheel formula, the 2 litre saloons, are the achetypal "stockcar", based mainly on Sierra bodies but progressing slowly into Mondeo bodies, but still retaining the stock body of the original production model. Crashing for Fun Even banger cars or bomber cars have different classes depending on the size of the car. All are road cars with glass, rubber, sharp bits and upholstery removed and built with a crumple zone or roll cage to survive deliberate impacts from other cars, the drivers of which will sometimes try to race and win but frequently will just crash into the opposition either to stop them winning or just for the fun of it. It is infact meant to be fun.