LOOKING AT
LEGENDS
Photo courtesy
of Clive Marchant
Grid Art
Legend Cars, born in the USA, are one of
the leading non-contact formula in the
UK and proven to be popular amongst
the ordinary man who probably would
not have the budget to race anything at
all on the short ovals. Second hand car
prices in this country are in the region of
£8k whilst a brand new factory built car,
straight out of Legend Cars International
in North Carolina, USA, would only set
you back £14k approximately.
The rules are strictly adhered to and the
series attempts to fight the high costs
involved in racing, therefore cheque
book racers do not apply in achieving
any success. The Legends ‘level playing
field’ that the 40 or so registered drivers
compete in on the short ovals, really has
an emphasis on driver ability.
It’s well publicised that the cars are 5/8th
fibreglass models of Ford or Chevrolet
Sedans and Coupé’s from the 1930’s –
early NASCAR’s. Today in the States,
Legends are a feeder formula for today’s
NASCAR with Kyle Busch being the first
name that springs to mind as a Legends
Champ and now a top flight racer in the
Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.
Oval Track Legends race on the best
short oval tarmac tracks in the country
and come under the Spedeworth
umbrella. Incarace originally introduced
the cars to stock car tracks in the UK in
1997, using the governing body INEX
rules and points system. Registered
drivers in this country are automatically
entered into the USA governed World
Standings to feature prominently in the
rankings of the Master, Pro and Semi Pro
divisions.
Nicknamed the ‘Pocket Rockets’, the tiny
cars are scaled down but not slowed
down. Under the bonnet,, you will find
either a Yamaha FJ1200 – fairly
straightforward, probably straight out of
a road bike with no modifications or
performance enhancements allowed. Or
you could find a 1250cc factory sealed
engine which only a select few engine
builders are permitted to rebuild.
Normally, the UK short oval National
Points Championship is run over fifteen
point scoring rounds from Spring to
Autumn with major championships
included in the points structure. So,
there will be no picking and choosing of
fixtures thus ensuring all drivers will be
in the points chase and maybe pick up a
major title along the way as a bonus.
One exception is traditionally the last
38
meeting of the year after the National
Points Champion and Rookie Champion
have been decided. It’s the Whites &
Yellows Championship – a one off race,
concluding with an all comers meeting
for the Golden Helmet Award. A fantastic
finalé to the year and generally has a
high turnout of cars. This year the event
is on November 11th at Northampton
International Raceway and then the cars
will be put away for the winter or worked
upon and spruced up for the 2013
season.
No doubt 2013 will bring the same joys or
even the same frustrations as this year
but certain to bring a sizeable new bunch
of rookies, along with the same old faces
again.
They’ll be hooked, focused, ready,
waiting and longing to do battle for yet
another year. Once you’ve seen them –
you’ll be hooked too!
Peggyann Lilley
Tel: 0844 840 8104