XK120 banger racing!
Discussion
lowdrag said:
Sheer heresy perhaps, but for me an XJ6 would be the ideal car to go banger racing in. At the end of it's life it virtually has no value and you have to pay someone to tow it away. The cost of restoration way exceeds anything feasable or cost-effective so why not give it a glorious rather than inglorious final curtain? Banger racing has existed since time immemorial, and in hindsight some beautiful cars have gone that way, including a Lynx Eventer, but in the main they were cars no one wanted and on their way to the scrapyard. It would be a strange world if we had all saved our cars, wouldn't it?
+1I'm no banger racing expert but from what I have seen they do have a good idea of the value of cars. They will strip all the bits worth selling (providing parts for restoration projects) Then will race what's left over - without seeing the bodyshell you wouldn't know if it is beyond viable repair.
They're usual defence of racing such cars is 'make me an offer and you can have it' - presumably there aren't any takers.
From what could be seen in the pics it was a bit of a basket case that they took 3 months to join together. Difficult to make a 150 fhc a viable restoration at the best of times, but with lots missing too I suspect that the V5 is about the most valuable bit about what was left!
I know it "could" have been saved, but really, what were the odds? I guess if the front wings were straight and sound they would have saved someone a few quid, but I was under the impression XK bodywork was hardly interchangeable between cars without a bit of work!
I know it "could" have been saved, but really, what were the odds? I guess if the front wings were straight and sound they would have saved someone a few quid, but I was under the impression XK bodywork was hardly interchangeable between cars without a bit of work!
I'm rather surprised someone wants to use a XK150 for banger racing but there are plenty of good ones still alive, so what's the harm of one being used to race? As the handwritten note mentions it sounds like the car was only partially complete and perhaps only good as some spares anyway. So the owner might have foregone a bit of cash not selling for parts.
From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
Andy 308GTB said:
They're usual defence of racing such cars is 'make me an offer and you can have it' - presumably there aren't any takers.
There are a few escape... as I mentioned, that's where my XJ6 S1 came from. It was advertised on Ovalchat, and I offered more cash than the other guys.braddo said:
I'm rather surprised someone wants to use a XK150 for banger racing but there are plenty of good ones still alive, so what's the harm of one being used to race? As the handwritten note mentions it sounds like the car was only partially complete and perhaps only good as some spares anyway. So the owner might have foregone a bit of cash not selling for parts.
From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
Perhaps, but if you check out the price of an old buff log book to use as an identity for a replica, like a C-type kit, then you'll get one hell of a shock. Just the bit of paper can fetch thousands now, and see the post at the top referring to the wreck that was sold for over £16,000. No, a wreck, with some matching numbers, plus the log book is now a minimum of £10,000. A lot to go banger racing with! Just look here:-From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jaguar-XJ6-4-2-engine-Log-Bo...
This isn't even tax exempt either, which is the holy grail.
lowdrag said:
braddo said:
I'm rather surprised someone wants to use a XK150 for banger racing but there are plenty of good ones still alive, so what's the harm of one being used to race? As the handwritten note mentions it sounds like the car was only partially complete and perhaps only good as some spares anyway. So the owner might have foregone a bit of cash not selling for parts.
From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
Perhaps, but if you check out the price of an old buff log book to use as an identity for a replica, like a C-type kit, then you'll get one hell of a shock. Just the bit of paper can fetch thousands now, and see the post at the top referring to the wreck that was sold for over £16,000. No, a wreck, with some matching numbers, plus the log book is now a minimum of £10,000. A lot to go banger racing with! Just look here:-From a different perspective, at least the car is being driven, as opposed to the many over-restored classics that become little more than art installations or investments.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jaguar-XJ6-4-2-engine-Log-Bo...
This isn't even tax exempt either, which is the holy grail.
Interesting, thanks. So if Mr XK150 Banger Racer is wily he will enjoy some banger racing and then when he's had enough of the XK he'll still be able to sell a wreck with a logbook (if he has one) for £10-15k?Hello
Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
I know nothing of these cars (I'll be honest about that) but can't see the fun in deliberately destroying any classic (Unless it's a beetle!)
If it was at a point where it will never have seen the road fair enough, but if there was a chance it could once again be on the road then its a total waste.
If it was at a point where it will never have seen the road fair enough, but if there was a chance it could once again be on the road then its a total waste.
You know, daft as it seems and as a dyed-in-the-wool Jaguar fanatic, I admire Plonker here. He found a car which was already in a terrible state (who on earth cut the roof off for example (unless it was a roadster to start with - gulp) and it was languishing somewhere, forlorn and unloved. He's revived it, he's made it work again, and he's having fun with it. it's better that he uses this car than it sits in a barn because not only is it fun for him but for all the spectators too. And at the end of it all, he can sell on the chassis, engine and log book to someone to restore it into a bright shiny "look at me - my owner's rich" toy for someone to take out on the road if the weather forecast guarantees no rain, and that to go two miles to the pub twice a year. Keep me informed plonker - I'm right behind you boy!
plonker751 said:
Hello
Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
Fair play to you for entering into this thread.Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
lowdrag said:
And at the end of it all, he can sell on the chassis, engine and log book to someone to restore it into a bright shiny "look at me - my owner's rich" toy
I saw a pile of rusting metal outside a renowned Jag restorers a few years ago - the only bits that could be salvaged were the bulkhead and the propshaft. But these 2 bits with the log book were going to be the basis of an E-Type 'restoration'.The rotting bodywork would probably have been crushed - but had someone stuck it on a chassis of some sort and taken it to Banger Racing they would have triggered a thread like this one...
plonker751 said:
Hello
Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
Can I ask you to provide the details of the car from the chassis plate plate, so the archivists at least know what has happened to the car.Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
On a 1957 car it should be by the firewall on the exhaust side (outlined in white in the picture)
The chassis number will be something like S824XXX possibly with BW (Auto) or DN (overdrive) at the end.
The engine number would be V followed by 4 digits then -8 (this is the compression ratio, could also be -7 or -9, although I'm not aware of any being built in 1957). Was this the engine and head still fitted?
a8hex said:
plonker751 said:
Hello
Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
Can I ask you to provide the details of the car from the chassis plate plate, so the archivists at least know what has happened to the car.Thought i would introduce myself, im the person who raced the xk150, i can fully apprieciate the unhappy thoughts/comments that have been thrown myway, im the driver and even part of me thought it was wrong pullin onto ipswich track in the car, yes it was a very clean car with not a bit of rust on it anywhere and im not joking, but best part of it was missing, all the interior but the dash which is still up for sale, no wheels, roof had been cut off etc etc, it probably was restorable but we decided to have abit of fun with it, seeing as it was the 1st of its kind to hit the track.
On a 1957 car it should be by the firewall on the exhaust side (outlined in white in the picture)
The chassis number will be something like S824XXX possibly with BW (Auto) or DN (overdrive) at the end.
The engine number would be V followed by 4 digits then -8 (this is the compression ratio, could also be -7 or -9, although I'm not aware of any being built in 1957). Was this the engine and head still fitted?
To everyone thouh who has called me one name or another for racin it, fair enough, your opinion, just gonna say this, i never hear you moan about people smashing nice classics up on the rally curcuit, its just us banger boys who seem to always get it in the kneck.
The car WAS NOT financailly viable to repair IN OUR OPINION, it got raced and i can tell you this, we have heard more good opinions than bad so far, and i enjoyed myyself racing it, thats all that matters to me.
plonker751 said:
Hello mate, i can fully apprieciate what your asking, as i wanted to find out abit about the history of the car, and im being 100% honest when i say this, the car doesnt have that plate on it and never did when we got hold of it, the engine on the other hand, weve been told by the previous owner that this was the original engine, i cannot verify this though, just going by what we were told when we went to pick it up.
To everyone thouh who has called me one name or another for racin it, fair enough, your opinion, just gonna say this, i never hear you moan about people smashing nice classics up on the rally curcuit, its just us banger boys who seem to always get it in the kneck.
The car WAS NOT financailly viable to repair IN OUR OPINION, it got raced and i can tell you this, we have heard more good opinions than bad so far, and i enjoyed myyself racing it, thats all that matters to me.
This is the last I'll say on the matter, then I'll leave you alone (!). The rally circut dont rebuild their car to delibreately crash it. If it gets smashed it is an unfortunate accident, and they get repaired and carry on rallying. The bagger fraternity deliberately destroy cars. That's part of the pleasure you get from it. That's the part I really dont like. I have seen some pretty destroyed cars in my time, yet I know they will get rebuilt to see another day. Yours will be destroyed. The end. Final. Thats the bit I dont like. Although, having written it down, it does make me seem like a soppy sodTo everyone thouh who has called me one name or another for racin it, fair enough, your opinion, just gonna say this, i never hear you moan about people smashing nice classics up on the rally curcuit, its just us banger boys who seem to always get it in the kneck.
The car WAS NOT financailly viable to repair IN OUR OPINION, it got raced and i can tell you this, we have heard more good opinions than bad so far, and i enjoyed myyself racing it, thats all that matters to me.
To be honest the car will be getting more use and but giving someone more fun now than if it was just sat in some rich blokes garage for him to occasionally polish. Fair enough, I don't particularly agree with it, as can be seen on my first post on the first page. But f
k it, it's his car, he can do what he want's with it. Would it be better if it was sat in a barn somewhere and no one knew about it?? He could've sold it yes, but it'd have been his money, not anyone elses so what does it matter to the rest of you.
I often see cars people have ruined or modified and tbh, just because I don't like or agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. Even if it was anyway, it'd be none of my business.
Crack on mate.
k it, it's his car, he can do what he want's with it. Would it be better if it was sat in a barn somewhere and no one knew about it?? He could've sold it yes, but it'd have been his money, not anyone elses so what does it matter to the rest of you.I often see cars people have ruined or modified and tbh, just because I don't like or agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. Even if it was anyway, it'd be none of my business.
Crack on mate.
guru_1071 said:
i guess this is no different from people using valuable cars in historic racing.
it only takes one huge crash to wreck a comnpetition car.
other peoples cars, other peoples money, if they want to banger race a xk let them, the value of all the other ones left have just gone up!
As said, Historic racing is very different to banger racing. it only takes one huge crash to wreck a comnpetition car.
other peoples cars, other peoples money, if they want to banger race a xk let them, the value of all the other ones left have just gone up!
The value of XK's are going higher, but what is the point in wasting an example?
I'm aware that there have been other sought after cars used in banger racing, the problem is none of them remotely give a s
t what they race as long as it's solid and they win races. Personally, I reckon the new owners couldn't careless.
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