V8 Hotstox
| Hotstox | |
|---|---|
| Category | Single seaters |
| Active since | 1984 |
| Country/region |
 United Kingdom
|
| Engine |
Rover 3.5L, 3.9L & 4.2L |
| World Champion 2016 |
157 Adam Joyce (1) |
| National Points Champion 2016 |
157 Adam Joyce (1) |
| British Champion 2017 |
409 Luke Maw |
| European Champion 2017 |
409 Luke Maw |
V8 Hotstox is a British stock car racing formula that races on British short oval racing circuits. Drivers are members of the British Stock Car Drivers Association (BSCDA) and are affiliated to the British Stock Car Racing Association (BriSCA). V8 Hotstox have also previously been known as V8 Stock Cars. (www.v8hotstox.com)
Hotstox race at various venues in the UK. The tracks feature different surfaces such as shale, tarmac and concrete. The tracks all feature two straightaway's and two turns to form an oval. The oval is surrounded by a safety barrier constructed of Armoco, concrete, steel or posts and wires. Races vary in length with heats generally being 16 laps and final's 20. Each meeting consists of 2 or 3 heats plus a final and sometimes an allcomers race often called a Grand National.
The field of cars is split into 5 groups according to experience and points. Novices are graded 'White' and must have a white roof. The grades ascend as more points are scored, the next grade is Yellow followed by Blue, Red and Super Star grade. The Super Star grade have red roof's with amber flashing lights and are the most experienced drivers. Super Stars must start each race (aside from special championships) at the back of the field. Novices (White tops) start at the front followed by each grade.
Drivers may use force to pass the car in front to gain position. The winner is the first driver to complete race distance. The contact element is what attracts drivers and fans alike and requires great skill in delivering and withstanding the hits that are part and parcel of Hotstox racing.
Hotstox was a concept developed by then promoter of the now defunct Long Eaton Stadium - Keith Barber. Barber also edited and produced the premier Stock Car publication Stock Car Magazine (SCM). It was in the pages of SCM in 1983 that Barber outlined the idea of a budget contact racing formula as an alternative to . The rules were influenced heavily by Stock Cars that Barber had seen in New Zealand. The New Zealand cars featured 'Stock' bodies and small capacity engines. Barber derived the name Hotstox from a formula that he had seen in South Africa during a visit in the 1960s.
Early Hotstox rules allowed a basic ladder chassis construction with power provided by a Rover V8 or Ford V6. Suspension was restricted to leaf spring arrangements with strictly standard shock absorbers - rules which exist to this day. Stock bodies from production road cars were to be used and although the first constructed Hotstox featured such bodies, it became clear that creating a stock bodied car was not practical as the time taken to fabricate them proved both time consuming and costly.
The first cars constructed were built by Paul Lomax and Dennis Howell. Lomax's car featured a Ford Fiesta body. Demonstration races began taking place - mainly at Long Eaton with the first meeting proper running at Long Eaton in April 1984.
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Wikipedia