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MOTOR SPORTS enthusiast Tony Hughes is calling on all amateur drivers and adrenaline junkies, young and old, to get ready for the latest track sensation set to hit the island with a big bang.
Banger Racing features 30 to 50 drivers suited and booted in old vehicles, zipping around a tarmac or dirt track all for the sake of passing the chequered flag and plans are afoot to invest up to BD300,000 to create an arena close to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
In order to win the hotly-contested races, drivers have to motor around a 400m oval or figure-of-eight designed track while trying to avoid crashing into other competitors … or at least survive any collision to carry on across the finish line.
Often called the poor man’s motor racing action, although its battered-looking image may be a million miles away from the glamour of Formula One, some would argue it is also a million times more fun.
The sport attracts thousands of fans throughout Europe, in particular in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands. And, with a little help from Mr Hughes – a former race ace – it will soon be added to Bahrain’s list of sporting attractions.
His mission to bring the Banger Racing craze to the kingdom began two years ago when he approached BIC executives to discuss plans to provide a safe environment and facility for competitors.
The 52-year-old Delta Safety and Security general manager, from Umm Al Hassam, has been working closely on the project with Fayez Ramzy Fayez, the BIC’s circuit operations director, and Rodney Davies, who handles the circuit’s business development.
“They are very passionate about it,” he said, “as are many motor racing marshals here and other staff at the BIC. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction but unfortunately we had to put a stop to it due to last year’s unrest. Now we are picking up where we left off.”
According to Mr Hughes, a site at the BIC has been chosen where the Banger Racing track could be built and action could begin next year.
“It’s going to be built at the BIC as they kindly agreed to give me the land and will also help in the construction of the 440m oval shale track, which is slightly banked on the corner. There will also be a seating area for spectators as this is something that motor racing fans and sports lovers in general will not want to miss.
“I’ve also got a couple of people that want to sponsor the race. We will be spending around 100,000 to 300,000 dinars for just the set-up stage.
“I’ve put a lot of time and effort in and it is starting to take shape. I’ve been living in Bahrain for 11 years and it’s been seven years since I last raced.
“Banger Racing is a passion of mine. Whenever I go back to the UK I have vehicles built and ready to go racing.
“I have been asked to promote it in Bahrain, which I’m willing to do. It is a very cheap form of motor sport as you get an old vehicle and completely gut it.
“We kick out the windows; alter the interior by removing all the glass and lighting fixtures. Then we remove the fuel cell from the side of the vehicle and the tanks under the bonnet.”
“Then it’s just you and the other drivers wrecking the heck out of each other. It’s a full contact motor sport and on a normal race you might do between 12 and 16 laps. The final is made up of 20 laps. You are actually racing to win but it isn’t for money or a trophy, it’s really for the enjoyment.
“And if you are an idiot like me, I will do two to three laps the right way and then turn around and go in the opposite direction and hit people head-on. That’s what the crowd wants to see, it’s all a show.
“Banger racing has the potential of being big in Bahrain. It’s going to be a fun-filled afternoon because it will have hours of absolute pure mayhem and excitement and that’s what it’s all about.
“It’s also very family-orientated. Spectators will also want to get involved as they will want to see what their children or friends are doing.”
Mr Hughes, a Brit brought up on a farm in West Yorkshire, had his first race experience at 13 when he was strapped into a 3-litre Rover coupe and thrown into the oval ring. Consequently, he rolled the car over three times and was hooked ever since.
He has competed in hundreds of events, travelling all over the UK and has won more than 50 races. He was crowned national champion in 1997.
Now he wants to offer the same driving thrills and spills to Bahrain’s youngsters. He said: “We will introduce this to all the sporting federations and once everything is finalised we are going to set up a launch show.
“We will have prepared a few vehicles to take around to all the youth centres and then show video demonstrations and tell the kids what it’s all about.
“Then we can hopefully bring them up to the BIC so that they could see vehicles being constructed and teach them how to create a race-ready car themselves.
“This gets the youth of Bahrain off the streets and it gives them an interest in something positive. It’s also affordable. It would probably cost around BD200 to buy an old Nissan Sunny and then get it race ready.
“It gives youngsters and adult supporters something to do during the week because they will need to get the cars ready for the weekend. The race will be every two weeks, like a series.
“Then every three months we will have a demolition derby where the last car standing wins. We will get 30 or 40 cars on the race track to completely smash the heck out of each other which is my specialty. That means they’ll be plenty of racing action for the older driver too!”
Children from the age of 13 and up are eligible to enter the saloon stock box category alongside adults which features cars with 8000cc and front wheel drive. According to Mr Hughes they are not so fast and will be protected with welded bars all around the vehicle.
Then there are the unlimited class which is made up of big American cars. Mr Hughes said: “It’s very safe though because you have nothing inside the vehicle except for a driver’s seat. There is also a row cage inside with a built in fuel cell so there is no fuel tanks under the car and the battery is also inside the car for safety reasons.”
The last two categories are the F1 and F2 stock cars that will be brought in from the UK. They are purpose-built high power vehicles with V8 engines in the F1 and four cylinders in the F2.
Mr Hughes will be bringing one of each and then a few of his friends who have fabrication shops will manufacture the chassis’ to sell to the community for construction.
The initiative couldn’t have come at a better time as a new reality game show called Motorfixations will also be launched shortly on Bahrain TV where aspiring mechanics regardless of race, nationality and gender, aged 18 and above, are being offered the chance to take part in a month-long motoring programme.
Cameras will follow five teams of five-to-seven contestants on a journey to create a working car by restoring an old banger using materials recovered from a scrap yard.
Each team will be given a limited budget which they will not be allowed to exceed. They must set about restoring the vehicle into racing order and create their own mean machine from the parts at hand.
Contestants will be involved in producing as well as designing the vehicles and must take part in rallies and competitions against the other teams.
A BIC spokesman said: “These are exciting times at the BIC and this is just another way we can show we truly are the home of motor sport in the Middle East.”
The main arena will be hosting the Six Hours of Bahrain endurance race on September 28-29, in a festival of racing action featuring top international teams and drivers, as reported in GulfWeekly.
