Hednesford Hills Raceway
Encyclopedia
Hednesford Hills Raceway (often referred to as Hednesford Raceway) is an oval, short-circuit motor racing venue, situated on the Hednesford Hills, Cannock Chase, approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from the town of Hednesford
, Staffordshire
, England
.
.
With the circuit built at the base of the reservoir, the circuit has the advantage of being at the bottom of a large "bowl", with grass banks surrounding the circuit providing excellent views for spectators. For a small fee, spectators can even drive their cars onto the site and watch from their cars at viewing posts the top of the banks. The circuit is of a quarter mile length, with two banked corners, and a tarmac track surface.
In addition to the grass banks surrounding the circuit, spectators can watch from terracing directly next to the track, along with two all-seater grandstand
s situated on the two corners, with covered seating for 3000 spectators. Other facilities include a permanent race control, licensed bar and cafe.
Bill Morris was the original promoter of stockcar racing on the site, having been inspired by friend Bill France's effort in Daytona (USA). In the early 1980s Bill retired from active promoting and handed over the reins to "Incarace", owned by his son Martin and Philip Bond.
In the late 1990s Martin retired and Philip Bond took over as sole promoter until retiring in March 2008.
William " Bill " Morris founder of the Raceway died 9/10/2008
Events at the circuit are still promoted and run by the Midlands-based INCARACE organization - which has now been taken over by Deane Wood, owner of Southern-based motorsports promotion Spedeworth International.
The stadium continues to be the flagship Short Circuit raceway in the UK.
Prices are £12 Adults -- £6 OAP's and Children -- £30 Family Ticket
and stock car events in the UK, with many formulas of racing being staged at the circuit. Stock cars in Britain evolved by the 1970s into purpose-built single-seater "specials" of enormous power and sophisticated construction. By the 1990s the sport's top competitors were investing many thousands of pounds in their engines and chassis, backed by sponsorships.
In addition, the circuit is regarded as one of the best banger racing
circuits in the UK, with a number of National level banger race meetings being staged at the circuit every year. The circuit has also staged short-circuit truck racing
events, and annually holds a large firework display, which is popular with local people.
Major events include the "National Championship Weekend", the "Classic Banger Day", the "National Banger Team Championships" and the "Civil War" - the biggest head-to-head Demolition Derby in the World.
's Top Gear
programme in the past, in a feature on banger racing. In addition, a number of satellite TV channels feature both banger and stock car races from the circuit.
The Demons race team supplied a Car to Jeremy Clarkson a Ford Cortina for the Top Gear piece
The 100th edition of Tiswas
was broadcast live from Hednesford Raceway back in the Seventies.
The launch of the Sony Playstation game Destruction Derby Arenas took place at Hednesford Raceway and features a local Banger Racing team " The Demons Race Team "
Hednesford
Hednesford is a small town and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, within Cannock Chase District. It adjoins Cannock Chase to the north, and the town of Cannock to the south. It had a 2010 mid-year estimated population of 16,928.-History:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
About the circuit
The circuit was built in 1952 utilizing the site of a former reservoirReservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
.
With the circuit built at the base of the reservoir, the circuit has the advantage of being at the bottom of a large "bowl", with grass banks surrounding the circuit providing excellent views for spectators. For a small fee, spectators can even drive their cars onto the site and watch from their cars at viewing posts the top of the banks. The circuit is of a quarter mile length, with two banked corners, and a tarmac track surface.
In addition to the grass banks surrounding the circuit, spectators can watch from terracing directly next to the track, along with two all-seater grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
s situated on the two corners, with covered seating for 3000 spectators. Other facilities include a permanent race control, licensed bar and cafe.
Bill Morris was the original promoter of stockcar racing on the site, having been inspired by friend Bill France's effort in Daytona (USA). In the early 1980s Bill retired from active promoting and handed over the reins to "Incarace", owned by his son Martin and Philip Bond.
In the late 1990s Martin retired and Philip Bond took over as sole promoter until retiring in March 2008.
William " Bill " Morris founder of the Raceway died 9/10/2008
Events at the circuit are still promoted and run by the Midlands-based INCARACE organization - which has now been taken over by Deane Wood, owner of Southern-based motorsports promotion Spedeworth International.
The stadium continues to be the flagship Short Circuit raceway in the UK.
Prices are £12 Adults -- £6 OAP's and Children -- £30 Family Ticket
Events staged at the circuit
The circuit is a major venue for a number of hot rodHot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
and stock car events in the UK, with many formulas of racing being staged at the circuit. Stock cars in Britain evolved by the 1970s into purpose-built single-seater "specials" of enormous power and sophisticated construction. By the 1990s the sport's top competitors were investing many thousands of pounds in their engines and chassis, backed by sponsorships.
In addition, the circuit is regarded as one of the best banger racing
Banger racing
Banger Racing is a tarmac or dirt track racing type of motorsport event popularised in both North America and Europe and especially United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands in which drivers of old vehicles race against one another around a race track and the race is...
circuits in the UK, with a number of National level banger race meetings being staged at the circuit every year. The circuit has also staged short-circuit truck racing
Truck Racing
Truck racing is a form of motor racing which involves modified versions of heavy tractor units on racing circuits.The sport started in England in 1984 with the first race held at Donington Park and enjoyed great success, but declined in the 1990s. However, in the last few years the profile of...
events, and annually holds a large firework display, which is popular with local people.
Major events include the "National Championship Weekend", the "Classic Banger Day", the "National Banger Team Championships" and the "Civil War" - the biggest head-to-head Demolition Derby in the World.
Trivia
The circuit has been featured on BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
programme in the past, in a feature on banger racing. In addition, a number of satellite TV channels feature both banger and stock car races from the circuit.
The Demons race team supplied a Car to Jeremy Clarkson a Ford Cortina for the Top Gear piece
The 100th edition of Tiswas
Tiswas
Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's British television series which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited....
was broadcast live from Hednesford Raceway back in the Seventies.
The launch of the Sony Playstation game Destruction Derby Arenas took place at Hednesford Raceway and features a local Banger Racing team " The Demons Race Team "