Readly RF Feb 20

CLASSIC HOT RODS
T RODS
The Classic Hot Rod season always
ends with the Best in Britain at
Staffordshire’s Hednesford Hills
raceway as part of the Season Finale
for the track; joined by the national
Hot Rods for a world championship qualifier and
the bangers for Man of the midlands trophy. Also
there was a firework display from the promoters
to say thanks for the support of drivers and fans.
Before this Scotland bowed out with their ‘Cock
of the North’ meeting at Cowdenbeath and over
in Northern Ireland the Irish Open and Jim Purdie
memorial double meeting for the Classics.
We look back firstly at the Irish open for 2019;
defending champion 17 Kenny Purdie who seems
to be heading back to Classics now has his
National Hot Rod is up for sale, made the journey
across. Joining him were fellow Scots; 725 Marc
Spence, 871 Graeme Callendar and 26 Jock
Campbell
From the English series of Classic Hot Rods,
555 Gavin Taber, 116 Adrian Taber, 42 Dean
Kitchen, 168 Kevin Roberts and 209 Andy Lee.
On home turf 942 Davey McCall, 19 Anthony
Morgan, 195 Adrian Boyle, 964 Paul Magee and
175 Andy O’Donnell.
With the drivers, all set ready to go the heats
would be both drawn grids with the highest point’s
scorers to the forefront for the championship race.
Heat one 555 Gavin Taber made a good
start with the win from 17 of Purdie and Andy
O’Donnell taking third, but it’s not all about the top
three there is still the reverse of the grid for heat
two to come.
Former national Hot Rod world champion 942
McCall stretched the legs of the Mk2 for victory
while defending champion Purdie was back
in traffic behind 26 Jock Campbell. Campbell
defended race his position well for the several
closing laps of heat two.
The championship race was led away by 942
Davey McCall and the defending champion 17
Kenny Purdie, both were setting a hard pace to
follow until a collision put Purdie down the field.
871 Graeme Callendar who had driven hard to
come through benefitted from the action and
during the latter half of the race moved up to
second place. A great drive from the rear of the
pack where he started with fellow Scot 756 Marc
Spence.
Top three were confirmed 942 McCall taking
the Irish open with 871 Calendar second and
mister consistency 555 Gavin Taber in third.
The Sunday saw McCall take a popular win in
heat one from 19 Anthony Morgan, both setting
a good pace on a wet track. 26 Jock Campbell
managed to stay ahead of the pair on their home
track to win heat two.
Unfortunately for 871 Callendar Sunday was not
a great day when he locked up going into the turn,
rendering need for medical attention and major
repairs for the Mk1 Escort; a second time in the
season, the first early season at Hednesford when
See our behind the scenes footage on Instagram: @retrofordmagazine
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