The Rover Sports Register chairman Mike Maher told CCfS “There has been news circulating recently of an all Rover banger racing meeting that will take place at Ipswich.   Apparently there are P4s, P5s, P6s and SD1s being prepared for destruction on the raceway.  They will all be runners but some may be beyond economic restoration.“

He added “Losing good and potentially restorable cars to this form of sport would be a great shame. Whilst owners of cars are of course free to do what they like with them, it may be that serviceable cars are sold unwittingly to a buyer who wants them only for racing to destruction. If you are approached to sell your Rover, you may wish to consider if the car will be used for the race.  Individuals looking to acquire cars, without disclosing a purpose, may be banger racers." 

Meanwhile Derek Caton from East Anglia, and other racers have managed to get ten P4 and P5 Rovers together for the event. To be fair though, one car they acquired, a 1953 Rover 75, was offered for sale by auction to give preservationists a chance to buy it. “This was the best of all the cars we’ve got,” he told CCfS.

“Most of the cars being raced are rotted out or abandoned projects that would never have been got back on the road,“ Derek added.

Derek added that an autojumble was being held as part of the event to give restorers a chance to buy parts for their cars.

More than 100 cars have been booked in for the event. It follows the infamous meeting last year at which a hundred Austin Westminsters and their Wolseley equivalents met their end. A further meet for Ford Cortinas is also planned for later this year.

The Rover Sports Register caters for all examples of the marque. Its website is www.thersr.co.uk