Banger racing
Intentional crashing during a banger race at Hednesford Hills Raceway in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England in 2010 | |
| First played | 1960s |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Yes |
| Type | Outdoor |
| Venue | Oval tracks and courses |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands |
Banger racing is a type of motorsport event in which automobiles, traditionally derelict or totalled classic cars from scrapyards, are raced on oval, tri-oval, or figure-eight race tracks over several laps. The distinguishing feature of banger racing is that it permits and encourages contact between the participating vehicles, with the intent being to damage them over the course of the race.
Banger racing is similar to British stock car racing and demolition derbies, and is popular in the United Kingdom (where it originated in the 1960s), Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It is also known for being divisive among car enthusiasts regarding the motorsport's poor treatment of rare classic cars, the rare unchecked use of stolen vehicles at race events, and the dangers of crashing old cars with minimal safety features.