Take a full size Stock Car, add some controlled rules on Suspension, Engines, Tyres and some cost effective parts, welcome to V8 Hotstox Racing. The aim of the BriSCA V8 Hotstox Racing Club is to allow drivers that don't have big budgets out on track for the fraction of the cost of other high level National Short Circuit Formulas, with good, hard, fair racing, a community of drivers and teams willing to help out around the cars and a Board of Control which listens to concerns of drivers, to make the formula more retainable. Its Stock Car Racing but its Fun Stock Car Racing!
BriSCA V8 Hotstox started in 1983 when Promoter Keith Barber published some outlines for a brand new budget formula of contact stock car racing as an alternative to BriSCA Formula One Stock Cars which were seen as the pinnacle of contact stock car racing at the time. The following season, in 1984, the formula took the the track for the first time, racing at the now lost Long Eaton Stadium. The rules in the early days was a mix of the then UK Stock Car Rulebooks plus influence from the hard hitting New Zealand Style racing which was becoming ever popular. The first ever meeting saw six cars compete but as the formula become known, grids increased throughout the season due to the easy to build rulebook and easier to source engines which at the time was either Rover V8's (the backbone of the formula now) or Ford V6.
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The opening seasons saw an ever increasing number of drivers join the formula, however, the BSCDA (BriSCA F1) saw the formula as a threat, so fixtures started to become limited, however, the fixtures continued to develop and the formula began to grow covering more venues across the UK.
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By the late 80's, the formula had drawn attention of the Spedeworth International Board of Control, which at the time ran a version of F1 Stock Cars, called Spedeworth F1's. The venture saw a number of meetings held between the Hotstox & SF1's, seeing success on both sides of the Board of Control, however, the formula remained under its own Board of Control which arranged meetings for Spedeworth formulas to race on what was known at the time as BriSCA Circuits.
The formula continued to grow into the 1990's which saw fresh blood and some of the younger drivers of the now established National Ministox Club and Ministox (different association) come into the formula. Added to this, big names from the world of Formula 1 Stock Cars entered the fray including none other than Andrew Smith, son of multi-time World Champion Stuart Smith. The formula would also shift to joint meetings seeing BriSCA F1 & 'Hotstox' ran together. BriSCA (BSCDA) also made intentions to involve themselves with the running of the formula, however they continued to operate as their own. However, from early increases came decline, with the mid 90's proved troublesome with on-track actions leading to several driver bans, issues with organisation structure and withdrawal of support from tracks & promotions, however, Spedeworth once again returned to the front, offering meeting dates and opportunities to race against their still running Spedeworth F1 Class. However, tensions could be interesting in the 90's which led to some hard battles with North vs South tending to be the theme. Added to this, tension from changing engines away from the formula's roots became a sticking point which would then see the 'Hotstox' finish their connection with Spedeworth.
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Even through challenges continued, the formula remained strong and independent , though continuous efforts to take the formula under a central brand was tried, the formula continued to entertain up and down the country pretty much like they do no. The formula also had a spell of remaining mainly Northern & Midland based, hence a championship named this to reflect on the formula's roots.
At the turn of 2000, The BSCDA recognised that driver numbers were once again in decline and offered an Union between the Hotstox and BriSCA Formula One. The union saw the BriSCA V8 Hotstox union start which prompted drivers to once again support the formula, and they did! For 20 plus years, the BSCDA continued to support the V8 Hotstox within their operations, and often linking the two formulas major title events together. The V8's are still seen as the biggest stepping stone from junior formula to BriSCA F1, with notable drivers like Stuart Smith Junior, Catherine Harris and so many others taking the step into V8 Hotstox before entering BriSCA F1. Car counts continued to steadily increase and gain a big fan base, with more tracks now being added to the fixtures each year. However, in 2021, the BriSCA V8 Board of Control at the time sort the opinion of drivers about running as a separated ORCi Club and 'reducing' their relation to the BSCDA. Upon a vote amongst the drivers, it was decided that the BriSCA V8 Hotstox would no longer form part of the BSDCA structure, but they would become their own Club.
From 2024, the BriSCA V8 Hotstox operated separately from the BSCDA. In doing this, the club operate by a voted for committee, operate their own finances and operating cost, organise the fixtures and general running of the Club. Apart from allowing freedom on the Fixture Selection, the formula also allowed the full array of race numbers which previously was locked under the ruling of the BSCDA. The club is now fully operational, with a Board of Control, licensed officials, rulebook and technical information. The Club is an Independent Formula Sanctioned by the ORCi.
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2024 was a year of Celebration, as the formula turned 40 years old. A celebration of the formula was held at Buxton Raceway, a circuit which has remained apart of the formula since its creation. The meeting saw a few retired drivers make a return to the tarmac on a brilliant look back at 40 years of stock car magic.
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2026 see's more drivers entering the formula, more cars on track and more cars built for the purpose of V8 Hotstox. The formula also see's drivers moving too and from other Short Oval Formats which shows that despite the harder times, the formula now continues to grown under its own stewardship.