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British BeautiesA Bit of Olde England Is On Display at the Stoneleigh Show From the July, 2009 issue of Kit Car By Ian Hyne
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In America, the Carlisle Kit Car Nationals and AHA Knott's Berry Farm kit car shows are kings of the roost, but here in England, we have a little replicar get-together that actually dwarfs anything in the States. I suppose with the size of the USA and the number of people in it, you've got to have the biggest kit car industry in the world. However, we've got a hell of a lot of individual cars over here, too, and because the UK is about the size of your backyard, we can all get to the same place at the same time--and we do. It's called Stoneleigh, and the Annual Kit Car Show has now been running for 18 years. In that time, it has established itself as the prime, and the biggest, kit car event in the UK and Europe, attracting exhibitors, buyers, and clubs from all over. It's also the traditional launch pad for new models, so there's always something new to see. Last year, we saw a slightly smaller show as lesser manufacturers dropped out in the face of the gradually tightening European regulations we face, but the companies that have met the necessary criteria have come out fighting with a wide range of great cars for people who want to enjoy driving. Our new regulations were introduced in 1997, and though most cars have been able to get through, the regulations will probably tighten in respect to noise and emissions. It's no big deal, as most cars are now using modern, high-power, four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve, EFI engines from Ford and Rover, as well as V-6s, Rover (nee) Buick all-alloy V-8s, and the good old Chevy. Where would we be without you? As long as the date of manufacture can be proven, older engines only have to meet the emissions standards for which the engines were designed. The other thing that's really taken off over here is putting bike engines in cars. Using 10,000-rpm superbike screamers in sub-1,000-pound cars makes for a whole lot of thump. They can be a bit of a pain to drive in traffic, but over here, the new driving buzz is track days. For between $150 and $300 a day, you can turn up to tracks all over the country, from Silverstone's Grand Prix circuit to a coned-off track on Elvington airfield (one of only two European airfields capable of taking the Space Shuttle if it's raining at Edwards AFB), and spend as much time as you like flat out. It's a lot cheaper than racing, and you get a hell of a lot more track time. One company, Z Cars, has used two bike engines, first in a rear-wheel-drive car, and then in a four-wheel-drive. One engine drives the front wheels, another the back, and still short of full development, it can do 0-60 mph in 2.85 seconds. When they've built 10 cars, they'll qualify for a Guinness-recognized official World 0-60-mph Record currently held by a Ford RS200 Group B rally car at 3.07 seconds. So now I've shown you mine, and I look forward to getting over there to Carlisle, so you can show me yours! KC  The Beauford is the UK's nearest...  The Beauford is the UK's nearest thing to a neo-classic. Engines can be four-cylinder or V-8 but are usually Nissan straight-six. Beauford Cars, 011-44-1782-520086, www.beaufordcars.co@aol.  Quantum's Napier revives an...  Quantum's Napier revives an historic British sports car name, but the car is up to the minute. It has a brilliant stainless-steel monocoque chassis for a range of engines from Ford four-cylinder DOHC, 16-valve to a Chevy V-8. Quantum Sports Cars, 011-44-1548-550660, www.quantumcars.co.uk.  This is Westfield's XTR2 car...  This is Westfield's XTR2 car that has led the way in bike-engined races. The mid-engined, Suzuki Hayabisa-powered cars are a hit on the track and on the road. Westfield Sports Cars, 011-44-1384 400077, www.Westfieldsportscars.co.uk.  America's small power cars...  America's small power cars tend to be modern while the UK's are '30s retro. This 700-pound, Pembleton-4 is a development of the Pembleton three-wheeler with 602cc, Citroen flat-twin power. Pembleton Motor Company, 011-44-1299-832944, www.pembleton.co.uk.  One Brit that has made strong...  One Brit that has made strong sales in the USA is Ultima's Chevy V-8-powered GTR. This is an ultimate kit allowing you to build a 200-mph supercar in your home garage with a lot of change from the $1.2 million you'd pay for McLaren's F1, 200-mph trendsetter. Ultima Sports, 011-44-1455-631366, www.ultimasport.co.uk.  GTM's Libra and Spyder are...  GTM's Libra and Spyder are leading the kit market's fight against the production opposition offering cheaper prices. GTM Cars, 011-44-1509-852646, www.gtmcars.co.uk.  Hawk Cars specializes in the...  Hawk Cars specializes in the Cobra 289 family and can get you an AC Ace up to a Cobra Le Mans, with detachable hardtop. They are also the UK agent for the U.S. Kirkham 289 and 427, aluminium-bodied cars. Hawk Cars, 011-44-1892-750341,www.hawkcars.co.uk.  The Dax Tojeiro is the UK's...  The Dax Tojeiro is the UK's leading Cobra clone. The Tojeiro name comes from John Tojeiro, designer of the original AC Ace, into which Carroll Shelby dropped a 260, then 289, engine. D J Sports Cars International, 011-44-1279-442661, www.daxcars.co.uk.  The NG TC has been around...  The NG TC has been around for 20 years as a hugely successful, MGB-based kit. Now they have their own double-wishbone front and rear suspension to enable the car to really use the power from the Rover V-8 engine. NG Cars, 011-44-1425-610090, www.ngcars.co.uk.  Phantom's gloriously pretty...  Phantom's gloriously pretty Vortex is a mid-engined two-seater using a steel tube frame and Rover/Honda V-6 engine. Phantom Automotive, 011-44-121 783-5079, www.phantom.uk.com.  The latest evolution of bike-engined...  The latest evolution of bike-engined cars is from MK Engineering. Using the Suzuki Hayabusa 180-bhp, mid-mounted engine in a seriously lightweight frame, it's initially aimed at track day use, but we also have a national bike-engined race formula that gained championship status this year. MK Engineering, 011-44-1909-731187,www.m-keenan.freeserve.co.uk.  Jaguar must be the most copied...  Jaguar must be the most copied marque in England. We've had replicas of the XK120, C Type, D Type, E Type, XJ13 and this, the SS100 from Suffolk Sports Cars. Suffolk Sports Cars, 011-44-1359 270444, www.ss100.com.  The Lotus Elan Plus 2 was...  The Lotus Elan Plus 2 was a great kit car, but its fragile twin-cam engine and rust-prone chassis put many off the road. Spyder Engineering came up with a replacement chassis, double-wishbone suspension and a Ford DOHC, 16-valve, EFI engine. Spyder Engineering, 011-44-1733-203986, www.spydercars.com.  The Leighton is a Citroen...  The Leighton is a Citroen 2CV-based, Morgan look-alike three-wheeler that revs freely to 7,000-plus, and at 29 bhp delivers quite a performance surprise. Leighton Cars, 011-44-1622 743358, www.Leighton cars.co.uk.
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