MAKING HALF A CENTURY OF MEMORIES IN THE WORLD FINAL GUNFIGHT

Fifty years of Hot Rod World finals still seems an unlikely landmark to have reached by those who were there on September 10 in 1972 when the first one took place.

When Hot Rod racing launched at Hednesford in 1963 with a handful of cars in front of a disinterested crowd the idea that the class could stage a World championship less than a decade later would have been laughable. But the irresistible rise of Hot Rods inevitably led to the establishment of the event that became the one everybody still wants to win.

1972 Winner: Bob Howe

Barry Lee was viewed as clear favourite; over 75 laps. Surely his pace and reliability would