Pickup Truck Racing

Infobox motorsport championship

pixels = 218
title = Pickup Truck Racing
category = Pickup trucks
country/region = United Kingdom
inaugural = 1997
drivers = 31 (2007)
constructors = SHP Engineering
engines = Vauxhall, Ford
champion driver = Steve Dance
website = [http://www.pickuptruckracing.com/ PickupTruckRacing.com]

Pickup Truck Racing is a motor racing series for pickup trucks that holds races at circuits in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1997 to bring the American pickup truck culture to Europe.cite web |url=http://www.pickuptruckracing.com/index.php?id=7,113,0,0,1,0 |title=What are Pickups? : History |accessdate=2007-04-27]

History

Launched in 1997, the Pickup series is for purpose built 230bhp racing specials. They have a tubular spaceframe chassis, are powered by a 2 litre multi-valve twin-cam engine and weigh 900kg. The race trucks are designed to place an emphasis on driver ability.

In 2001 the Pickup series became the main support for the Rockingham-based oval SCSA (then called ASCAR) racing series. At this time the Pickups were right hand drive in configuration and as such not permitted to race on the anti-clockwise 1.5 mile speedway. A 'roval' course was created to allow the drivers to compete.

For the 2003 season the Pickups were converted to left hand drive and finally allowed onto the oval track, as can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eyVGCN03ZA Here] .

Pickup Truck Racing is unique in 'big' oval racing, in that unlike e.g. NASCAR the trucks have rain tyres, wipers and rear safety lights, and will race on the ovals in the wet. Speeds are about 18 mph slower than when racing in fully dry conditions.

Pickup Truck Racing is also the only racing series in the UK for which no race-by-race entry fees are chargedcite web |url=http://www.pickuptruckracing.com/2007news/20071216.htm |title=No Entry Fees for 2008|accessdate=2007-12-16] .

Technical specification

Infobox Automobile
name = Pickup Truck
manufacturer = SHP Engineering
class = Pickup truck, Race car
body_style =
layout =
platform =
engine = Vauxhall 2 litre, Ford Zetec 2 litre
(229 bhp)
transmission = Four speed manual transmission
wheelbase = 2720 mm (107.1 in)
length =
width =
height =
ground_clearance = 85 mm (3.3 in)
front_track = 1775 mm (69.9 in)
rear_track = 1760 mm (69.3 in)
weight = 870 kg (1918 lb)
top_speed =
fuel_capacity =
related =
similar =
designer =

Pickup Truck Racing is a single make series, and the trucks are governed by the Pickup Truck Racing regulations,cite web |url=http://www.pickuptruckracing.com/downloads/2007_pickup_regs.pdf |title=2007 Pickup Truck Racing Championship : Sporting, Technical & Commercial Regulations| format = PDF|accessdate=2007-04-27] . The chassis is made by SHP Engineering, who are also responsible for the vehicle used in T Cars, a series for young drivers.

The main flexibility in the regulations comes in the choice of engine. The trucks can be fitted with either a Vauxhall or a Ford Zetec engine, both of which are four cylinder engines with a 2 litre capacity and 16 valves.

Current season

For the 2008 season, races will take place on weekends between March and November. There will be eleven racing weekends at six different circuits; the majority of the races will be held at Rockingham Motor Speedway but others will be held at Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Donington, Pembrey and Mondello Park. Each round comprises two races, making a twenty two round competition in total.

In the past the focus of Pickup Truck Racing has been on the oval races at Rockingham. The 2008 season will give equal emphasis on road courses leading to a more balanced championship. The road courses races for 2008 will be of a higher pedigree, with the Pickups racing at a one off date as support for the DTM series; alongside the BTRA British Truck Racing Association championship, and two dates with the International FIA Trucks.cite web |url=http://www.pickuptruckracing.com/2007news/20071216.htm |title=2008 Race Dates - Pickups to a new level |accessdate=2007-12-16] Premier races will also be supported at Rockingham, including the British F3 and British GT events there.

Previous seasons

Race Format

Under normal circumstances race weekends follow the traditional format of practice and qualifying on the Saturday, and two races on Sunday. Qualifying is used to shake the car down and work on the setup, and to meet the MSA requirements for race entry of three qualifying laps, and not to set the starting grid.

The grid is set by reversing the current championship order. Rookies always start from the rear of the grid as do competitors who have broken seals on controlled components such as differentials. Drivers can also elect to start from the back should they wish to do so.

At some circuits, qualifying takes place on Saturday morning, with the first race on Saturday afternoon and the second on Sunday.

Previous champions

"Note: 1997 was the inaugural year and as such, races were not part of a championship"

Points system

Any other classified finishers receive 20 points and any non-finishers receive 10 points except in the case of exclusion.

References

External links

* [http://www.pickuptruckracing.com Official website]
* [http://www.putnews.com Pickup Truck News - Fan Site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eyVGCN03ZA Youtube video of Pickup Truck Racing]