Autograss
is the name now used in general for cars that race on grass.
The name was first coined in the mid-seventies as part of the
title of the sport's biggest governing body, the National Autograss
Sports Association (NASA). It was a long overdue replacement
for the old tag of Jalopy racing, which could easily be mistaken
as Banger Racing, or Grasstrack which to most people means motorcycle
sport.
The
original Jalopy racing is thought to have its origins in the border
counties of England and Wales, where there was little or no stadium
motor sport, some 40 years ago. Basically it was a little bit
like Banger Racing with some sophistication and a few home-built
cars, some of which could have been described as motorized bedsteads,
racing in fields for fun. Gradually as the general public started
to be involved as spectators paying to watch the drivers do their
stuff more organization was required, and gradually assumed a
non-contact status.
Most
grass tracks were very temporary circuits marked out in a field
hired from an obliging farmer. Normally, they were oval shaped,
a bit longer than stadium tracks, usually 400/600 meters. Despite
hundreds of Autograss Meetings throughout the country each season,
the safety record for both drivers and spectators is very good.
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