Have you ever wondered if you were missing an opportunity for some extra fun with your hot rod? We drive them as often as we can. Make the occasional pass on a drag strip. Bring them out to show at local events. But is there anything else available?
Hot rodders from New Zealand seem to think so! It’s called the Jalopy Dust Up and it takes place at the Waihi Beach dirt track in New Zealand. Competition is open to traditional hot rods, vintage Speedway cars including midgets and bikes, and pre-1965 automobiles.
Found on hooniverse.com, the Jalopy Dust Up is a rockabilly event with a car show, live music and other attractions. However the big draw is dirt track racing with a different twist. Rather than have an eight or 16 car field on the track at once, a single entry can run for low time or two entries at once can race in a four lap “cat and mouse” format.
Contestants start on opposite sides of the track and chase each other for four laps. According to Noddy Watts, the man in charge of the event, there are no winners, no trophies and no prizes. It’s all in good fun!
There are similar events in the U.S. such as the Vintage Torque Fest held each year in Iowa. Cars at that event are allowed on the dirt track one at a time and must keep their speed below 40 mph. Track time is essentially an opportunity for participants to be photographed and not a competition in any way.
It’s pretty obvious that the guys with the really high dollar paint jobs and chrome undercarriages would not see this as something appealing. However if you’re running a basic streeter and you don’t mind getting it really dirty, this looks like it may be a lot of fun! Would you bring your rod out for something like this?
