UNITED KINGDOM: ROLL OVER - Banger cars copy blockbuster stunts at Rollover Championships in London

A London race course looked like the training track for Hollywood stunt scenes on Sunday (April 16), but it was hosting the UK's Roll Over Championships. With the ramp and distance markers in place, the banger racing drivers were ready to prove their worth to a crowd of spectators. One at a time, they accelerated to full speed with nearly a full lap of the oval circuit before hitting the ramp on the home straight with the aim of producing a spectacular roll over that would make any blockbuster stunt driver green with envy. The Ramp is quite small and not an easy target to hit when accelerating from a bend. In fact missing the ramp was the greatest fear of most of the drivers, indeed such a mistake would bring great ridicule amongst one's peers. "Some of them that have done it a lot of times have got a little bit of technique - as they get to the top of the ramp you've got to try and switch the car left, just to give the car a bit of a spin on it and over she goes. But (for) a lot of them it's luck," said Dean Wood who organises the event for charity. The actual roller is judged on distance, elevation and style not to mention the applause of the crowd. Some may think the drivers are completely mad or made with nerves of steel. In fact, many are apprehensive before entering the circuit but before long, the adrenaline takes over. Much like a Gladiator arena, it's the roar of the crowd's approval that makes it all worthwhile for them. That and the gleaming trophy which was awarded this year to Wayne Drury no 735. When not rolling cars, the 24 year old from Sittingbourne in Kent is a professional DJ for a radio local station. A quirky story.

ITN Source | April 18, 2006

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