Short Circuit Latest

Story and photo Paul Huggett
With a large percentage of UK oval racing cars still utilizing rear wheel drive, the demand for rear axles is still huge – despite the fact that apart from a few large high-performance road cars, the simple rigid rear end with differential in the centre, is no longer in quantity production. Various fabricators and engineers in racing have looked at the problem, but costs of producing something from scratch that will suit various formulas such as Hot Rods, Superstox and Formula 2 Stock cars have so far proved prohibitive, though National Hot Rod units with enlarged oil capacity and stronger shafts have been around a while.
Former racer Derek Green has been looking at an economical alternative that has been put to the ORCi promoters technical people for consideration. “Unlike the USA where there is such a big market, we have found it hard to get a reasonably priced axle made over here – but there are so many cars using the Ford pattern axle, and it’s been a long time since Ford made any!” said Derek. “What I’ve come up with is one that is based on the Ford casings, but is repairable, so that the demand for what are left could be slowed up”
Derek’s design has the centre section and differential, with the usual large range of ratios able to be fitted, but with string fabricated flanges welded on and bolt-on outer tubes to carry remanufactured half-shafts, and able to mount the usual hub bearings and brakes at the outer end.
London-based Green, who was competing in F1 Stock Cars and Hot Rods in the 1970s, will get production organized if approval is given by the “powers that be”, and says “If these get the go-ahead it will save racers having to scrap axles that get bent, and re-use parts as they go – there is a lot of wasted parts being thrown own, and they can only get harder to find every year”