13. Laurie Hatchard – 1997 Dax Rush Quadra 5.0-litre Special

This two-seater might be small but it packs a mighty punch thanks to a 5.0-litre V8 engine that sends power to all four wheels. Believed to be the factory prototype V8, major modifications saw it achieve plenty of success in hillclimbing.

“It was used by Mark Butler in the 2001 and 2002 Midland Hillclimb Championship which he won outright in both years, followed by plenty of class victories” says the current owner. The car was out of action for several years before being acquired in 2017 and it’s now back on the sprint and hillclimb scene.

The previous owner had invested a lot of time and money bringing the car to its current specification, but after the lengthy lay-up Laurie says that it still required rebuilding. Most of the mechanicals needed work including the engine, gearbox and suspension plus a much stronger cerametallic clutch supplied by American Specialist, Tilton, which up to now has handled the huge power.

There have been numerous class wins, but it’s the sheer speed of the Dax that has bought it to the attention of many enthusiasts. Not only has it spent the last three years in the top ten of the fastest cars at the Brighton National Speed Trials but it has also achieved the fastest launch time off the line. “Not bad for a 27 year old car with a 77 year old driver” says Laurie.

That outstanding performance is thanks to the highly-modified Buick/Rover V8 engine that produces 450bhp, which is plenty in a car weighing 750kg. Practice runs can see the Dax reach 185mph, but it is actually geared for an eye-watering 216mph at 6900 revs.

There are certainly no question marks over the speed on offer, and with 50 years in motorsport the owner admits it’s quite a handful!