Danish Hot Rod Racing - 1973

Carl Erik Kristensen 1973

Carl-Erik, Ipswich 1973

Poul Pedersen Ipswich 1973

Danish Team '73 World Final

Arnold Larsen

The 1973 touring side again featured Arnold Larsen and Carl Erik Kristensen, this time joined by Poul Pedersen (Ford Escort), Erling Larsen (Imp) and Kristensen's former mechanic Laust Vittrup-Jensen (Escort).

Yarmouth, 21st August 1973 The first match at Yarmouth featured just four drivers from each team as Kristensen had blown his engine at the World Championship shortly beforehand. Arnold Larsen was in good form taking three race wins with Dave Bozzard and Barry Lee winning the other two. England won the match by 10 points however.

Aldershot, 23rd August 1973 Round two was at Aldershot with Kristensen back in harness after Malcolm Smith rebuilt the engine. The Danes were therefore back to full strength but for this one but the English team no doubt were thinking back to the previous year's match and bought in Mini man Brian Pedley to augment the line up. The Danes had other ideas however winning all five heats (Larsen two and Kristensen three). George Polley won the final from Larsen but the Danes had done enough to win the match by two points and level the series.

Wimbledon, 25th August 1973 The penultimate round was at Wimbledon and the shale proved a little tricky for the Danes winning four races to England's five. Wins by Arnold Larsen and Carl Erik Kristensen kept the Danes level in two races before Barry Lee put England a point ahead in the two car race. Wins by Dave Bozzard and George Polley put England 31-16 up at the interval. In the second half England went further ahead despite a 5 point penalty and two excellent wins by Arnold Larsen (Brian Pedley was the man who cost the penalty points). The 10 car race saw England supreme with Polley winning from Larsen, Bozzard, Bob Howe and Lee to register a 67-43 points win. All this was achieved with races run in the opposite direction to that which the English drivers were used to. Arnold Larsen dropped out of one race whilst leading. He mistook the last lap board for the finishing flag!

Aldershot, 26th August 1973 The final team meeting was at Aldershot, unusually on a Sunday. Kristensen won four races with Larsen also taking one. Lee won a solitary race with Polley winning three. England just won the meeting and therefore the series by 58 points to 56. The Castrol trophy for the series' top points scorer went to Arnold Larsen.

Kristenson on parade lap

Larsen on parade lap

Arnold Larsen leads South African Bobby Scott 1973

Arnold Larsen 1973