Midget Racing Car 'the Allen Special'

Midget racing is an American racing class that has existed since 1933. The race cars are small and ultra light (at most 450 kg) but have powerful four cylinder engines, giving them a favorable power to weight ratio and high performance.

The races are over short distances, varying between 4 and 40 kilometres, mostly on oval, unsurfaced tracks, known as dirt tracks. The ‘Allen Special’ displayed here is powered by an 1800 cc twin-cylinder overhead camshaft Offenhauser engine that produces about 170 hp. Midget racing remains very popular. Although some people regard Midget racing as an entry-level class, many drivers stick with them because racing is always spectacular and extremely competitive. The cars have been modified to satisfy today’s safety requirements, and no longer look as elegant as the older models.