Sticky Torrens

Last updated

Nevin 'Sticky' Torrens
Born
Nevin Torrens

1949 (age 75–76)
Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
Occupation(s)Racing driver, dog trainee
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)

Nevin [1] [2] or Neville [3] "Sticky" Torrens (born 1949) is a former British racing driver and greyhound trainer, who was known as a "king" of hot rod racing in Northern Ireland. [4]

Contents

Biography

Born in 1949, in Ballymoney, Torrens transitioned into hot rod racing after a short stint in Superstox. He initially raced mk1 and mk2 Ford Escorts, but later switched to a Hillman Avenger, [5] a car he had previously rallied. From 1978 to 1981, Torrens raced a non-hybrid Talbot Sunbeam. [2] [6] [7] After several seasons with the Talbot, he moved on to build and race a Toyota Starlet, choosing to use a Toyota engine rather than creating a hybrid with a Ford engine. [8] [9]

Torrens won the Hot Rod Irish Open Championship at Aghadowey in 1976. [1] Even when not the winner, he provided much excitement in races, as described by one sports writer: "James Burns may have won the hot rod final on Saturday night, at Shamrock Park, Portadown, though the men who stole the glory in the race, however, were Ormond Christie and Sticky Torrens. They literally raced bumper to bumper for two thirds of the race. Torrens was in front, Christie overtook him held the lead, lost it again when Stickey [sic] surged ahead. Ormond came back and got through on the inside and held his slender lead to the finish. A superb battle all the way." [10]

In 1976, Torrens became one of the first drivers to represent Northern Ireland in the National and British Championship meetings, racing at Hednesford and Arlington, as well as competing at Cowdenbeath in Scotland. [11] In 1981, he became the first Irish hot rod racer to receive sponsorship from a car manufacturer, Talbot Motor Co. [12] [6]

Torrens' competition number changed during his career, starting as 411, which appeared on his mk1 Escort. In 1977, after the Irish promoters decided to switch to two-digit race numbers, Torrens adopted the number 88. [13] In 1979, when a national hot rod numbering system was introduced, Northern Irish drivers were assigned numbers between 900 and 999, with Torrens taking the number 988. [12] Torrens also changed his racing livery, beginning with a white and orange design and changing to a zebra-stripe pattern.

Torrens attended Coleraine Academical Institution. He worked as a hairdresser, [2] [14] [6] [15] and had a salon called 'Stickys Snip Joint' in Ballymena, County Antrim. He also played trombone, and was a member of bands including the Walter Lewis Band in Belfast, and the Groundhogs in Dublin. [16] He also worked venues for Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson and The Cranberries.

Torrens also trained greyhounds for racing, and had many winners at the Brandywell race track in the 2010s, including a bitch named 'Rockets Return'.

Major Titles Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Walter beats champ". Belfast Telegraph. 11 September 1976. p. 14. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Coulter, Tom (24 July 1980). "Will soon be back". Ballymena Observer. p. 26. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Double up for Ramsey". Belfast Telegraph. 3 July 1976. p. 13. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Hot rod kings in thriller". Ballymena Observer. 26 July 1979. p. 30. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Young, Richard (10 October 1977). "Hot-shot Ron ruled out by a tin opener". Belfast News-Letter. p. 11. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "No shortage of hot rod sponsors". Ballymena Observer. 30 April 1981. p. 32. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Conaty, Philip (24 July 1978). "Ulster's hot-rod bonanza". Belfast Telegraph. p. 16. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Hamilton, Graham (13 January 1982). "Woolsey, Torrens in machine switch". Belfast Telegraph. p. 18. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Neil, Richard John (2008). Hot Rod & Stock Car Racing. David & Charles Publishers. ISBN   9781845847838 . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Stock Car Racing". Banbridge Chronicle. 3 May 1979. p. 29. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Seaton, David. "1976 Cowdenbeath". A History of Scottish Stock Car Racing. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Car Deal 'First' For Torrens?". Belfast Telegraph. 21 March 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Hot night Torrens will long remember. Sticky holds off four different drivers to open up hot rod class". Lurgan Mail. 22 May 1980. p. 35. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Clinty Rally". Ballymena Observer. 6 October 1977. p. 28. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Staivroos, Ben (17 December 1986). "Sticky steals the show with rave from the grave". Ballymena Weekly Telegraph. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Groundhog Girl". Evening Herald. Dublin, Ireland. 31 July 1971. p. 9. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
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