Sticky Torrens

Nevin 'Sticky' Torrens was a British motor racing driver who competed in Hot Rod racing and Rallying in the 1970s and early 1980s. He is now a successful Greyhound trainer. Sticky, from Ballymoney in County Antrim, was one of the first drivers to compete in Hot Rod racing in Northern Ireland. He moved into hot rod racing after a brief time in Superstox and initially campaigned mk1 and mk2 Ford Escorts and then switched to a Hillman Avenger (which he had previously rallied) before being the first driver to race a non-hybrid Talbot (nee Chrysler) Sunbeam in 1978. After racing the Talbot for a couple of seasons he built and raced a Toyota Starlet, although he bucked the trend in the class by sticking with Toyota power rather than making a hybrid ford powered version.

In 1976 Sticky was one of the first drivers to represent Northern Ireland in the National and British Championship meetings at Hednesford and Arlington respectively. He also raced at Cowdenbeath in Scotland.

His first racing number was 411 which adorned his mk1 Escort. In 1977 the Irish promoters decided to switch to race numbers with only two digits and he changed his competition number to 88. As well as having a change of number Sticky changed his racing livery from white and orange to a distinctive zebra striped one. In 1979 a national hot rod numbering system was introduced with Northern Ireland's drivers being allocated 900-999, Sticky taking 988.