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JT finds his engine company.
30th November:
Pro Modified and Super Pro ET racer John Tebenham has named the engine building company he wants to partner with to replace his wounded motor from the 'Crew Killer' Pop:
"It seemed to take ages to find what I wanted for the little white Pop after the rod wanted out. I wanted an engine company who first understood estimating and what, if anything, could be saved from the hurt motor. I.C.E. Automotive were spot on and are just starting the new motor, with the same power output as we only want to run 8.90 . Also, they have expressed concerns about oil starvation so we are looking at bigger sumps. That’s what I need, not only a great company but also why it went bang and how we can stop it doing it again. We have to win the burnout competition..."
JT also revealed that Luke Robinson will once again be helping JT running his Pro Mod next year. JT vowed "Both cars will be like new".
Power Race Graphics launch colouring book.
30th November:
Darren West of Power Race Graphics writes:
I am very excited to announce the launch of our new sub brand 'RAD Design Lines'. The mission here is to excite and inspire young people to get
creative, get into design and motorsport graphics and let their imaginations run wild!
The first product release is our design and colouring book - Drag Racing Doorslammers, the book features all of the favourite door classes
on our own exclusive design and colouring blank template outlines. Just get the pens and pencils out and go crazy! The books are printed on
high quality, heavy weight paper and feature a mix of cars and transporters to design the graphics and create the colour schemes for!
I know there are art and design mad kids out there (just like I was) that love the drag machines. When I was young, on the journey home
from the drags, I couldn't wait to get back and draw the cars and the graphics. That passion stayed with me until I was finally in a position
to have the freedom to do something with it years later with Power Race Graphics. The creation of this brand revisits those early years and RAD
Design Lines will embrace all of the wild things on wheels that I've loved in life - drag racing machines, hot rods, bmx, skateboards and these themes
will feature in the colouring books and related products.
Design and colouring book 2 (also drag racing themed) is well under way - more news on that will be coming very soon - so keep your eye
on our social pages. We are developing an app too for the design and colouring templates to be uploaded for tablets, so it's not all about felt pens
and crayons.
Book 1 - Drag Racing 'Doorslammers' is here, printed, packed and ready to ship! This is a cool christmas gift - so head over to the website www.raddesignlines.com before they are gone!
Custom Car Jan '21.
30th November:
In the world of magazine publishing, where time passes apparently more quickly than for the rest of us, Custom Car has reached January 2021. And for several reasons, it's a (Christmas) cracker.
The cover car is none other than the Williams Bros Racing '55 Chevy, the nine-page accompanying article giving huge detail on the car built from a wreck imported from Texas, and a promise of features on other cars from the Williams Bros Racing stable in future issues.
There's a report on 'Not the Euro Finals' from Santa Pod Raceway including many pictures by our own Julian. In his 'Autofocus' series Keith Lee, drag racing historian and author of a forthcoming biography on Drag Bike legend John Hobbs, writes about rocket powered race vehicles that he has seen, starting with the Turbonique rocket powered go-cart of Alan Burgess, one of the forgotten stars of the 1964 Drag Fest.
To order a subscription to Custom Car, go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/subscription/CCA. Single copies are available at shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/CCA. Availability is world-wide.
Pete Nee.
29th November:
It's with the heaviest of hearts that Steve and Babs Saunders write about the sudden and tragic loss of their special friend and Crew Chief Pete Nee on Saturday 28th November 2020:
Pete and I had a love-hate relationship, Pete loved to shout and swear at me but mostly he loved to spend my money. I only hated him at times because Pete was always right!
Pete has been part of my life for so long, it's hard to pin a year when we first met, possibly 1979 or even earlier. We did the Cleveland Cruiser thing, wandering up and down the country going to custom car shows and rod runs, our favourite being the Supernats at Knebworth, then of course Old Warden.
When I built my '29 Roadster in the early 80’s, Pete rebuilt the 289 Chevy and he and his brother Tom wired it for me. We lost touch for a couple of years and I started crewing for Flavell Brothers Racing, while Pete raced stock cars and then rallycross with Big Al.
When I originally built the Zephyr, it had a bone stock Ford 460 in it with a glide. I called round Pete’s to ask him to put the motor together. He always joked that he cursed the day he answered the door to me. Pete tuned the Zephyr down into the 11’s and then he put it on the bottle and it ran 10.5’s all day, every day. It was so much fun. Pete loved going Stateside. Pete and Tom, along with Ron, Lyn and Max from American Cylinder Inc built the Ford 572 that would propel the big old Zephyr down into the 8.4's at 160mph. Pete was so proud of this achievement, and so he should have been.
He would call me ‘Driver’ I would call him Crew Chief, but sometimes he would call me ‘Monkey’ - the monkey behind the wheel who got all the fun, while him, Babs and young Tom did all the hard work. Babs called Pete Mr Motivator, mainly because when I couldn’t get my act together, Pete would pull me and the rest of the team around with his enthusiasm and dedication to racing.
It is no secret that of late, my enthusiasm of racing and, especially, my wallet were waning. Pete would drop by and we would bench race and reminisce and then he would whisper in my ear, 'Let's go Racing' - and we would. I am so glad we did because that is what we do. Rest in peace Crew Chief Pete Nee. Our racing life will never be the same again.
Our deepest condolences to Babs, Steve and all of Pete's family and friends.
Zeon DVD review.
28th November:
When Zeon TV announced their DVD offerings for 2020 they had realised that with a truncated season there would not be enough material to fill complete discs. So Helen and Dave decided that retrospectives was the way to go. Zeon have up to 20 years of material available for a wide range of classes. But would the quality of the earlier years be good enough for discerning viewers attuned to 4K production? And would the clips included match up with our memories of past years?
The answer to these two questions is undoubtedly 'yes'. Zeon have the original tapes as recorded at the track and have re-mastered them for this year's DVDs using the latest video transfer software. In other words, the DVDs quality on these DVDs is actually better than the original DVDs you might have lurking in the corner of your living room or, worse still, workshop.
The extent of Zeon's archive is immense and the titles reflect the categories of the sport that have been the most enduring. Top of the heap performance-wise has to be Pro Modified. This goes right back to the start of the class being nominated as the British Drag Racing Championship in 2007- and as a bonus there is footage from the 2002 Euro Finals Friday night session including many cars not seen since in the UK. All the incidents we can remember are included, also pictures of the then-much-younger teams and interviews provide nostalgia of a different kind. Being in the UK's weather conditions, the cars move around a lot and action is often wild.
Hot Rods at Shakey concentrates on 2007 to 2014's NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway with a final section looking at 2015 to 2017, when the track closed. This gives the opportunity to see things as they were more than a decade ago at the much-missed track. Original commentary is used and many classic hot rods are displayed, many making runs down the Warwickshire quarter mile. As usual there are plenty of pit shots, hundreds of hot rods being packed into the two hour running time. The producers have taken great care to avoid repetition of cars, so the variety is awesome. Footage from the 2009 Nostalgia Nationals and the cruise from the 2010 NSRA Hot Rod Super Nats from Old Warden is included. Commentary is provided by Paul Venners.
(please click on each photo to be directed to the Zeon web site page for that respective DVD)
The longest period covered is 20 years in Hardcore Street, an examination of Street Eliminator over the years. The number of cars again is breathtaking, all being street legal. By the second half of the 2000s turbo setups had caught on and times by 2006 had gone into the sevens. Drivers are shown running their cars on the road, and at the track there are some scary incidents with the street tyres struggling for traction. Car debuts aplenty and class leaders fighting it out over the years are the main themes. Other features are the tyre wars, mechanical improvements for many runners and championship dramas.
The Mopar Euronats DVD covers 19 years of the event which has been run by the same independent committee from which we sadly therecently lost Tony Oksien. Features include the cruise and some wild action on the streets around Avon Park Raceway in 2000 and Santa Pod Raceway from 2001 onwards. The burnout competition has also been a constant feature. Mopars have been the predominant marque at the race, but not exclusively which lends more variety. Over the years there has been introduction of race classes such as Pro Modified which run a round of their championship there. The event expanded so that the show and shine became one of the largest in Europe.
The DVD Nitro Warriors provides highlights of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association between 2005 and 2011 when it was at its peak, and action from 2014 when Rat Trap and Pure Hell came over from the US with their respective crews. The DVD is dedicated to the memory of much-missed NFAA founder Lawrie Gatehouse who sadly passed away in July. Before the class being established, cars had run in pairs but the injection of enthusiasm and sponsorship led the class to expand to fields of up to eleven cars. Burnouts and racing are equally spectacular, with a number of incidents, all of which are fortunately injury free due to excellent safety equipment. Bonus footage of nitro fuelled slingshot dragsters is included.
Finally, Outlaw Anglia covers 19 years of the development of a class that has had its origins in the Gassers of the 50s onwards in the USA. The class has always been well populated and as is often the case in the sport, the quickest cars get quicker still and their drivers remain in the sport for quite a period. It is fascinating to see this class develop with more and more cars running in the seven second bracket as time has gone on. With short wheelbases and engines of over 1000hp, the action on the track is wild, and there has been a hard fought championship thanks to the organising skills of Paul Wright and his successors.
Bryn Lucas provides an overview of the action for this series of DVDs, whilst original commentary is included to give the viewer detailed information. Massive congratulations must go to Zeon TV, their camera operators and other contributors for making six DVDs of such high quality. The DVDs can be viewed anywhere in the world as they are region free.
DVDs are available individually for £14.95 plus postage and packing, or there are several offers on the web site www.quartermilehigh.com which enable you to get them for £10 each as long as you order at least five DVDs. Postage and packing to the UK or Europe is a fixed £1.50 and for other territories £1.75.
Feature: Morgan Wilson, 2020 VW Sportsman winner.
27th November:
Morgan 'Emmy' Wilson, daughter of drag racing parents and sister of current (at the end of 2020) Junior Dragster racer Caitlin, has a solid racing pedigree. Her parents, Rachel and Duncan, raced through the 1990s. In Junior Dragsters, racing for nine years, her best championship results were fifth in 2014 and 2015 and she was winner at Hockenheim in 2017. Today's feature, written by former Eurodragster.com photo editor Roger Gorringe, profiles the family's racing history and Emmy's 2020 introduction to VW Sportsman racing, in which she took the UK Covid Cup title less than two months after her class debut.
You can see our feature, sponsored by Lucas Oil Products by clicking here or clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link in the main menu. Thanks go to Roger for supplying copy and photos, and Happy Birthday to Rachel Wilson, team mum, whose special day it is today.
2021 FIA Calendar.
26th November:
Thanks to Drag Racing Europe Chairman Keith Bartlett for sending the FIA championship dates for next year:
DRE in conjunction with the FIA is pleased to announce a six-round championship calendar for the 2021 FIA European Drag Racing Championship (EDRC). This is subject to the final approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) when it next meets in mid-December. The calendar is released with the assumption that COVID-19 restrictions are making it possible, e.g. allowing travel, spectators at events.
The FIA European Drag Racing Championship will return to competition in 2021, having been forced into a one-year hiatus, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. DRE has worked closely with the track organizers and the FIA to put together the 2021 calendar. We all look forward to being able to return to a full FIA European Drag Racing Championship in 2021.
The Championship rounds will be as follows:
Rnd 1. SANTA POD RACEWAY (UK) 28th-31st May
Rnd 2. TIERP ARENA (SWEDEN) 10th -13th June
Rnd 3. *KAUHAVA (FINLAND) 8th -10th July
Rnd 4. TIERP ARENA (SWEDEN) 12th-15th August
Rnd 5. HOCKENHEIM (GERMANY) 27th-29th August
Rnd 6. SANTA POD RACEWAY (UK) 9th -12th September
* Limited to TF and PM only
While the announcement of the calendar is the first step in the process, it is important to stress that conditions that permit the attendance of spectators to return to events will need to be in place for any of the competitions to go ahead.
All rounds originally scheduled on the 2020 calendar will return next year, with Finland’s Kauhava also coming back to the FIA EDRC schedule following its 2019 debut to bring the number of events to six. The Finnish event will however be open to only the Top Fuel and Pro Modified categories, while all four FIA EDRC categories will run at each of the other five rounds.
See you all at the track.
Swift snippets.
26th November:
We would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all our U.S. readers. Have a great day everybody!
In his latest Youtube update, our Kieran has posted a video of the Top 20 Doorslammer runs he has footage of. Kieran says in 2019 we were lucky enough to have a Swedish invasion of Top Doorslammers, although they look like a Pro Mod from the outside there's a fair amount of differences and back in Sweden they run to the 1/8th mile - all runs in this video are full 1/4 mile. To see Kieran's video, click here.
Feature: 1983 Cannonball.
25th November:
Santa Pod Raceway and organising club BDRA staged the third Cannonball on the weekend of 2nd-3rd July 1983. The event was sponsored by Budweiser and featured eight of Europe's top Funny Cars. The weather was scorching hot. Whilst the field overall was smaller than it had been for the previous two events, the quality of the entry was great and there were several outstanding performances from the eight funny cars present. Jerry Cookson described it for Motoring News, "The roughest and toughest mile long Funny Car classic ever seen outside the United States".
Our latest historical feature, supported by Lucas Oil Products describes the event in detail and includes over 40 photographs from it as well as a full scan of the event programme and links to video coverage by drag racing historian Nick Pettitt.
We are grateful to drag racing historian and director of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Jerry Cookson for supplying archive material. You can see our feature by clicking here or by clicking the features, interviews, tributes link from the main menu.
Photo of Cannonball winner Gary Page in Panic © Roger Gorringe.
Musical chairs in UK Pro Mod, part 1.
23nd November:
The ownership of two cars that were active in the Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship during the second decade of the 21st century has changed, allowing one team to pursue their goal of running a 6 second pass and the other to step up in the class.
Harrison Brown of Thatadoo Racing announced on Facebook that their team had acquired the '67 Chevrolet Camaro of Mick Payne. Harrison continued "The plan is to put our 706cu engine in it, which is currently running in our mild steel chassis Camaro. We do keep speaking of building another engine, but for the time being, we feel the 706 is the easiest and most affordable option for us. The main reason for the change is because the current Super Pro car is running right on its 7.50 tag. The new car won’t be ready for a little while so we will stick with the mild steel chassis car for another year or two.”
“To compete in Pro Mod at a European round at Santa pod would be our ultimate dream, however, realistically it’s more likely that we will pursue our main objective of running a 6 second pass in Super Pro ET, even better, to do it consistently. We are aiming to keep the car Pro Mod legal to the best ability we can, just in case the opportunity does arise to have a go in the class, but with saying this, we would never be competitive among the other Pro Mod racers as our budget would not allow, it would purely be for the privilege of saying we had competed with in the class.”
This is the fourth Camaro owned by Thatadoo Racing, based in Devizes, Wiltshire and the second that has seen Pro Mod service with Gordon Appleton. After several years of RWYBs, the original Thatadoo Camaro has raced in Super Street and Pro ET since 2002 driven by Harrison's Dad Ian and, from 2005 by Harrison as well. Team Mum Ozzie joined in with a stock '69 in Sportsman ET in 2012-14, later racing in Nostalgia Super Stock.
Harrison started his racing career in 2004 in Sportsman ET, then progress on to Super Street a couple years later, winning the UK National Championship in 2013 and then competed in 9.50 Bike in 2014, and in ET Bike in 2019 and 2020.
The team made a move into the quicker classes in 2016 after having the ex-Gordon Appleton mild steel chassis Pro Mod rebuilt, running it in Super Pro ET from the Euro Finals that year with Ian as the driver. This car, with Ian at the wheel, has run a best of 7.52 at 180mph. The whole family works on the multi race car team together and, with over 30 years' experience in the sport, have a great base to progress with their new car.
Musical chairs in UK Pro Mod, part 2.
23nd November:
Only a matter of minutes after Harrison Brown's announcement, Pro Mod racer Mick Payne posted a photo of the car he has bought, one which was built by a UK constructor and has run as quick as 6.439/226.
The car in question is the Plymouth Duster built by constructor and Eurodragster.com sponsor Chris Isaacs for the Isaacs & Tramm team. With its previous twin turbo setup, the car made its debut in 2014, coming fourth in the championship in that year and fifth in the following year. Mechanical problems with the power train saw the car sidelined for much of 2017 and the start of 2018. The team persevered and the car had its first win in the 2018 National Finals against Andy Robinson.
The picture posted by Mick shows the car with his supercharged Hemi engine installed where the twin turbo had previously resided. Mick has placed his drive train from his previous Camaro into the Duster including the engine and clutch operated Lenco gearbox, although a Bruno Lenco torque converter setup may be run at a later stage.
Mick acquired the '67 'Wheelgame" Camaro from ex Pro racer Gordon Appleton who retired after 2007, and raced it in 2011 when he licensed and then took a few years off for business, returning with upgrades in 2015. With Mick's blown combination the car ran a best of 6.714/201 in 2019. Mick's best championship placing with the car was fourth in 2017.
Zeon's retrospective DVDs released.
22nd November:
Six exciting brand new DVDs from the archives of Zeon TV show some of the best UK drag racing action from the last 20 years at Shakespeare County Raceway and, of course, Santa Pod Raceway. (please click on each photo to be directed to the Zeon web site page for that respective DVD)
Zeon TV started filming drag racing in the year 2000 and, with it, Custom Car Street Eliminator immediately caught the eye of producers Helen Todd and Dave Coleman. In 2003 Zeon filmed the season review DVD Hardcore Street for the first time, and continued to film Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator up until 2018. This DVD brings you all the highlights from those 15 years - the thrills and spills, the records, the cars and stars that came and went, and some of the most mind blowing drag racing you could ever wish to see...
Outlaw Anglia was filmed by Zeon for 19 years. Mean handling, heads up racing from short wheel base cars, and drivers born to entertain – what’s not to love?. Zeon has gathered archive Outlaw Anglia material together onto one full action, fast paced DVD with more than 2 hours of wall to wall action. You can see just how far the class progressed in almost two decades. With quarter mile times almost down to 6 seconds, at speeds approaching 200 mph, Outlaw Anglia shows no sign of slowing down. It’s one of the hottest tickets out there, so here’s to the next 20 years...
Pro Modified are the ultimate doorslammer cars on the planet and Zeon have filmed them for more than a decade, Twin turbos, superchargers and monster nitrous engines, these cars can cover the quarter mile in just 5 seconds with speeds reaching 250 mph. With this level of power, things can go very wrong, very quickly, and it takes a fearless driver to try and tame the beast. Filmed exclusively at Santa Pod, the home of European drag racing, this DVD brings you year by year highlights of the MSA (Europe) and later Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship for Pro Modified. The records, the career defining moments, the thrills and spills, all packed into one wild DVD.
The creation of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association was an exciting time in British drag racing, and Zeon were there to film the action right from the start way back in 2005, producing the annual season review DVD Nitro Warriors up until 2011. The class was instantly a fan favourite. Huge engine, short wheel base, shed loads of attitude, heading any which way but straight - this is what fuel altered racing is all about. 6 seconds, 200 mph+, unpredictable to the extreme - you can't take your eyes off them for a second! Lawrie Gatehouse and Ollie Burn knew what they were doing when they set up the class, and UK drag racing was so much richer for it.
Shakespeare County Raceway was for so many years the spiritual home of the NSRA Nostalgia Nats and Hot Rod Drags. Zeon first filmed Hot Rods at Shakey back in 2007, and were immediately blown away by the eclectic mix of vehicles that packed out this much loved venue. The pairing lanes to run down the historic quarter mile were full to capacity, and wherever you looked there was something else to catch the eye. So many historic cars, bikes and dragsters took to the track with hot rods squaring off against classic American muscle cars, dragsters grudge racing historic funny cars in the Run What Ya Brung, and who could forget the spectacle that was the Flathead Meltdown?
Zeon first filmed the Mopar EuroNats way back in the year 2000 when it was held at Shakespeare County Raceway. Moving to Santa Pod Raceway it developed into one of the biggest and best muscle car drag racing events in the world, attracting cars and teams from across Europe. Wild Friday night with the tyre smoke hanging in the air outside the Priory Pub, the legendary burnout competition, the always entertaining wheelie contest, and championship drag racing from the likes of the UK Power Tour, and MSA Pro Mod. he mix and quality has always been astounding. Drag racing and big old American muscle cars will forever go hand in hand. It’s a formula that’s worked for more than 25 years.
These DVDs are available individually for £14.95 plus postage and packing, or there are several offers on the web site www.quartermilehigh.com which enables you to get them for £10 each as long as you order at least five DVDs. Postage and packing to the UK or Europe is a fixed £1.50 and for other territories £1.75.
We will be reviewing this year's DVDs and will publish the review shortly, however from previous year's viewings, quality is assured.
Stu interview on video.
21st November:
Today would have been the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala evening, incorporating the usual ceremonies for new inductees and an opportunity for those attending to socialise in time-honoured fashion.
This year, however, is sadly different for two reasons: the BDRHoF lost its founder and Honorary Chair Stuart Bradbury in July, and the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of this year's Gala. In the absence of the Gala, the board of directors of the BDRHoF and its advisers have suggested that all who knew and loved Stu raise a glass to him this evening.
With the kind permission of Stu's widow Beverly and daughter Genna, an interview with him, which was filmed at the 2015 Gala, has been uploaded to the BDRHoF Youtube channel which you can see by clicking here. Many thanks go to Julian Parsons and AMP Audio Solutions for producing the video.
HOFtalk 10 published.
21st November:
The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame have announced the publication of the latest edition of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame news bulletin HOFtalk.
In HOFtalk 10, compiled and edited by Jerry Cookson with additional words by current Eurodragster.com editor Simon Groves, we meet the new Honorary Chair of the BDRHoF, Lesley Wright, and celebrate the new inductees to the BDRHoF. The Gala dinner at which the 2020 inductees will be presented will provisionally take place on 20th November 2021, delayed by a year as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
HOFtalk also reflects on those that we have lost this year, especially BDRHoF founder and Honorary Chair Stuart Bradbury, BDRHoF member and Fuel Altered exponent Lawrie Gatehouse and others who have passed away in this extraordinary and sad year. We also turn the clock back to the inductees in 2008 and to an interview conducted by Simon with BDRHoF members Clive Skilton and Carl Olson, with the late Mike Kuhl, in 2014.
To download a copy of HOFtalk 10, please click on this link to the 37MB pdf file.
No-prep at Melbourne.
21st November:
Organiser of no-prep events Paul Marston has announced there will be two such events taking place at Melbourne Raceway in 2021:
No Prep heads up, 1/8th mile drag racing returns in 2021 at Melbourne Raceway, the dates are June Saturday and Sunday, dates TBC, and August Saturday and Sunday, dates TBC. Dates will be confirmed 100% in the next couple of weeks. Anyone wishing to put their name down as a provisional entry please contact Paul via the No Prep FB page, email [email protected] or call/text on 07831 650230. We need to gauge the interest so as to book the spots with Straightliners (the organising body at Melbourne). Looking forward, we have to assume that even in 2021, there will still be rules and conditions to adhere to due to Covid.
In an upgrade to our previous events, this will be a two day deal, we will be on track both days and Friday arrival will be available subject to pre entry. The format is still being finalised but for the first one, it will be based around North v South, heads up 1/8th mile doorslammer action, bring everything you have got. As has been seen many times before, it's not always the car with the most horsepower that wins, its often the team who are the cleverest and use what they have most effectively who win on a No Prep surface. There will be some nice prize money up for grabs, and proper Trophies. As always, other than safety, there are no rules.
The second event will be a No Prep Nationals with two classes, Big Tyre and Small Tyre. All our events will run alongside the usual Melbourne Raceway classes.
Just as important, you will be supporting Melbourne Raceway, we as a sport need Melbourne Raceway to be successful in 2021, it is essential for its long term future. So put the dates in your diaries for 2021. Many thanks to Trevor Duckworth and all the Straightliners team for giving us the opportunity to hold our event there.
Anyone who wishes to get involved with us regarding sponsorship and support, we are always on the end of the phone and are ready to listen.
Happy 90th John Bennett!
20th November:
We would like to wish founder director of Santa Pod Raceway and member of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame John Bennett a very Happy 90th Birthday today (20th November).
To celebrate John's birthday, we publish today for the first time an interview with John conducted by your editor with John Woolfe Racing Managing Director Dave Riswick which took place in 2015. In it John talks about his background, his involvement in drag racing and hot rods, his company Spa Engineering and how he and four other individuals came to find Podington Airfield and transform it into Santa Pod Raceway in 1965-66.
Fellow former director of Santa Pod Raceway and member of the BDRHoF Roy Phelps writes:
The history that made the future of Santa Pod and drag racing across Europe
Who were the original five directors of Santa Pod Raceway?
John Bennett – the original co-ordinator in the development of SPR. John, whose father married into the Phelps family, was by far the most knowledgeable at understanding the requirements of the motorsport governing bodies in bringing together car and bike racing at the same events.
Bob Phelps - the man who did so much of the hard graft of building and construction of SPR, who could always be seen with a welding torch in his hand, who constructed the start-line tower and crossover which still stands today. Also the finish line gantry which was only recently replaced.
Ted Peddle - an integral part of Spa Engineering and Fibre Glass Repairs, who helped produce the financial platform to enable SPR to take off.
Roy Phelps - son of Bob Phelps, who became the main promoter of SPR up until 1995, was responsible for the appearance of both fuel and jet cars, and developed the events which were forerunners of those taking place today.
Ernie Braddock - along with his son known as “young Ernie” played an important part as one, being the landowner and at the same time providing the heavy equipment that started the building of the earth banking and other track work.
You can see our interview with John Bennett, sponsored by Lucas Oil Products by clicking here or clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link in the main menu. We would like to thank not only John and Dave, but also those who helped provide information and historic photos for us to use in the feature.
Attention SPRC Perpetual trophy holders.
19th November:
Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall has been in touch to request that current SPRC Perpetual Award trophy holders return the trophies.
Trophies can be returned either to the SPRC (P.O. Box 12, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0AY) or to Santa Pod Raceway (Ian Marshall c/o Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Nr Wellingborough, NN29 7XA). It would be appreciated if the holders could also send Ian a quick email to [email protected] or text message just to let him know the trophy is on its way and where it will be arriving.
Swift snippets.
19th November:
In the latest instalment of his autobiographical blog, John Hunt writes about continuing to work at Obsession Motorsports with Terry and Tina Gibbs in 1999, including the establishment of Junior Dragster racing in the UK that year, and behind the scenes at the annual APIRA Super Series Championship Presentations and Dinner Dance evening. You can read John's blog here or by clicking on Racer Blogs in the main menu. As an option, you can read John's blog in a first-to-last sequence which you can find by clicking here.
Drag racing historian Nick Pettitt uploaded two more of his 'Time Travel' series of videos of historic British drag racing footage to Youtube. This week he has uploaded his own cine film taken at Santa Pod Raceway in 1981-82 as Time Travel 30. The focus then switches to Hot Rod meetings at SPR with Nick's cine film of Gary's Picnics from 1979, '80, '81, '83 and '85 at Santa Pod in Time Travel 31.
Malta Finals coverage, PBs.
16th November:
The light conditions on Malta make for great photos and we've highlighted the best from this year's final event at Hal-Far, held in sunny mid 20C temperatures.
Automotive photographer Dylan Darmanin, in only his second year of professional photography, has posted his photos of Friday and Saturday to his web site and you can see a variety from all classes.
Long standing Malta motorsports photographer Alex Buttigieg has posted a Facebook gallery of his pictures from the weekend.
Video of the event can be see in its entirety on the Motorsmt Facebook page and MDRA secretary Konrad d'Anastasi posts his videos of individual runs to his Youtube page, with playlists of completed events. He has uploaded playlists for Friday and Saturday.
Some individual performances at the event were outstanding. The Honda K20 turbo powered dragster of Miguel Montebello (above left) ran a 6.392/202.73. Clint Fenech driving his Cosworth YB-powered Mk1 Escort with Smooth Racing (above centre), broke his previous 7.25 PB three times over the event, ending with a best of 7.053/193.08 (1.077 60ft).
Photos all © DLP Automotive
In the Front Wheel Drive class, there were several new PBs which we list below:
- Jonathan Grech (Toyota Starlet, top right) 9.564/150.25 (2nd in FWD class)
- Martin Vella (Toyota Starlet, above left) 9.816/140
- Wayne Scicluna (Toyota Starlet) 10.081/138.37
- Glenn Busittil, (Toyota Starlet) 10.13/143 (winner in Super Modified 3 class)
- Jurgen Debono (Honda Civic B16) 10.144/142.46
In the bike classes, Franklyn Borg won both Open and Outlaw classes, utilising a new MaxxECU, with tuning from Simon Giordmaina, running a best of 7.07/202 (his PB of 6.916 recorded at the 207 Euro Finals). (Pictured above centre: Joseph Grima, Open and Outlaw Motorcycle).
Also in bikes there was a group from the Netherlands including Rene van den Berg running four passes on his Top Fuel bike, the best being 6.4 and 6.8, with Aswin de Noble (above right) on a Pro Stock Bike for the first time with a 7.7s timing slip.
Moore power for Jedd.
15th November:
Thanks to Outlaw Anglia committee member Jemma Guy for letting us know that she and husband and Outlaw Anglia racer Jedd, of Eurodragster.com sponsor Shorty's Fabrication Shop, have bought Roger Moore's ex-Roger Johansson 732ci nitrous engine out of the Roger Moore Race Team Viper Pro Mod.
Jemma said "We're so excited to finally reveal this. Back in summer when it came up for sale, we had discussions with Jeff Bull and we couldn't resist taking the leap and buying it!
"The engine fits like a dream and we're now working away getting it ready for next year. Jedd's built a new fuel tank and is making a new radiator to fit, we've also made a new hood scoop from scratch to fit the twin throttle bodies. After Christmas, the car will also be off to get a new paint job.
"We are so so excited to show Shorty's new look next year. Jedd will have his work cut out as he will be tuning three of the five Outlaw Anglias competing for the class's first six second run next year!"
With new builds and powerplant upgrades, any of the five racers could be the first to the historic milestone. Colin Millar ran close with a 7.04/194.72 at the 2019 Hot Rod Drags running a 632ci nitrous setup. Simon Barlow went 7.08/194.61 at the 2019 Ford Show, with supercharged big block Chevy power. Scott Crookston who won the 2019 Championship has gone a best of 7.41/179.95 at Dragstalgia in 2019 with a 560ci combination similar to Colin's, Jon Webster debuted a brand new supercharged small block car in 2020 and ran 7.62/179.24 and Jedd himself ran 7.65/174 at 2017 Dragstalgia with his old combination. Jedd will tune Colin and Scott's in addition to his own car.
Class car count is looking excellent for 2021, with over 30 cars predicted with a shootout for the top 16 and the lower qualified cars going into a bracket. race. To find out more, see the class web site.
Swift snippets.
15th November:
Drag racing historian Nick Pettitt has been busy uploading more of his 'Time Travel' series of videos of historic British drag racing footage to Youtube. This week has been the turn of the videos taken by the Page family. Time Travel 28 features the family's cine film from 1970-1971 at Santa Pod, Blackbushe and the World Records Meet at Elvington whilst Time Travel 29 covers the period 1971-1975 at Santa Pod, North Luffenham, Blackbushe, Silverstone and Sweden.
Our Kieran has been looking through his extensive video archive and come up with a collection of the proverbial wolves in sheeps' clothing. Kieran says "I've picked out my favourite sleepers that I've filmed over the years, this video is in no particular order but showcases my Top 10. There's a varied mix including Stephen Xuereb's Mk2 Escort & Darren Scannell's Mk1 Escort that both look like they should belong in the Show & Shine paddock but smash out nine second 1/4 miles with ease, to Ian's completely stock looking 1964 Rover P4 powered by a Big Block Ford. You can see Kieran's video by clicking here and see his latest by subscribing to https://www.youtube.com/user/mk1kieranhis channel.
Frosty retires.
14th November:
Andy Frost, former Street Eliminator Champion and holder of the world's fastest street legal car, has announced his retirement from drag racing after an extraordinary career highlighted by leading edge engineering expertise, international competition, the constant setting of performance goals, and loyalty to one single marque of car – the Vauxhall Victor FD.
Born in Birmingham, Andy's first taste of drag racing was in 1988 when he ran the Vauxhall he had owned since 1982 and named Red Victor 1 (pictured below) with a stock Rover engine, quickly exchanging the Rover afterwards for a small block Chevy. He ran between 1990 and 1992 in bracket classes, again swapping the engine for a big block Chevy which eventually got the car into the nines.
His Custom Car Street Eliminator Championship came early in his career in 1996 when times, with a nitrous assist, were in the low tens, eventually dipping to 9.77/142. Quicker things were in store after Andy began a collaboration with Peter Knight of Knight Racing Services, and times in the low nines persuaded Andy to start building the tube framed Red Victor 2 in 1998.
A year or so later Andy had a chance to drive the Top Alcohol Dragster crew chiefed by Peter Knight, and owned by Martin Canto (pictured below), running at UK events in 2000 and running a best of 6.32/215mph. The nitrous powered Red Victor 2 was finished by 2002 and he resumed competition in Street Eliminator as a contender, running in the 8.3s at 170mph.
In 2005, Andy and three other UK racers (Ian Hook, Jeff Meads and Steve Pateman) travelled to the US to compete with their respective cars in the first World Street Race. As a team, the UK racers were winners of the event, an achievement that Andy is justly proud of. On his return to the UK, Red Victor 2 performances improved further after changing the car to twin turbo, winning more races and getting into the sevens. By 2009 Red Victor 2 was Europe's fastest street legal car, winner of the King of Europe race.
In 2010, Andy decided to become a street legal Pro Modified racer, something no-one else had ever attempted. Eurodragster.com sponsor Webster Race Engineering were commissioned to build Red Victor 3 with help from Wayne Allman, and UK engine builder Mark Lamude built a twin turbo engine on which tuning advice was obtained from Shane Tecklenburg. Much of 2011 was taken up by licensing after engine problems, however in 2012 Andy achieved his performance goal to become the first street legal car (outside the USA) into the 6s, resetting the world mark to 6.50/226 in 2013. The build and first runs of Red Victor 3 were documented by Andy in his Eurodragster.com blog.
However attempts to get the car into contention in Pro Mod in 2014 came to naught as the mandated electromotive shut off systems were potentially damaging to the car's transmission, and required turbo sizes placed him at a disadvantage. Andy decided to run in Competition Eliminator in the UK in 2014-16 before working towards his next goal, to run a five in a street legal car. Funding for this goal came from his loyal sponsors and the Red Victor 5 Second Club which comprised 500 members, the car having a huge profile by that time.
The decision was taken to run in Bahrain and in January 2017 Andy ran 6.31/236.3 mph, his best numbers to that date and heading for the world street car record of 251. After further work in upgrading the car, its potential was showed in a 6.02/250.4 mph at Bahrain international circuit in January 2018 and 6.075/248.24 at a private test at Santa Pod Raceway in May 2019 (pictured top).
Andy set his final record of 5.87/263.7 at Bahrain on 12th November 2019, and ran four other five second passes, three over 260mph during his visit . He said "It's one of only four street legal cars in the world that have run in the fives, the first street legal car in the world to surpass 260mph in the ¼ mile and it’s the fastest doorslammer (street legal or not) outside the US. I've broken all the barriers I set myself, we still own the speed side of the world's fastest street legal car in the 1/4 mile and I'm now bowing out whilst at the top.. It's been an absolute blast. I've met lots of great people over the years, and loads are still friends now. A huge thanks to every person and company that was involved with our team over the 30+ years we were racing, especially over the last 5 years with the Red Victor 5 second club".
You can watch the documentary on Andy's Bahrain achievements at Utrack TV.
Andy says "special thanks to my wife Deb Frost and my three lads Damien, Craig and Gary.
"Thanks go to all of the RV team members throughout the 30+ years of racing including: Dave Williamson, Tony Grayston, Jason Savory, Arthur Stuffins, Wil Perry, Thorsten Appel , Gary Frost, Nik Wadsworth, Nick Bradley, Rob Kimber and Rob Kearns (RIP).
"Thanks to every one of the 500 Red Victor 5 second club members and to:
Shane Tecklenburg of ST Consulting
Marc Lamude at Lamude Racing Engines
Peter Knight at Knight Racing services
Wayne Allman at Intergalactic Custom Shop
Nick at WAM tools
Justin Attwood at JustElectrical design
Chris Bourton at Hard Knocks Speedshop
Al Williamson at AW upholstery
Wolverhampton HAMC
Jonny Smith of 5th Gear and various publications
Tog and Eurodragster.com
Bahrain International Circuit, BDRC and E Kanoo Racing and Logistics
Ali Mahmood at UTrack TV
Dave and Helen at Zeon TV
Santa Pod Raceway
Stuart Harris and Dougie McColm at VXR
Sponsors:
R-Tech Welding Equipment
Precision Turbo and Engine
Turbosmart UK
Pro Alloy Motorsport
Cam Auto Development
Goodridge
KA Sensors
Steve Morris Engines
Renegade Fuels/Trackstuff UK
Neal Chance Racing Converters
Turbowerx
Zircotec
Activ8
Red Line Oil/ Old Hall Performance
Belistore
Plastics4performance
Total Seal Piston Rings
Hutch Transmission Service
Andy Robinson Race Cars
Victory Performance
Wallwork HT
Rep Air services
Wilson Manifolds
Diamond Pistons
Manton Pushrods
New Century Performance
Visner Engine Developments
Billet Atomisers
Braille Batteries
Cartek Motorsport electronics
Magnecor
Club Calibra
PTP Turbo blankets
Superpower Unlimited
Precision Shaft technologies
Serck Motorsport
Dave Cooper Engineering
Mick Gould Commercials
Douzecoupes
Powerlite performance electronics
Prestige Group
Browell Bellhousings
Race Engine Technology
Carl Cox Motorsport
"And every company/person/publication who ever helped us with products, assistance or ink, or anyone I have inadvertently missed. Thank you all. It’s been one hell of a ride..."
Photo of Red Victor 1 © Colin Donisthorpe, photo of Canto TAD by Tog.
RRC Anger Management build gallery.
13th November:
Bob Roberts has kindly sent a gallery of pictures taken by him whilst the build of Andy Robinson's Pro Modified '69 Camaro Anger Management took place at Eurodragster.com sponsor Robinson Race Cars.
The car was the first British Pro Mod to run in the five second zone, competing successfully for six years including four championships until it was destroyed in a top-crash at the 2018 National Finals, fortunately with no injury to Andy.
Bob says "The intent was to build in as much lightness as possible which was demonstrated when the Camaro tipped the scales at 200 lbs less than the predecessor Studebaker. Carbon fibre was used extensively throughout the car to the point where RRC built an oven so more could be done in-house and indeed offered for sale. Another route to lightness was the use of titanium most obviously in the firewall but also in the prop shaft tunnel and chute mounts". A radical approach was also taken to suspension adjustment altering the ride height to increase the amount of potential variations in settings.
You can see Bob's gallery in our feature in association with Lucas Oil Products by clicking here or go to our Features, Interviews, Tributes index via the main menu.
'Tree Air Freshener launched.
13th November:
Eurodragster sponsor Peter Walters Race Design has been in touch to let readers know about a new product from his POWERED Co. Range.
POWERED Co. is pleased to launch the ‘Tree’ Air Freshener. Give your daily driver, hot rod, trailer, RV or even race car that fresh lemon scent! Guaranteed to please and makes any enclosed space smell fresh and clean.
Lemon scented, Easy to hang and Long lasting. Available on the shop web site for just £3.00.
There are lots of new products in the works at POWERED Co. Including a ‘Girl Powered’ Range of accessories and garments. Keep and eye on the socials for more news!
Malta Hal Far Finals preview.
12th November:
This weekend 13th-15th November, the final race in the Malta Drag Racing Association's 2020 Championships, sponsored by petroleum products wholesalers Enemed, take place at Hal Far Raceway. We look at the sport in Malta, starting with a brief guide to the classes, and then review the history of drag racing in this island republic, with a population of around half a million. You can see the action on 14th-15th November at Motorsmt.
During March 2020, the MDRA was forced to suspend the season before the first race had been run due to Covid-19. However, with government co-operation, events 'behind closed doors' were able to take place on 16th-18th July, 25th-27th September and the upcoming weekend of 13th-15th November.
Drag racing is the predominant motorsport in Malta, this success being amplified by FIA Drag Racing Championships won by Duncan Micallef (Top Fuel) and Manty Bugeja (Top Methanol Dragster). Hal Far is a permanent race track that has been operating for over 30 years.
Pictured: Reuben Micallef (world's quickest Cosworth dragster at 6.48/203mph), Juan Mula DeBono (PS Champion), Christian Pace (Escort champion). Photographers: Ruth Galea, Simon DeBono.
The class structure, unique to Malta, allows for European and Japanese types of car to be used, also catering for the types of car which traditionally run at Hal Far. Our high level summary of classes follows, for full regulations and mandatory safety equipment go to the MDRA web site at www.maltadragracing.com.
Capacity classes are as follows:
- Up to 1850cc
- 1851cc-2100cc
- 2101cc – 2400cc
- 2401cc-4000cc
- 4001-6500cc
- 6501cc and over
There are capacity factors for multi-valve engines (x1.1), power adders NOS (allowed in classes 4,5,6)/Turbo/Supercharger (x1.4 each). These rules apply to the PS, SS, SM, CA and D categories below:
Production Series (PS): Original body with lightening, production engine only with original type power adders. Free transmission and axle, only chassis back halving permitted. 2019 Champion: Juan Mula DeBono (Class 4).
Escort (Class 2 and 3): No external modifications, interior can be removed, any OED engine can be used, no injection or power adders, manual gearbox, suspension free (leaf springs original mounting), Same capacity brackets as SS. 2019 Champion Christian Pace (Classes 2 and 3).
Super Street (SS): Stock body, chassis, engine of original material in original location, manual transmission, any suspension (leaf springs original mounting) 2019 Champion: Insufficient entries.
Super Modified (SM): As Super Street but stock body can be modified for engine or gearbox location, any rear axle allowed and chassis is only to be altered for rear axle, no wheelie bars, any transmission is allowed with firewall mods for it to fit. 2019 Champions: Glenn Caruana (Class 3) Reuben Pirotta (Class 4).
Open: Class 1 for stock body and chassis up to 3500cc (subject to penalties for power adders), Class 2 for stock body and back halved chassis up to 3500cc any power adder allowed with no penalties. Classes 3 to 5 are for any type of body and tube chassis with capacity limits of 3000cc, 6500cc and unlimited. Class 6 is for T-buckets, funny cars, dragsters, suspension not mandatory and unlimited engines. FWD and diesel classes. 2019 Champions: Paul Fenech (Class 1), George Zarb (Class 2), Clint Fenech (Class 3) Mario Borg (Class 6), Marvic Galea (FWD class), Sven Piscopo (Diesel class).
Outlaw Front Wheel Drive: One class for cars with same engine and body make of up to 6 cylinders. Minimum weight and weight breaks for capacity, multiple power adders, automatic transmission, single cam and nitrous only. Max turbo size 76mm. Lightweight body panels allowed, tyres 10.5" max. 2019 Champion: Renald Farrugia.
Pictured: Paul Fenech (Open class 1, in HPE Motorsport car), Marvic Galea (Open FWD Champion), Renald Farrugia (Outlaw FWD champion). Photographer: Ruth Galea.
Extreme: Class 2 for 2 rotors (rotary engines), 4 cylinder or 5 cylinder up to 2.9liter. Class 3 for 3 rotors (rotary engines), 6 cylinders in straight, V6 up to 4.1liter. Both classes allow any type of body and tube chassis with weight limits of 1900lb or 2000lb with tube chassis. 2019 Champion: Clint Catania (Class 2).
Classified Altered (CA): free in all respects, silhouette body to be used, any fuel allowed. 2019 Champion: Anthony Vella (Class 6).
Dragster/Alcohol Dragster/Fuel Dragster (D/DTA/DTF): free in all respects, includes open wheeled vehicles, funny cars in class 4 and 5, any fuel allowed. 2019 Champion: Antoine Schembri (Classes D4 and D5).
Junior Dragster: rules as in UK. 2019 Champion: Xavier Camilleri.
Motorcycles: classes are Street (64” wheelbase normally aspirated), Street Modified (64” wheelbase power adders but no slider/lockup clutches), Super Street 2 (68" wheelbase normally aspirated), Super Street 1 (68" wheelbase, power adders and slider/lockup clutches permitted), and Open (no restrictions) 2019 Champion: Briegel Micallef (SS1 and Open).
In addition, index and bracket racing is in brackets based on ET in half second increments between 8.00 and 13.50. 2019 Champion: Leslie Said (8.50 index class).
With such a range of classes, many vehicles compete in more than one class. So for this coming weekend there are 83 drivers and 152 class entries. Championships require a minimum number of competitors of three, and a competitor must compete in at least two events to be awarded a title.
The history of Malta drag racing is documented at Portatree's site. Racing started at Ta' Qal airfield in 1977 but organised quarter mile racing commenced at Hal Far in May 1989. The Malta Drag Racing Association was formed to handle the organisation of the sport and became a member of the Malta Motorsport Federation. A few years ago the Maltese government handed over the track permanently to the Malta Drag Racing Association who have continued to develop the facilities and sport there.
Pictured: Clint Catania (Extreme class 2 Champion), Briegel Micallef (SS1 and Open Motorcycle Champion), Miguel Montebello (DTA class 5). Photographers: Alex Buttigieg, Simon DeBono.
A contingent of European racers, media and fans have travelled to Malta, most to visit the November event which, as the championship finals, also falls outside the UK season. In 1991 Knut Soderquist visited with a Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car. Outlaw Anglia and Super Street Bike racer Mark Pointer took his Hooligan Fordson van and kept it there for a few years. Kev Jenkins with his Fraudster Escort in an earlier incarnation visited in 2008,2009 and 2015 with other members of the Old Skool Ford club. Two years ago Ian Merryweather and Roy Wilding with their teams took over their Banzai and Hellzapoppin' altereds.
This year, the visitors would have included Outlaw Anglia racer Colin Millar, announcer Luke Stevenson and our Kieran with his cameras. Sadly, the current UK Covid 19 restrictions prevent overseas visitors from attending. But we anticipate 2021 will see a resurgence in visitors, with the great climate, a great range of vehicles and the competitive spirit of the Maltese.
Swift snippets.
12th November:
The final race in the Panhellenic Dragster Championship on 21st-22nd November has had to be postponed due to a national lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisers Pro Action Racing are looking at dates in December for the race.
Drag racing historian Nick Pettitt has posted to his Youtube channel another three of his Time Travel videos, from archive cine film and slides from the 1950s to the 1970s. Time Travel 25 is from cine film taken by John Hutchinson, Chris Mod and Martin Pierson at Santa Pod, North Luffenham and York Raceway 1970 - 79, Time Travel 26 comprises Roy Cockrill's cine film at Santa Pod from 1973-1977, whilst Time Travel 27 features Ken 'Flathead' Cooper's cine film and pictures from 1959-1969.
Feature: 1975 Wroughton Tor Line FC Championship.
9th November:
In 1975, RNAS Wroughton hosted the National Drag Racing Club, who organised an international race including the Tor Line Funny Car Championship. Three Funny Cars and several altereds and doorslammers came over to compete, and today's historic feature describes the track and details the competition that took place. Thanks go to Jerry Cookson, Nick Pettitt and Jon Spoard for contributing material as well as the original photographers.
You can see our feature, supported by Lucas Oil Products here or by clicking the features, interviews, tributes link from the main menu.
Photo of Hazze Fromm in Ragnarok Capri FC courtesy Dick Parnham
Nitro Revival poster offer.
6th November:
Land speed racer Geoff Stilwell, sponsor on behalf of Nitro Revival has kindly provided a number of signed posters for the now-postponed November 2020 event at Irwindale Dragstrip which we offer to the first ten readers to make a request, with postal address included, via the e-mail address shown on today's Eurodragsterholics Facebook post.
We will be pleased to send by mail a copy of the poster designed by Toby Denham, who has been the brains behind the incredible graphic designs for Nitro Revival, which you can see by going to their web site or Facebook page. Look out for a revised date for Nitro Revival in due course.
Swift snippets.
6th November:
Thanks to Pascal Koch from Germany at Youtube channel European Drag Racing Videos for drawing our attention to his excellent collection of in-car and spectator-side videos from major drag racing events since 2013. Pascal started shooting footage from the stands for Youtube at the 2013 NitrOlympX and got a trackside pass in 2014. He posted his first videos from Santa Pod Raceway in 2015 progressed to onboard from a variety of cars and bikes from 2018. Continuing in 2020, he has posted from Clastres Dragway and Zerbst's Test & Tune recently. A big innovation this year is 360 degree videos with the viewer able to control the angle.
Diana, Kirstie, Julian, Kieran and Simon would like to wish retired Eurodragster.com News Editor, Race Reporter and Photographer Tog a very happy birthday for tomorrow (Saturday). Have a great day buddy, and many happy returns.
Flame & Thunder highlights video.
5th November:
Kieran has posted a video of on-track highlights from Flame & Thunder Lite 2020. You can see the wide variety of vehicles involved, from a motorised wheelie bin all the way to a Top Fuel Dragster and several jets. The video is indexed so you can go to your favourite category easily.
Kieran says "Flame & Thunder is the annual season finale in the UK and being held at the end of October it can be prove to be a bit of a hit or miss with the weather. There were a few passes in the morning but the heavy rain came in and we waited 6 hours whilst the track crew worked tirelessly to get the "track open again!
There were two Top Fuel Dragsters on site, multiple Jet Cars and some fantastic drag cars & bikes putting in demo passes". You can enjoy Kieran's video by going to this link and subscribe to his channel which is now heading towards 50,000 subscribers.
Web site updates.
5th November:
The Mad Welshman has uploaded to his Flickr account an album from the recent Dragtastic 3 event at Melbourne Raceway. Mad says "This was our first ever visit to the Northern strip and we were impressed with the new track which bodes very well for the future! Who'd have thought a few months ago that we'd have any events in 2020 let alone being able to go to a brand new track; fingers crossed for a much improved 2021!" You can see Mad's photos by going to
this link.
Pro Mod for sale - hardly used.
4th November:
Sometimes you see a car for sale and think 'That's for me'. Norwegian racer Geir Bjønnes's '57 Shoebox Chevy is one such that leads many to such a flight of fancy. And if you've a shade under £50,000 then it can be yours.
Geir says 'The car was finished in 2008 and first came out in 2009'. The car has chassis, body and carbon wheel tubs by US Pro Mod constructor Tim McAmis. Mechanically it's complete with a BAE Series 6 engine, with spare rods and pistons, Veney/Newberry heads, Kobelco Superman supercharger, Lenco CS1 gearbox, Weld wheels, and lots of spares.
The car was bought for Top Doorslammer racing however it ran only in three events in 2009, three in 2011 and two at the end of 2012, qualifying just once despite the considerable potential. After deciding to quit the sport at that point, the car was then stored for eight years and is now offered for sale turnkey with all spares. It can be made Pro Mod legal with the necessary safety upgrades.
If you're interested you can see more detailed specs in our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored Swap Meet and contact Geir at his e-mail [email protected] or on his phone +47 99513056.
Greek drag scene.
3rd November:
Santa Pod Raceway announcer and owner of the European FWD Facebook page Luke Stevenson plans to travel to Agrinio in Greece to attend the final race in the Panhellenic Dragster Championship on 21st-22nd November. We looked at the site of the organiser Pro Action Racing and saw how far the sport has developed in Greece in recent years.
Locations for the sport include Agrinio (170 miles northwest of Athens, used for racing since 2017) and Tympaki Airport in Crete, the southernmost dragster track in Europe. These two are organised by Pro Action Racing, also known as ASI. The National Championship, is now shared between these two tracks and Serres, an eighth mile track that is part of a permanent circuit near Thessaloniki in the north of the country Lenoe Drag Racing are the organisers at Serres and run a track championship as well as being part of the National Championship. Thebes (Drag Park) 40 miles north of Athens hosted the first rounds of the national championship in 2017 with separate races for cars and for bikes as well as its own 'Drag Battle', the site closing in 2018.
Street racing became a problem a decade or so ago and so a number of temporary airfield sites have been used for RWYB events or 'Drag Days'. These along with the National Championship events are regulated by motor racing regulator OMAE. There are several such sites, examples are Lamia Airport 130 miles northwest of Athens was licensed for use from 2012, and Elliniko just south of Athens was relicensed in 2013 for bikes, the licensing being handled by organisers ASI and motorbike sport regulators AMOTOE. A new venue at Epitalio near Pyrgos in the Pellaponese had its first race in 2014 and Drag Days returned in November of that year. In 2015 Messolonghi airport hosted a drag day. The use of a number of facilities for drag days can only be a good thing for the future of the sport in Greece as it avoids putting all eggs in one basket track-wise.
In November 2013 a special event took place at Tympaki which hosted Dragtimes supercars from Russia and Romania. The event was streamed on Russian drag racing site dragtimes.ru. From this start, live streaming of the Panhellenic Dragster Championship has been provided at sportaltv.gr (2013-16 highlights coverage was also provided by Speednation TV). Streaming of the sport is used as a platform for advertising and promoting the businesses supporting it.
As Pro Action Racing's web site says, "Drag Racing is the strongest motor sports championship in our country. It is on a good path and evolving despite not having permanent facilities like abroad".
Our photos show some of the quickest cars and bikes. They run in ET brackets or to an index. Cars are mainly European or Japanese with turbo and/or nitrous power adders. At the start of October, Vagelis Kantartzis (pictured above left) has claimed the quickest time in the world by a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, at 7.688/180.9. Spyros Panopoulos (pictured above centre) who has been employed in the past by McLaren's road car arm, and founded local firm Extreme Tuners has an impressive background. As you can see from his web site he has innovated many components in auto engineering; on the track he has driven his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 to 7.745/184mph; he also competes in Malta and Abu Dhabi, where he ran 7.708/156.61 at the permanent circuit there.
The quickest doorslammer in Greece is the Nissan Skyline GT-R VR38DETT of Gerasimos Filippatos (pictured above right) who has run a 7.190/201.5mph on the quarter
These three are four wheel drive; there are quick rear wheel drive cars too. the Audi S2 (R30 Turbo) of Takis Vouros (pictured below left) who competes in Malta as well as his homeland has run 7.526/180mph. The Escort Mk2 2.3L Turbo of Stelios Geladakis whose best is 7.771/174.35. These two racers combine their engineering expertise to design the vehicles make parts where necessary and tune them for the track.
The Bike classes, not forgetting twice FIM-E TF Bike Champion Filippos Papafilippou, are largely dominated by Super Street Bikes with other types typically running in brackets such as Super Pro ET (yes, for bikes). Bike fields are often the majority of race entries and SSBs are invariably the quickest. DRDB lists seven bikes that run quicker than 7.50. Quickest of all is Nikos Stavropoulos (pictured above centre) at a record 7.153/193.1 – he has raced in the category for at least 10 years and is tuned by Proimadis Performance based near Athens. Nikos's main competition is Christos Agapidis (pictured above right) who has been racing even longer than Nikos and has recorded a best of 7.158/197.8 on his 1340cc Suzuki.
We'll be posting a link to the live stream of the race on 21st-22nd November in due course.
Magazine update.
2nd November:
The December issue of Custom Car which goes on sale this week, includes a total of eight pages of race reports on both the STP Green Light Nationals and the NSRA Hot Road Drags held at Santa Pod Raceway both reports with plenty of photos from our own Julian. Also featured is a piece by Tony Thacker on Bonneville's Speed Week back in August including some vintage and nostalgia vehicles.
News includes some stocking fillers from Santa Pod Raceway and Lesley Wright's appointment as honorary chair at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
Buying a copy of CC may be a bit more difficult during the impending lockdown, so why not treat yourself to a subscription by going to shop.kelsey/co.uk/CCA20 and choose between the paper edition for £39.00 (discounted by £25.87 from newsstand price) or £37.99 for the online edition? This offer expires on 26th November.
Followers of motorcycle drag racing may be interested to know that the December issue of Bike magazine contains a rare venture into the quarter-mile sport, a two-page spread describing Hans-Henrik Thomsen's successful bid to set an electric bike world record during Santa Pod's recent Not The European Finals meet.
The feature, written by Bike's Deputy Editor, Mike Armitage, carries photos by the author and by Eurodragster.com's own Julian. The December issue is available now on magazine stands, price £4.50.
New web sites for Williams Bros.
2nd November:
Williams Bros Racing have launched no less than three new web sites each dedicated to the profile of their respective specialities. The sites detail the services offered, show a gallery of completed projects and incorporate a web shop. A great number of parts, from engines through brake and suspension kits to car care products, are kept in stock and, with weekly air freight deliveries, even non-stock items can be quickly supplied.
The sites to go to are williamsbrosspeedshop.co.uk, ocspaint.com, and wbrraceengines.co.uk.
Flame & Thunder galleries.
1st November:
As usual for the season finale at Santa Pod Raceway there was a big variety of vehicles making almost their last pass down the strip in 2020 (some stayed for today's Run What Ya Brung).
We are pleased, despite the amount of wet stuff that came down during the day to be able to post, with the support of John Woolfe Racing, galleries of track action and off-track shots courtesy of Julian and Diana.
See our event coverage page which you can reach by clicking this link or going via the John Woolfe Racing event coverage link in the main menu.
Earlier news
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