Drag racing in England in September. It was rainy. It was sunny. It was warm. It was cold. It was windy. It was calm. I was sober. I was drunk. It was muddy. Very.
This little banger in a full fendered steel '30 coupe ran 18.7 at 70mph through a stock A trans. Awesome.
Look closely. Licence plate and lights are fitted. This sprint car was driven to the drags and runs a 1172cc flathead four banger from an English Ford 100E.
Four-banger rpu was running 19's. This was Aussie artist Simon Watts' last UK drag meet before returning to Oz to live. Best of luck Simon.
These pictures make the Hot Rod Drags look like a traditional rod-only type of event. Far from it. There's far more late-model stuff than early rods. Oh well....
Cool. Got any more pictures of that front engine dragster in the background of those pics? How fast did it run? Some of the later model stuff can be cool if done right... the mind numbing BBC in a Camaro that runs 10's gets to ya... but street cars, small tire cars that run 10's or 9's... 60's muscle cars that are sleepers are really neat. Anything like that? Or does the "late model" stuff that you are describing lean towards the Japanese FWD cars? Sam.
I didn't get any pictures of any of the rails, but one of the good things about this event is that you get 8 and 9-second cars running next to 20-second bangers. It is great fun. There's no FWD allowed here, but as I get older I find myself only wanting to watch traditional stuff, when 10 years ago I'd watch everything. Sorry, but the muscle-car thing I just don't get.
Pre 69?? That's cool... I like a lot of the 60's stuff... American 60's stuff... If the "late model" stuff messes up the scenery... why not do a "pre- 1950" event? Sam.
[ QUOTE ] If the "late model" stuff messes up the scenery... why not do a "pre- 1950" event? Sam. [/ QUOTE ] Unfortunately the scene isn't big enough in this country to justify the costs. Sad but true.
I was there today, had a good time despite the looming clowds and cold wind. Thing that made me smile was when a couple of big Yanks called Ken and Pete showed up. Anyone there will know what I mean, but basically a Kenworth and Peterbilt turned up, passed scrutineering and were Racin'. Anything goes at the Hot Rod Drags (except Front wheel drive of course). Mart.
Wished I coulda made it, but had family stuff to attend to today. Looks like it was a good day today - I'm jealous!
The Jalopy Journal
