How did you become interested in drag racing?
Discussion
l've been interested in drag racing since 1965, while serving as a Medic with the R.A.F in Libya. l was looking for something to read and on the front of a magazine titled "Hot Rod," which l had never seen before was a funny looking car with skinny pram wheels on the front and big fat tyres on the back, which was a typical front-engined dragster, after reading the mag l was hooked. In 1971 l began working as a track official for the National Drag Racing Club (the NDRC didn't have a permanent drag-strip), at Blackbushe airport, R.A.F. North Luffenham & Elvington when Dennis Priddle & Clive Skilton were the big names in drag racing.
On leaving the R.A.F. in 1971 l joined the North East Hot Rod Association (NEHRA) in Newcastle Upon Tyne, we held monthly eighth mile drag races at Felton, Northumberland. They were Run What Ya Brung events for cars and motorcycles.
Then l started going to events at Santa Pod (can't remember the year - Priddle ran the first 6) , when it was owned/run by Roy Phelps. ln the days of the smelly toilets, no showers and no guardrails. When Shakey opened l also started going there as well.
l've been friends with an American family since 1977, they live in Youngstown, Ohio. l've stayed with them several times on my holidays to America. Buddy qualified his AA/D dragster for the 1960 Detroit Nationals. He designed his car on Ivo's single-engined car. He's a member of the Road Knights Of Ohio, there 50th Anniversary was in 2005, according to the NSRA they're one of Top Ten oldest street rod clubs in America. There club garage is in a predominantly black area of town, but they've never been burgled in 50 years. l'm still very enthusiastic about drag racing, last year l only managed to attend one British meeting as l spent approx. £2000 on an American holiday (my fourteenth since 1978) in May to visit my American friends in Youngstown, Ohio. l also attended the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway, near Columbus where Tony Schumacher driving the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster set a new national speed record of 336.15 mph.
On leaving the R.A.F. in 1971 l joined the North East Hot Rod Association (NEHRA) in Newcastle Upon Tyne, we held monthly eighth mile drag races at Felton, Northumberland. They were Run What Ya Brung events for cars and motorcycles.
Then l started going to events at Santa Pod (can't remember the year - Priddle ran the first 6) , when it was owned/run by Roy Phelps. ln the days of the smelly toilets, no showers and no guardrails. When Shakey opened l also started going there as well.
l've been friends with an American family since 1977, they live in Youngstown, Ohio. l've stayed with them several times on my holidays to America. Buddy qualified his AA/D dragster for the 1960 Detroit Nationals. He designed his car on Ivo's single-engined car. He's a member of the Road Knights Of Ohio, there 50th Anniversary was in 2005, according to the NSRA they're one of Top Ten oldest street rod clubs in America. There club garage is in a predominantly black area of town, but they've never been burgled in 50 years. l'm still very enthusiastic about drag racing, last year l only managed to attend one British meeting as l spent approx. £2000 on an American holiday (my fourteenth since 1978) in May to visit my American friends in Youngstown, Ohio. l also attended the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway, near Columbus where Tony Schumacher driving the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster set a new national speed record of 336.15 mph.
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