Innovators

[The Enthusiast]

Who do you think were the best innovators from the past/present that contributed towards british drag racing? Why?

[Furyous]

I would think Dennis Priddle should be in there somewhere for his fuel dragster chassis work.

As should Colin Fallows for tuning vampire (?) jet car

Theres going to be loads more, cant think right now......

[BennettRacing]

The Stones

[furyous]

Thinking again, if we look at the present, then surely all the S/E boys must be.......making very serious hardware street legal, streetable, and hot startable,all on pump gas too.

All the things that technically the pure race engines they use should not be capable of.

Massive respect.

[Bigmouse]

Jon Websters design skills at WRE have to be included in that list imho

[Barry B]

Geoff Hauser, Andy Robinson too I would think.

[jpt]

Bootsie
He led, others followed

[MotorPsycho]

Bootsie, The Stones, sure there's too many to mention but those two stand out head and shoulders above the rest

[NitroWars]

Sidney Allard

[CRR]

Without Sidney Allard who founded the British Drag Racing Association in the early 1960's and organised and funded the 1964 & 1965 British DragFests, there would be no UK drag racing today.

[jalopyjoe]

Roy Phelps has to get a mention surely, would The Pod be what it is today if he hadn't persevered with it in the early days.

[CRR]

If it hadn't been for the 1964 DragFest where Bob and Roy Phelps got roped in and used their Plymouth pickup as a push car for the US dragsters, then they would never have got hooked on drag racing and there wouldn't be a Santa Pod today. So, if Sidney Allard hadn't been the prime innovator in the early 60's and organised the 64 DragFest, I guess we would all be watching F1 instead of TF.

[ALK]

Their are just too many names to name

Phelps, Priddle, Herridge, Prior, Page´s, Read´s and so on and on and on................................

A lot of people made a big difference and too tell you the truth I still think a lot of people are making a big difference today, as drag racing is still not as big in europe as it is in the states. I admire everyone involved in making it possible for racers to race and racers giving people something very enjoyable to watch.



Andrea

Edited by ALK on Thursday 21st September 08:32

Edited by ALK on Thursday 21st September 08:32

[ingmant]

Hi All,
This is my first time on here so be gentle OK.... I do not intened to offend anyone..
I have been looking back on some of the older items raised and came across 'INNOVATORS'.

Whilst i total agree with some of the names on here I think the word Inovator is confused with Popular ! !, Herrige Yes, Priddle Yes, Phelps yes. However the Stones were very popular, but not inovative, Priors were same.

To be inovative is to try something new. You need to go back to the likes of Walt Ithell, Mark Stratton, Russ Carpenter & more bike riders than i can remember let alone name...

Tim

[redvictor]

ingmant said:

Hi All,
This is my first time on here so be gentle OK.... I do not intened to offend anyone..
I have been looking back on some of the older items raised and came across 'INNOVATORS'.

Whilst i total agree with some of the names on here I think the word Inovator is confused with Popular ! !, Herrige Yes, Priddle Yes, Phelps yes. However the Stones were very popular, but not inovative, Priors were same.

To be inovative is to try something new. You need to go back to the likes of Walt Ithell, Mark Stratton, Russ Carpenter & more bike riders than i can remember let alone name...

Tim

i'll agree with Russ Carpenter.He truly was an innovator..... agree with Sidney Allard too.
Can't wait to read Brian Taylors book.I've already heard some great stories from him and Brett......
i like to think that S/E will continue pushing pump gas boundaries.I know Jon Webster,Pete Knight and I will.Street cars aren't supposed to run that fast AND drive on the road surely....

Edited by redvictor on Thursday 14th June 20:44

[kestral]

Angus Mc fale (or something like that) I think he had that thing like a massive skateboard with an engine and big slick at the back. Might have been called Jade Warrior. Now that was innovative.

[Dilligaf10]

kestral said:

Angus Mc fale (or something like that) I think he had that thing like a massive skateboard with an engine and big slick at the back. Might have been called Jade Warrior. Now that was innovative.

and bl**dy frightening to watch!! How about Eamon Hurley with his rotary engined bike, Concorde

Edited by Dilligaf10 on Thursday 14th June 22:44

[Furyous]

Dilligaf10 said:

kestral said:

Angus Mc fale (or something like that) I think he had that thing like a massive skateboard with an engine and big slick at the back. Might have been called Jade Warrior. Now that was innovative.

and bl**dy frightening to watch!! How about Eamon Hurley with his rotary engined bike, Concorde

Edited by Dilligaf10 on Thursday 14th June 22:44

Concorde was SOOOOOOO loud !!!

[liner33]

Or Dave Branch , no longer riding but still innovating , his modified clutch is popular with many riders and the "Special Branch" funnybike is mostly homebuilt unlike most of the bikes today

[Brett928S2]

kestral said:

Angus Mc fale (or something like that) I think he had that thing like a massive skateboard with an engine and big slick at the back. Might have been called Jade Warrior. Now that was innovative.

Hi

That "skateboard" had a Lotus Twin Cam on the back end of it and Angus (Mcphail) used to ride it horizontally with his chest and stomach around 3 inches from the ground...lol


I went round europe with him a couple of times with that thing lol....he was a really nice guy if a little nutty

All the best Brett