Santa Pod

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Discussion

mags

Original Poster:

1,138 posts

286 months

Tuesday 29th January 2002
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Any PH'ers going to the Thunderball at Easter??

tk9650

95 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th January 2002
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Could be.

Is that mainly Top Fuel Funny Cars and those classes below or will they have the full Top Fuel Dragsters too? I haven't been to Santa Pod in a while. I think it's about time I felt the ground shake again! Last time we went the vibrations set our car alarm off.

Tom

mags

Original Poster:

1,138 posts

286 months

Tuesday 29th January 2002
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Yes, the full monty, Top Fuellers and all.
Although I am not a big bike fan, the top fuel bikes are f*cking superb, they must be mad

www.santapod.com/

I missed out last year, so I hope the weather holds out this year.

Nightmare

5,230 posts

291 months

Tuesday 29th January 2002
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Yep - will definitely be there

cammers

396 posts

275 months

Tuesday 29th January 2002
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I'll be there if the race car's ready!
The Thunderball is usually a good event, as long as the weather holds up. The Top Fuel action will probably be pretty limited though, as it's not part of the FIA competition. ('Main Event' in May is the place to be for that!)
I think there are usually match races between the Nitro funny cars and Dragsters. Entertaining under the dark winter sky's. There's nothing like a fuel car with 6foot header flames!! Lovely!!

reardrive

2,135 posts

275 months

Wednesday 30th January 2002
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Takes me back. I used to go there a lot in the seventies. Saw the first five second run in the UK. Anyone who's never been you MUST give it a try (take some earplugs/defenders). Thanks for reminding me, another visit is long overdue.

mags

Original Poster:

1,138 posts

286 months

Wednesday 30th January 2002
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Reardrive,
Funny you should say that, I saw the first sub 4 run by a Top Fueller in 2000

Mags

cammers

396 posts

275 months

Wednesday 30th January 2002
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quote:
I saw the first sub 4 run by a Top Fueller in 2000

You mean sub 5 in '98 by Barry Sheavills!
There was one car in the early 80's which did run sub 4 second quarters though. That was Sammy Miller in the rocket powered Vanishing Point. He holds the world record for the quickest time ever- 3.58secs at 386mph, way back in 1984 (at Santa Pod too)
Never saw the car run myself unfortunatly! Must have been pretty spectacular though!!!!

See you all at the Pod
Mark

JSG

2,238 posts

290 months

Wednesday 30th January 2002
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quote:

There was one car in the early 80's which did run sub 4 second quarters though. That was Sammy Miller in the rocket powered Vanishing Point. He holds the world record for the quickest time ever- 3.58secs at 386mph, way back in 1984 (at Santa Pod too)
Never saw the car run myself unfortunatly! Must have been pretty spectacular though!!!!



I saw Vanishing Point run several times, including the first ever attempt in the UK and the 3.58 secs run. We used to race in Street class and spent most weekends at the Pod.

It was an amazing car, although somewhat surreal to watch as it was very quiet as it warmed up (you could'nt see anything from the stand at the back due to heat shields), but when it launched it was incredible.

I've got some photos somewhere - If I can scan them, perhaps Ted can post them somewhere.

Cheers,
JSG.

>> Edited by JSG (moderator) on Wednesday 30th January 22:56

mags

Original Poster:

1,138 posts

286 months

Thursday 31st January 2002
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quote:

You mean sub 5 in '98 by Barry Sheavills!



Oops, Thats what I meant
My memory is fading fast.....
Can't believe it was '98 though! I didn't think it was that long ago. I must be getting old

cammers

396 posts

275 months

Friday 1st February 2002
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quote:
I've got some photos somewhere - If I can scan them, perhaps Ted can post them somewhere.

Let us know if you sort something out
quote:
Can't believe it was '98 though! I didn't think it was that long ago. I must be getting old
Yep, 4 years ago this year and I still haven't seen a sub 5 in England myself!! Saw plenty in the states last year though!!



DIGGA

41,248 posts

290 months

Friday 1st February 2002
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Not exactly on topic, and some of you may have seen this before, but I was amused by a sticker on the door of a motorhome in Avon Park paddock which said, "Gone drag racing, back in 60 seconds!".

Only seen drag racing a couple of times, but loved it. It adds a whole new perspective to the phrase 'raw power'.

mags

Original Poster:

1,138 posts

286 months

Friday 1st February 2002
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I know what you mean, Its difficult to make non-believers see whats so great about 2 cars running in a straight line. But the first time I saw, and felt 2 Top Fuellers side by side, I was amazed, as for the bikes, well those guys must have nads the size of melons

prelude4ws

592 posts

281 months

Friday 1st February 2002
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its funny after seeing top fuelers run at full tilt almost every other form of motorsport seems somehow slower and quieter!! go and watch when they pitch a couple of fast road cars together, they look so slow its almost painful! i saw vanising point put in a half track pass at the pod a few years back, man that thing rocked!! a deathly silence followed by a huge explosion and the cars up the other end of the track some where without seeming to pass through the middle bit? was'nt there some thing that after a full pass he'd get out nearly blind and his ears bleeding??

cammers

396 posts

275 months

Thursday 21st March 2002
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The guy mentioned earlier in this thread, Sammy Miller in his 'Vanishing Point' rocket car, is said to be making a return to Santa Pod.
He will be there testing the car in May with a view to further appearances if testing is successful.
Hope it all goes well for him, as i'd love to see this thing make a good pass up the strip!

Cotty

40,283 posts

291 months

Thursday 21st March 2002
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quote:

Although I am not a big bike fan, the top fuel bikes are ing superb, they must be mad



I understand that they have a cold box just by the startline to put their brains in before they race. Once saw a bike lift the front wheel, change gear twice and put the front wheel down at over half the track didtance.

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Friday 22nd March 2002
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I used to read street machine mag many years ago. Remember a street legal chevy in there painted in grey primer. This thing ran on alchohol and could only either trundle along at 15mph or full throttle. Nothing in between. Apparently one time the guy drove it to his local pub in southend, pulling up right outside. In the pub a couple of glasses fell off the bar from the vibrations!