Santa Pod events

[coppice]

I'm always surprised how little interest there is in the PH community for drag racing. I enjoy most forms of live motorsport and this year have already enjoyed racing (modern and historic ), speed hillclimbs and also drag racing at my local strip, Melbourne .

This weekend sees the Nationals at the Pod with a huge entry ranging from thunderous Pro Mod , insane Outlaw Anglias , implausibly fast Super Pro ET and plenty of bikes up to Top Fuel .And the following weekend is the wonderful Dragstalgia .

Drag racing is devoid of the self importance and corporate bks which infects a lot of racing , it's access all areas , it's jaw droppingly loud and stupidly fast .I'll be making my annual 350 mile round trip on Saturday - and if you live in sensible range give it a go if you've never experienced it .

[MrBig]

Absolutely. Plus you can wonder round the pits and chat to the crew and see the cars up close. It's a fantastic day out, just take a comfy chair and be prepared for all seasons in one day!

[kestral]

One 1/4 mile strip in the whole UK now.
Virtually no UK terestrial coverage for the last 40 yrs. It used to be on World of Sport regularly on Saturday in the 70's.
The sport has been in decline for years.
There are issues with the way it is run regarding prize money also, unlike the USA.
When it rains it stops. Just think since September last year it has rained most weeks. The worst I have ever known.
I have tried over the years to convince people how good it is esp when TF cars are there but they see F1 as the thing (brain dead sheep).

[coppice]

It was still bloody great on Saturday ,with some mighty cars. Much as l love the sound of an angry big block, the astonishing speed of the Fraudster Escort and Fiestaroo (170+ mph ) was amazing .

It's a mystery to me why cars and coffee events attract thousands - blokes stand in field showing off their thrunge sprockets then drive like idiots at the exit- while drag racing's extraordinary spectacle is enjoyed by a select few .

[kestral]

We used to go to Santa Pod in the 70's, the meetings in September (The World Finals they called it) were excellent.
Sammy Millers Rocket car and American Top Fuel Funny cars side by side including world champion Ray Beadle and Gene Snow.

When was the last time any American Funny car ran at Santa Pod?

Sammy Miller used to do half a dozen passes a weekend sometimes 3 second quarters at 350mph plus. 40 yrs ago.

The toilets were a hole in the ground surrounded by a metal fence though. A small price to pay to see Sammy Miller in Vanishing Point and the Funny cars from USA.

I could just go up and speak to Sammy Miller, the quickest and fastest man on the planet over a quarter mile. Try talking to any F1 driver at any F1 meeting.

All thanks to the Phelps who ran Santa Pod at the time.

[aka_kerrly]

coppice said:

I'm always surprised how little interest there is in the PH community for drag racing. I enjoy most forms of live motorsport and this year have already enjoyed racing (modern and historic ), speed hillclimbs and also drag racing at my local strip, Melbourne .

This weekend sees the Nationals at the Pod with a huge entry ranging from thunderous Pro Mod , insane Outlaw Anglias , implausibly fast Super Pro ET and plenty of bikes up to Top Fuel .And the following weekend is the wonderful Dragstalgia .

Drag racing is devoid of the self importance and corporate bks which infects a lot of racing , it's access all areas , it's jaw droppingly loud and stupidly fast .I'll be making my annual 350 mile round trip on Saturday - and if you live in sensible range give it a go if you've never experienced it .

I agree the lack of coverage for Santa Pod events is a shame, as is the decline of racing facilities in the UK. Only today I saw a post on Facebook from someone who had flown a drone over the old Shakespeare County Raceway showing how the decaying buildings and torn up overgrown dragstrip are slowly being consumed by a housing development.

I spent a good few hours watching the Nationals on the Santa pod Youtube feed and have my tickets ready Dragstalgia! Heading up Friday afternoon to spend the full weekend there. Luckily one of the guys I'm going with is bringing his campervan so rather than the usual rough it in a tent and survive on pasties, beer, burgers & beer I can enjoy some finer cooking facilities and emergency cover if the weather becomes unbearable

[coppice]

I think the issue with relatively poor attendance and lack of interest is part of a general malaise in motorsport . I attend all sorts - racing , hillclimbs , drag racing and even autograss . All entertains and sometimes thrills, and I love the sensations of live motorsport -noise , smell , speed and talking to kindred spirits .

But for most people watching motor sport means watching telly - with a 2D image and being spoon fed images by a director and told what's happening by a commentator, rather than making your won judgement. The mere fact it's on TV almost validates it and it follows that if it isn't on telly , it can't be any good .

Nonsense , of course but it's why for many people who reckon they like motor sport , they actually only mean F1 and perhaps BTCC.

[DangerousDerek]

I am always trying to convince people they need to at least visit the pod once. Ive never known a 'virgin' say it want impressive.

I am at every meeting at Melbourne as i love the place and the people and go to a handful of meetings at the pod and have completed the first 2 Street Weekend events and intend to do many more.

I stream all the live footage on Youtube when i cant make it there. It inspires me to getting work done on the car!

[coppice]

I miss few at Melbourne too- great little track . I remember being annihilated by a (boosted to buggery )Skoda Fabia Diesel there in my 450hp/tonne Caterham in RWYB . Great leveller , the strip .