1975 - 1979
Contributors names in brackets after the entries where applicable. All other material researched by myself - Chris.
Where pictures appear in a blue border click to see a larger view.
SPR installs full strip floodlights and are awarded the UKs only night motor racing permit. |
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This season saw the introduction of a new class for the UK. Pro Comp was an amalgamation of Top Competition Altered and Top Dragsters into the 'Pro Competition' class. Cars in this class could be supercharged as long as nitro was not used (methanol was ok), or could use nitro with no supercharger. |
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'European Dragways' is formed as a progression of Clive Lanson Enterprises who promoted all the NDRCs meetings and financed trips from the states for racers such as Tom Christenson. The body intended to promote meetings in Sweden and Germany as well as the UK. |
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| March 28th | |
Snetterton. the First Annual Easter Nationals. After the success of the previous years first meeting at Snetterton the NDRC in association with European Dragways put on the first major NDRC meeting of the year. The strip now featured an improved PA system, a larger spectator enclosure on the right hand side of the strip and apparently an improved parking system. |
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SPR. Easter Meet. Peter Crane set a new UK record of 6.37/204mph in the Stormbringer. Dennis Priddle managed a 7.2 in his slingshot and blew his engine. Allan Herridge (Firefly) ran 7.1. Allan was also in action in the Funny Car class and ran 7.7/192mph in Stardust. He was due to meet Roland Pratt, who had run 7.2/196mph, in the final but rain stopped play. (Bill Dossett) |
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April 6th |
Long Marston. NDRC Meeting. |
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Blackbushe. RAC National Drag Racing Championship Round
Three including 1st round of the Motor Cycle News Top bike drag Racing
Championship.
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SPR. In Pro Fuel Dennis Priddle put in a single late qualifing run of
6.49 The final was Crane v Priddle. Peter Crane ran 6.79/204 while
Dennis Priddle ran a 6.04sec E.T.at 218mph in his 'Mr
Revell' slingshot. This world record for a front engined fueler stood
until the
1990s. |
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 May 3rd/4th |
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Snetterton.RAC National
Drag Racing Championship Round Four, round one of the Wolfrace Street
Championship and a round of the 208 Pro Comp Championship. Dennis Priddle
debuts his new Chrysler Avenger Funny Car. The car was built by Dennis and
his crew and featured a 470ci alloy Donovan engine with a two speed B&J
transmission in a 116in wheelbase
chassis. Liz
Burn, driving the ex Clive Skilton GTX Lizard Dragster ran 8.67/204mph. Liz
missed her parachute release and while trying to find it crossed the centre
line and hit Dennis Priddle in the Mr Revell fueler from behind. Both cars
left the track and ended up in the field. Both Liz and Dennis were OK, Mr
Revell was rebuilt but the Liz & Ollie car was a write off.. Stripteaser
ran a 10.55/124 their fastest time to date. Roz Prior ran a bye run 6.98/213,
a new personal best for her. (Bill Dossett) |
| May 24th-26th |
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SPR. May Day Holiday
Weekend Big Go.
Dennis
Priddle ran 6.9 in his new Avenger Funny Car. Peter Crane ran 6.18
in Stormbringer, Ron Picardo ran 7.3 in Firefly and Dave Stone ran 7.7 in
Hemi Hunter. Alan O'Connor ran 11.1 his best ever. Bob Messent ran another
personal best of 10.2 in Stripteaser. Tony Anderson (2.5 Daimler) ran 8.6.
Pat Cuss ran 8.9/165. Phil Elson (Sneaky Glowworm) turned in an 8.6.
In Pro Stock Gary Goggin ran 10.5 and on two wheels Keith Parnell (single
750 Triumph) ran 9.0@155. (Bill Dossett) |
June 8th |
SPR. Keith Parnell becomes first bike rider into the eight second bracket at 8.93/151mph.Two Top Fuellers turned up for this meet, Peter Crane with the Stormbringer and Ronnie Picardo with the Firefly. They ran two match races. Crane won both with no recorded time or speed to Picardos 8.05/189 in the first race, and took the second with a 6.70/205 after Picardos car broke on the line. |
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| June 14th/15th |
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Wroughton. NDRC
International meeting including 2nd round of the TOR LINE European funny
Car Championship, (1st round was held in Sweden and rained off),3rd round
of Motor Cycle News Top Bike Championship, a round of the Wolfrace Street
Championship and the 208 Pro Comp Championship. Seven Funny Cars turned up
for this event making it the largest FC race so far in Europe. They were
Clive Skilton (Vauxhall), Liam Churchill (The Sting, Capri), Dennis Priddle
(Avenger), Roland Pratt (Hillbillies), Hazze Fromm (Capri) and the
Swedish entries of Bjorn Andersson (Opel) and Leif Darback (Volvo).
Skilton was the number one qualifier but Priddle and Pratt made it
through to the final. Pratts car blew a blower gasket on firing up, a direct
result of upping the nitro percentage, allowing Skilton to come back in and
run the final. Priddle won however with a 6.95/204 to Skiltons 8.03. To see
the elimination ladder for the Funny Cars
click here. Jim Rowatt took the
win in Pro Comp in his "Double Or Quits" dragster, Dave Rose won the Super
Street final with a 12.95 in his Barracuda "Cracklin Rose".
Keith Parnell
ran 9.39. Top Fuel went to Trevor Young (Revolution3) 7.12 when Roz Priors
axle broke. Top Street went to Robert Oram (E type) 12.82. In Senior Comp
Altered Dave Page beat Anders Lantz 9.68. In Middle Comp Svante Eriksson's
Jeep beat Stripteaser 10.3 while John Whitmore took Middle Dragster with
an 11.25. (Bill Dossett)
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| July 5th/6th |  |
SPR. European Grand Prix incorporating the first British funny Car Grand Prix. A total of seven Funny Cars and one Fuel Altered were entered for this meeting including Dale Emery driving Leroy Chaddertons 'Chadderton & Okazaki' Chevy Vega FC from the US. Also over from the States was Danny Johnson and his 3.5 litre Harley Davidson, he ran a best of 8.4/167, John Hobbs managed an 8.8. During his burnout before racing Johnson, Hobbs, with his front wheel firmly up against the crash barrier, tore a large hole in the SPR tarmac. Allan Herridge set both ends of the European funny car record in Stardust with a 6.66/213.68 run in the Final against a tyre smoking Owen Hayward. For the Funny Car elimination ladder click here. Hayward was also in action in the "Houndog 8" Top Fueller, running a losing 7.07/205 in the Final to Peter Cranes 6.81/203 in "Stormbringer". Alan O'Connor won Super Street, beating Mike Churchill in a 3/3 match race. Mike Hall in "Shutdown" won the Pro Comp Final after Gerry Andrews "Hemi Hunter" broke. |
July 12th |
Aintree Circuit held what was to be its first and last ever Drag Race Meeting. The event was held over an 1/8th mile strip. (Mark Coles).Incidently Aintree was the scene of the first World Championship win by a British Grand Prix car, the Vanwall driven by Tony Brooks and Stirling Moss in 1957. (Not drag racing I know but slightly interesting all the same) |
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July 13th |
The MDRA begin using the strip that is still in use today to run their meetings at Long Marston. For this season and 1976 racing took place in the opposite direction to that used today. Previous to this racing took place on the number 1 runway. |
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July 27th |
SPR. Drag Racing News Trophy meeting. |
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August 17th |
Blackbushe. NDRC meeting. The funny cars of Clive Skilton, Dennis Priddle and Liam Churchill are present. Gary Goggin is the only Pro Stock competitor to turn up. |
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| August 23rd-25th |  |
SPR Holiday Weekend Supernationals. Saturday was reserved for qualifing and eliminations were run on the Sunday and Monday. For Sundays competition the cars were divided into 7 classes. A - G according to their qualifing times. For Monday the usual class eliminations were run. Saturday saw John Clift head the bike field with a 9.27/146 while hairiest ride of the weekend saw Keith Parnell managing a 9.46/147 while clinging to the side of his bike after being unseated by a combination of bumps and a crosswind. Ted Dunmow failed to qualify with a 9.89/134 on his unblown Triumph but was awarded a case of champagne for the best qualifing effort. On Sunday John Whitmore ran a new personal best of 9.49/138 to win the Class B final. In Super Bike Tony Weedon picked up a £5 prize for being the first 150mph runner after his 9.25/151 qualifing shot. John Hobbs ran a new personal best of 8.82/157 but lost to Ian Messenger in the final after his primary chain broke and Peter Crane was number one qualifier in Pro Fuel with a 6.42/216.45. On Monday Terry Revill ran his quickest ever in the Street Bike final, 11.64/117. Pete Smith won the Senior Bike final with a personal best of 9.25. Brian Mondey set a new Junior Comp class record with an 11.55/120 in the Optimist altered. Phil Elson and Pete Barnett match raced their funny cars but Barnett was having problems with the rear engined Vauxhall and Elson took the Sneaky Gloworm Capri to a 9.36/143 and an 8.81/156.Owen Hayward and Allan Herridge had two races in the Houndog and Stardust funny cars. Herridge took the first with 6.91/202.84 to Haywards 7.14/207.04 and the second with a 6.81/210.97 to 6.87/207.70. Owen Hayward had some consolation when he ran his quickest ever in the Houndog 8 dragster, 6.58/221.73, to win the final of Pro Fuel. For all class results click here |
John Hobbs sets new bike record at 8.47/172.41mph on his new machine. |
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| September 6th/7th |  |
Snetterton International including 4th and Final round of the TOR LINE Funny Car Championship, (3rd round held in Sweden). Dennis Priddle was the overall winner in his Donovan powered, Avenger bodied car with a seasons best time of 6.89 and a top speed of 217mph. |
September 14th |
Holland holds its first ever drag race meeting. It was attended by, amoungst others, Brits Allan Herrdige with Stardust, Ronnie Picardo with the Firefly, Mick Warne, John Clift, Mick Hand and Derek Penfold. Most competitors managed to put in at least one run although it rained alsmost all day. |
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| September 20th/21st |  |
Anglo American International. The Funny car eliminations include nine floppers and a Fuel Altered, the largest FC field ever in Europe. American funny car pilot Leroy Chadderton destroyed his Chevy Vega bodied cars motor in a huge fireball (a new experience for U.K.spectators) in the Funny Car Final. This was a solo run as his opponent, Allan Herridge, had lost fire. During qualifying Owen Hayward lowered the European Funny Car record to 6.61 in "Houndog" and in eliminations beat Dennis Priddle despite both cars recording identical 6.99 times. In Also present were Danny Johnson from the US with his 3.5litre Harley Davidson and his rival Tom Christenson with his twin engined Norton which was the quickest bike in the States at that time, his best E.T. being 8.02seconds. The TeeRat Altered, driven by Dave Stone, became the first British altered first to run into the sevens with a 7.55/196.08 after which the front suspension collapsed. His opponent was Phil Elsons 'Sneaky Gloworm' Capri Funny Car which ran 8.8. (Bill Dossett). |
September 28th |
SPR. G-Max trophy. |
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October 5th |
NDRC Championship Finals, Blackbushe, including finals of Wolfrace Street Championship and 208 Pro Comp Championship. |
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October 15th |
Blackbushe. NDRC meeting |
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November 1st/2nd |
SPR. Fireworks Spectacular. The Funny Cars of Dennis Priddle, Clive Skilton, Owen hayward and Allan Herridge were present. Skilton beat Hayward and Priddle ran a 7.96 to defeat Herridge. In the Final Skilton lost traction while Priddle won with a 7.31. |
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December 6th/7th |
SPR. Winternationals |
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Brian Chapman took the Top Bike Championship honours with his single cylinder Vincent, Mighty Mouse. His seasons best time was 9.07. |
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The February issue of Drag Racing News contains an advert for the Stardust Funny car at a price of £12,000. The car is bought by the Stones team who installed the Chevrolet motor from their Tee Rat altered. |
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Santa Pod Raceway begin holding "Run What Ya Brung" events, a chance for anyone with a driving licence to bring their own car along and run on the strip. |
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| April 16th |  |
Snetterton. Good Friday Superdrag Funny Car Championship and Gualoises/NDRC Pro Comp Championship. Second round of RAC National Drag Racing Championship, first rounds of NDRC points Championship and Manufacturers Championship. All in one day! Admission price £1.60. |
April 17th-19th |
Over 50,000 people attend SPRs 10th anniversary Easter meet starring the legendary Don Garlits in his 1975 car, the Swamp Rat#21 fueler. For the first time in Europe there was an eight car top Fuel entry. Garlits had mechanical problems and qualified no.5 with a 6.89/215mph. No.1 qualifier was Peter Crane in the 'Stormbringer' with a 6.21/215mph pass. Garlits and Crane met in the first round of eliminations, Garlits pulled a red and Crane became the first person outside the U.S. to run into the fives with a 5.97 run. Clive Skilton beat Crane in the semi finals but Crane still managed a 6.03 to back up his record. Skilton went on to win the final. Later it was revealed that the entire gate receipts for this record breaking attendance meeting were stolen by a 'gang of thieves'. SPR bought the Garlits car. Also at this meeting the Stones team won the Funny Car class with an 8.36/160 in Stardust and Allan Herridge debuted his new Alleygator rail, running a 6.31 on its first outing. Allan went on to record a best of 6.29 at 223mph this weekend, his personal; best to date.Jim Read in Le Patron broke into the seven second bracket in competition with a 7.96/154 followed by a 7.81/181 in the final. Terry Revill became the first gas bike rider to break into the nine second bracket with a 9.89/136 in qualifing. In Middle Dragster John Whitmores Leyland powered Drag N Fly set a new class record with an 8.63/146. Liam Chuchill debuted a new Funny Car, the Euro Sting Capri. To see results, Pro Fuel qualifing results and elimination ladder click here |
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May 23rd |
Snetterton. The Hemi engine in Roland Pratts Hillbillies Avenger Funny Car lets go during the first round of eliminations. The car was engulfed in a ball of flame at over 150mph but Roland escaped unhurt. |
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| May 29th-31st |  |
Holiday Weekend 'Big Go'. SPR publish a notice apologising for the state of the toilets! |
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Blackbushe. NDRC. Ist round of 1976 Tor Line Funny Car Championship.From Sweden John Anderson & Jan Carlson are present. Clive Skilton beat Dennis Priddle in the Final. In the final of Pro Comp Mike Hall (Shutdown) beat Fred Larsen (Sundance Kid). (Bill Dossett) |
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SPR. Euro Grand Prix. An eight car field in Funny Car sees Clive Skiltons
Vauxhall qualify at number one with a 6.90. Clive lost fire in round one,
handing the win to Dave Stone in Stardust. Allan Herridge in the ex-Leroy
Chadderton Vega, now the "Gladiator" met Dave Stone in the ex-Allan Herridge
car "Stardust" in the final round. Both cars lost fire off the line and Herrdige
in the lighter of the two machines coasted through the top end first. For
the Funny Car elimination ladder click
here. the Top Fuel cars of Roz Prior, Ronnie Picardo and Tony Froome
were present and ran a round robin race. Prior scored a great holeshot victory
over Picardo with a winning 7.62 to Picardos quicker 7.55 and then red lit
to hand a win to Tony Froome in "Sundowner".
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| July 18th |
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Snetterton. Gualoises/NDRC
Pro Comp Championship, Motorcycle/Superdrag Top Fuel Bike Championship, fourth
round of RAC National Drag Racing Championship. Second round of NDRC points
championship and Manufacturers
championship.
Mike Hall in the Shutdown Altered puts in his best ever run here, a
7.76/179mph. John Whitmore in the Drag-N-Fly dragster ran 9.92/153mph. (Bill
Dossett)
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August |
The August copy of Custom Car reports that Gary Goggin is retiring due partly to the high cost of rebuilding his Big Block Chevy motor in his Pro Stocker. (Bill Dossett) |
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August 22nd |
Blackbushe. NDRC meeting. |
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August 28th-30th |
Supernationals. SPR. The Stones win Funny Car in Stardust, running a 7.06et. |
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September 18th/19th |
SPR. US/GB Internationals. |
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October 16th/17th |
SPR. Winternationals. |
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| November 6th/7th |  |
Fireworks Spectacular. SPR. Barry Bowles puts in some demonstration runs in Europes first rocket car, the Blonde Bombshell.The three entries in pro Stock, Ted Gilbert in the Amber Gambler, Graham Hawes in Black Magic and Tony Dickson in Money Hungry are the last ever British Pro Stockers to run in the UK before the class is abandoned. |
At the end of this season the sports ruling committee decide that due to dwindling entries, prize money differences and conflicts over the rules, the UK Pro Stock class had "lost it's spectator appeal" and would no longer be a valid eliminator to run. RIP UK Pro Stockers. |
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February 19th/20th |
Crystal Palace 2nd International Drag Racing Show. New vehicles on display included The Maneater, Roz Priors new Top Fueller, Keith Potters 'Devil' Senior Altered and the 'Shotgun Wedding' Mustang of Colin Brackett. |
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| April 8th-11th |  |
Easter Spring Nationals. Motorcraft Pro Fuel Championship. In the programme SPR publish a notice apologising for the state of the car park and the toilets and stop taking firewood out of the woods!Also there were instructions about what to do when you get your car stuck in the car park mud. On the track Dennis Priddle sets a new Top Fuel speed record of 230mph in the ex-Don Garlits "King Rat " fueler.(Tog) Jeff Byne runs the first bike '8' of the year with an 8.97/156. Popular Dutchman Henk Vink ran his first ever 8 on his Kawasaki "Big Spender", 8.91/163. Henk won both days eliminations. Les Armes fitted a turbo to his Pro Street Kawasaki and immediately knocked half a second off the class record, lowering it to 10.32/136. Brian Chapman beat Mick Butler 9.12 /150 to 9.5 /131. |
| April/May 30th-1st |  |
SPR May Day Summernationals Meeting.The programme for this event carried the news that Don Garlits would definately be returning to the UK to compete at `the July International. On the strip, the first round of the British Drag Bike Championships saw Brian Chapman run a best of 9.18/150 to defeat Ted Dunmow in the final. |
May 29th |
The first event at Long Marston to run races from the startline site that is used today.(100ft further on actually but near enough) (Ron Clark) |
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June 5th-7th |
SPR. Holiday Weekend Big Go/Silver Jubilee. Hopes are high for the first side by side eight second bike race when Henk Vink and Jeff Byne run a string of eights each to meet in the final. Unfortunately Vink suffered a gearbox breakage and left Byne to solo to a 8.95/152 win. |
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June 26th |
The Pennine Drag Racing Club acquire the Melbourne airfield as their new venue, and open it as 'York Raceway'. |
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| July 9th/10th |
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July Internationals at SPR saw return of Don Garlits who came back to avenge his previous years defeat and re-purchase the Swamp Rat#21 car for display at his newly formed Museum Of Drag Racing. Dennis Priddle had been driving the car very successfully with his own motor.This meeting saw 8 car fields in Pro Fuel and Funny Car for the first time. Garlits won the Pro Fuel eliminator, beating Roz Priors 'Maneater' with a 6.17/232mph blast. A new class is introduced for bikes, John Cheadle wins the first ever Gas Bike eliminator, his 350 Kawasaki running 10.36/132 to John Lloyds 750 Kawa which clocked 10.67/126. The toilet apology notice is now a permanent fixture in the programmes. For all car class results from this meeting click here. For bike results click here |
August |
Drachten, Holland. Allan herridges 'Alleygator 2' rail gets out of shape on a demonstration run and rolls over many times. Allan suffered no more than two black eyes but the car was a write off. |
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| August 27th-29th |
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SPR. Holiday Weekend Supernationals Including fourth round of the Motorcraft Pro Fuel Masters Championship.With the second Houndog funny car under construction the first, the ex Paula Murphy car that debuted in 1973, is destroyed after a halfshaft broke as the car launched off the line, sending it through 90 degrees into the crash barrier. John Hobbs on his double Weslake 'The Hobbit' sets a new bike record and comes the closest yet to a seven second run with an 8.15/175 backed up with an 8.44/170. Brian Chapman won Top Bike on the first day, beating Johnny Munns Norton in the final. In the second days competition Munn turned the tables on Chapman by dumping him in the first round and going on to run his best ever time in the final, 9.08/151. |
September 11th |
NDRC Meeting. Snetterton |
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September 17th/18th |
SPR. International. The first appearance in the UK of Raymond Beadle and his Blue Max Funny Car.Beadle set record for fastest funny car terminal speed of 221mph (backed up) while Dennis Priddle set a new lowest ET record at 6.5 in Olavi Knuutinens black Monza funny car. The meeting was eventually rained out but not before Brian Chapman had run his best ever at 8.96 on his 500cc Vincent 'Mighty Mouse'. Motor Cycle Magazine sponsored a match race between John Hobbs and Henk Vink to determine the "King Of Europe". Hobbs won with a resounding 8.21/174 to Vinks troubled 10.71/127. |
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October 1st |
Elvington Records Weekend Yorkshire. Barry Bowles "Blond Bombshell" rocket car records average speeds of 231.86mph & 207mph. His fastest recorded speed was 275mph (Bill Dossett) |
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| October 15th/16th |  |
SPR. Winternationals. Henk Vink takes the Top Bike honours with his best ever run, 8.53/154. |
| November 5th/6th |  |
SPR. Fireworks Spectacular. John Hobbs and Henk Vink both run strings of eight second passes in eliminations but when they met in the final Hobbs sheared an oil pipe union on the burnout and hopes of seeing the first side-byside eight second race were seemingly dashed. Vink soloed to an 8.65/153 win. On return to the pits Vink challenged Hobbs to a one off match race. Hobbs bike "The Hobbitt" was repaired in the darkness and what was later described as the "race of the year" took place five minutes after the meeting had been completed. A large percentage of the crowd stayed on and witnessed Europes first ever side-by-side eight, Vink just getting to the line first with an 8.47/155 to Hobbs 8.76/166. |
The Stones team retire the original Stardust funny car and purchase Raymond Beadles Blue Max Mustang. They had the car repainted in the original Stardust livery. |
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February 18th/19th |
Crystal Palace. The 3rd International Drag Racing Show.Many new cars made their public debut at this show. Creating a lot of attention was a new Santa Pod Top Fueller, "The Needle" to be driven by Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis. The car was built in just five weeks after the BBC gave DLT permission to take the drive. Also debuting at this show: Rod Pallants 'LA Hooker' a blown and injected twin 900cc Kawasaki, Melvyn Woodings 'Blue Rose III' Ford Maverick, Pete Corleys Pro Comp rail and the Stones team had their new rail 'Hemi Hunter II' and the 'Tender Trap' Escort on show, both painted in Stardust colours, |
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February 28th |
Tara Hotel London. The BDR & HRA Dinner Dance and Awards Ceromony. To see a list of the winners click here |
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March 24th-27th |
SPR. Easter Springnationals.Raymond Beadle is present with a new Blue Max funny car. |
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April/May 29th-1st |
SPR.May Day Drag Festival |
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May 27th-29th |
SPR. Spring Bank Holiday Big Go. Rain hampers proceedings. To entertain the crowds Nobby Hills brought the Houndog funny car down the strip in the back of a giant earthmover. It was then lifted out by a large crane and set down on the strip. The truck and the crane were supplied by SLD Olding, the company Nobby worked for and the cars sponsors. Despite the strip being still damp some of the Top Fuellers came out to race but the conditions prevented any serious competition. |
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| June 3rd/4th |  |
Snetterton. NDRC Championships Round Four, RAC British Drag Race Championship Round Four, Gauloises/NDRC Pro Comp Championship Round Three and Round Five of the ACU British Drag Race Championship. |
June 18th |
NDRC Meeting at Radlett Airfield |
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June 25th |
NDRC Div. 1 (Midlands) meeting at Long Marston incorporating John Brown Wheels Pro Comp Championship |
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July 2nd |
NDRC Meeting at Snetterton |
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July 8th/9th |
SPR International.Raymond Beadle runs 6.51/208 to beat Anders Hasselstroms 6.55/202.4 in the final of Funny Car. Micky Naylor ran his first ever six at this meeting in the ex-Dennis Priddle slingshot while the 'Pro Fuel' title went to Trevor Young whose 6.63/210 beat Roz Priors losing 6.70/208.3. In Pro Comp Pat Cuss took his Bel Ray Streamliner dragster to a 8.45/165.8 win over Reg Hazletons 9.50/153.8 in his Topolino Altered 'Thunderbird'. John Whitmore took his Leyland powered dragster 'Drag 'N' Fly to a 9.03/141.2 win over Keith Potters 9.45/145.5 in 'The Devil' altered. Dutchman Henk Vink was winner of the Superbike final against Ian Messenger on Pegasus. |
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July 21st-23rd |
The First Brighton dragster & Custom Show. Metropole Hotel. Amoungst the entries are the funny cars of Ray Beadle (Blue Max), Allan Herridge (Gladiator), Dennis Priddle (Monza), Owen Hayward (Houndog 9), Dave Stone (Stardust) and Phil Elson (Sneaky Gloworm), the Top Fuel cars of Roz Prior (Maneater), Dave Lee Travis (The Needle), Gerry Andrews (Hemi Hunter) and Ronnie Picardo (Highway Patrol). Also there were Barry Sheavills Stagecoach Altered, Bob Messents Stripteaser and the bikes of Mick Carter, John Hobbs and John Clift. |
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July 23rd |
NDRC Meeting at Wroughton |
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July 29th/30th |
NDRC Div. 1 (Midlands) meeting at Long Marston incorporating John Brown Wheels Pro Comp Championship |
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August 13th |
NDRC Meeting at Blackbushe |
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August 20th |
NDRC Div. 1 (Midlands) meeting at Long Marston incorporating John Brown Wheels Pro Comp Championship |
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| August 26th-28th |  |
SPR Supernationals August; In the final of Super Comp on the Monday, Al O'Connor in Al's Gasser against Gerry Andrews in Tender Trap, Al pulled a massive wheelie from the line and then went totally out of shape, flipping the car end over end, completely destroying it in the process. Al escaped with cuts and bruises and suspected concussion but the incredibly popular car was damaged beyond repair. A collection was organised by some of the other drivers who carried a blanket around the site raising in excess of £1000 to help Al with the rebuild. Also at this meeting Gary Page drove the 'Panic' Altered to its first ever seven second run in the final of Pro Comp. A 7.92 at 175mph beating Reg Hazletons 8.52 in Thunderbird. Also in Pro Comp Graham Hawes debuted his new Monza funny car, Black Magic, running10.01/151 in its first race.By the Monday Graham was running into the eights.In Top Fuel Peter Crane returned to the track with the now repainted Stormbringer. Ronnie Picardo won the Top Fuel class with a 6.85/205 against an out of shape run from Roz Prior.Sue Coles won Middle Altered on the Sunday with a 10.21/140 in her Helzapoppin altered. Melvyn Wooding beat Al O'Connor in the final of Sundays Street Bracket 1 eliminations. Also on Sunday Russ Carpenter won Senior Dragster with a 10.35, Gerry Andrews Hemi Hunter won Pro Comp with an 8.07 to Reg Hazletons 8.32 in Thunderbird. Henk Vink won Bike Bracket 1 with an 8.52/ 176 to Johnny Munns 9.50/152. |
| September 9th/10th |  |
September this season
saw the last event organised by the NDRC at Snetterton Circuit, Round nine
of the NDRC Points Championship. Racing here was abandoned as a financial
loss. (Ron Clark)
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September 16th/17th |
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At SPRs September Internationals Sammy Miller made his UK debut with the 'Vanishing Point' rocket funny car, breaking all existing records with a quickest elapsed time of 4.41/245.6mph. His slowest run was only 4.94/225mph! Sammys best terminal speed of the weekend was 290 mph, just missing out on the £5000 prize Santa Pod had put up for Europes first 300mph run. Santa Pod gave him £2500 for coming so close. According to Sammy terminal speeds would have been higher but he was worried that there was not enough room to slow down after the finish line. One month earlier Sammy made his European debut at Bulltofta airstrip, Malmo, Sweden before shipping the car to Santa Pod. Bulltofta is now an industrial estate.(Ron) Also this meeting saw the last appearance of a top fuel slingshot in the UK. Micky Naylor lost the nose weight on the ex-Dennis Priddle Medicine Man dragster. The car flips over and is destroyed. Micky was unhurt but never raced again after this crash.In Funny Car there were eight entrants including Allan Herridge with a new Milodon motor in the Gladiator. Gene Snow brought two cars over, a Monza and an Arrow. Ronnie Picardo test drove the Monza but not in competition. He bought the car and renamed it The Force. Snow qualified at no.1 with a new record time of 6.39, followed by Raymond Beadles Blue max with a 6.69, and Dennis Priddles Monza with a 6.76. In the first round Priddle ran 6.61 but lost out to Snows second new record time of 6.34. Allan Herridge ran a 6.56 but couldn't quite beat Beadles 6.36. Gene Snow won the final round against Swedens John Andersson. Trevor Young qualified no.1 in Top Fuel with a 7.29 but went out in the semi finals, with a 7.05 to Micky Naylors 6.56. The other semi saw Kent Persson beat Gerry Andrews with a 6.75 to a 7.16. Roz Prior match raced Swedens Eva Kjellin. Roz won the first with a 7.02 to an 8.04, the second with a personal best of 6.43 to a 6.73 , before pulling a red light in the final race. In Comp Bracket 5 the win went to Barry Sheavills in the Stagecoach altered, Henk Vink won Superbike, |
September 24th |
NDRC Finals, Blackbushe |
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October 14th/15th |
SPR. Winternationals |
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November 4th/5th |
SPR. Fireworks Spectacular |
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York Raceway becomes 'New' York Raceway. |
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March 24th/25th |
SPR. Season Opener. Allan Herridge debuts his latest rail, Alleygator 3. |
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| April 13th/16th |  |
Easter Internationals
SPR.(Including European Pro Comp Championship Round 1). Junior Altered
driver Alan Loten sets a new class record at 10.59/121 in the Jaguar powered
'Paranoia' altered. Swede Sten-Ake Karlsson sets a new class record in Top
Modified with a losing 10.38/122. Jim Whiting beat him with a hole shot in
his Lotus Super 7. Nigel Patrick set a new class record in Pro Street Bike
with a 9.38/143 pass in the semi finals. Pip Higham sets new class record
in the Street Bike class with a 10.23/135 in the final round. John Lloyd
sets a new class record in the eliminations of Gas Bike at 9.62.
Click here to see all the class
results and further notes for this meeting.
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| May 5th-7th |  |
May Day Internationals,"Festival Of Speed". SPR, Racer John Dalton tragically lost his life when his 'Disco Motion' altered crashed.The first fatal accident in over 16 years of Drag Racing in the U.K. Also at May Day meet, Al O'Connor in the all new Al's Gasser won Street Bracket, and Roz Prior launched two blowers skywards on the same day!Trevor Young was quickest Top Fuel driver of the season so far with a 6.4second run.Camp fires are banned at Santa Pod! Click here to see all the class results and further notes from this meeting. |
May ?? |
York Raceway.A scorching day at the first meeting of the season at York - Malcolm Olley's Pink Panther Jet car appeared as the demo car. Jim Briggs debuted the ex-Melvin Wooding Maverick as 'Wildman' and Graham Simpson rolled his new Comp Altered pop on it's debut! (Darren West) |
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May 26th-28th |
SPRs Spring Bank Holiday 'Big Go' is almost washed away in the traditional British bank holiday rain. To see results and further notes from this meeting click here. |
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The June issue of Drag Racing News announced that the Pages 'Panic' was now officially the fastest ever British Pro Comp car and the fastest British Altered. It was only three tenths of a second off the long standing American record of 6.82/202.24 set by Ron Boggs in 1977. |
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June 16th/17th |
SPR hosts the first 'Garys Picnic' event. |
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| June 23rd/24th |  |
BDR&HRA, in association with Santa Pod Raceway, organise the first Eastern Nationals at the re-named Sugarbeet County Raceway, part of Snetterton Circuit. The meeting was alleged to have an all time British Drag Racing single-event sponsorship figure of over £3000. The entry list included an eight car Pro Comp field and a Funny Car match race between Dennis Priddle in his John Woolfe Racing Monza and Owen Hayward in his SLD Olding sponsored Houndog 9. |
July7th/8th
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SPRs Summer Internationals sees the return of Sammy Miller who collected the £5000 prize for Europes first 300mph terminal speed.After a 4.68/245 shakedown run and a 4.43/265 when he inadvertently hit the chutes after a bumpy top end ride, he ran 4.20seconds with a terminal speed of 307.6mph.(Guiness Book Of Car Facts and Feats) To make sure of securing the prize Sammy continued accelerating through the speed traps and ripped the chutes to bits. His final run of the weekend was then cancelled. In Funny Car Raymond Beadles Blue Max was no.1 qualifier with a 6.57 followed by Gene Snow with 6.75, Allan Herridges Gladiator with 6.76, Dennis Priddles Monza with 6.92, Owen Haywards Houndog with 6.95 and Ronnie Picardo in The Force with 7.97. In the first round Beadle had a bye and ran 6.56. Snow was also on a bye and put in a half pass. Herridge beat Hayward with a 6.68/210 to a 7.07. Priddle ran 6.84/196 to beat Picardo who got out of shape and crossed the centre line. In the semis Snow beat Priddle with a 6.51 to a 6.75 while Beadle beat Herridge with a 6.34 to a 6.74. The final was set for another Beadle and Snow showdown but the Snowman blew his motor on the burnout. Allan Herridge stepped in to take his place but had no chance as the track was still soaked in oil. Bootsie gave it his best shot , trying to find a line past the slippy bits to much cheering from the crowd but Beadle won with a new record 6.24/221. In Top Fuel Dave Lee Travis took the honours with a solo 7.62 after Roz Prior failed to get to the line. In Pro Comp Gerry Andrews took the win over Graham Hawes despite the fact that both drivers recorded 6.67second runs. John Hobbs took the Superbike final, almost getting down into the seven second bracket, with an 8.07 over Jeff Byne. |
July |
York Raceway. Pennine Drag Racing Club. Jim Reads Le Patron Pro Comp dragster sets the PDRC strip record at 7.97. |
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July 20th-22nd |
Brighton Dragster & Custom Car Show. Sammy Millers Vanishing Point is among the exhibits. |
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August 11th/12th |
Sports Nationals, Sugarbeet County, Snetterton. Dave Tucker, driving the 'Stripteaser' altered bounced out of shape, up the grass bank and back onto the strip reportedly taking the life of an innocent rabbit who was minding his own business and watching the racing. For meeting results and further notes click here. |
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August 26th/27th |
Bank Holiday Supernationals. SPR Allan Herridge first
fireballs the motor of his 'Gladiator' funny car during qualifying then flipped
it onto it's roof in the final against Owen Haywards 'Houndog' who
recorded a 7.38/139 win. A surprise party was held for Allan on the Saturday
night to celebrate his 20 years in Drag Racing.
Click here for a picture and an extract
from 'Drag Racing News' about this event. Funny Car Eliminations saw top
1975 -
1979
Contributors names in brackets after the entries
where applicable. All other material researched by myself - Chris.
Where pictures appear in a blue border click to
see a larger view.
SPR installs full strip floodlights and are awarded the
UKs only night motor racing permit.
This season saw the introduction of a new class for the
UK. Pro Comp was an amalgamation of Top Competition Altered and Top Dragsters
into the 'Pro Competition' class. Cars in this class could be supercharged
as long as nitro was not used (methanol was ok), or could use nitro with
no supercharger.
'European Dragways' is formed as a progression of Clive
Lanson Enterprises who promoted all the NDRCs meetings and financed trips
from the states for racers such as Tom Christenson. The body intended to
promote meetings in Sweden and Germany as well as the UK.
SPR. Easter Meet. Peter Crane set a new UK record of 6.37/204mph in the
Stormbringer. Dennis Priddle managed a 7.2 in his slingshot and blew his
engine. Allan Herridge (Firefly) ran 7.1. Allan was also in action in
the Funny Car class and ran 7.7/192mph in Stardust. He was due to
meet Roland Pratt, who had run 7.2/196mph, in the final but rain stopped
play. (Bill Dossett)
April 6th
Long Marston. NDRC Meeting.
Blackbushe. RAC National Drag Racing Championship Round
Three including 1st round of the Motor Cycle News Top bike drag Racing
Championship.
SPR. In Pro Fuel Dennis Priddle put in a single late qualifing run of
6.49 The final was Crane v Priddle. Peter Crane ran 6.79/204 while
Dennis Priddle ran a 6.04sec E.T.at 218mph in his 'Mr
Revell' slingshot. This world record for a front engined fueler stood
until the
1990s.
June 8th
SPR. Keith Parnell becomes first bike rider into the
eight second bracket at 8.93/151mph.Two Top Fuellers turned up for this meet,
Peter Crane with the Stormbringer and Ronnie Picardo with the Firefly. They
ran two match races. Crane won both with no recorded time or speed to Picardos
8.05/189 in the first race, and took the second with a 6.70/205 after Picardos
car broke on the line.
July 12th
Aintree Circuit held what was to be its first and last
ever Drag Race Meeting. The event was held over an 1/8th mile strip. (Mark
Coles).Incidently Aintree was the scene of the first World Championship
win by a British Grand Prix car, the Vanwall driven by Tony Brooks and Stirling
Moss in 1957. (Not drag racing I know but slightly interesting all the same)
July 13th
The MDRA begin using the strip that is still in use today
to run their meetings at Long Marston. For this season and 1976 racing took
place in the opposite direction to that used today. Previous to this racing
took place on the number 1 runway.
July 27th
SPR. Drag Racing News Trophy meeting.
August 17th
Blackbushe. NDRC meeting. The funny cars of Clive Skilton, Dennis Priddle
and Liam Churchill are present. Gary Goggin is the only Pro Stock competitor
to turn up.
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March 30/31st
