|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 18:43:04 GMT
|
|
I got a pile of books from my dad today,.. included in there is "The complete book of British drag racing" by David Hardcastle & Peter Jones.
In the section about dragstrips it has Santa Pod, Long Marston, Blackbushe and 'New' York Dragway. The Pod and York are obviously still in use, I think Long Marston became Shakey .. so what happened to Blackbushe?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 18:55:37 GMT
|
www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/They missed a few out, most notably North Weald!!!! Crosland Moor: Private airstrip just outside Huddersfield, Pennine Drage Racing Club ran one event there in 1974 before Kirklees District Council refused to grant a licence after recieving THREE complaints.  Radlett Airfield: Former Handley-Page aircraft factory strip just off the M25, used in the late 70's. The NDRC used Radlett a few times before settling at its permanent home at Long Marston in 1980. Wroughton Airfield: Just south of Swindon, the NDRC ran drags here too in the late 70's. Now owned by The Science Museum. Martlesham Heath;: Just outside Ipswich, the NDRC ran an event here in the early 70's. Now a housing estate. RAF North Luffenham: Rutland (Leicestershire, but now Rutland again), still owned by the RAF I think. There's also Fulbeck in Lincs, Felton just off the A1 north of Newcastle ran 1/8 mile drags in the late 60's, Debden (Essex), Graveley (Cambs), Chelveston (Beds), Church Fenton (Yorks), Kemble (Glos).....there must be more. Smeatharpe is used now, but I think the NDRC used Dunkeswell Airfield back in the 70's. Kent International Airport occupies what used to be RAF Manston, they ran 1/8 mile drags there back in the 80's. I think it was called Screamin' Alley Raceway.
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 14, 2008 18:59:00 GMT by briandamaged
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 19:19:58 GMT
|
My mum and dad used to go to Blackbushe for the drag racing years ago, theres still a few bits of disused road ways out the back I think, might try and sneak down for a look one day  edit: looking at googlearth, theres three runways and a load of taxiways still there and in use, guess the strip was one of those ;D |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 14, 2008 19:22:48 GMT by Speedman
|
|
|
|
What happened to Blackbushe?accord83
@accord83
Club Retro Rides Member 51
|
Apr 14, 2008 19:29:22 GMT
|
|
They used to do 1/8th mile at Aintree (horse racing) track, Liverpool. I went in 1975? saw a Honda S800 beat a V8 Camaro, the Honda was revving like a dentist's drill, sadly I was too poor as an apprentice to afford a camera, but I'll never forget that sound. John.
|
| |
74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 19:29:50 GMT
|
Last meet appears to be September 1984....    ....few pics here ;D |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 19:31:02 GMT
|
Looking at this pic......  ....the tree line behind the parked cars is the one that runs alongside the A30, so that make the main runway the strip ;D |
| |
|
|
ta22gt
Part of things
Posts: 70
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 19:53:13 GMT
|
|
Many happy memories of Blackbushe - I've still got some programmes and my Slick Willy Rebuild Fund sweatshirt somewhere - and no, Slick Willy was a Willys coupe, not what you're thinking.
The site was sold to British Car Auctions, who filled up the runway with second hand motors, making it very hard to negotiate, especially for Top Fuel......
|
| |
|
|
wakster
Part of things
retro rookie
Posts: 287
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 20:31:17 GMT
|
|
There are more car events starting to appear at North Weald, i live 20 mins walk away. Never heard of Debden drag strip? Where abouts was it? Anything to do with the m11?
|
| |
now everyones all keybord worrior like ive just posted a mk3 escort on oldskoolford and I'm all meh? |
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 21:06:19 GMT
|
There are more car events starting to appear at North Weald, I live 20 mins walk away. Never heard of Debden drag strip? Where abouts was it? Anything to do with the m11? Debden ran as a regular sprint venue in the mid-60's, they ran some drag cars/bikes there before the advent of Santa Pod in '66. I've just found this: www.ukdrn.co.uk/forum/index.phpWhat a goldmine!!! A few examples.  Felton, Northumberland, 1974.  Screamin' Alley, Kent, 1985.  RAF Hullavington, Wilts, 1969.  Crosland Moor, Huddersfield 1974. More info here too: www.trackbytes.co.uk |
| |
|
|
Rich G
Posted a lot
Keyboard Worrier
Posts: 1,059
|
|
Apr 14, 2008 22:10:25 GMT
|
Cool, any scanable old pics in it?! I don't know where blackbushe was, but is there any history of drag racing at smeatharpe airfield near taunton? Racing only started there last year and there was a meet last Sunday, next one in May I believe. Think they used to run sprints at Dunkeswell a long time ago. |
| |
|
|
|
|
dugong
Posted a lot
One Of Us Will Live To Rue The Day We Met Each Other (Wire : 2008)
Posts: 3,292
|
|
|
|
|
Was there any ever events at Elvington? What about the airfield in Jurby in the IOM?
Longest shot ever is the airfield next to the M62 near Ikea Warrington. What is \ was that place? Its used for HGV learners now I think, I tried to get down there but it was all fenced in. Any events ever held there?
|
| |
|
|
BiAS
Club Retro Rides Member
Insert witty comment here
Posts: 2,231
Club RR Member Number: 147
|
What happened to Blackbushe?BiAS
@cheeqi
Club Retro Rides Member 147
|
|
|
The site was sold to British Car Auctions, who filled up the runway with second hand motors, making it very hard to negotiate, especially for Top Fuel...... ;D ;D ;D |
| |
(car+wheels)-rideheight=WIN
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,841
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
What happened to Blackbushe?stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
|
|
|
|
Elvington was more top speed events iirc. Would be a better base for a dragstrip than York as it was a bomber base so the concrete runway is much thicker.
Matt
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the info. Its always useful to know venues and possible venues  Remember kids : Safety first, Safety second! : |
| |
|
|
Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 11:24:17 GMT
|
|
The racing at smeatharpe is only just taking off, it's called Dakota raceway. Not sure if it's ever been used for it before but the track is pretty curse word with only starting lights & no end gantry with display. It's only 1/8th of a mile as well... but I'm not complaing as it's better than driving to Santa Pod or shakey!
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 15, 2008 11:24:38 GMT by Stu_B
|
|
horney™
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,289
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 11:52:38 GMT
|
|
Great thread with some really interesting info and some cracking pics. Had no idea they used to run at Blackbushe.
Nick
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 12:09:58 GMT
|
Cool - I love all these old drag racing pics...... Is that the Haynes guide to drag racing David? If it is, I've got a copy aswell  Not sure about Blackbushe - but with our countryside literally littered with disused airbases (especially here in the east) Its no-wonder some of them have been used as dragstrips at some point.... Some interesting but useless Pod facts include; they used to race the other way, i.e down the hill rather than up it ;D The structure for the start gantry is exactly the same as the finish one, just that the one on the startline is clad & has windows (which aren't very water tight :  & my mates mum was born there when Poddington was used as a Refugee camp for the Poles in the years after the war  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 13:01:24 GMT
|
Cool - I love all these old drag racing pics...... Is that the Haynes guide to drag racing David? If it is, I've got a copy aswell No its the "Drive It!" one you can sort of get it on Amazon |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 14:58:49 GMT
|
Longest shot ever is the airfield next to the M62 near Ikea Warrington. What is \ was that place? Its used for HGV learners now I think, I tried to get down there but it was all fenced in. Any events ever held there? Used to be Burtonwood Airfield, used in WW2 by American airforce. Urban myths have it that there are huge underground hangars which may or may not still contain lots of USAF kit. Another rumour I heard was that there was a choice of Burtonwood or Ringway for the regions international airport, and obviously Ringway won, becoming Manchester International. Apparently, the main runway at Burtonwood was where the M62 is now. Although all this might be wrong. And completely O/T, cos I've never heard of drag racing there. |
| |
|
|
rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
|
|
Apr 15, 2008 19:10:59 GMT
|
|
I went to Blackbushe a few times in the late '60.s As a kid ai found it hard to see as there were no grandstands . I think we stood on the roof of my brothers car to get a vantage point !
|
| |
|
|
|
|
[*]
[*]
& my mates mum was born there when Poddington was used as a Refugee camp for the Poles in the years after the war 
