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Click on any image to get the bigger picture |
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A few pictures of the Thunderbird Fiat Topolino Pro-Comp altered to start off this page. It was an evil handling machine as this picture of it veering towards photographer Roger Gorringe proves. As usual he was getting a much better picture of it than me! |
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Thunderbird burning out at Santa Pod in the spectator lane. |
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This picture of the car in the pits at the Pod emphasises just how distorted the Fiat Topolino body was. |
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My thanks go to regular correspondent Andy Barrack for providing details of this accident to Thunderbird. Apparently it pulled a giant wheelie at the 1980 International Finals and after crashing down collided with the pit side barrier. This prompted the purchase of Clive Skilton's rear engined dragster from the USA, click here to see a picture of that car. |
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My thanks again to Andy Barrack for providing some background information on this superb altered. The car was driven by Tobjorn Gustafsson who ran down to 7.97 seconds at the Easter meeting held at Santa Pod in 1980. |
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Another shot of PC 30 which, as we learnt on page 2, was built in an incredibly short period of time. It may have been built quickly but obviously no corners were cut. |
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PC 30 is now called Cockney Rebel and campaigned by the Hammond & Bolton team. As you can see it has had a new lick of paint. This picture was taken at Blackbushe on 20 May 1984. |
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Andy Barrack believes this car was run by Scandinavian Steiner Enger and that the reference to Bob Smith on the side may relate to its previous owner probably from the USA. Steiner got as far as the final of Pro-Comp at the 1979 International meeting at Santa Pod before finally losing to Tony Donges in the Strike 10 dragster. |
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Helzapoppin' in the pits at Santa Pod in April 1983. A perspex canopy has now been fitted. Driver Sue Coles is examining something at the front of the car. |
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Helzapoppin' in the pits at Santa Pod in April 1983. A perspex canopy has now been fitted. Driver Sue Coles is examining something at the front of the car. |
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The Raindance blown altered seen in the pit lane at Santa Pod Raceway. If it is the same driver who had it when it a normally aspirated car then it is Martin Maxwell at the wheel. |
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The Houndog funny car sometimes appeared with this very fetching Model T body. As you can see from the number it had to run in top fuel dragster as at this time there was no other class for top fuel altereds more's the pity. |
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Another shot of the Houndog altered in the pits at Santa Pod. This picture was taken on 25 September 1983 and the weather looks far better than in the previous shot. Owner and team boss Nobby Hills is standing behind the wing wearing the stetson hat. |
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CA/18 is pictured in the pits at an NDRC meeting held at North Weald on 18 August 1985. Dave Grabham has been in touch to say that he is sure this car either was, or became, John 'Doc' Claydon's Well Mental. |
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An unusual front end shot of Steiner Stolen's Vindicator altered as it turns on to the bottom of the strip at Santa Pod. |
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It looks as if Vindicator had a bit too much clutch on this pass! |
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I have come to the end of my pictures of the blown altereds and have therefore gone back to the beginning to fill up the last few slots on the page. This shot of Keith Harvie's Dream Machine is unfortunately a little blurred but as it is the only action shot I have of the car I hope you will forgive me for including it. |
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Mike Hall is seen in his Shutdown altered at the Royal Naval Air Yard Wroughton. The orange and white van in the background was the National Drag Racing Club's control van which invariably contained their commentator Alan Wigmore. |
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No need to tell you where this is. Dave Stone burns out in the original Tee-Rat fuel altered. |
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And this is the re-built version after the accident which totalled the original car. The chassis was based on that in the Hillbillies funny car. This picture was also taken at the Pod. |
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