|
|
|
Click on any image to get the bigger picture |
|
|
|
Let's start page 2 with an in-depth look at Santa Pod's 'fleet' of three rear engined dragsters. Ladies first - welcome the return of the original 'Fast Lady' herself Roz Prior this time at the wheel of the Maneater top fuel dragster. She is seen here turning onto the strip. |
|
|
|
Not much of a picture you might think at first glance. Maneater has been caught at the very moment the tyres began breaking loose - they have already grown in diameter under the effects of the centrifugal forces, the right a little more than the left. The two chaps in the background demonstrate that even then top fuel dragsters were very noisy and very smelly things. |
|
|
|
|
A close up shot of Maneater burning out hard in the spectator lane. |
|
|
|
Another shot of Roz Prior burning out the Maneater car this time in the pit lane. |
|
|
|
|
Next up is the Highway Patrol top fuel dragster driven by 'The Joker' Ron Picardo. |
|
|
|
And here is Ron Picardo living up to his name and no doubt hoping to impress the scrutineers. The rear wing of the the Lizard top fuel dragster can be seen in the left top corner of the shot. |
|
|
|
|
Highway Patrol reaches the bottom of the fire up road and starts its turn onto the strip. Note the blue lights mounted for maximum aerodynamic effect on the rear wing. Before you ask - no they did not work! |
|
|
|
Ron was a great showman and here he is burning out in his own quiet way, you can almost see the car - its that little bit at the front! |
|
|
|
|
Finally Ron is seen trying to incinerate Highway Patrol. It's a shame the fire marshall was standing right in front but it was probably for the best. |
|
|
|
Last but certainly not least is the Asphalt Alleygator (yes that is the correct spelling) driven by the late, great Allan 'Bootsie' Herridge. |
|
|
|
|
A fine burn out from Bootsie in the spectator lane. |
|
|
|
Another good shot of a Bootsie-style burn out. Almost the same as the last one really - I am unapologetic - I don't think you can have too many pictures of Bootsie Herridge. |
|
|
|
|
The whole fleet lined up in the pits. You will probably have to look at the enlarged version to see this properly. In the foreground Ron Picardo is working on Highway Patrol, next to it is the Maneater car with a fine view of (I think) Dave Prior's posterior, and right at the end is the Alleygator. |
|
|
|
The colour of Peter Crane's Stormbringer may have changed from page 1 but the burn outs were every bit as spectacular. |
|
|
|
|
Stormbringer being maneouvred in the pits at Santa Pod. For some reason everyone is looking at a black car in the background with 'Big' something written on it. |
|
|
|
Oh yes - I remember - 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits. He may have been the King of the Dragsters but it didn't stop Clive Skilton winning top fuel at this meeting. Garlits admitted over the PA that Dennis Priddle's theory about moisture trapped in his magneto was probably what stopped the car running to its full potential. |
|
|
|
|
Speaking of Clive Skilton here he is driving Revolution III at Blackbushe. The car, which was getting on a bit, had been modified for the meeting attended by Garlits by lengthening the chassis between the engine and the back of the rollcage. This can clearly be seen in this shot. |
|
|
|
A close up shot of Liz Burn burning out in her Lizard dragster. I think the venue is either Blackbushe or possibly Snetterton. |
|
|
|
|
The Lizard must have been a chameleon because now it has turned pink! This shot was taken at Snetterton, the car has just passed through the lights and the throttle has been closed. I can't give you a terminal speed but the way those tyres have grown indicate that Liz Burn must have been really pouring the coals on. |
|
|
|
I have got five pictures of this car of which this is the best. Well done to Anders Olsson for looking up the name of the driver for me in one of his old magazines. Norwegian Fred Larsen was the shoe and he tells me the car was powered by a 354 Chrysler Hemi. |
|
|
|
|
Trevor Young imported this beautiful Competition Products sponsored car from the USA. Trevor can just be seen in red at the rear of the car as it sits in the pits at Blackbushe. |
|
|
All material on this site is copyright |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)