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David Riswick is the head honcho at John Woolfe
Racing |
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Click on any image to get the bigger picture |
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Hot Wheels Top Fuel Dragster |
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Following the demise of the Quartermaster
rail at the end of 1970, the team produced an all new car for 1971. It was
painted blue and yellow and sponsored by John Woolfe Racing and Mattel toys,
it was known as the Hot Wheels car and was the first JWR sponsored car to have a
392 Keith Black prepared hemi. |
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This shot was also taken on 30 August 1971
at Santa Pod Raceway. |
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This picture was taken at an unsuccessful
world record attempt at Elvington in late September or early October
1971. |
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Dennis Priddle on a lap at Santa Pod in the Hot Wheels car has a clear lead over his old adversary Clive Skilton driving his Second Revolution fueller. |
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But at
Blackbushe, an up in smoke Dennis Priddle is struggling against Bill Weichelt
driving the Dos Palmos dragster which he re-named Asmodeus. |
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Dennis
with the laundry out at Santa Pod Raceway. |
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Mr Six |
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This is without doubt the most beautiful
looking slingshot dragster ever produced outside of the USA. Biased? Who?
Me? |
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In recognition of a sponsorship deal
arranged by Dave, the car was initially known as the Radio Luxembourg 208
Dragster. The 208 bit was the wavelength of the station but this was soon to be
equalled and surpassed in terminal speed figures. |
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The car has been re-painted in blue and yellow to reflect the newly acquired Shell Oil sponsorship for 1973. Mr Six has been captured here by Alan Holland-Avery burning out with gusto at Santa Pod Raceway. |
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Back at Blackbushe and Dennis Priddle waves to the camera as he is pushed back to the pits. Pete Stanford is driving the push car with Irven Axe in the passenger seat. |
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The
moment of history for which this car and Dennis Priddle will always be
remembered - the first six second run outside of the USA. The record books were
re-written on 28 May 1972 when a run of 6.995 seconds at 185mph was recorded at
Santa Pod Raceway. |
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To the victor the spoils - in this case a
very small cup for a very small elapsed time! |
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A last look (on this page anyway!) of the elegant lines of Mr Six in the pits at Santa Pod. Dennis went on to drive the car to a best time of 6.59 seconds underlining the fact that it went every bit as good as it looked. |
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Mr Revell |
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6.59
seconds in Mr Six was obviously not enough for Dennis Priddle, therefore enter
Mr Revell. This car had been purchased from Norm Wilcox during a trip to the
USA with Clive Skilton to compete in the 1973 Winternationals held at Pomona.
Both Dennis and Clive qualified in the final 32 (out of a field of 90-odd
cars). Unfortunately the normally sunny Southern California suffered over 20
inches of rain in 10 days thus washing out the event. Dennis ran out of cash
and had to return to the UK before the meeting could be re-scheduled. |
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Mr
Revell had been bought minus an engine so a 417 Donovan engine was
purchased. |
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Another fine burn out at Santa Pod this
time taken by Lawrie Gatehouse. |
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And yet another great burn out at Santa
Pod as seen through the lens of Peter Quinn. |
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A bit of close examination of the engine
going on here in the fire-up area in the pits. |
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Mr Revell gets pushed back into the
'bleach box' behind the start line at Santa Pod - the car was not fitted with a
reverser. It was usual for the cars to start their burn outs very close to the
spectators in the barn. |
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Dennis Priddle appears to have a slight advantage as he and Clive Skilton power off the line at Blackbushe Aerodrome. The surface was very slippery and the fuel cars invariably rooster-tailed their way down the entire quarter mile. This didn't do the times much good but the terminal speeds were usually quite high and it was great for photographers and spectators alike. |
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