According to www.trakbytes.co.uk/ and bits of my own anorakesque memory.
1959: First UK Hot Rod club formed in Hayes, Middlesex
1960: British Hot Rod Association formed.
1961: Sydney Allard builds first British dragster.
1963: British Drag Racing Association founded.
1964: First 'Dragfest' at Blackbushe Airport, Surrey
1965: Evesham Auto Club run 1/4m Sprint at Long Marston (now Shakey)
1966: Santa Pod Raceway opens on April 11th.
1968: Hot Car Magazine launched (ran until 1982)
1969: 1st Drag racing Show at fairfield Halls, Croydon.
1970: Custom Car Magazine launched.
1973: Long Marston first used for proper Drag Racing (this was only 1/8 mile though, and used the runway where the pits are now.
1974: Crosland Moor Dragstrip opened near Huddersfield. Closed after the local council recieved 12 complaints about the noise!!
1975: Long Marston started using the runway it does now (except back then it was in the opposite direction)
1976: First 'Run What You Brung' meeting at Santa Pod.
1977: York Raceway opened at Melbourne. Was renamed 'New York Raceway' in 1979.
1978: Hot Rod & Custom Magazine launched (ran until 1983)
1979: Street Machine Magazine launched (ran until 2005??)
1980: Long Marston becomes a permanent drag strip.
I could go on, but my tea's ready. Have a look at Trakbytes for a brilliant history of draggin in the UK, and also visit www.timetraveldvds.co.uk for thousands of 70's custom pics.
1959: First UK Hot Rod club formed in Hayes, Middlesex
1960: British Hot Rod Association formed.
1961: Sydney Allard builds first British dragster.
1963: British Drag Racing Association founded.
1964: First 'Dragfest' at Blackbushe Airport, Surrey
1965: Evesham Auto Club run 1/4m Sprint at Long Marston (now Shakey)
1966: Santa Pod Raceway opens on April 11th.
1968: Hot Car Magazine launched (ran until 1982)
1969: 1st Drag racing Show at fairfield Halls, Croydon.
1970: Custom Car Magazine launched.
1973: Long Marston first used for proper Drag Racing (this was only 1/8 mile though, and used the runway where the pits are now.
1974: Crosland Moor Dragstrip opened near Huddersfield. Closed after the local council recieved 12 complaints about the noise!!
1975: Long Marston started using the runway it does now (except back then it was in the opposite direction)
1976: First 'Run What You Brung' meeting at Santa Pod.
1977: York Raceway opened at Melbourne. Was renamed 'New York Raceway' in 1979.
1978: Hot Rod & Custom Magazine launched (ran until 1983)
1979: Street Machine Magazine launched (ran until 2005??)
1980: Long Marston becomes a permanent drag strip.
I could go on, but my tea's ready. Have a look at Trakbytes for a brilliant history of draggin in the UK, and also visit www.timetraveldvds.co.uk for thousands of 70's custom pics.
