BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS 2016

The tough environmental legislation to which the Brighton and Hove Motor Club have to comply in order to continue this historic event these days prevented us from firing up and running the dragster. The main reason being that we have open exhausts but we asked the emissions team to pose for a special photo anyway.

The regulars were still pleased to see us – many recalling when they or their parents saw the car back in the early 1960s. The main reason that we took the dragster this year was as a thank you to the Brighton and Hove Motor Club for donating the SEMA Trophy won by Sydney Allard in 1963 to the National Motor Museum Beaulieu. It had previously been in their club house. 

I was also able to find the ideal place for a framed photo of the Allard Chrysler dragster to be displayed – The Brighton and Hove Motor Club Trophy room.

This photo was originally owned by Brian Golder who took on the initial task of restoring the car in 1979. The partly restored car was later donated to the museum by Brian’s widow Diane and we commenced our project to complete the restoration in 2007.

We couldn’t have made the trip without the help of Lucas Oil Products UK and we made sure the Lucas identity was displayed on track, in the event programme and on the large screen that kept spectators informed. Lucas Oil promotional items were well received by visitors with several of the racers expressing an interest in using the product. The ACAG Team was also in Lucas Oil T shirts with pull ups behind the dragster. When it got too windy we replaced the pull ups with a Lucas banner.

Thanks to ACAG members Syd McDonald, Martin Greaves, Louise Weir, Kev Roberts and his grandson Jason, Martin Dunks and Moss Haines for joining me to man the display and keep people informed.

As well as Lucas Oil items we were also able to hand out promotional material for Santa Pod Raceway and the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Martin Dunks checked out our period driver racewear for size. All items fitted.

It was great to take the dragster back to its spiritual home and meet so many people who follow the types of straight line speed events that provided the initial impetus for the growth of drag racing in the UK. One visitor was John Hume’s son Alex. John was Sydney’s Chief Engineer but sadly died a while back after a long illness but other members of the family kept him informed about the restoration.

Alex now has access to many photos and John’s notes and he promises to release much to us as he goes through it

Tony and Pia Bianchi also came to say hello. Tony now owns the Farrallac that competed at Blackbushe in 1964 and

 at Santa Pod in the early years. He is very interested in bringing it to a future Dragstalgia Meet. Jim Tiller was there of course in his very hairy and very orange Allard J2 and he always carries a special message to remember Sydney Allard’s important role in speed events, hill climbs and sprints let alone that as the Father of British drag racing. It was also great to meet up with Bob Oram who will be remembered by anyone spectating at Santa Pod in the 1970s racing his RED E Type Jag. He still has it.

I got a chance to speak on the public address system and tell people about the dragster, its history and its restoration. Of course it was another opportunity to mention Lucas Oil, the National Motor Museum Beaulieu and Santa Pod Raceway and all in all it was a good day. Even the weather behaved itself – just.