Life’s a drag in London

by Richard Barnett

The thing about drag racing is, like it or not, you associate it with hot and sunny weather.  So I was in for a rude awakening when I went to my first drag race event of the year.

The venue was North Weald dragstrip, which is found in Essex and lies about 35 miles from Central London.  So it’s quite entitled to call itself London’s drag strip.

The event was Gary’s Picnic, an event that’s been around the UK drag racing scene since the early `70s, but at different venues.  No funny cars here, just plenty of road legal cars and a smattering of more modified cars and bikes.

In the best British journalist clichés, rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those taking part.  And what a choice of cars there were – not to mention `bikes!  From a Subaru Imprezza and Nissan Skyline to Mustangs, a 440 Charger and an early `70s Monte Carlo, plus some Ford Anglias, Capris and Cortinas, variety was the name of the game on the rain-soaked quarter mile.

Plenty of surprises were thrown up during the day, with seemingly quick cars being blown away by far more inconspicuous sets of wheels… But that’s what drag racing is all about – here all show doesn’t necessarily mean all go!!

Sadly there were no nostalgia rods present – they have their own meet later on.  But while the Essex strip didn’t shake to the beat of the flathead, it was being set alight by a wide choice of four, six and eight cylinder lumps.

A great day, but us limeys don’t expect the sun to shine on our drag racing!!

About the author: Richard Barnett is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also been lucky enough to work with cars throughout his professional career. He claims to have started his motoring interest when he was two and a half years old.

During his working life Richard has sold motoring books, run a motoring library, done motor industry consultancy, been a motoring journalist (writing stories for the now defunct AutoClassic, Classic and Sportscar and Autosport) and currently works in motor industry pr.

A member of Britain's prestige Royal Automobile Club, Richard is also a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the Vintage Sports Car Club,
the Historic Sports Car Club and the Classic Rally Association.

He has an extensive motoring library and attends as many historic motor racing events as his calendar allows.

Richard owns a Lancia Flaminia and his favourite car is a Facel Vega HK500.