1960 - 1964

Contributors names in brackets after the entries where applicable. All other material researched by myself - Chris. Click on pictures to see a larger view. Text links will open in a new window, close it when you're done.

1960

Sydney Allard imported a GMC 6-71 blower, complete with Hillborn fuel injection, from the Moon Equipment Company of Los Angeles California. He also began to prepare a Chrysler Hemi motor.

The September edition of 'Car Mechanics' carried a small item of news in Tony Bostocks regular tuning and modification section 'Hot Rod'. Maurice Davidson had written to the magazine to announce the formation of a club called 'The Sprinters'. Maurice, from Uxbridge, Middlesex, explained that the club was formed to promote the American sport of Hot Rodding in the UK and to build "Dragsters". Rallies, rodeos, sprints and social events were planned and it was also planned that Sprint events would be held on properly organised quarter-mile drag strips.

September 1st 1960 The British Hot Rod Association (BHRA) was formed by the amalgamation of clubs like the Highwaymen with the intent of unifying Sprint Clubs and holding organised Drag Races at disused airfields like Duxford and Graveley. Brian Coole was chairman.

1961

Sydney Allard completed the building of his first dragster. Powered by a 354ci Chrysler with a GMC 6-71 blower, Hillborn Fuel Injection it produced around 750BHP on straight methanol. Allards idea was to use the car to help establish the sport of Drag Racing in the UK and thus generate a market for competition and hot rod equipment. The car had no serious competition as nobody wanted to spend the money required to build another rail. He ran it at the Brighton Speed Trials in this year and by the end of 1962 he had run a best time of 10.48 seconds.

1962

March Sydney Allards dragster was featured in the March edition of the U.S. magazine Hot Rod.

April 15th A National Speed Trial was held at RAF Debden in Essex, and entered in Class 16, Dragsters-Any Capacity, was Sydney Allard in the Allard Dragster. There were eight entries in Class 16, but the Allard was actually the only dragster with the other seven cars being specials of one sort or another. The meeting was organised by the West Essex Car Club, and the programme states that this was the first time the meeting had been held at Debden as the former venue, North Weald, was no longer available. (Clive Rooms)

Allan Herridge and John Harrison formed their own company called Dragster Developments and  began to build their first dragster together. The car had street tyres, an open back end and, at the insistance of the RAC, front disc brakes. It was powered by a 322ci straight 8 cylinder Buick motor with 4 SU carbs, these were later replaced by 2 carbs with a front-mounted blower.

1963

Sydney Allard formed the British Drag Racing Association (BDRA)

March 31st Allan Herridge ran his straight eight Buick powered dragster at the West Essex Car Club Sprint. He ran a best time of 17.19secs.

September The first American dragster and crew arrived in the UK. Dante Duce had challenged Sydney Allard to a transatlantic match race series and had persuaded Dean Moon to lend him his 600bhp Chevrolet Mooneyes dragster for the trip Financial assistance came from Mobil Oils and Revell Model Kits.

Tuesday September 10th Silverstone. In the first round of the challenge Dante Duce and Sydney Allard were joined by, amoung others, Allan Herridge with his Buick dragster, Tony Densham with his 1500 Ford dragster 'The Worden' and George Brown with his supercharged 1000cc Vincent motorcycle 'Super Nero' which was, at that time, the fastest accelorating motorcycle in the world. Bob and Roy Phelps of Fibreglass Repairs were brought in, with their customised Plymouth pickup, to push start the dragsters. So began their long involvement with British drag racing. After some adjustment to tyre pressures Duce soloed to a 9.48/166, the fastest run outside the U.S. at that time. He followed this up with a 9.25/166.6. The only other results I have so far are that Duce and Allard won one race each. One man who was present and was inspired to build his own car after witnessing this event was one Norman 'Nobby' Hills.

Saturday September 14th The Brighton Speed Trials. Sydney Allard and Dante Duce were  joined by Americas Mickey Thompson who brought over his Ford Powered Harvey Aluminuim Special fueller. The RAC officials decreed that for safety reasons only 'mild' demonstration runs would be permitted. Thompson and Duce paid little regard to this and put in some wild passes, the headers on Thompsons car setting light to the hay bale barriers at one point.

Sunday September 22nd RAF Debden. Essex. In the final round of the transatlantic challenge 5000 spectators lined the strip even though the event was officially closed to the public! Duce ran a best time of 9.99 while Allard had problems with a sheared blower drive and could only manage a 12.85. Mickey Thompson beat Duce in a match race challenge and Tony Densham in his Worden dragster challenged Allard to a match race but was easily beaten. Thompson went on to set a new European record on his final solo run. He recorded an 8.84 at 178mph and collected the SPMA Trophy.

During 1963 the BHRA attempted to hold a Drag Racing Meeting in the Midlands (Venue?) but this was cancelled due to lack of entries.

Allan Herridge and John Harrisons Dragster Developments firm built the first all British dragster, powered by an Austin Atlantic engine.

1964

April 8th Sydney and Alan Allard unveiled their latest dragster to the motoring press at Silverstone. The slingshot design had a 1500cc Cortina motor and a Shorrock supercharger and was called the Dragon. The plan was to make the car available to the public in kit form to help people get started in Drag Racing. The price for the full kit was 600 pounds. At this launch driver John Hume clocked a best of 12.47/105. Electronic equipment mounted on the car recorded a 0-100mph time of 11.1 seconds.

Easter The BHRA held a two day Rod & Custom Show in the underground car park at Hyde Park.

May 17th Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire.  The first "Big Go". The BHRA held the UKs first Drag Race meeting in conjunction with the National Sprint Association & the Allard Owners Club. This meeting saw the debut of the Shorrock blown, Cortina engined Allard Dragon rail in the hands of John Hume. This meeting also saw the UKs first electric christmas tree complete with a two and a half second countdown. The Dragon ran the low E.T.s of the day with 11.92 & 11.99 seconds. Allan Herridge ran a best of 13.82 in his Buick while Tony Densham recorded a 15.76 in his Ford powered rail "The Worden".

June 7th BDRA meeting at Graveley

June Chelveston, Northamptonshire. Alan Allard took the Allard Dragon to a new international Class F Standing Start Kilo record of 104.04mph, beating the previous record of 91.36mph held by Mickey Thompson. He also established the National standing start quarter mile record at 11.54 seconds.

August 9th BDRA meeting at Graveley

September 1st Southampton. The SS United States arrived with a cargo that included Dean Moons 'Moonbeam' and Tony Nancys '22 Junior'. These two cars, along with the Allard Dragon and George Browns 'Super Nero' motorcycle, were then transported to Italy to take part in a demonstration of Drag Racing at the Monza circuit at the request of the Italian Grand Prix organisers. The trip was organised by the BDRA with help from the publicity department of the Ford Motor Company who supplied two Zodiacs to tow the Americans trailers.

September 15th Southampton. The SS United States returned with the rest of the Dragfest party and their machinery, a cargo that would change the face of British Drag Racing forever.

19th September Blackbushe Drag Fest, Hampshire. First visit of the U.S. team to the UK for a series of six meetings. Organised by BDRA Chairman Sidney Allard and the legendary Wally Parks of the NHRA, the American drivers and the best of the Brits battled it out in front of a 20,000+ crowd. The American line up consisted of the AA fuelers of Don Garlits and 'TV' Tommy Ivo, the blown gas dragsters of Bob Keith (Dos Palmos) and Tony Nancy with the revolutionary rear engined 8 litre Plymouth rail 'The Wedge' as well as his '22 Junior' Chevy rail, the two monstrous Willys coupes of K. S. Pittman (7.5 litre blown Chrysler) and 'Ohio' George Montgomery (6 litre blown Chevy), two forerunners of the funny cars in the factory experimental cars of Ronnie Sox (Mercury Comet) and Dave Strickler (Dodge), the rear engined Porsche rail of Doug Church, the AA/Modified Moonbeam sports car driven by Dante Duce and finally the motorcycles of Bill Woods (Harley Davidson) and Don Hyland (Triumph).Ivo set the pace for the day, smoking the full quarter with an  8.40/184. Garlits replied with an 8.28/188.  In the final race Garlits defeated Tommy Ivo with a 8.28/191 to Ivo's 8.58/184. It was at this meeting that Nobby Hills made his debut with his "Houndog" dragster, the first in a long line of Hills cars. Nobbys entry no. was 72 and he ran 19:47/64 mph, 17:67/77mph, and 16:27/84mph. George Montgomerys best performance in the Willys was 10.65/144, Tony Nancy managed a best E.T. of 9.41 and speed of 159 while Bob Keith ran 9.37 and 161mph. Alan Allard ran 11.42/125 in his Dragon but only managed 17.46 in his Chrysler slingshot, Allan Herridge managed a best of 13.49/98 and Dennis Jenkinson ran 12.41 in his Allard Dragon.

20th September RAF Chelveston. Dragfest meeting. Dante Duce took a drive in Tony Nancy's '22 Junior' rail and totalled it. Garlits defeated Ivo with a 8.74 to Ivo's 8.98. Low E.T. for the Brits went to reigning Hill Climb Champion Peter Westbury with an 11.02 from his experimental Ferguson Climax P99 four wheel drive racer. Alan Allard beat Doug Church with 11.26 to the Porsche rails 11.35.

26th September RAF Woodvale. Dragfest. The track was deemed to be "too dicey" because of a bump near the timing lights and the big fuelers made solo runs. Don Garlits ran the best time yet with a wild out of shape  8.09/195. Tony Nancy took the Wedge dragster to a best of 9.08/171 and K. S. Pittman broke the axle of his Willys on the start line. Peter Westbury ran 11.01/127, Alan Allard ran 11.11/127 to win the 'up to 3000cc' class in the Dragon and managed to squeeze an 11.25/141 out of his Chrysler rail to take the  'over 3000cc' class.

27th September RAF Church Fenton Dragfest. Tony Nancy put a rod through the side of the block in 'The Wedge'. Tommy Ivo took the win with an 8.65/192 against Garlits 8.88/149. Earlier Garlits had managed an 8.37/195.

3rd October RAF Kemble Dragfest. Despite wet conditions K.S. Pittman put in back to back terminal speeds of 145 (10.57), 146 & 148 in his Willys  while George Montgomery managed a quicker 10.37/139. Tony Nancy took the Wedge to its best time of the Festival with an 8.98/176. During the motorcycle time trials the UKs Neville Higgins ran a personal best of 10.57/140. Alf Hagon only managed a 10.70/120 but went on to win the 751-1500cc Class Elimination. The Allard Dragon of Dennis Jenkinson shut down Tony Densham in 'The Worden' who ran his series best time of 11.32 at this meeting. Garlits was back on form and ran 8.46/184 followed by 8.82/195 and another victory over Ivo in 8.34.

4th October Blackbushe Dragfest.  A crowd of 30,000 were in attendance to see Doug Church beat Alan Allards Dragon in an 11 second match race. Alan took the Chrysler rail to a strong 10.28 win over Dante Duce in the Moonbeam Chevy sportscar. Alf Hagon and George Brown were both soundly beaten by the American motorcycles in under 11 seconds. There were 55 UK competitors. British dragsters present included Dave Metcalfe (TR3 power) L. Moss (Riley) Tony Densham (The Worden) Dennis Jenkinson (Allard Dragon) Nobby Hills (Jaguar) Allan Herridge (Buick) and 'Hard Luck' John Harrison (Austin A90) who lived up to his nickname and was plagued with trouble. Tommy Ivo defeated Don Garlits with a holeshot 8.27/194 to Garlits's 8.19/197. Peter Westbury recorded an 11.42 in his P99, while another four wheel drive vehicle, the Deep Sanderson, a twin mini engined single seater, ran its best ever quarter mile time of 12.62/111.

For a detailed list of all the major award winners from the 1964 Drag Festival click here

October Allan Herridge began work on a new 120" wheelbase slingshot, Pulsation, which he designed himself. The car took a total of 1700 man hours to build and cost £413. (Jon Spoard)