Auto Trader Festival of Power, Santa Pod Raceway

Words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
Thanks to TSI Timers (Europe) for access to the timing data

Back in 2008, snow was one of the main features of the traditional Easter opener to the UK domestic season. This year it didn’t snow. Much. It was, however, horribly, miserably and bitingly cold with track temperatures barely climbing above freezing and air temperatures resolutely below for most of the event. Given these conditions, it was down to the sterling efforts of the Santa Pod crew that there was any racing of note at all, let alone a number of PBs that sprung up in many of the sportsman classes. Whilst we’ll probably have to wait until the Main Event at the end of May to see some record shattering performances, a lot of favourable comments were made about the all new (and smooth) asphalt surface that was put down during March.

Although the start of the season is usually full of positives, this was a meeting tinged with sadness as the drag racing community bade farewell to Paula Marshall, one of the stalwarts of the British drag racing scene for many years, after she succumbed to leukemia back in January. Our thoughts are with Paula’s family, and Ian (SPRCs chief starter and Paula’s husband) and daughter Holley in particular.

MSA Pro Modified

It was quite a weekend for Rick Garrett. An oiling issue in the pits almost prevented a qualifying effort, but round wins over a centerline crossing Graham Ellis and a red lighting Wayne Nicholson put Garrett and the colourful Willys into the final in only his second event in the class. Up against three-time series champion Andy Robinson, Garrett then produced his best number of the weekend with a 6.981/196 taking the win.