Santa Pod Raceway

Santa Pod is the best known drag racing track outside America, attracting the best drivers and race teams in European Drag Racing.

Santa Pod hosts over 50 events during the race season Jan-Nov, including: National Drag Race meetings, Classic car events, Modified car shows (The Fast Show and USC), VW Beetle & Camper festivals (Bug Jam and Big Bang), Japanese Performance car events (The JapShows)and specialist events (Performance Vauxhall Show, Classic Ford Show, Mini in the Park, UK Truck Show, BMW Show, Wheels USA )

A Drag Race is an acceleration contest between two vehicles over a distance of normally a quarter mile, or in some instances, an eighth mile. Both vehicles compete from a standing start and the contest is run in tournament style elimination's, the loser being eliminated and the winner progressing until there is one driver left.

Drag racing started in the USA in the nineteen-forties when teenagers raced each other away from traffic lights down the main "drag" of their sleepy Californian towns. The popularity of this practice soon made it too dangerous for the streets and the authorities moved the youngsters to dry lake beds and disused airfields.

Racing at Santa Pod Raceway started in 1966 on the site of an old American airbase. There are contests for a great many classes of vehicles, both professional and homebuilt, including motorcycles. If you fancy a trip down the quarter mile you can by attending one of the many 'Run What You Brung' weekends and drive or ride your own vehicle on the track. It's a fun day and you never know what race machines might be testing adding to the excitement.

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