But before long I was off again on my travels heading to the Santa Pod Raceway for the 2025 FIA European Finals of the drag racing season. Motorsport UK’ s Head of Race and Speed, Cheryl Lynch, had been at Santa Pod on Saturday and reported record crowds and record entries, so I was not surprised to arrive and see a wall of spectators lining the quarter mile strip and spilling over into the multitude of concessions and into the pit complex. I was greeted by the owner of Santa Pod, Keith Bartlett, who has as much bottled-up energy as one of the Top Fuel dragsters sitting at the starting lights. Keith regaled me with stories of how in the last few years he has turned around a softening of the entries and crowds into what is now the highest level they have been for many decades. As he explained, drag racing is the perfect format of motorsport for the young generation that want instant gratification and full 3D impact overload. One of the key elements that he has embraced is the integration of social media‘ influencers’ and‘ superstars’ to carry the message to their millions of supporters through a less than conventional presentation of the sport. Stars like Matt Armstrong have come along to the strip and run some of their supercars in formats that are made for social media and have reached new audiences that have subsequently turned into drag racing fans.

Jan Nycz the proud owner of a 1963 Mallock U2 Mark 3

only sported a splendid handlebar moustache, but was also the proud owner of a 1963 Mallock U2 Mark 3. Jan has been racing for over 50 years, but only recently acquired the Mallock during the COVID lockdown as he wanted something to rebuild as he was getting bored! He bought the rolling chassis from Ray Mallock, son of founding father Arthur, who gave fantastic advice on the precise setup. Apparently when new, Mallocks would supply a list of scrap dealers who could be a ready supply of replacement parts such as the Morris Minor rear axle and the front axle from the Ford Popular E93A, split in two to become a swing axle!

As you may know drag racing is the one branch of UK motorsport that currently has the highest proportion of female competitors, with a long history of champions, especially at the most extreme end of the sport. For those who have not witnessed a Top Fuel dragster running on nitromethane I recommend you get yourself down to Santa Pod for what is one of the most visceral experiences anywhere. Reaching speeds of over 300mph in less than four seconds is mind bending, but nothing can prepare you for the impact of what feels like a huge explosive device detonating, leaving the ground shaking under your feet and the air vibrating with the forces. So, it was with huge excitement the two finalists in the Top Fuel category rolled towards the starting lights at the end of the day on Sunday. It was an all-female line up of Susanne Callin from Sweden and Jndia Erbacher of Switzerland – and Susanne is the wife of Keith, and races for his Slick Tricks Racing Team. The stakes were high with winner taking all for the European Championship, and true to the fairy tale script Susanne blasted into the record books, taking the win and the championship. There is so much to be learned from every facet of our sport, and from people such as Keith who continue to innovate and adapt to our changing times in a way that is impressive.

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Revolution- September 2025