European Drag Racing News (2024)

The BritishDrag Racing HistoriansJohn HuntandNick Pettitexplains how they got to do the exhibition at National Motor Musuem,Burnout! 60thAnniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival. John writes:

It all started the afternoon before the Surrey Pioneers Reunion at Blackbushe Airport, 28th July 2021. The BDRH had their firstget together and what came out of our chat was the question 'what would happen to our collections after wepass away?’. Five or six members in the group have substantial amounts of memorabiliafrom the start of Drag Racing in England and from Sprinting before that. The National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu was suggested as a place that might be interested in receiving these collections.

I knew Doug Hill, Museum Manager, and got in touch with him which led to my pre-visit with Simon Groves, meeting Doug and Patrick Collins, Curator of Vehicles & Research, together in September 2021 to discuss the possibilities of the Museum being bequeathedany or all of the collections for their archives. We both had a tour of their Collections Centre archive building which was very interesting and we discovered themuseum had very little if any material covering the sport of Drag Racing.

This led to the BDRH group being invited to the Museum November 29th 2022 of which seven members attendedand all were given a Collections Centre tour and afterwards discussed their individual collections with three Curators. Each Curator introduced themselves, talkedabout theirroles andthe Collections they cared for. The BDRH material could be bequeathed to their archivesgiving a one-off comprehensive collection to represent the Motor Sport of Drag Racing in England and Europe.

Andrea Bishop, Director of Collections and Engagement, asked if there was an important event coming up in Drag Racing to celebrate. I very quickly said yes and passedher a folder and said the '60th Anniversaryof the first British Drag Racing Festival' September 19th 2024. Andrea also said if the Exhibition can happen it would be a great platform to showcase the sport and also illustrate the excellence of the BDRH holdings, in support of the case for a comprehensive one-off collection to represent Drag Racing. We were then introduced to Carina Taylor, Curator of Library Collections, who closely worked with us in collating suitable and engaging content material for the exhibition.

After an exhaustive and frustrating process forNick Pettitt and I supplying endless amounts of information and a large selection of photographs and original items available for display, there followed muchtoing and froingof emails and phonecalls as the items and information were whittled down to a usable quantity with a large amount not being used. This is a necessaryediting process when making a museum exhibition. The result is an exhibition called 'Burnout! 60^thAnniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival' andis now open at the National Motor Museum’s In Focus temporary exhibition gallery.

I believe I speak for all of the BDRH members in saying we are all very proudand gratefulfor this opportunity to have the 60th Anniversaryof the 1964 Drag Festivalcelebratedat the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu running for over five months. The Drag Festival was such an important occasion at the time for the growth of British Drag Racing. What this Exhibition means to the BDRH, is that it will be seen by many thousands of visitors and give them an understanding of how the Motor Sport of Drag Racing started in England and then in Europe.

Nick's video includes a quick look at the exhibition, then he films Dave Riswick talking to Derek Metcalf and the opening speeches, firing up the Allard Chrysler dragster, Chris Pattison taking a seat in the Allard Chrysler, Alan Allard talking to Rob Mackie and then Nick climbs into the Allard Chrysler dragster. You can view Nick's video by clicking here.

(Pictures are credited to National Motor Museum)