Dragfest Reunion Blackbushe, near Camberley Surrey - Sat 2nd August 2014

[Tony oily bike]

Dragfest Reunion at Blackbushe near Camberley in Surrey celebrating 50 years since the first Blackbushe Dragfest way back in 1964, when the Americans came over.

Dragfest '64 was basically the birth of Drag Racing in the UK.

The first American dragsters came over in Sept '63 when Dean Moon brought 'Mooneyes' and Mickey Thompson brought his 1000BHP Ford powered dragster.
These ran against Britain's Sydney Allard in his purpose built dragster.

The following year had a whole car team of 11 Yanks (Drivers included Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo and Tony Nancy), and a handful of bike entries, invited to Blighty for a series of Drag Festivals, the first being at Blackbushe on Sat 19th September 1964.

They were busy back then as Sunday 20th saw them at RAF Chelveston, Sat 26th at RAF Woodvale, Sunday 27th at RAF Church Fenton, Sat 3rd October at RAF Kemble and finally Sat 4th Oct back at Blackbushe.


http://www.dragfest.co.uk/dragfest2014%20web/default.html


Photo shows an original 1964 programme (2/6  12.5p), along with two spectator tickets (10/-  50p each) and two grandstand tickets (15/-  75p each). So for £1 7/6 you got in, with your programme in the grandstand.
That £1.37 & 1/2 to the youngsters!!

2014 entry will be £25 after May this year. 10/09/2013 UPDATE - £8 on the day, £5 in advance. Event starts at 6:00pm. See later posts

[spanners]

i,m just a fortnight older 

[Manky Monkey]

I didn't realise Blackbushe was so much at the centre of Brit drag racing history! (less than 10 miles from me).

[Tony oily bike]

I didn't realise Blackbushe was so much at the centre of Brit drag racing history! (less than 10 miles from me).

Blackbushe certainly played its part in getting drag racing established in this country!!

1965 saw the 2nd Dragfest, the programme of the day (2/6) shows an entry of 8 American Fuel Dragsters crossing the pond and 6 bikes.
Blackbushe had a two dayer, Sat 25th and Sun 26th September,  followed by RAF Woodvale on the 3rd October.

I was fortunate enough to attend a few of the early events, so manged to see some of the fairly early stuff, so the Dragfest Reunion in 2014 should bring back some good memories.

Taken from the UKDRN webpage http://www.ukdrn.co.uk/history/history.html here are the logged dates of Blackbushe events (about 34 events):

1970 - June 07 - Blackbushe NDRC
1971 - Aug 08 -  Blackbushe - NDRC  (I managed to go to this one  )
1972 - Aug 20   - Blackbushe NDRC
1973 - Aug19   -  Blackbushe -NDRC
1973 - Sept 30 -  Blackbushe -NDRC
1974 - Apr 07   -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1974 - May11/12 -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1974 - Aug 18   -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1975 - Apr 13      - Blackbushe - NDRC
1975 - Aug  17 -  Blackbushe - NDRC    (attended this one)
1975 - Oct    05 - Blackbushe - NDRC     (attended this one)
1976 - May 02 - Blackbushe NDRC Spring Smokers Meet  (attended this one)
1976 - June 12/13 - Blackbushe NDRC
1976 - May 22 -  Blackbushe NDRC Hot Car Grandnationals
1977 - Apr 24 -  Blackbushe -NDRC
1977 - Aug   14  - Blackbushe NDRC
1977 - Sept 25   - Blackbushe - NDRC
1978 - Apr 16    -  Blackbushe -NDRC    (attended this one)
1978 - May 21    - Blackbushe -NDRC    (attended this one)
1978 - Aug 13   -   Blackbushe -NDRC
1978 - Sept 24   -  Blackbushe -NDRC    (attended this one)
1979 - Apr  22   -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1979 - June 17  -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1979 - Aug 05    - Blackbushe - NDRC
1979 - Sept 30   - Blackbushe - NDRC
1980 - Apr 20     - Blackbushe - NDRC
1980 - June 08    - Blackbushe - NDRC
1980 - July 20    -  Blackbushe -NDRC
1983 - May 15    - Blackbushe NDRC
1983 - Aug 07    - Blackbushe -NDRC
1983 - Oct 02    -  Blackbushe - NDRC
1984 - May 20    -  Blackbushe NDRC
1984 - Aug  12    - Blackbushe - NDRC
1984 - Sept 30    - Blackbushe NDRC

[hunter]

I competed in the last three,
But can't remember what earlier one's.

[Tony oily bike]

Latest news info taken from relaunched website http://dragfest.webs.com/apps/blog/   August 25th 2013:


Dragfest 2014 website relaunched
Posted on August 25, 2013 at 6:25 AM

The Dragfest 2014 reunion event website is relaunched again today confident that the event will take place.It is a shame that we cannot have the runway as well but the area now offered will be great. Alternative venues were suggested but to have a reunion with memories of the past has to be at Blackbushe.

Firstly if anyone wishes to join the team (me) to help organise with practical help and have a task please contact me.Also we have two cars entered and obviously need many more. If you have a vehicle or know someone who has an original raced car or bike from Blackbushe, use the form to enter please.

The event will start at 6pm on Saturday August 2nd 2014 after the airport shuts. This is an evening party. No chance of earlier or longer.

We will have moving cars and a cacklefest with some cars driving along a runway to an arena to be judged for trophies from Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, Mooneyes and Bob Keith.

The People Newspaper is going to advertise and cover the event as in 1964.

The Ace Cafe London has now asked to support in anyway and will have a large presence.

Unfortunately there is no sponsorship and so there will be a ticket price of £5 per adult unless you have entered the event. This will be £8 on the day as we need pre ordered tickets to help fund this so please don't delay! either pay through the site or you can see me at the monthly car meet at Blackbushe. Next one this Friday 30th.

I will update with more news every week and will send a newsletter to the 500 people who registered interest.

See you at Blackbushe

Paul


Worth noting that the ticket price is stated as being £5 per adult but that's pre-ordered £8 on the day.

[Manky Monkey]

Long way off yet, but I'd go.

[Tony oily bike]

Latest news (as of 2014/03/29 anyway) from the http://www.dragfest.co.uk/ website is that the event is "postponed".
Couldn't find any other info.