Nostalgia Nats 26/27th June

[cunningplan]

So you got home before me. but your not telling it all.
After a year and lots of time, blood, sweat, tears and lots cash, this weekend turned out  "The best" and what I really think is a start of something big and is going to grow bigger.
Not only did they get the "Best Slingshot" award (Voted to the guys in the commentary box) but even managed a very, very good 2nd place at the event
Well done you two
(Sorry Lesley about the photo, I should have taken a couple to make sure you were awake in one of them  )

[tazet]

Sorry I couldn't go. Had to work  Andy said he had a good day and here is a photo of your car

[TwistedPatience]

Congratulations Steve and Leslie.

[Manky Monkey]

Aye, a good day at t' races.
I had to work on the Saturday so arrived mid morning on the Sunday & headed straight for the pits to find the Pig sty, but the garage gazebo was empty. So I set off for the fire up lanes to find them. Caught sight of a black roof disappearing down the track & thought bugger, missed their run -hang on, the new Black Pig hasn't got a roof.
I'm sure Steve will explain the engine problems that have kept them in the workshop for so long, but seems like they've nailed them now. The Pig looks & sounds great & was running as strong as ever.
I'm not built for hot weather & was struggling in the heat -it really was seriously hot out there. Couldn't have been much fun squeezed into the confines of a roll cage & race harness in a fire suit & crash helmet. The blazing sunshine was playing havoc with the auto focus settings on my digital camera too, so I ended up with quite a few fuzzy shots, but got plenty of others, (I tend to leave it on auto most of the time at race meets). We'll post a full gallery once the website's fully operational again.
Many thanks to Steve & the lovely Lesley for the loan of the team shirt & letting me mooch around trackside & generally get in the way while they got on with the serious business of racing. 

[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

I only usually do 2 drag meets a year -the Nostalgia Nationals & the Hotrod Drags, both organised by the NSRA & both held at "Shakespeare County Raceway" in Stratford on Avon. As the names suggest, they attract a lot of 50s/60s style rods & racers. I don't religeously follow the racing but just love the atmosphere. Some nice machinery burning rubber out on the track.

[Manky Monkey]

Photos just can't convey the noise & ground trembling power of these cars.
"Roarin' Rat" is a legendary 57 Chevy "gasser", featured on the front cover of Custom Car magazine years ago. It's still pounding the 1/4 mile & still looking fabulous. When it's not racing, it's owner, Ken, stores it at the workshops of our local rod shop, Valley Gas Speed Shop in Newbury, Berkshire.

[Manky Monkey]

"Henry Hirise" was another superstar car. Built in the same workshops as the Rat & on the cover of the first issue of Street Machine magazine back in the early 80s, (?). It's passed through several owners but now been completely rebuilt & featured again in a recent issue of Custom Car. Although it's had a complete new tube chassis, the rest of the car is just as I remember it from the indoor custom shows of the late 70s/early 80s, when I drooled over machines like this as a teenager. I've never heard it run before & standing next to it in the pits as it burst into life, it sounded truly awesome. Unbelievably loud. Managed to miss it on the track though. I hope they managed to run side by side with Roarin' Rat as was rumoured.

[Manky Monkey]

Travellin' in style.

[Manky Monkey]

I've got lots of pics of Pops, but as I'm in the middle of building a Ford Popular based rod myself, I was looking for ideas & tips for mine. I  reckon Pops are the quintessential British hotrod, instantly recognisable, even by complete non PetrolHeads. All sorts of styles, both on the track & in the campsite. 
"Problem Child" used to belong to Jan of Thatcham in Berkshire. Taz & I went to look at the front axle from it when it was advertised, when I first started my build. I've sat at the wheel of this car. It performed an amazing wheelstand here at Shakey last year at the hands of Jan, when he managed to wheelie it so high the rear bumper scraped the track.

[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

Another reworked old Brit. A Bedford truck given a pick-up treatment. Not sure about the proportions -the rear bed looks a tad too long for my tastes, but very nicely done & just a little different from the accepted regular donor vehicles.