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DENT DYNAMICS PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL AMT MOBILE MECHANICAL 07950 638228 • Servicing • Repairs • MOT’s Arranged • Diagnostics • Breakdowns All Makes & Models incVans Competitive Rates Waterside Based amtmobile2@gmail.com Mobile Mechanic, Air Conditioning & Tyre Fitting TOWBARS SUPPLIED & FITTED TOWBARS SUPPLIED & FITTED TOWBARS SUPPLIED & FITTED TOWBARS SUPPLIED & FITTED Holbury Service Station Web: www.holburyservicestation.com Email: holburyservicestation@hotmail.co.uk Member of Good Garage Scheme.com TYRES FITTED WHILE-U-WAIT Budget and Branded tyres held in stock Long Lane, Holbury, SO45 2NZ Tel: 023 8089 3727 All Major Cards Accepted and Repairs to Cars & Vans MOT’S & SERVICING Drag Race Pioneer the First to See National Motor Museum Exhibition One of the first to build and drive Drag racing cars in the UK were among the attendees at the launch of Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival – a new mixed-media exhibition at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Derek Metcalf and his wife Pam from Surrey were at a launch of the exhibition that marks a major milestone in the history of British motor sport. Guests at the launch, which included members of British Drag Racing Historians (BDRH), exhibition contributors, museum trustees and team members, were welcomed by National Motor Museum Chief Executive Jon Murden and Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. ey were treated to a surprise loud ‘start-up’ of the 1961 Allard Chrysler which is part of the historic vehicle collection at the museum. Derek and Pam were part of the drag racing community in the 1960’s. Derek, who is now 91, built his own dragster and drove the powerful vehicles at circuits across the UK. Pam also joined in the sport and closely assisted Derek with the build and pit work. Pam and Derek discovered drag racing at a visit to the Brighton Speed Trials in 1963. Derek starting to build Historians (BDRH) who researched and curated items for this exhibition from its members’ private collections and other archives recommended by the group. Drag racing heritage e National Motor Museum exhibition highlights the history of the rst ever British International Drag Racing Festival held in the UK in 1964. It documents how, by the early 1960s, British motor sport enthusiasts had developed a drag racing scene inspired by American vehicles and culture and how they were inspired to organise a large-scale event, similar to those held in the US at the time, with American nitro-fuelled vehicles and top drag racing drivers. Sydney Allard, a UK car designer, and rally driver built the rst British dragster in 1961 and later sold a smaller version in kit form. e scene gained momentum in 1963 when US drag star Dante Duce challenged Allard to a series of races in the UK. Held at various venues, including Silverstone and the Brighton Speed Trials, the event sparked signi cant interest. To capitalise on this enthusiasm, Allard’s British Drag Racing Association (BDRA) undertook the challenge of organising a major event. Gerry Belton, BDRA’s General Manager, coordinated with Wally Parks, president of the US National Hot Rod Association, to bring 12 American drag vehicles to the UK to race at six one day meetings over three weekends. e events were held at Blackbushe Airport in Surrey and four other air elds, Chelveston, Woodvale, Church Fenton and Kemble, which were owned by the Royal Air Force. e Royal Automobile Club, responsible for UK motor sport competition and car building regulations, also supported the initiative. Allard Chrysler Dragster As well as the special exhibition, which is included in the Beaulieu attraction ticket, visitors to the National Motor Museum can also see the 1961 Allard Chrysler Dragster, which is on permanent display. e dragster was restored to full running order for the Museum ten years ago by the Allard Chrysler Action Group, a project sponsored by Lucas Oils. Further details are available at: nationalmotormuseum. org.uk Pam and Derek Metcalf at the launch of the exhibition/ exhibition images/group photographs with the Allard Chrysler dragster © National Motor Museum his own car based on his own chassis design, working out all the engineering assisted closely by Pam. e car was ready by the nal 1964 Drag Festival event at Blackbushe on 4th October. He continued to race the car in 1965, 1966, and 1967 and building a new dragster for 1968. Derek and Pam visited many locations, Pam driving on one occasion, and they helped promote the sport until their retirement. The National Motor Museum exhibition presents a fascinating display recounting the 1964 International Drag Racing Festival as the rst large scale event to bring the motor sport, which was hugely popular in America at the time, to the United Kingdom. Drag racing, born from the Hot Rod scene of 1930’s America, involves two specially adapted vehicles racing side by side at extreme speeds, fuelled by petrol or nitromethane over a quarter mile distance or 440 yards. Winners are decided through a knockout competition format. e exhibition, which is on until 2nd February 2025, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a community collaborative project. e National Motor Museum Trust partnered with the British Drag Racing 4th New Forest Solent Hythe Sea Scout group are holding a Christmas Cra Evening on Friday 29th November, 6pm–9pm at their base on Shore Road in Hythe. Meet Santa, do some Christmas Shopping, join in the candy trail! Free entry! If you would like a table please email: Please email: fundraising@hytheseascouts.org.uk Hythe Sea Scouts Christmas Craft Evening
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