Drag Illustrated Issue 136, September 2018 | Page 30

Dirt Dragstalgia A look at Europe’s nostalgia drag racing scene Text and photos by David Beitler I n just eight years, Santa Pod Raceway’s Dragstalgia event has be- come Europe’s premium nostalgia drag racing event. The eighth running of Dragstalgia could be described in three little letters: H-O-T. Sweltering heat made for tricky track conditions and a balmy atmosphere in the pits. Close to 250 participants filled the grounds at Santa Pod Raceway, which had been freshly re- built to become Europe’s first all-concrete sur- face track during the offseason. Although un- usually high temperatures reigned all weekend, numerous personal bests were recorded at the event, with competitors racing in no less than 10 categories. Over the past couple of years, Dragstalgia has grown bigger and better, largely due to an influx of competitors from across Europe. The event has become a true international affair, with racers from several countries making the trip to England to compete with the British contingent. When you count in all the show cars on display, the racing in numerous classes, the rockabilly bands, the cacklefest, the back-up girls and other folks and festivities, Dragstalgia is a real ode to the history of drag racing, a tribute that is un- paralleled in Europe. Dragstalgia also includes two motorcycle classes. The National Sprint Association brings back origi- nal bikes from the ‘70s, while the Nostalgia Pro Stock Bike class lists just a few important rules: only stock-appearing, small-tired, carbureted bikes are allowed. Gasser Circus is a class formed in 2003 for all Gasser-style cars. Supercharged Outlaws driver Kirsten van Croonenborgh made the trip from the Netherlands to race. She fields “Suzy Q”, a blown 1970 Barracuda she built with her team five years ago. Over the course of the weekend she managed to run an 8.50 at 164.25 mph as her best pass. In addition to Dutch events, she races in Germany and at several events in England. 30 | D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com Issue 136