Custom Car

One of the most iconic hot rods to ever feature in these pages is Revenge, the Nick Butler-built C-cab that graced the cover of our March ’77 issue. Such was the impact the car made on UK hot rodding that more recently Revenge was voted UK Hot Rod of the Twentieth Century by the National Street Rod Association membership. Back in those early days, the car was driven a lot, with Nick taking it on trips to France and Sweden. But circumstances then combined, resulting in Revenge only appearing in public on a handful of occasions in the last 40 years, notably when it was restored and displayed at the NSRA Fun Run in 2012. Following that, though, it ended up languishing in a barn for a further five years until it…

Golden touches It’s now too late to pre-enter the Hot Rod Supernationals on 12-14 August, but you are welcome to turn up from 9am on the Friday and pay on the gate. As 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the NSRA, the crew have arranged special displays of cars of significance, a T Party, previous participants’ choice winners and, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Deuce, an extensive line up of ’32 Fords. Away from the cars, there will be a funfair, Wall of Death, live music, traders and more. If you only make it to one event this year, make it this one. www.nsra.org.uk Fancy a brew? The American Car Show returns to The Bearded Brewery in Saint Mawgan, Cornwall on Saturday 27 August. Lafayette, The Sugar Bullets and Lost in Space…

It’s goodnight from me… I always knew that one day I would be penning my opening words in this vein, what I never imagined is that it would be quite as sudden and unexpected as this. Custom Car is now opening a new chapter in its esteemed history and, whilst there may be bit parts available to play, Mike and I do not feature in the main script. Whatever the future brings, I will always have my memories. And boy, do I have a lot of them. Being involved with what can only be described as a bastion of UK hot rodding, working on Custom Car for the last 16 years has been both a privilege and an honour. The people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made will stay with me…

Halls of Fame Each year the NSRA announces four new inductees into its Hall of Fame. The inductee categories embrace individuals and businesses, sometimes even vehicles. The first recipients were announced in 2012 and a list of all inductees can be found in the history section at www.nsra.org.uk NSRA members who have a standout memory of a person or vehicle they think worthy of being inducted can log nominations online at www.nsra.org.uk/hof-nomination/ The NSRA itself has been recognised in a similar vein with the announcement at Dragstalgia that the association is being inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Nice one guys. Pop art Last month we told you Popstalgia is relocating to Billing Aquadrome this year, and here’s a glimpse of the event artwork. You know the venue, so we’ll just confirm the…

A group of five British drag racing enthusiasts have just acquired the Dos Palmas dragster. With Bob Keith at the wheel, the rail ran low nines at around 160mph in 1964 when it came over here as part of the US Drag Team for the First British International Drag Festival. Campaigned by Bob Keith, Chris Goodnight and Maurice Williamson, the dragster was so called because its blown, 400ci Chevy motor was assembled by Arnold Chaves’ Dos Palmas Machine in San Jose, CA. The chassis was the second built by ‘TV’ Tommy Ivo, Jack Hageman formed the car’s aluminium body and the rail competed in the UK alongside Don Garlits, Tony Nancy and Tommy Ivo. The car returned to the US after the event, but was shipped back to the UK in 1965…

This September sees the last round of the European Drag Racing Championships, the European Finals, held at Santa Pod Raceway. Arguably one of the biggest drag racing events in Europe, the weekend will play host to an abundance of high-octane action. Evening qualifying sessions kick off on Friday with Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars and jet cars all looking to open their taps on track, creating a spectacular, nitro-powered flame show that’s not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday’s schedules are equally jam packed, with no fewer than 18 drag racing classes on show. Headlining the on-track action will be the heart stopping Top Fuel Dragsters, powering down the strip to speeds around 300mph. And you definitely won’t want to miss the colourful and unruly Pro Mods fighting it out to be…