Innehållsförteckning för June 2023 från Custom Car

One day in 2016, Graham Solomon was pottering in his front garden when he heard the unmistakeable rumble of a V8. It might not have been mistakeable to everyone who potters in their garden (we know of somebody who thought their neighbour was mowing his lawn when it was in fact the sound of a Lamborghini warming up), but Graham is a man who knows a V8 when he hears one. ‘I first got interested in “different” cars back in the early 70s in Ipswich, where I was living, as there were lots of American cars driving around due to the air bases in the area,’ he explains. ‘But for me, after passing my driving test it was to be Dad’s Vauxhall Viva HC – a car I bought off…

With 45 entries, it was always going to be a fight for the 32-car break. But that didn’t put off ex-Junior Dragster driver Jess Bishop, who bagged a perfect ET award (9.110 / 153 on a 9.11 dial) and made it to the semis on her debut in the class in the ex-Allan Schofield Nightmare II dragster. Another new entry from the Junior Dragster ranks was 16-year-old Harley-Jay Darby, whose first full pass in dad Lee’s Chevy 3100 netted an impressive but too quick 8.786 / 155 (on a 10.00 dial in), leaving him as an elated alternate. Other rookies to mention are Stevie Gates in the 540ci Plymouth Duster and Jack McClure in his golden 350ci Ford 100e, as well as the extraordinary Rednek Redemption 460ci V8-powered Mk2 Golf…

A total of 11 cars lined up for the always fiercely competitive 9.90-index Super Gas class. Among them, back in the hot seat after a 10-year absence, was Stuart Morrice in the family ’69 Camaro. After clocking 9.965 / 150 in testing, he qualified first and went on to win the event – while also running in Super Pro ET and having to repair the car’s sump along the way. That’s what we call a comeback. Another returnee after more than a decade away was Wayne Hiscock, pedalling the 572ci Chevelle that he ran in Pro ET before, while new to the class was Kieran Turner in the Chevy S10, who quickly discovered just how consistent you have to be to succeed in Super Gas. Likewise Dan Page in the…

Now in its ninth year, including being safely run during the pandemic, the Classic and Vintage Vehicle Rally in Wadebridge has established itself as a firm favourite in calendar for car enthusiasts in the South-West. Organised by Jason and Emma Goss, the gathering is fast becoming the show season opener in many people’s diaries down here, and one which many people plan well in advance to attend. Held at the Royal Cornwall Showground each year over Easter and again on the August bank holiday, the show is free to enter for any vehicle built before 1995 (if attending from 10-4) while the public pay £5 on the gate. Camping is available for exhibitors wanting to make a weekend of it, which many now do and there’s a select group of…

JOE CORTESE IS A GUY who has a small business in West London called Transcontinental. He’s connected with some people in America who use one of these new-fangled things called a computer. What they do is record details from car dealers and newspaper ads of all the cars for sale they can find for sale in America. The records are updated daily and if you know who to speak to, you can find any kind of American car you want – if it’s for sale anywhere in America, they can locate it. All you need to do is enter your requirements into the computer, being as specific as you like: make, model, year, colour, colour of seats, price range, whatever matters to you. The computer runs a check and if…

For many people, Wheels Day is as much a part of Easter as a chocolate egg and lasts far longer. This year was up there as one of the best of them and, following days of inclement climates in the run-up to the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather gods were in an agreeable mood on the day itself. Rushmoor Arena was buzzing from the very off, with the sheer volume of traffic descending on the venue at the same time inevitably causing some delays in accessing the site. That was nothing more than a minor inconvenience though and the guys and gals from Surrey Street Rodders and associated helpers did a sterling job keeping things moving, albeit a little slowly at times. Hats off to each and every one of…

Skies were grey with smog. People were grey with nicotine. Even the cars were grey. In fact, life in fifties’ Britain was pretty grey all round. However, in 1955 a ray of sunshine appeared in the shape of the new Jaguar Mark 1 saloon. This was powered by 2.4 or 3.4-litre twin-cam straight sixes based on the XK120 sports car engine. In 1956, The Motor magazine ran a 3.4 up to 119.8 mph; the car was loved by cops, robbers and racecar drivers such as Sir Stirling Moss, Tommy Sopwith, Roy Salvadori. Mike Hawthorn, too, though tragically he was to die in his. He wasn’t looking for one, but Kris Henderson found his Mk1 in the Oklahoma City Trader Post in 1987 for a mere $800. Back then, it was…

The Junior Dragsters kicked off proceedings on the Friday morning with a massive entry of 30 cars, including newcomers Emmy Crundwell and Emilie Moore. Kai Cooper set the pace from the start, qualifying in number one position with a perfect light, and in qualifying two Richard Wilcox clocked the first 0.00 reaction time in the class. Ada Casisi then made a late charge into the number three position in the last round of qualifying. The big surprise, though, was 2021 champion Harry Redshaw who, after cutting four red lights in the early stages, proceeded to make his way up the ladder and then carve through the field, despatching Ellie May Brown (holeshot) in round two, Max Taylor (red light) in round three, Luke Mugridge (break out) in round four and…

Mixing up an already eclectic class this weekend were Supercharged Outlaw stalwart Andy Hadfield in the Twister T, Wild Buncher Rob Brown in the Rebel slingshot (8.382 / 158) and Steve Saunders in the fresh out Model B-bodied Altered (8.469 / 157 best). And talking of Altereds, Allan Schofield is now behind the wheel of the ex-Dave Gibbons Rough Diamond T (8.053 / 163 best). Of those, the Fadster deserves a special mention for clocking a new PB of 7.430 / 182 first time out on Thursday practice, though engine damage sidelined the Twister team after that impressive start. Likewise the M&M Racing team, who stepped up to a 10/71 blower and methanol injection in place of nitrous on the big-block Supra. A holed cylinder on the Saturday brought their…

Despite a small field of just six in the ever-popular Outlaw class, there was no let up in the action. Mick Taylor and Jon Webster were on form from the start, the former going 8.461 / 166 and the latter 8.664 / 106 in round one qualifying, with Ben Kennedy, Doug McClure and Wayne Power in their wake. Reigning 2022 champion Rob Stone joined the party in qualifying five after a delay reaching the track, and went straight into the number two spot with an 8.299 / 159 PB pass. But Webster’s 7.511 / 152 in Fast Company Too remained the time to beat. Unfortunately, mechanical issues and tyre trouble sidelined both Taylor and Webster in eliminations, leaving the door open for Power and Kennedy to capitalise on their solos…

This Spring Bank Holiday sees the first round of prestigious FIA European Drag Racing return to Santa Pod over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Topping the bill will be the famous Top Fuel Dragsters and Nitro Funny Cars, with a strong lineup of sportsman classes. Throw in some flame throwing Jet Cars and this really will be a showstopper. Witness side-by-side racing from Motorsport UK’s Pro Mod class, running up to 250mph in less than 6 seconds! With a huge off-track line up including a free festival circus and the Wall of Death, make sure you catch these shows for the ultimate off-track thrill. Our famed Live Action Arena plays host to stunt extraordinaries showing off their skills with World Record Holder Terry Grant in his array of cars, plus…

Formed in 1909, the Hupp Motor Car Company was a star that shone briefly but brightly in the American motor industry of the inter-war years. Building a reputation as a maker of cars that were basic and affordable but very well made. Backed up by one of the first warranties in the business, the Hupmobile 20 started to find homes almost as soon as the company had been founded. Two years later it was followed by the 32, one of the first vehicles anywhere in the world to be built using an all-steel body. Sadly, though, none of the engineerings leading the project thought to patent it. How different today’s automotive landscape might have been but for that oversight… With Ford and Chevrolet selling far more than Hupp could ever…

Aside from one of the Bug Jams of old, we can’t recall too many instances in Santa Pod’s history when an event has had to be re-scheduled due to weather. Or one when there has been no camping available to the public due to waterlogged fields, or one when the organisers have had to dramatically alter the running sheet at the last minute. But such was the fate of the 2023 STP Springspeed Nationals. Re-scheduled to 7-9 April (the original date of the Festival of Power), only without the Pro Mods, Top Fuel, Nitro and Nostalgia Funny Cars or jet cars that were on the original event card, it was a very different line-up. Having made that difficult decision, the Pod crew must have had their hearts in their mouths…

A total of 27 cars, with eight newcomers and a lot of very consistent passes, meant it was anyone’s game in this competitive starter class. Chris Cresswell held tight to the number one spot throughout qualifying, with Kirstie Tramm and Steve Mellors in hot pursuit, and stayed in the running until the semis. But it was Gary Lake in the third-gen Firebird who emerged victorious come Sunday afternoon, just five hundredths ahead of Michael Franklin’s Range Rover. Yep, you read that right. There was drama in Friday qualifying when Brian Huxley’s V8-powered Focus blew chunks on the line, the exiting gearbox fluid igniting and causing an impressive smoke bomb. Other interesting class debuts came in the form of Liam Sturman’s Jaguar XK8, Jack McClure’s sweet 350ci-powered 100E and Matt Halsall’s…