EUROPE’S FIRST DRAGSTER TO RETURN TO BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS

Let’s set the scene. Back in 1960/’61 Johnny Tillotson was high in the Pop Music charts with ‘Poetry in Motion’. The Beatles were yet to be discovered and traditional jazz was popular with bands like Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball competing for chart success in the UK. It was the time when Jaguar launched their first E-Type.

But in a small workshop situated in Clapham, South London something else was taking place; something that would change the face of British motorsport for ever. British sports car manufacturers and multi-motorsports champion Sydney Allard set his team the task to build Europe’s first dragster – the Mk I Allard Chrysler. Powered by a blown 354 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi engine for several years it was Europe’s only dragster appearing at the Brighton Speed Trials in 1961, 1962 and 1963. It was retired at the end of 1964 with the engine being used in a replacement dragster that was still racing in the late 1960s.

The original Mk I Allard Chrysler was then stored in several workshops and barns and went through a partial restoration carried out by Brian Golder in 1979. Upon his death in 1992 it was bequeathed to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu – still without an engine and many key running gear components.

Early in 2008 a group of drag racing enthusiast got together and approached the National Motor Museum with a plan to complete Brian Golder’s restoration and turn the static exhibit into a dragster that could be fired up and driven under its own power again – not to race but to parade. The Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG) was formed under the Chairmanship of Brian Taylor, with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and American drag racing historian Traci Hrudka as its Patrons, and for the last eight years they have raised funds and carried out the work to achieve this aim. This July saw the dragster driven under its own power for the first time since 1964 – a truly historic and emotional occasion for all those involved.

ACAG Chairman Brian Taylor said, “Back in 2009 Tony Johnstone of the Brighton and Hove Motor Club donated the SEMA Trophy to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu so that it could be with the dragster that first won it back in 1963. For many years it had resided in the Madeira Drive Club House but it now forms part of the museum’s trophy display. At that time we promised that we would bring the dragster back to Brighton once the restoration had been completed and, with the help of Lucas Oil Products UK Limited who provide most of the lube requirements for the dragster, we are pleased to be able to honour that promise on September 3rd. Unfortunately the local noise restrictions will prevent us firing up the dragster and parading but hopefully just the sight of it at Brighton will bring back a few memories – its first appearance at Brighton since 1963”.

The following weekend it will be at Santa Pod Raceway for the FIA European Drag Racing Championship Finals when it will be fired up and paraded. Once again people will be able to see and hear the sound that launched drag racing into Europe all those years ago.

Photos credits; Callum Pudge, Jon Spoard, Simon Maurice