Hot Rod Drags ’25
Nov. 2025 • By Tony Thacker
Presented by FirstUpApparel.com & MicksPaint.com
We were so impressed by the 2024 Hot Rod Drags we returned in ’25 to not only race but also perform tow-car duties for our friend Nick Davies who was racing his new AA/Fuel Altered ‘No Quarter’. Organized by the National Street Rod Association UK, the Hot Rod Drags is the longest running nostalgia drag race in Europe—2025 was the 37th.
The Drags attracts a wide selection of race cars that includes four of our favorite classes: Outlaw Anglia, Gasser Circus, Supercharged Outlaws, and Wild Bunch. There was also a Battle of Britain Memorial fly-over, as well as jet car and cackle car demos plus a Run What Ya Brung for anyone with an American car, classic or a hot rod. They have to comply with some simple regs such as helmets but it’s pretty much rung what ya brung.
Unfortunately, we had learned at the Rømø Motor Festival a few weeks prior that my Lil’ Shitter hot rod is not a race car and tops out at about 60 mph. Nevertheless, I lined up for race against Maz Woolfall in her Brit-bodied ’32 Tudor powered by a 350 ci Chevy. Maz killed me as I watched her disappear through the lights. That was it. I parked to concentrate on my tow car duties for Nick.
Nick’s ‘No Quarter’ is an original 1937 steel Fiat Topolino-bodied AA/Fuel Altered in the style of those original fuel altered of the mid- to late-sixties. Built entirely in Nick’s home garage with help from his amazing team of Scott Barnes, son Callum and partner in I.C.E. Automotive Racing Engines Rob Loaring, the 99-inch wheelbase beast is powered by a 417 ci Donovan-style early Hemi on 88-percent nitro. Top speed of the weekend was 8.50/192mph.
In the other lane was Bryan Whitfield in the Whitfield & Tubbs ‘High Spirits’ American Bantam sedan powered a blown 427 big-block Chevy. Bryan took two of the three races.
One of the coolest parts of the weekend was bumping into Ken ‘Mr. Flathead’ Cooper who raced his flathead-powered dragster at the very first event at Santa Pod in April 1966. Now in his 80s, Ken’s dragster ‘Back from the Past’ is now driven by his son Bradley.
Unfortunately, we were not able to able to participate in the after-hours live entertainment that this year featured Grant Pinney, The Albert George Collective, and Moon Dog Joe but we heard a good time was had by all who attended.
The next, 38th Hot Rod Drags: Sept. 18-20, 2026, at Santa Pod Raceway
First Up Apparel: https://firstupapparel.com
I.C.E. Automotive Racing Engines: https://iceautomotive.co.uk
Mick’s Paint: https://MicksPaint.co
National Street Rod Association UK: http://nsra.org.uk
Santa Pod Raceway: https://santapod.co.uk
Stromberg: https://stromberg-97.com
El Mirage Dry Lake, the spiritual home of American land speed racing, is located about 100 miles north east of Los Angeles. People first raced on the nearby Muroc Lake but when World War II broke out the Army Air Corps closed the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range to the racers who were forced east to El Mirage. Approximately six miles long at an altitude of 2,840 feet, ‘El Mo’s hard packed and flat surface is God’s own racetrack.
Fast fact:
In August 1977 stunt woman Kitty O’Neil ran the quarter mile at El Mo in 3.22 seconds at a speed of 412 mph and is still considered the fastest woman to ever run at El Mirage.
