In the build-up to the 60th anniversary of the British National Drag Racing Festival, The National Museum powers up an iconic machine…
They tell us:
(All words and images from The National Motor Museum).
In preparation for the 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival this year, the National Motor Museum have been preparing an iconic Allard Chrysler Dragster for it to make a star appearance at the Santa Pod Raceway for its Dragstalgia event in July.
Dragstalgia runs from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th July 2024 at the Santa Pod Raceway located in Podington, Bedfordshire. The Allard joins other vehicles from Santa Pod’s illustrious history, returning to the strip to celebrate the anniversary of the first British International Drag Festival organised in 1964 and the establishment of the British Drag Racing Association.
Doug Hill, Museum Manager says, “From hot rods to burnouts, from Santa Pod to dragsters, drag racing is a thrilling aspect of motor sport. Two drivers, two cars powered to the max, compete to be the fastest – to accelerate and be the first to cross the line over an impossibly short distance. “
The Allard Chrysler Dragster was built by Sydney Allard and his team of engineers in 1961, destined to be the first of its type in Britain. Although strongly influenced by the American drag racing scene, the car had to comply with Royal Automobile Club regulations governing sprint and hill climb cars. This meant that, unlike the American dragsters, it had brakes and the engine was covered. Power came from a fuel-injected and supercharged 5.7-litre Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine.
The National Motor Museum Sydney Allard original 1961 Allard Chrysler will join two other surviving Allard dragsters in the Historic Display Marquee at Dragstalgia. The others are a 1964 Mk1 Allard Dragon now owned by Alan Smith and a 1965 Mk2 Allard Dragon now owned by Roger Hayes. Alan Allard himself, son of Sydney Allard, will also be making a guest appearance.
In preparation, the dragster was fired-up at the National Motor Museum with the support of Lucas Oil, the Museum’s official lubricant partner. Commenting on Lucas Oil’s sponsorship Doug Hill says, “Lucas Oils sponsored the restoration of the Allard Chrysler Dragster carried out ten years ago. The Allard Chrysler Action Group restored it to full running order for the National Motor Museum, and Lucas are supplying the lubricant for this and all the other cars in the Museum’s collection.”
The drag racing anniversary will be celebrated further at the Museum with a fascinating mixed media display in the In-Focus Gallery at Beaulieu. The exhibition, Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival, from 20 September 2024 – 2 February 2025, is a community collaboration project with the British Drag Racing Historians.
There will be an earlier opportunity to see the Allard Chrysler Dragster being started-up at Beaulieu’s Custom and American Show on Father’s Day Sunday 16th June 2024.