Hot Rod Drags 2008
IT’S LIKE stepping into another world, where all the normal rules just don’t apply. And maybe that’s why the Hot Rod Drags is such a ‘must-go’ event, one you just can’t afford to miss. The event and the cars it attracts are a welcome antidote to the zipped-up, tree-hugging and Heath & Safety obsessed world that we find ourselves living in.
Cars range from the raw and projects in progress, through to mega buck street rods and customs – the best from the Hot Rod scene, in fact, as well as a huge selection of nostalgia racers and dragsters.
The weather has done its level best to ruin a lot of events this summer, and the HRD was no exception. The whole in-field area had been turned into a mud bath – not so funny for those trying to camp there for the weekend. Seeing beautifully prepped customs up to their sills in mud was quite a shocker, but it didn’t seem to phase the owners who were too busy enjoying the sights and sounds.
The HRD is aimed at pre-’73 cars, but in reality, it’s a case of the more the merrier. A few later cars were at Avon Park, but they were definitely in the spirit of the event. ‘Dep-O’ faves of the day included a beautifully subtle Hillman Hunter wagon, a mean looking, drag prepped Viva Estate and a totally mental Reliant Kitten packing Duratec power. If you own this car, please do get in touch.
But the weekend belonged to the cars from a different age. Some of the cars may look basic, but don’t let the bare metal or ‘patinated’ paint jobs fool you. These cars hide enormous amounts of engineering skill and time. And that’s always the problem – you can spend so much time wandering around the parking and pit areas checking out the cars, that you forget about the action on the strip.
The crew at Avon Park had their work cut for them thanks to the amount of mud and debris being dragged onto the strip by the street tyres. It didn’t stop the action for long, but any delay can be a bit of a grind for participants and spectators alike.
Enjoy the pics – they tell the real story. And if you’ve never been to a hot rod event before, make sure you get along next year. It’ll be a real eye opener and you’ll love the whole experience, we promise.
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