Speedgroup Club Europe

Most people probably know Bolton, Lancashire, as home to the English Premier League’s Wanderers football team and boxing champion Amir Khan. Now there is a rising new sports star in town. His name is Joe Kellett, he is 15 years old and he is European drag racing’s most prolific winner of 2011.

You will have to look well down an event entry list to spot the Kellett name. Joe races in Junior Dragster but many a senior racer would be proud to claim his season’s victory haul for a career total. In 2011, Joe scored British race wins at Shakespeare County Raceway’s Springspeed Nationals and Santa Pod Raceway’s UK National Finals, and in Sweden at Lindesberg, Borlänge and Tierp’s NDRS Nationals. He clinched four championships – the Avon Park International Racing Association at Shakespeare County, Santa Pod Racers’ Club, the UK National Championship and the Nordic Drag Racing Series Championship – and finished runner-up in the Swedish Dragracing League. Previously, he had been APIRA champion in 2008 and SPRC title-winner in 2009.

Joe and his family – parents Peter and Kim, sister Leah – love racing in Sweden. The young prodigy has gained many new friends and appreciates the warm welcome that is always extended. The family enjoyed a trip to the recent NDRS championship banquet in Stockholm for Joe to collect his trophies.

The percussive crack of a Junior Dragster motor echoes Joe’s other great enthusiasm. The clue lies in the team name flashed across the car’s flanks: Drummin’ Man. Indeed, Joe has said he might concentrate purely on drumming once his JD career ends but, at the same time, has been spotted casting interested glances at the Super Pro entries now being driven by some of his friends who have graduated from JD.

Mum Kim gives the photographer thumbs up after a successful run by Joe

Talking with NDRS Series Winner Joe Kellett We asked Speedgroup editor Robin Jackson to interview the 2011 NDRS Series Jr Dragster winner Joe Kellett who, together with his team and family has spend a lot of time away from their home base in the UK this race season.. and done it very successfully! Most people probably know Bolton, Lancashire, as home to the English Premier League’s Wanderers football team and boxing champion Amir Khan. Now there is a rising new sports star in town. His name is Joe Kellett, he is 15 years old and he is European drag racing’s most prolific winner of 2011. You will have to look well down an event entry list to spot the Kellett name. Joe races in Junior Dragster but many a senior racer would be proud to claim his season’s victory haul for a career total. In 2011, Joe scored British race wins at Shakespeare County Raceway’s Springspeed Nationals and Santa Pod Raceway’s UK National Finals, and in Sweden at Lindesberg, Borlänge and Tierp’s NDRS Nationals. He clinched four championships – the Avon Park International Racing Association at Shakespeare County, Santa Pod Racers’ Club, the UK National Championship and the Nordic Drag Racing Series Championship – and finished runner-up in the Swedish Dragracing League. Previously, he had been APIRA champion in 2008 and SPRC title-winner in 2009. Joe and his family – parents Peter and Kim, sister Leah – love racing in Sweden. The young prodigy has gained many new friends and appreciates the warm welcome that is always extended. The family enjoyed a trip to the recent NDRS championship banquet in Stockholm for Joe to collect his trophies. The percussive crack of a Junior Dragster motor echoes Joe’s other great enthusiasm. The clue lies in the team name flashed across the car’s flanks: Drummin’ Man. Indeed, Joe has said he might concentrate purely on drumming once his JD career ends but, at the same time, has been spotted casting interested glances at the Super Pro entries now being driven by some of his friends who have graduated from JD. Mum Kim gives the photographer thumbs up after a successful run by Joe	Perhaps the rhythm of the drums harmonises with the rhythm of the Christmas tree lights – witness Joe’s string of 0.0sec reaction times while under double-championship pressure at September’s UK National Finals. The racing bug bit Joe when he was eight. A few sessions in Santa Pod’s rental car earned him his Junior Dragster licence and his own car was soon on order from Ian Marshall at Webster Race Engineering. Two years later, that stock model was sold to Billy Everitt and a new LPW Lightning chassis and LPW Monster engine heralded a move up to 8.90 Modified and the start of the trophy habit. At the end of 2010, the Kelletts bought Gabrielle McDonald’s championship-winning 7.90 motor and her father, Graham, travelled from Ireland to pass on his tuning know-how. 2011’s success story bears testament to the efficacy of that arrangement and Team Drummin’ Man is eager to credit the McDonald family for all their help. There is a fresh car in the offing for 2012. Joe Kellett’s multiple championship defence in two countries will begin with a new, state-of-the-art Junior Dragster decked out in a livery designed by Darren West of Power Race Graphics. Once again Billy Everitt is the beneficiary of this change of car and the Kelletts hope Billy will continue to enjoy the 2011 machine’s winning pedigree when he takes over the wheel next season. Meanwhile the Kellett family awaits publication of the new European Drag Racing Series schedule. 2012 promises to be one busy year for Joe Kellett – Bolton schoolboy; drumming wizard; champion international drag racer.
Joe Kellett (near) during one of his numerous runs the race season 2011, this time against Jonas Dantanus
Interview with Joe Kellett by UK based Robin Jackson Photos by Lena Perés This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #17/2011 www.speedgroup.eu Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB. Used by permission from the photographers Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup. email: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2011