Speedgroup Club Europe

Santa Pod Raceway is Europe’s most famous dragstrip and hosts the first and last rounds of the FIA European Championship. For drag race fans in Europe and America, the UK track needs little introduction.

Santa Pod Raceway opened at Easter 1966 as Europe's first permanent drag racing venue. It is still known as the home of European Drag Racing. It was built on a disused World War II American air base, RAF Podington, once home to the 92nd Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Force. The track was named Santa Pod after the Santa Ana strip in California, combined with the name of the local village, Podington. Since then the name Santa Pod has become synonymous with the sport of drag racing in Europe. Started with only the ¾-mile (1,207-metre) main runway as a drag strip, nowadays Santa Pod is one of the best-equipped tracks with full concrete safety barriers, large grandstands, VIP suites, fully-paved pit area, camping facilities, etc. Numerous records have been set at Santa Pod. Currently in the FIA car classes, the track still holds eight of the ten European records.

Santa Pod Raceway Santa Pod Raceway is Europe’s most famous dragstrip and hosts the first and last rounds of the FIA European Championship. For drag race fans in Europe and America, the UK track needs little introduction. Santa Pod Raceway opened at Easter 1966 as Europe's first permanent drag racing venue. It is still known as the home of European Drag Racing. It was built on a disused World War II American air base, RAF Podington, once home to the 92nd Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Force. The track was named Santa Pod after the Santa Ana strip in California, combined with the name of the local village, Podington. Since then the name Santa Pod has become synonymous with the sport of drag racing in Europe. Started with only the ¾-mile (1,207-metre) main runway as a drag strip, nowadays Santa Pod is one of the best-equipped tracks with full concrete safety barriers, large grandstands, VIP suites, fully-paved pit area, camping facilities, etc. Numerous records have been set at Santa Pod. Currently in the FIA car classes, the track still holds eight of the ten European records.	Visit Santa Pod Raceway website... www.santapod.com

Text: Remco Scheelings Photo: Remco Scheelings & Julian Hunt This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletters #1 & 10/2010 www.club.speedgroup.eu Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB. Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup. e-mail: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2010