Santa Pod Hot Rod Drags 2026 | Drag Racing, Hot Rods & One BIG Scare!
Shoestring motoring
4,169 views
Santa Pod Hot Rod Drags 2026!
I spent the weekend at Santa Pod Raceway for four days of hot rods, classic cars, Run What Ya Brung action, Show & Shine and drag racing β although the British weather certainly did its best to interfere!
From 17thβ20th September, I took the van to Santa Pod for the Hot Rod Drags, one of those events that combines proper grassroots drag racing with some fantastic hot rods, American cars and classics.
And it started with a battle just to put the awning up!
π¨ WIND, RAIN & CAMPING AT SANTA POD
The wind was incredibly strong and it took me about two hours to erect the awning on the van. Having inflatable supports didn't help when I discovered my pump wasn't producing enough pressure!
Friday was spent in the stands filming the Run What Ya Brung (RWYB) racers taking to the Santa Pod drag strip.
I was having a great time until the rain arrived, so it was back to the campsite and the van.
It rained for much of the night but, thankfully, Saturday brought better conditions and more drag racing.
π HOT ROD DRAGS & FAMILY DAY AT SANTA POD
My son Greg, his wife Alana and my grandchildren Ellis and Clara joined me for Saturday.
Three-year-old Ellis had a particularly good day. He got the chance to sit in a race car and meet some of the racing teams β being three and cute apparently opens doors!
There was plenty of action on the drag strip, as well as a huge selection of cars to explore around the event.
π¨ FORD 100E "OUT ON BAIL" INCIDENT
Towards the end of Saturday, the green Ford 100E drag car "Out on Bail" was involved in an accident after leaving the start line.
The car moved across towards the right lane, spun and made contact with the concrete barrier before eventually coming to a stop.
Thankfully, driver Paul was able to get out of the car, and the Santa Pod rescue crew responded promptly.
I've since been in touch with Paul and his wife Lucy, and they told me that Out on Bail is being repaired and will return, which is great news.
π SHOW & SHINE β HOT RODS, CLASSICS & AMERICAN CARS
Away from the drag strip, there were loads of cars in the Show & Shine area on Saturday and Sunday.
Hot rods, customs, classics, American cars and all sorts of interesting machinery meant there was plenty for me to wander around and film.
π€ A SLIGHT FILMING DISASTER!
Unfortunately, the weekend also taught me a lesson about recording audio in strong winds.
My Nikon's external microphone simply couldn't cope with the conditions. With wind gusts reaching around 25 mph, some of the audio was terrible and I eventually had to scrap more than an hour of footage.
Since getting home, I've bought a RΓDE VideoMic, so hopefully the sound will be considerably better at the next windy event!
Despite the weather and microphone problems, I had a brilliant weekend at Santa Pod Raceway, with some great drag racing, fantastic cars and, most importantly, plenty of good memories.
If you're into Santa Pod, drag racing, hot rods, classic cars, American cars, custom cars and grassroots motorsport, you're in the right place.
π LIKE the video if you enjoyed coming along
π¬ COMMENT β what was your favourite car or moment from the Hot Rod Drags?
π SUBSCRIBE to Shoestring Motoring for more drag racing, car shows, American cars and motoring adventures
π€ SHARE the video with another petrolhead
Your support really does help Shoestring Motoring grow, and I always enjoy reading your comments and chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
πΈ Instagram: @Shoestring_Motoring
π Facebook: Don Brittain
π§ Business enquiries: don_brittain@hotmail.co.uk
π New videos every Friday at 12:00pm UK time β usually!
#SantaPod #HotRodDrags #DragRacing #HotRods #Ford100E #AmericanCars #ClassicCars #SantaPodRaceway #RWYB #ShoestringMotoring
3 Comments
Santa Pod Hot Rod Drags 2026 | Drag Racing, Hot Rods & One BIG Scare!
Shoestring motoring
4,169 views
Santa Pod Hot Rod Drags 2026!
I spent the weekend at Santa Pod Raceway for four days of hot rods, classic cars, Run What Ya Brung action, Show & Shine and drag racing β although the British weather certainly did its best to interfere!
From 17thβ20th September, I took the van to Santa Pod for the Hot Rod Drags, one of those events that combines proper grassroots drag racing with some fantastic hot rods, American cars and classics.
And it started with a battle just to put the awning up!
π¨ WIND, RAIN & CAMPING AT SANTA POD
The wind was incredibly strong and it took me about two hours to erect the awning on the van. Having inflatable supports didn't help when I discovered my pump wasn't producing enough pressure!
Friday was spent in the stands filming the Run What Ya Brung (RWYB) racers taking to the Santa Pod drag strip.
I was having a great time until the rain arrived, so it was back to the campsite and the van.
It rained for much of the night but, thankfully, Saturday brought better conditions and more drag racing.
π HOT ROD DRAGS & FAMILY DAY AT SANTA POD
My son Greg, his wife Alana and my grandchildren Ellis and Clara joined me for Saturday.
Three-year-old Ellis had a particularly good day. He got the chance to sit in a race car and meet some of the racing teams β being three and cute apparently opens doors!
There was plenty of action on the drag strip, as well as a huge selection of cars to explore around the event.
π¨ FORD 100E "OUT ON BAIL" INCIDENT
Towards the end of Saturday, the green Ford 100E drag car "Out on Bail" was involved in an accident after leaving the start line.
The car moved across towards the right lane, spun and made contact with the concrete barrier before eventually coming to a stop.
Thankfully, driver Paul was able to get out of the car, and the Santa Pod rescue crew responded promptly.
I've since been in touch with Paul and his wife Lucy, and they told me that Out on Bail is being repaired and will return, which is great news.
π SHOW & SHINE β HOT RODS, CLASSICS & AMERICAN CARS
Away from the drag strip, there were loads of cars in the Show & Shine area on Saturday and Sunday.
Hot rods, customs, classics, American cars and all sorts of interesting machinery meant there was plenty for me to wander around and film.
π€ A SLIGHT FILMING DISASTER!
Unfortunately, the weekend also taught me a lesson about recording audio in strong winds.
My Nikon's external microphone simply couldn't cope with the conditions. With wind gusts reaching around 25 mph, some of the audio was terrible and I eventually had to scrap more than an hour of footage.
Since getting home, I've bought a RΓDE VideoMic, so hopefully the sound will be considerably better at the next windy event!
Despite the weather and microphone problems, I had a brilliant weekend at Santa Pod Raceway, with some great drag racing, fantastic cars and, most importantly, plenty of good memories.
If you're into Santa Pod, drag racing, hot rods, classic cars, American cars, custom cars and grassroots motorsport, you're in the right place.
π LIKE the video if you enjoyed coming along
π¬ COMMENT β what was your favourite car or moment from the Hot Rod Drags?
π SUBSCRIBE to Shoestring Motoring for more drag racing, car shows, American cars and motoring adventures
π€ SHARE the video with another petrolhead
Your support really does help Shoestring Motoring grow, and I always enjoy reading your comments and chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
πΈ Instagram: @Shoestring_Motoring
π Facebook: Don Brittain
π§ Business enquiries: don_brittain@hotmail.co.uk
π New videos every Friday at 12:00pm UK time β usually!
#SantaPod #HotRodDrags #DragRacing #HotRods #Ford100E #AmericanCars #ClassicCars #SantaPodRaceway #RWYB #ShoestringMotoring