UKDRN

New Member Intro

As a drag racing fan from way back, I've been checking out this great forum for a little while now. Congrats to all involved.

I thought I'd make my first post, as I just spotted myself on this picture of Silverstone, 1975, posted by ukdrncouk in the 'General Picture Post'. That's me! bottom centre of the pic, just about to climb the steps.



Back in the mid-70s I was a NDRC marshal for a while, attending Blackbushe, Silverstone, Long Marston, Wroughton, etc. Here I am at Blackbushe, around that time, aged about 21. (Ahhh..)



It's a long time ago, but the best memory I have is getting a stint on the startline at my 'home' strip at Wroughton in 1975. Here's the only photo I have ever found that proves it! (me at the 'tower' with hand to mouth). Anybody else got any from Wroughton 1975?!



Fred Whittle's new 'Shutdown' had to be my favourite and it was racing that day. I remember running to pull him back from his burnout - I was just about to start pulling at his 'glass bantam body when a silver-gloved hand came out to indicate that I should be using the tyres to roll him back. (Funny, but I just can't recall any special training for the startline job!)

Although I continued attending events - mostly at Santa Pod - by 1978 I was married with a mortgage and a baby. Thoughts of Drag Racing & Hot Rods got pushed to the back of my mind for the next 25-or so years (I think this is a familiar story for quite a few). But a trip to the Hot Rod Drags at Shakey a couple of years back suddenly rekindled my interest. You know it never really goes away!

So, coming up to date, here's me (and my pop) last year. Looking forward to seeing more drag racing, and remembering how it was...



Sorry to make this post 'all about me' but nostalgia is all about personal memories - isn't it?

Cheers all, look forward to more great stuff on here.

Ian Thomas
Highworth, Wiltshire

Nice introduction Ian and welcome aboard.
The forum is all about personal memories and I hope you enjoy your time on here.
Lovely looking Pop by the way.

Welcome to the forum Ian. Looks like you’ve got some history to tell especially from the NDRC days. Guess you’ll remember start line marshals John Fordham and ‘Big Pete’ then! I also remember from those days a guy I only knew as ‘Bomber’, who drove a red ragtop MGB Midget and sat up at the top end of strip at Silverstone, and all those other good places. That’s not you is it

If it is, then you’ll remember a young thirteen year old coming to help pack away some of the gear in the old NDRC Tour bus after the events had finished while my father Gerry Cookson loaded his J/Class Dragster ‘The Joker’ back on its trailer to head back home to Sutton Coldfield.

That's a nice Pop you have there, regular readers of the forum will know I have a soft spot for Pops :-)

Whats the motor in it?

Thanks guys.

Muddytalker:
A couple of those names sound a little familiar, but it's a loooong time ago and memories have faded. I have forgotten a lot of stuff. Keeping tabs on this site brings it back a little bit at a time though.

TimeMachine:
My 1954 pop is the 'standard' setup.. Rover V8, Offenhauser + Holley, Jag IRS, Viva front. Born the same year as me!

I've just dug out some old memorabilia, hope to post pics soon.
I did have some old slides from the 70's but I sent them to Alan at the Acceleration Archive before this forum arrived. They weren't brilliant, but I'll give Alan first dibs on using them before I post here.

Here`s a 1975 pic from Wroughton, I think it was the Tor Line Funny Car Meet. I don`t know who took it so apologies to the photographer for using it without permission.