Throughout the car show season Performance Direct ran a once in a lifetime competition, entrants had the chance to win a passenger ride in a two seater dragster down the famous Santa Pod strip as well as a weekend pass to the FIA Finals.Santa Pod

In early August Performance Direct announced the winner of the competition, the lucky person who we will name as Mr C, was able to participate in the ride of his lifetime on Friday 7th October which was the first day of the FIA European Finals.

With Mr C raring to go and the FIA Finals set to begin, I had the privilege of going along to Santa Pod and meeting the lucky winner and spending the morning preparing for the race. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the fantastic thrill ride team at Santa Pod headed by Steve Warner, the notorious driver of this magnificent vehicle.

Dragster winner

The typical British rain postponed the original race time meaning as the morning went on and the drag ride crept closer, you could see the anticipation in Mr C’s eyes. With the famous Santa Pod strip being dried by the powerful dryers Mr C was told he only had an hour to wait until the ride of his life. This meant we had time to learn a bit about the dragster itself and the history of drag racing.

performance direct winner

Before long the strip was dry and Mr C had to put his racing gear on. With his helmet and race suit on the team guided us to the start line. With special access track side it meant that I was able to really feel the force of the dragster and hear the notorious sound of the burnout.

Santa Pod Dragster

Before long it was Steve’s turn to hit the track and for Mr C’s thrill ride journey to begin. As the race team guided Steve to the start line a surge of power was released and the burnout began. The burnout stage of the race is designed to warm up the tyres with the sudden rapid start, the dragster is then directed back to the start line for the ride to begin.

Thrilling passenger ride

With the lights ready to change from red to green we all waited in excitement then, in a gust of smoke and a matter of seconds the dragster had left the start line and had crossed the finish line at an amazing speed of 160.76 mph. Although not the fastest time was a fantastic time for the first run of the day.

santa pod start line

I then made my way to the end of the track and met Mr C who, with an astonishing amount of adrenaline and a huge smile on his face, explained that it was one of the best things he had ever experienced.

competition winner

With the rest of the day and the weekend ahead there was plenty for Mr C to explore from the top fuel dragsters attempting to make it into the final days events to the fantastic array of stands and entertainment. The final drag event on the Sunday was the top fuel drag event, this was won by Britain’s very own Chris Andrews which Mr C enjoyed as his finished off his weekend.

Mr C simply filled out a Performance Direct competition slip at one of the Santa Pod events and won an amazing weekend for him and a friend and a thrilling passenger ride. Although Performance Direct are unsure of the competition they will be running with next season I have been assured that it is something as spectacular. Make sure you visit our stand and enter our competition!

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