Northamptonshire racers to play leading roles at Santa Pod’s European Finals

On four wheels, three drivers competing for the Funny Car Cup have little distance to travel. On two wheels, a defending European champion lives nearby.

At the loud end of the programme, three of the six racers contesting the Funny Car Cup are Santa Pod locals.

Northampton’s Kevin Kent leads the cup chase in his freshly-bodied West Ten Ford Mustang. A past Cup winner (2023, 2024), Kevin graduated from mechanic to owner-driver in 2013 and has dominated the Funny Car scene since.

American racer John ‘Bodie’ Smith crosses the Atlantic to tune the Mustang at big races and Kevin’s daughter, Lola-Belle, and son, Frankie, both compete on the same track as their dad in the Junior Dragster division.

Rushden’s John Spuffard is Europe’s most experienced Funny Car racer, having begun his career as long ago as 1984. Following a 10-year break which included surviving a battle with cancer, ‘Spuff’ stepped back into the cockpit this season.

Funny Cars used to race over the full quarter-mile but now, for safety reasons, are limited to 1,000ft.

John is the only European Funny Car racer to have topped 300mph at both distances. In 2009 he clocked 309.36mph over the full quarter and marked this season’s return by hitting 300.76mph in May.

A Funny Car named One Bad Texan doesn’t sound local. Indeed, its first driver was from Texas. However, that partnership folded and another Rushden racer has taken over. Jason Phelps is Santa Pod royalty - 60 years ago, his father and grandfather were among the dragstrip’s original founders and served as sole owners for many years. And there’s a fourth Phelps generation on the scene - Jason’s daughter Emily competes alongside, and against, Kevin Kent’s children in Junior Dragster.

The Funny Car Cup is UK-based but the weekend’s European championship finals feature two-wheeled as well as four-wheeled classes.

Super Street Bike is one of four FIM-Europe motorcycle championships to be decided, and the reigning and defending champion, Jake Mechaell, is another Northampton resident, born and raised in the county.

Jake’s father, Clive Mechaell, made a name for himself driving wild-handling Competition Altered cars, but Jake’s choice of motorcycle led him to European stardom at the Super Street Bike summit.

Super Street Bikes resemble road-going motorcycles but extract massive performance from turbocharged, methanol-burning engines while running on road-legal tyres – not drag racing’s familiar, grippy slicks – without the aid of wheelie bars – 6.5-second quarter-miles at upwards of 230mph. Jake must overcome a 17-strong field of opponents from Denmark, Malta, Greece, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as his regular homegrown opposition, if he is to retain his European title for a second year.

On-track, a full programme of Sportsman competition classes and Jet Car exhibitions supports the European championship contests.

Off-track, there’s an array of entertainments to suit the whole family – Monster Trucks, stunt riding and driving demonstrations in the live action arena, parachute jumps and historic flying displays, funfair rides, music and fireworks and various food stalls.

Camping is free for multi-day ticket holders and live bands provide late-night entertainment for those staying over. Paddock access is also free, allowing fans a close-up view of the pitside action.

The FIA/FIM European Finals take place from tomorrow (Thursday, September 10) to Sunday, September 13 at Santa Pod Raceway, near Wellingborough.

Full event information is available on the Santa Pod website and tickets can be booked online or by calling 01234 782828.

It is advance booking only, no tickets available on the gate.