Gary's Picnic 2011

With 13 cars entered into this years 33rd annual NASC organised Gary’s Picnic at Shakespeare County Raceway a surprised Jamie Hughes climbed out of his 1960 Ford Consul at the end of his winning run having just beaten the TVR Tuscan of Ian Brockbank at the end of the quarter mile dash to one of British hot rodding’s oldest title’s.

Having drawn a bye in the opening round followed by another in round two after the Chevy Camaro of Outlaw Street racer Andy Murton was pushed away from the line with a suspected oil leak, Jamie pushed his twin turbo’ed 427ci Ford racer to a 11.199 against Wobbly Bob’s blown V8 powered Bedford CF van.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ladder Ian Brockbank’s TVR made it passed Adam Green’s Rebel v8.com supported Ford Lightening Truck and the ‘70 Dodge Challenger belonging to Power Tour racer David Hoare, 12.07 to 12.24. Ian was gifted a bye in the semi finals when the prop shaft on Rob Slater’s ‘57 Chevy Bel Air decided that enough was enough as it deposited rollers and bearings all over the start line.

In the heads-up final Jamie was a little slow away from the green as the twin turbo’ed Ford bloc began to spool up. But by the 1000 foot mark Jamie had already summoned up enough hp to pass the TVR at the stripe; 11.090/123.87 to 12.583/108.53.

Photos courtesy of Rob Cox

top of page