Santa Pod opened its gates at the Easter weekend to distract its fans from their Easter eggs and Hot Cross Buns and instead treat them to a weekend full of action both on and off the famous drag strip.
Formally known as Easter Thunderball, Festival of Power is a family event to entertain the crowds with all classes of drag racing both cars and motorbikes alongside Jet Funny Cars and Jet Dragsters.
It also hosts the 1st rounds of both the National Drag Racing Championship and European Funny Car Series and is one of the first times that racers can see if the improvements they have made to their vehicles during the winter build period can see their run times improve and reaction times become even quicker.
Festival of Power gave spectators their first chance this season to see the beasts that are Top Fuel Dragsters
These nitro methane guzzling vehicles are capable of speeds of 300mph over a quarter of a mile which equates to 0-100 in .8 of a second (the first 60 feet of its run) and 0 – 200 in 2.2 seconds, and you can feel the noise rather than hear it.
As well as the action on the track there were stunts galore in the live action arena with Broke FMX showing us how to perform motorbike aerial stunts, Lee Bowers showing us his mastery of bikes on the ground, Team Maximum Lock showing us choreographed drifting, a Peugeot 205 Jet Car and tanks flattening cars!
Aerial displays were provided by the Grace Spitfire Air Display and Team Yakovlevs.
The younger audience members were also treated to a circus display and the chance to meet resident mascot Nitro the Dragon.
Last but definitely not least was a rather low key visit by a large British actor in the form of Idris Elba who played Nelson Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ as well as appearing in the TV series ‘The Wire’.
Idris was there to have a ride in the Two Seater Dragster for an upcoming series but I cannot say any more than that you will just have to watch out for him.
With shows like these the season is certainly off to a very good start
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