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Thread: Al's Gasser rollover

  1. #1
    NSRA member Str4wB34ry's Avatar
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    Al's Gasser rollover

    I've been meaning to post these clips for a while, here are some old silent cine film clips of Santa Pod in the late 70's and early 80's. The film is all Ford Pops and Fordsons and includes Street Rods and dragsters alike. Look out for Puddlejumper, Pinball Wizard and Hot n' Bothered.

    http://youtu.be/mzeHZdH2l18

    Regarding the Al's Gasser roll over, his car had been wild all day, popping wheelies and pulling all over the place under power. On the run against 'Tender Trap' I saw him yaw big time and figured he'd step of the gas to correct it... so I stopped filming as the race was lost!! I remember watching Al wrestle the car away fron the fence and then the rear slick dug in flipping it onto its side before gently rolling onto it's roof as it slid across the track. In what appeared to be slow motion the car finally toppled onto it's other side and as the rear slick dug in all hell broke loose as it barrel rolled to a stop. The doors flapping open and Al hanging out of one of them as his harness had snapped! At some point my friend shouted for me to continue filming hence I managed to capture the final rolls and then I rmember the silence as the crowd realised what they'd just witnessed.
    If you look closely in the final shot once it's stopped rolling you can see Al's helmet rolling about on the track to the right of his wreck... we all feared that his head was still in it! Fortunately it was not.

    Al survived and so did the car thanks to probably the best crowd blanket collection ever... such was his popularity then and why he's still regarded by many, as one of the all time greats in British Drag Racing.

    Phil
    "There are only two types of Fordson Gasser... those that have rolled over... and those that are going to!"

  2. #2
    NSRA member randrhotrodimports's Avatar
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    Great stuff Phil thanks for that
    Russ
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  3. #3
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    that is exellent watched it about 10 times so far

  4. #4
    NSRA member Flamin Black A's Avatar
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    great film phil thanks for posting

  5. #5
    NSRA member crumble's Avatar
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    thats excellent. thanks for sharing.
    Real steel

  6. #6
    NSRA member Holmsey's Avatar
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    Thumbs up

    That was great. I was there when All rolled it and remember all those Pops, great bit of history.! Cheers!
    Get down off that cross we need the wood! "Tom Waits"
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  7. #7
    Moderator Brizey's Avatar
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    I watched Al`s car roll from the pit side seats, the silence that followed was very eerie after all the race action noise...
    "The older i get, the faster i was".
    Out to pasture ...
    My Intro My Rods

  8. #8
    good video, hot'n'bothered on the strip= WIN

  9. #9
    NSRA member MisteR Tee's Avatar
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    Must have been there, but really don't remember it. Probably happened in the morning when I was at my post at the top end, missed a lot being up there!!
    MisteR Tee
    Ah, Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be!

    No longer wanted: Steel 26/27 Ford Model T coupe rear fenders.

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  10. #10
    NSRA member thamesvan's Avatar
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    Was this in the days when hotrods got in for nowt?They should bring that in again

  11. #11
    Moderator Brizey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thamesvan View Post
    Was this in the days when hotrods got in for nowt?They should bring that in again
    That was in the very early `70s Nick and only lasted a few years, when the NSRA had an agreement with SPR that it`s (the NSRA) members could get free entry to the Pod provided they were in a rod, as an added pit side attraction. The rods were `vetted` by the committee before passes were issued.
    Al`s accident was some time later...
    "The older i get, the faster i was".
    Out to pasture ...
    My Intro My Rods

  12. #12
    NSRA member randrhotrodimports's Avatar
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    Remember those days, although to young to drive myself, Puddle Jumper anD Robs 32 when it had the pinto in it, Pinball and a few others all in the pits, happy days.
    Quote Originally Posted by Brizey View Post
    That was in the very early `70s Nick and only lasted a few years, when the NSRA had an agreement with SPR that it`s (the NSRA) members could get free entry to the Pod provided they were in a rod, as an added pit side attraction. The rods were `vetted` by the committee before passes were issued.
    Al`s accident was some time later...
    www.randrhotrodimports.co.uk
    IMPORTER OF AMERICAN CARS AND PARTS, SHIPPER OF PARTS, SPEEDWAY MOTORS DEALER/STOCKIST, BROOKVILLE DEALER, O'BRIEN TRUCKERS DEALER, CARS INC TRI CHEVY STOCKIST AND DEALER, . https://www.facebook.com/randrhotrodimports/
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  13. #13
    Guest FadT's Avatar
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    I remember getting in free in the T, but it stopped after a couple of time. That was in the mid 70s. Never really been back there since.

  14. #14
    Guest FadT's Avatar
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    If you were one of the guys at the Steeple Claydon van meet many many many years ago I think it may just have been. I do remember someone swapping leads on the T, just cant recall where and when. And NO Im not a tight *&%$, just found a better place to go.

  15. #15
    R.I.P. Andy's Avatar
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    I was there when Al's Gasser took the tumble - the sudden silence was, as Brian says,erie but the impromptue whip round did raise £1000 towards the rebuild.
    Incidentaly - who's the photographer @ 1.33 in the clip? Did the fashion police ever catch him?
    Last edited by Andy; 17-01-12 at 10:22 PM.
    I saw Elvis at a thousand feet.

  16. #16
    Guest blown hell's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andy View Post
    I was there when Al's Gasser took the tumble - the sudden silence was, as Brian says,erie but the impromptue whip round did raise £1000 towards the rebuild.
    Incidentaly - who's the photographer @ 1.33 in the clip? Did the fashion police ever catch him?
    Fantastic video, thanks for posting, might be seeing Al this weekend at the Outlaw Anglia bash, I'll tell him to have a butchers, and that photogrpher has got the full herdi gerdi kit on!

  17. #17
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    I remember them going round with a blanket getting donations........Everyone loved Al's Gasser and Hauler......and of course Al

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