History – Drag Racing at Santa Pod Raceway UK – Motorsport & Car Show Venue
Santa Pod Raceway
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History

A Legacy Fuelled by Speed

There’s more to Santa Pod than meets the eye. From its USAF roots to becoming Europe’s home of drag racing, Santa Pod has built a legacy that’s as loud and proud as the cars that tear down the strip.

Podington Aerodrome opens

Podington Aerodrome opens as a United States Army Air Force base during World War II.

The airbase is decommissioned

The airbase is decommissioned and remains largely inactive until the mid-1960s.

Santa Pod Raceway opens

Santa Pod Raceway opens on Easter Monday, 10th April, transforming the disused airfield into Europe’s first permanent drag racing venue. The name combines “Santa” (evoking Southern California’s drag racing scene) and “Pod” (from Podington).