Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Last Update 30/03/2020

Update on Santa Pod Future Events: Corona Virus (COVID-19)

We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for their patience and understanding during these unprecedented times.

Unfortunately all scheduled events at Santa Pod Raceway from now up until the end of May 2020 have been suspended inc STP Springspeed Nationals, Nostalgia Nationals, Big Bang, Doorslammers, Transitmania, The Main Event and The Vauxhall Show. Therefore ticket holders will receive a full credit to your Santa Pod Ticket Shop account equal to exactly what you’ve already paid, which can be redeemed against any Santa Pod Raceway event within the next 24 months. This will be added to your account automatically. Contrary to our standard terms and conditions, this credit will be available for 24 months instead of the standard 12 AND include any booking and postage fees that you’ve paid.

We are operating with a reduced workforce like so many other businesses causing a significant delay in our normal administration processes but we will be in touch with all our visitors as soon as we have more information to share. We are also trying hard to instigate a few more bells and whistles on our ticketing platform to make some of the admin quicker and more efficient for us all. Bear with us, while we work through all the communications, enquiries and requests from our customers – we’re dealing with everything as quickly as possible but it’s not easy.

Rest assured that we will get around to you!

In the meantime, we will keep you updated via our website, newsletters and social media.

Once again, thank you for your understanding during these very challenging circumstances.

"If ever there was ever a time when Santa Pod needed your support, it is now. We are asking you help us through this crisis by accepting the full credit values that we will be offering to every single one of our customers who have purchased advance tickets to affected events. On behalf of Santa Pod Raceway and all the staff I would like to thank you for all the support we have had over the past decades and sincerely hope we can count on your support. Help us to get through this - and in return we will continue to bring you the most exciting events in motorsport and entertainment in the UK." - CEO - Keith Bartlett

Your enjoyment is our priority so please refer to the Essential Information/Terms and Conditions relating to the purchase of tickets and general guidance for attending our venue.

A Statement from Santa Pod Raceway CEO - Keith Bartlett (30/03/20)

As a result of the Covid-19 virus and its impact upon the whole of the UK, outside events and sporting activities, it is with deep, deep regret that we are having to suspend all events at Santa Pod now until the end of May.

Motorsports UK (formerly MSA) alongside the FIA has already cancelled our FIA permit to hold the first round for the FIA European Drag Racing Championship on May the 22nd-25th but of course, we will be monitoring government regulations closely to see if they remain in force or if the lifting of restrictions comes into force before then. If event restrictions were to be lifted (which is most unlikely as we sit today) we would look to put on as big an event as we possibly can on the Main Event weekend (with Nitro cars) plus any other events sooner if at all possible!

All of the staff at Trakbak Racing and Santa Pod Raceway are devastated to cancel ONE event, let alone numerous consecutive events as far as May 31st.

On a more personal note, most people both racers and fans alike, know that I am a total Drag Racing junkie and the sport of Drag Racing is my life. It’s also my hobby, my passion and my sole business. Santa Pod today is a very successful business and one that I have built up to where it is today and of which I am very proud of. We employ many full time and seasonal staff all of whom I have had to lay off for a period of at least 6-8 weeks – that hurts me on a personal level greatly.

In the 24 years that I have owned Santa Pod, we have never cancelled any major event, or even medium sized event – yes, we may have had to postpone a couple of events to another date due extreme weather, but that is the exception not the norm.

I need not go into the huge losses that Santa Pod is incurring month on month currently. I also very much appreciate that all our racers, suppliers, spectators and fans are also going through exactly the same suffering – yes, we are in it together as ‘Boris’ says, but I know the that the drag racing fraternity is one big family and that in times of crisis always ‘steps up to the plate’. I hope that we count on all your support in these very difficult weeks and possibly months – and will see you all, racers and spectators alike returning to Santa Pod Raceway in force once we open our doors to the wonderful world of Drag Racing.

At the risk of not trying to sound too much like ‘Boris’, I am going to say that Santa Pod will come through this and will be fully operational at some date in the future and I sincerely hope that will be in the near future! Our drag racing family can then be back together where we all belong – at the race track!

For sure, some of our planned future improvements and development will now be delayed since those funds will be eaten up in surviving this crisis.

On a more positive and possibly interesting note, I am toying with the idea of some winter events in the period of 2020/2021. How does ‘Fuel & Fire’ sound? Or the ‘Winter Nationals’? All I will say right now is think about keeping ‘New Year’s Day’ free!

See you at the Track
Keith Bartlett
CEO – Trakbak Racing Ltd