Fuel Altered Files, Part 9: Europe

Photos by Alan Currans ~ Text by Danny White

Jon Best is one of the newest members of the NFAA with the Felstead, Best, and Lotsaberra Fiat Toplino. Bill Felstead is no stranger to racing an AA/FA after running the Felstead and Willy Eliminator Fiat back in the late eighties. The new team has shown promise with a 6.71 best with a nitro Chevy power plant in an older style chassis. (http://www.fuelaltered.co.uk/) 

Nitro veteran Tony Betts has driven many kinds of cars including a Top Alcohol Altered and a nitro funny car. The Venom Two is Tony's latest vehicle, an updated version of the old Harry the Spider AA/FA. Power is supplied by a late model Hemi on a load of nitro. Betts has run a best of 6.44 and holds the MPH record at 221. (http://www.venomracing.co.uk/)

Ollie Burns’ The Mob is the oldest AA/FA in England with a history stretching back to the eighties. The car began as the Over the Hill Mob Top Alcohol Altered. In the nineties the car was converted to nitro and the name was shortened to The Mob. Jim Usher took over the wheel of the car from Mickey Moore, and has run a known best of 6.78. 

Lawrie Gatehouse’s Chaos Fiat is the quickest of the NFAA group at 6.19. Gatehouse is not only a member of the NFAA but also the founding president of the group. John Wright is the driver of choice for the team. The car has a storied history with the body from Tony Betts old Fiat from the 1980s. The engine setup comes with help from America in the form of Nasty Dave Benjamin. (http://www.chaos-fuel-altered.com/)

Frank Bennett is the 2009 NFAA champion and also the one the fastest of the BB/FA contingent with a 6.42, 192 pass. The Bennett’s are long time blown alcohol racers going back to the eighties. The Relentless Fiat is the team’s strongest and most successful car to date. It is built on a Steve Plueger chassis powered by a 511 Bennett Racing built Donovan. In 2009 Bennett won the NFAA championship. (http://www.bennettracing.co.uk/)   

Joe Bond’s Nuthin Fancy Fiat is one the group's more distinctive cars. The flamed Fiat is based on a Mark Williams chassis with a Martyn Hannis built 432 Arias Chevy with wedge heads. Joe has run as quick as 6.85, 198.66 at Santa Pod in 2008.

Former Pro Mod racer Nick Davies runs the NFAA’s most nostalgic looking car, the cool looking Havoc Bantam. Looks can be deceiving as the Havoc is one of quickest and fastest members of the group. The car was built by Nick Davies and Rob Loaring, and is powered by a 440 Chevrolet that has run 6.82, 200 at Santa Pod.

Kenneth Feldthusen is the only NFAA racer from the European mainland, namely Sweden. Geography might keep the Northrace team from running the all the NFAA races, but it does not keep the team from being one of the quickest in the group with a good 6.56. Feldthusen has held the AA/A record in Europe for many years with the KB/BAE powered car built by the team. (http://www.northrace.se/index.htm)

Bob Glassup’s Extreme Racing Fiat has one of the best appearing altereds in the NFAA. Glassup even brought the car over the United States to run in the California Hot Rod Reunion a few years ago. Bob has run a known best of 6.79 in the Chevy powered Fiat.

Adam Gleadow’s Motor Psycho matches classic hot rod looks with late model technology. The name Motor Psycho goes back a long way in Great Britain drag racing history, as do the Gleadows, with this purple Coupe being the latest to run the name.  

Dave Grabham has been racing the Freddy’s Revenge Topolino for years now in Britain. The car has gone through many updates to this point, but currently has a blown big block Chevy backed by a Powerglide. The car has run a best time of 7.16. (http://www.freddysrevenge.co.uk/) 

Pete Radcliffe runs the Burning Desire BB/FA 23 Ford T. Pete runs the KB Hemi powered machine infrequently, but has recorded a known best of 7.85 seconds. Radcliffe runs in association with the Northern Spirit car driven by Neil Townsend.

Clayton Round is the most successful racer in NFAA history. Round won the championship from 2005-2007 with good consistent performances and little breakage. The Rebel T is powered by a Rodeck Chevy tuned by Chris Round to a best of 6.90.

Neil Townsend has been racing the Northern Spirit machine for many years now. The beautiful fuel coupe is powered by a KB Hemi on alcohol. Townsend has run a best of 7.60 in the Townsend & Radcliffe machine.

Dennis Wratten is the quickest and fastest alcohol racer in the NFAA with the Flow Tech Custom Exhausts Fiat Topolino, also known as Dirty Harry. Owned by Dennis and Terry Wratten, the car has gone 6.26 at 220 at Santa Pod with a TFX Hemi for power. British legend Charlie Draper helps to tune the car.