Allan "Bootsie"Herridge

A pioneer dragster driver, Allan Herridge mostly known as "Bootsie" Herridge, became one of the legends of British Drag Racing.
A colorful character, Bootsie Herridge built his first dragster in 1962. When the Santa Pod dragstrip opened in 1966, Herridge soon became a prominent figure on the dragster racing scene, building and driving cars, organising club and writing construction rules.
A native of Lambeth, South London, Bootsie Herridge lived in Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, close to Santa Pod Raceway, acting as full-time track manager. Amongst the best cars he raced were the "Gladiator" Funny Car, as well as the "Asphalt Alleygator" Top Fuel dragster owned by Roy Phelps, and the famous pair of identical match-race jet dragsters "Vampire" and "Hellbender", powered by Rolls-Royce Orpheus turbojet engines, which he constructed in 1981
On Sunday, 06 November 1983, Allan Herridge was debuting a new Pontiac Trans Am Jet Funny Car called "Midnight Cowboy", which he had built by himself. For reasons which still have not been fully explained, the car did a hard left at the top end of the strip, running straight into the crash barrier. Allan died instantly.
Allan Herridge was inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

[@largeeng]

Great tribute to Bootsie, still fondly remembered

[@malcolmmitchell2292]

A great tribute to a very good man,, he pushed many barriers than most of us would think of,, forever in our thoughts...

[@mikegatti794]

Thank you for the lovely tribute to one of the greats of British drag racing

[@kerryjeyes4543]

Forever in our hearts.

[@ManDryver]

Has it really been forty years since dear Allan went to the great bleachbox in the sky? Thanks for all the memories of you wrestling Gladiator and Alleygator down the hallowed tarmac of Santa Pod.